Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition is widely regarded as a classic and a masterpiece in storytelling and immersive open-world gameplay. Players praise its mature, gritty narrative centered on Niko Bellic, a war veteran navigating the dark underbelly of Liberty City. The game’s realistic physics, especially in driving and combat, and the detailed city environment contribute to a highly immersive experience. The inclusion of both DLC expansions adds substantial content, enhancing the overall value.

However, the PC port suffers from significant technical issues, including poor optimization, bugs, and launcher problems, which detract from the experience. Many players recommend mods to improve performance and fix glitches. Privacy concerns have been raised due to updated Terms of Service perceived as intrusive. Despite these drawbacks, the game’s storyline, atmosphere, and gameplay mechanics keep it highly recommended, especially for fans of narrative-driven open-world games.

Highlights

Players highly praise the game's dark, mature storyline and the complex character development of Niko Bellic, which many consider the best in the GTA series.

The realistic physics engine enhances driving and combat, making interactions feel authentic and engaging. Liberty City is celebrated for its detailed, immersive environment.

The inclusion of both DLCs adds depth and variety, with enjoyable side activities and well-written missions. The voice acting and soundtrack further elevate the game's atmosphere.

Criticisms

The PC version is criticized for poor optimization and technical glitches, including crashes, loading issues, and buggy missions, which often require mods to resolve.

The Rockstar Games launcher is frequently reported as problematic, sometimes preventing the game from launching.

Controls, especially on controllers and during certain missions (e.g., helicopter segments), are considered frustrating. Privacy concerns over intrusive data collection in the updated Terms of Service have also been a major point of contention.

Some players find the game’s length excessive and side missions repetitive.