• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Things you DON'T like about GTA IV

Ledsen said:
6 hours, that's insane!

Well, I gotta admit I was just overreacting and exaggerrated. It actually only took me around 7 times to complete that mission. But it just felt like 6 hours from the sheer frustration :lol Still, I can kinda see how some how you guys beat it on the first try, because the last couple of times before I beat it, I realized that you're right, driving carefully was the key to winning it. I sincerely hope that's the only mission where racing other cars is absolutely necessary.

Hans said:
Ned, you need to give the game some more time. The first few hours (almost like the first 10) are almost like a gigantic tutorial. The game has some pretty epic missions, some lame ones. You take the good with the bad.

I appreciate the game's graphics, but you really have to observe the city from all different angles and lighting conditions. It may not be the best looking game in terms of consistency (there's good and bad looking parts), but sometimes that lighting, shadows, colors, and DOF all come together and the game just looks absolutely brilliant. For instance, on the island on the very western part of liberty city, there's an overpass that's gigantic and you can see it in the background, there's a DOF effect on it and the architecture really stands out as being just perfect. No other way to explain it other than by seeing it. For what GTA4 attempts to do, it is an amazing achievment. I'm really glad they went with an outstanding lighting model because it allows them to dynamically change the city. Some of the filters and effects on the screen when there's rain, or a slight haze, or a sunset just bring everything to life.


Good post Hans. Couldn't have said it better. I first got to Manhatten today and was blown away by the scenery. The neon signs all the animated stuff going on in Times Square is phenomenal! And yeah, the frame rate isn't spectacular, but all the complaints about it running between 10-15fps is pure bullshit. It runs at a steady 30fps on my machine most of the time and I have never been distracted by the framerate.

Still, my main gripe is the lack of checkpoints during long missions. Having to drive ALL the way the fuck back to where your contact is, then driving ALL the way to where the actual mission starts every time you die is nothing short of CRIMINAL!! FU R* for your archaic gameplay mechanics. NO other game does this kind of shit nowadays.
 
I was cursing at Rockstar for this myself, but then I realized that you can take a taxi anywhere for a reason.
 
Kritz said:
fuuuuuuuck

Why in the dick aren't there checkpoints in the longer missions? I just died at the very end of the first(?) "X" mission. I don't want to
drive from the top of the map to the bottom, get into the weapons car, go all the way up that skyscraper, shoot the three dudes on the cranes, go all the way back down the building again, drive up to the first target, kill him, kill all the other dudes, go to the second target, kill him, go to the third target, have a helicopter come in and then be bumrushed again by 10 more guys while trying to kill the target all the way at the back before the helicopter picks him up.
Why on earth can't I just jump back in to a point a few minutes before I died? What on earth were R* thinking?

I'm going to wait until I get a rocket launcher before doing that mission again. Next time, everyone dies. FUCK.

OMFG that is exactly where I'm at! :lol That mission is a bitch! I couldn't agree with you more. The lack of mid-mission checkpoints or something equivalent is appalling.
 
After several hours in, I finally decided I liked a car I was driving enough to save it at my house. It didn't work. I'm unable to save a car.

I started a new game and tried, and it worked fine. Went back to my first game, and it still doesn't.

Has anyone else here had this problem? If so, I'd like to know whether to expect to never be able to save cars, or whether it will work at any new locations I earn. If not, I guess I'd better start over now, while I'm not too far in.
 
There are lots of annoying things, but they get very easy to spot when almost everyone says the game is perfect.

The new controls are horrible, so I use the classic controls. BUT now, when I backup my car, I need two thumbs on the right side of the game controller to look what's behind me. You used to use the L2 and R2 buttons for that in the previous parts.

Also, Am I the only one who suffers from insanely amounts of frame drops?!
 
Worst controls ever.

The combat is as bad as before if not worst. Aiming and cover is shit.

EDIT: I'm doing the LJacob mission in the dealer house, small room, keep getting killed or something explodes while I accidentally stick to walls or aim and shoot at wall corners while being unable to take cover because the camera is a bitch to control and the character moves like he's walking on a water bed.
 
I am constantly questioning whether or not the NPC I'm chasing is invincible and leading me down a scripted path that I should just follow instead of wasting bullets.

Like the first motorcycle chase. The game says "PRESS TEH LB BUTTON TO SHOTS GUN WHEN INSIDE VEHICLE!", not that it matters because the motherfucker you're chasing is unaffected by your bullets until you get to the park later. Ur ur ur urrrr
 
Quite a few things.


