Is GTA IV too serious?

GTA IV shook the world when it came out. Critics gave it 10 across the board. 3.6 million copies were sold on the first day. It put Jack Johnson and Mothers Against Drunk Driving into further protest and redefined gaming as whole. But is Rockstar getting away from its 'screw-around' style of the game, which made San Andreas so famous?

Follow up:

Niko Belik, the main protagonist, has captured the imagination and the passion of countless players. Rockstar has successfully made Niko a warm, dynamic, and believable character. Carl Johnson (San Andreas), Tommy Vercetti (Vice City), or Claude (GTA III) did not leave a better impression on players.

Over the last few years, the GTA series has become known as a criminal simulator. Players could choose to start the game from the beginning, and simply "screw around". Doing missions would move the player into new areas of the map and open up new options. Initially player have enough resources to potentially do anything they want. After following the missions, new options are opened (Specially in San Andreas), players can do more things, other than missions.

In GTA 4, there is potentially nothing to do other than missions. Rockstar added some potentially new and good features. Cell Phones, new physics engine, great graphics, the ability to hide behind objects, in game internet (About 100 sites), and many other features. But at the same time the game feels very limited.

As a player, I can no longer do certain things I could do before I could do in San Adreas. These certain things are the things that made me want to play even more. There is a huge lack in the diversity of vehicles (Even spotting a sports bike is quite rare). No longer are there secret vehicles, secret objects (Even if there are, they are very seldom). No longer are there truly places to go; the map is too small. Being Rambo against police isn't easy anymore either (Getting away, although, is way too easy). Flying a helicopter isn't as fun anymore and there aren't any airplanes. I cant jump off out of a plane with a parachute, or ride a hover craft off the 100th floor. Ramps aren't as important anymore. Money, for the first time, actually makes sense to watch out for.

However, if the game had a great storyline of GTA 4 and had the same 'screw-around' features of San Andreas, it would a game far better GTA 4 already is. GTA 5, has the full potential of becoming such a game.

After playing through about 75% of the entire story, I don't feel I have gotten what I expected. I turn on the game just so that I can continue the story, not do what ever I want. Rockstar has truly made a beautiful game, with a very good story, great characters, and a great looking city. But it just doesn't feel like GTA. The GTA I know is screw around, not do missions and follow the story. I do hope, that in the next GTA, we will see both of what GTA 4, and GTA San Andreas have. Image what a game it would be.
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