Features
The May 2007 issue of Game Informer reveals that after the initial load sequence, no such occurrences persist when entering/exiting buildings or crossing islands. The extent of the loadtime-free expectation in the game has also been commented on, when a Rockstar spokesperson claimed: "You can basically play the game from beginning to end without a single load screen."
The player will not be able to fly aeroplanes, unlike
some previous installments of the Grand Theft Auto series. Helicopters, however, will be flyable onto any building rooftop. There is also a confirmed airport.
Details are also revealed that demonstrate how variations in the terrain cause the way the character walks to change. The way the player moves is controlled by a physics engine instead of purely pre-written animations, therefore enabling character movements to be more realistic. Rockstar Games announced that Euphoria by NaturalMotion would be used in future Rockstar titles in a press release that accompanied the second trailer, confirming that Euphoria would indeed be used in the game.
The player will also be able to perform a variety of new actions such as climbing telephone poles and fire escapes, pushing people who bump into him and calling women for dates. When selecting the mobile phone, a zoomed-in version of the mobile screen pops up in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and a list of several commands are made available to the player, such as "meet me here," etc.
Bellic's outfit can be changed throughout the game; however, it will not be possible to customize his physique or hairstyle as in San Andreas.
Stealing a parked car can no longer be done simply by opening the door and driving off. Now it involves Niko approaching the car unnoticed, breaking the glass with his elbow, before hot-wiring it—only then can he use it. Also, there will be several animation variations to sneaking up to a car
and breaking it. The way Niko enters the car would look different each time depending where and how he is in relation to the car. Because of the NaturalMotion system used in the game, the way the character will approach the car will be completely random. The trunks of cars will also be utilized by the player, though specific details are unknown. Furthermore, players will be able to choose from four different camera views while in a car according to their needs. The player will also be able to control vehicles such as boats and helicopters.
The player also has the option of hailing a cab at any time, in order to travel to any address in the city. When riding in the cab as a paying passenger, the player has the option of viewing the journey from the inside, or skipping it to immediately arrive at the destination.
The Police AI and star wanted levels now operate differently. When the police are in search of Niko, the player will now have to avoid a certain radius marked on the map in which the police will be looking for him. The size of this radius will increase with the player's wanted level (the more stars, the bigger the radius) and also re-centers itself on Niko's location if he is spotted by the police. Instead of utilizing the 'Pay'N'Spray' as in previous games, Niko can now more realistically disguise himself by clandestinely changing vehicles in empty areas such as parking garages, a feature seen in the video game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. Additionally, pedestrians can now report
crimes such as car-jacking.
The gunfight system has been reworked to feel natural by utilizing a cover system similar to that of Gears of War and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the reason being that the combat system in previous games were awkward and cumbersome.
It has been revealed that every street in the game will have a name for the reason that some missions will require the player to go to a specific address.
In addition to the mobile phone, Rockstar has revealed that the player will also make use of the Internet as a means of communication. Although the exact details of the role of the Internet in the game are being kept under wraps, it has been revealed in a GamesTM Magazine article that Niko can access the web from various cyber cafes (one of which is called "TW@") in order to upload his resume for prospective employers.
Yahoo Games has made a "Top 5 Cool things about GTAIV" we have them listed below:
1. Graphics
The coolest feature so far is the upgraded RAGE Graphics Engine (also used to power Table Tennis), which finally replaces Renderware under the GTA hood. RAGE now features a heavily customized version of Natural Motion's "Euphoria" physics engine, which got major attention last year when LucasArts demo'ed it as part of the Indiana Jones and Star Wars games. Expect even more excitement as you see how the teaming of RAGE and Euphoria affects movement, gunplay, climbing, and driving. Rockstar also points out that everything you see in the GTA IV trailers is capture in-game -- there are no underhanded renders here.
2. Sound
While the Natural Motion has a visible effect on the physical aspects of action and gunplay, even more noticeable is the game's audio system. Positional audio makes for the sort of intense, fun gun battles we've always wanted in GTA. The streets sound -- and feel -- real.
3. Tunes
Part and parcel of the audio system, of course, is Rockstar's trend-setting ability to craft a killer soundtrack. The new trailer is scored with "Arm In Arm (Shy Child Remix)" by New York City-based band The Boggs. The idea was to show a real street-level view of Rockstar's version of the city with a band that belongs there. To that effect, you'll be seeing even more licensed music from all genres and time periods, since the soundtrack team is no longer confined to a specific decade.
4. Time
While Rockstar is reluctant to discuss the details, time is a big factor in GTA IV. The new trailer indicates in subtle ways how the passage of time might affect the game, and there are clues that indicate some missions, or mission elements, might be time-specific. And if that's the case, then can multiple outcomes and branching storylines be far behind? Don't expect a mission flowchart that looks like a New York City subway map, but Rockstar could surprise us.
5. The Details
The vastly upgraded graphics don't just make for a shinier front end. Rockstar has worked to make GTA IV follow through, from the biggest details to the smallest. You can see it in the way Niko leans around a corner, or how he sways while hanging (in real-time, procedural motion) from the skid of a helicopter. It's the glance into a car and the ways in which the streets of Liberty City are teeming with the life we've been waiting to see from the series. Rockstar claims the new graphics, sound, and details make the game more beautiful, not more disturbing, and we're almost ready to believe them.
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