Car camera being too loose.
Not being able to free-aim the 3rd person camera
Being kicked to SP or custom MP game after finishing a ranked MP game.
The ability to discern players from an NPC by the coloured dot above their heads in MP.

Can't think of more. Having a beergarden moment now.
 
my main ache with the gun controls is that the cursor is too slow for proper free aim and auto control keeps locked onto the last thing you want to hit, for instance it will stay locked onto enemies you have already taken down and will utterly refuse to budge.

Then while stuck to walls nico will simply refuse to fire on occasion, and that's not mentioning how i swear at certain times the game just randomises what weapon i have in my hand for the fun of it, theres been a few times now where i get into a car with gun in hand then jump out into a firefight with bare fists.
 
The game no longer loads. PS3 60GB PAL.

Wow. Just wow.

This is total and utter shit in a box. How something so bug ridden is awarded a 10/10 is a disgrace. Absolute disgrace.
 
avaya said:
The game no longer loads. PS3 60GB PAL.

Wow. Just wow.

This is total and utter shit in a box. How something so bug ridden is awarded a 10/10 is a disgrace. Absolute disgrace.

Sign out of PSN first, then load the game. Probably something to do with Rockstar's integration with the Social Club.

edit: Actually, according to the stickied thread, seems like the issue's been fixed.
 
_leech_ said:
Sign out of PSN first, then load the game. Probably something to do with Rockstar's integration with the Social Club.

edit: Actually, according to the stickied thread, seems like the issue's been fixed.

I did the sign-out. I disabled internet connection. I disabled the media server connection. I deleted the install. Deleted the savegames. Same thing happens over and over again when trying to load the game after the first time you save it.

I will look at the stickied thread. I am fucking pissed at how shoddy the testing has been on a piece of software that is one of the biggest releases of the year.
 
5tr4p0n said:
There are lots of annoying things, but they get very easy to spot when almost everyone says the game is perfect.

The new controls are horrible, so I use the classic controls. BUT now, when I backup my car, I need two thumbs on the right side of the game controller to look what's behind me. You used to use the L2 and R2 buttons for that in the previous parts.

Also, Am I the only one who suffers from insanely amounts of frame drops?!

I don't know what you're talking about because the new controls are light years ahead of the old ones. It takes a while to get used to but when it comes to on-foot and in-vehicle shooting, the new controls work really well.
 
The controls are better, especially considering all the new functions. It'll just take you a while to get used to them. It makes my head spin when people say the old mechanic is better than the new...
 
Turning a corner and taping a police car giving me 1 star and taking a car and boom the cops are after me, didnt even see them. Basically, there are too many cops around all the time.
 
Too many fucking chase missions. I seriously don't know if i can finish the game, the chase missions have put me off that much. I can't believe R* fucked up so bad in the missions in the game. Mostly boring and pretty much all repetitive
 
NinjaFridge said:
Too many fucking chase missions. I seriously don't know if i can finish the game, the chase missions have put me off that much. I can't believe R* fucked up so bad in the missions in the game. Mostly boring and pretty much all repetitive

Im feeling the same way. I hate that there isnt much to do besides the story missions. I love that about SR. You could fuck around for hours doing a bunch of stuff without even touching the main story or side ones.

This game just makes me want SR2 even more.
 
I got to the middle island, and it runs sub 15fps.... like 70% of the time i'm riding a car in this game.


I can't believe how bad it runs. I have to test this game in another ps3, or most of the reviewers are serious blind.
 
Last mission:
the helicopter part
and no checkpoint before it, died 5 times now, and it takes like 10 mins each time to get to that part. FUCK.ING.HELL. Game design for that part needs to be shot, its needlessly infuriating.
 
I have a few:
-Too many same cars in the vicinity
-Hand to Hand Combat is terrible
-Shooting is kind of lackluster so far
-Soundtrack is absolutely shitty
-Too dark, I can hardly see anything at times
 
Who the FUCK thought it would be a good idea to not have checkpoints in the
bank robbing with Packie
mission? Jesus Christ. It's SO LONG.
 
how did they fuck up on the radio stations? the talk radio shows literally have 2 or 3 different skits, looping over and over ,that's it. The other GTA's had tons of guests and hilarious callers. Barely any of that here.
 
VindicatorZ said:
how did they fuck up on the radio stations? the talk radio shows literally have 2 or 3 different skits, looping over and over ,that's it. The other GTA's had tons of guests and hilarious callers. Barely any of that here.

