enzo_gt said:
Everytime I read complaints about GTA IV it sounds like someone is either 12 or they desperately want a jetpack and dildos focused game and can't appreciate it for what it has evolved to. GTA IV was the culmination of technology, resources and gameplay refined to a T. As much as I love San Andreas, GTA IV is pretty much superior in every aspect except random bugs and glitches fucking with your game and making you laugh. San Andreas, the locale, has a bit more charm than some of the locales in GTA IV, but the gameplay and missions pale in comparison.
The gunplay is ruined by the lock on system. The cover system was a nice addition, but at the end of the day the gameplay doesn't end up being all that different from GTA SA: Lock on, fire with perfect accuracy, switch targets, repeat. It's a problem that I had with Red Dead Redemption (which at least added dead eye to add little more gratification).
You're just wrong about it being superior in every way. It's a lesser game as a sandbox, and while the enhancements in animation and vehicle control are superior, it wasn't enough to make up for all the things it lacked in comparison to SA.
I would disagree about the missions as well. Everyone points to three leaf clover as perhaps the only memorable mission in IV, and even 4 or 5 years since I've even played SA I can still bring up some far wilder and more fun mission scenarios from SA than IV, which I struggle to really remember at all.
enzo_gt said:
I think it's because as I grew up with GTA I saw the progression in actual game design rather than the sheer amount of bullshit people can do you could wrap into a game. I found to appreciate decision making, more three dimensional characters (still not completely there yet) and production values. A lot of stuff, cutscenes, environments, subtle humor (though SA radio > GTA IV radio), story, driving mechanics, gunplay, movement, animations, all the stuff you expect to be better IS better in the sequel.. Making it a better game. Nostalgias a bitch, but I don't want to go back to those days of self-parody.
GTA IV definitely added some quality pieces. The decision making was a nice piece, and I really enjoy how they added internet.
There is still a lot that is inferior to SA though as far as the actual sandbox, and it can't be argued.
Luckily after RDR I think that we'll at the very least see more random events in the world, which should lead to a superior sandbox. I'm optimistic that V will be a much better game than IV.