That's just the messed up radio syncing. Unlike previous games the radio doesn't continue in the background while you're off doing something; it randomly moves around to preset positions, resulting in the music repeating more often than normal. :(
 
Projectjustice said:
Im feeling the same way. I hate that there isnt much to do besides the story missions. I love that about SR. You could fuck around for hours doing a bunch of stuff without even touching the main story or side ones.

This game just makes me want SR2 even more.

Insurance fraud ftw. But I'm not really looking forward to SR2 after playing GTA4.
 
For me it's:

1) He walks TOO fucking slow and turns around too slow
2) The wall cover system is frigging useless, mainly noticeable in the early stages
3) The fighting is fucking awful

To me it seems as if the game is rigid and too slow
 
I have a feeling that this game will eventually go down as the most overrated/overhyped of all time. I mean, it's certainly excellent and 9.5 territory, but the 10's it's received along with the media circle jerk are just way beyond what it deserves.
 
I really hate the camera and movement system in the game.
The main character turns way to slow and it feels really wobbly. You have to fight with the game when you want to turn the camera around.
Its really bothersome after playing mgo for a while.
The game is way too dark.
The shooting is a bit meh as well.
 
I like the game a lot, but...

It feels like the physic engine, while making some fun situations, "holds" the game from being something i would totally love.

It's the same for niko's movements, they feels too heavy. I've got used to them, but i'm not really enjoying them.

Maybe i wanted something more over the top and less realistic, gameplay wise.


Another thing: i had big expectations for the multyplayer, but other than territory, free mode, cops and crooks and the co-op missions, i don't like it; especially deathmatch and team deathmach, i think they are a joke. Good for some random matches but nothing more.

Also, i like some co-op missions characters models, but i hate the ones you can customize. They looks dumb
 
Thaedolus said:
I have a feeling that this game will eventually go down as the most overrated/overhyped of all time. I mean, it's certainly excellent and 9.5 territory, but the 10's it's received along with the media circle jerk are just way beyond what it deserves.
Tbh, the no checkpoints in long missions like the ''Out of Commission'' last mission is simply unacceptable, does nothing except break my balls and make me hate the game. After 10 tries, I dont even want to finish it. Seperate to that... GTA4 just plain wasnt fun, with the exception of a few missions, it sucked pretty bad. I was actually bored quite alot of the way through just wanting to plug through them. The story was poor too, its taken itself too seriously and lost all the humour, I couldnt care less about any of the characters. Rockstar havent innovated enough outside of building a proper scale city with good lighting. The gameplay has stayed last gen and its minus much of the humour that made the series too.
 
CoLaN said:
It feels like the physic engine, while making some fun situations, "holds" the game from being something i would totally love.
You're crazy. This is what makes this an awesome, next-gen GTA game.
 
chubigans said:
That's just the messed up radio syncing. Unlike previous games the radio doesn't continue in the background while you're off doing something; it randomly moves around to preset positions, resulting in the music repeating more often than normal. :(

IIRC, it was like that in San Andreas too. They seemed to have messed around with the radio a little after Raymond Usher left Rockstar for Realtime Worlds.
 
That Niko is unable to get out of a car through the passenger side in a reasonable time. I mean if you have to he will jump into the passenger seat and sit there like a fucking twat.

That when you jack a car you have to watch a sort of cut scene that does nothing but waste time and annoy you. Take the fucking car, don't change camera angle and shit.
 
acevans2 said:
You're crazy. This is what makes this an awesome, next-gen GTA game.


Well, let's say "how the physic engine is handled in the game" then. I like many aspects of it, but i just would prefer a "lighter" setting... hard to explain, yea :lol

Anyway, i like the game.
 
Thaedolus said:
I have a feeling that this game will eventually go down as the most overrated/overhyped of all time. I mean, it's certainly excellent and 9.5 territory, but the 10's it's received along with the media circle jerk are just way beyond what it deserves.

yeah that 5% overrating is ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
 
pj325is said:
yeah that 5% overrating is ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
I wouldn't even give it a 9.5, but that's another story, and it's not about overrating by those 5 points, it's about perception of that score.
 
I don't even know where to start. It's simply the most overhyped game in years, probably of all time. It's buggy as hell, some parts lack polish, the story seems to lead nowhere, the characters are mostly great, but unimportant, the cellphone/ friend concept sucks, combat sucks, checkpoint system sucks, the driving physics and controls are subpar, getting rid of cops sucks...

I still like it, though - I just expected so much more. This isn't GTAIV, it's another GTAIII spinoff. And not even the best one.
 
The game is really buggy, but for what its worth, its a fun ride.

I had to do a mission, I picked up a bike cuz I crashed (god damn I hate the vehicle controls), when I picked it up, I got glitched and sent flying into the air, only to fall to my death.

The amount of times I've died for stupid reasons (a car going at 3mph hits me and i fall...okay) are high. I used to go through GTA3/VC/San Andreas without dying...it just seems way too easy to get glitched / get caught in a targetting bug and lose your life.
 
NinjaFridge said:
That when you jack a car you have to watch a sort of cut scene that does nothing but waste time and annoy you. Take the fucking car, don't change camera angle and shit.
In a game called GRAND THEFT AUTO, you're surprised they make an event out of stealing cars?

It's only like a three-five second clip, man.
 
wsippel said:
I don't even know where to start. It's simply the most overhyped game in years, probably of all time. It's buggy as hell, some parts lack polish, the story seems to lead nowhere, the characters are mostly great, but unimportant, the cellphone/ friend concept sucks, combat sucks, checkpoint system sucks, the driving physics and controls are subpar, getting rid of cops sucks...

I still like it, though - I just expected so much more. This isn't GTAIV, it's another GTAIII spinoff. And not even the best one.

Pretty much agreed there. I think this might be the last GTA that has an impact in any meaningful sense unless Rockstar starts to make some significant changes for the better. If enough people are burned by this, it could pretty much turn the series into what Splinter Cell became.
 
acevans2 said:
In a game called GRAND THEFT AUTO, you're surprised they make an event out of stealing cars?

It's only like a three-five second clip, man.

I always expected that the theft of a car during the day, while someone is in it would have to be as quick as possible. It sucks balls because i can't skip it, its fucking annoying as hell
 
The thing that hit me as soon as the game began (no pressing start, well that's something new) is that the game still uses the same tank-controls all 3d GTA's have used.

Then I sat down and watched some tv. Now that is just fucking awesome.

Camera does seem very loose though, I don't like the standard auto cam but I cannot use the controllable one to lock it into a better position, which is kind of odd when you think about what the purpose of that cam is in the first place.

But at least the micromanagement stuff is out, which is good. I can live with the archaic mechanism when there is a lot of equallly awesome stuff in the game to be had.
 
Raban said:
Dear Rockstar,

Hey cockbags, I thought it'd be worth mentioning that in modern video games that feature a sandbox and mission-based gameplay, they have this fucking INSANE thing called MID-MISSION AUTOSAVE CHECKPOINTS. It helps a ton, especially when you give the option to replay a mission right after you die, leaving the unsuspecting fuckhead (the gamer) thinking that he'll actually start at a certain point in the mission, not at the very beginning only to re-initiate a pre-rendered cutscene that takes a second or to load, a second or two to skip, and the good five fucking minutes you spend driving around Liberty City actually taking your pals to the mission you fucked up on last time. Don't bother mentioning how cool the Taxi Trip-Skip is, seeing as how when you have to play wheelman to four other fucking people, you can kiss your sweet dreams goodbye about the usefulness of THAT little feature!

I'd also love to compliment you on your physics engine, except for the fact that flying out of your front windshield in a car is almost completely random, and I think I've done more skull dives from the driver's seat hitting lamp-posts at 10MPH than I have ramming semi-trucks at 100. Also, thanks for making the buddy AI so great, what with the fact that they can die, and the fact that they RUN RIGHT INTO FUCKING BULLETS LIKE BIG FAT IDIOTS ANY CHANCE THEY GET.

I also can't forget to mention that even though a large fraction of the missions you receive are from Federal Fucking Officials, the cops still jump on my ass like Jake Gyllenhaal passed out in a gay bar when I'm only trying to complete the fucking mission.

And it was a great idea to make the GPS realistic in the way that it doesn't put you down one-way roads when you set a course, UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY FIND OUT HOW MUCH EXTRA DRIVING YOU END UP HAVING TO DO. Speaking of the driving, thanks for retconning it, you fucking shitwads. Even the fucking AI concurs with how shitty the driving is, shown by how extremely happy they are when I'm in the middle of a chase and EVERY FUCKING CAR ON THE ROAD GOES OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HIT ME.

Sincerely,
FUCK YOU UP YOUR STUPID ASS
.
 
I can finally post in this thread, yay!

Anyway, I watched my brother play a bit and I tried some myself... and I've got to say, there's no way in fucking hell that this game deserves a 10 in graphics. Sometimes, it does look good, yes. But others, it looks absolutely horrendous. Jeez, what were those reviewers thinking?
 
Top Bottom