Grand Theft Auto IV: Kikizo Preview 2
Kikizo's second massive first-hand preview of GTA IV is so detailed that we're a bit worried about our own mental health. Get your FULL update on the game of the year fresh from our extensive meeting with Rockstar.
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"The field of sight when driving is improved thanks to driver's viewpoint bias, full-on HD detail, awesome draw distance and widescreen display."
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We jump into a black Comet that has been left unlocked - one of those many different jacking and car theft animations obviously includes just opening it the easy way! As mentioned earlier, with this more graphically stable code, we rev the engine a lot more in this demo as we speed up down the freeway type roads, which is a great chance to check out the next generation sounds of the engine that are right up there with Forza or Gotham. The cars look great as they react to every bit of undulation in the road.
When driving, the default camera angle is slightly over to the drivers' side now, for a better line of sight. There are different angles and you can move the camera, but if you're not touching it, it will remain at the more central position leaning towards the drivers' side. When driving, the field of sight and sense of direction we have is superior to previous GTAs, thanks to the driver's viewpoint bias, full-on HD detail, awesome draw distance and of course widescreen display - you'll really be able to see what you're doing better this time. Feel the power.
Route navigation is also simpler, since it's 2007 and we have a GPS system in the car, and the recommended route shows up in yellow on the radar at the bottom left. You don't have to follow the route, but if you're playing the game for the first time it's often easier to use the assistance of the GPS system to get where you need to go. It's a much more natural experience than having to keep checking a separate map of the city as in previous games.
P L E A S E V I S I T O U R S P O N S O R :
"Texture and detail in the city is unquestionably the highest quality we've seen in any next-gen game in a realistic setting, bar none."
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Let's also take a minute out to talk about the graphical detail in every square inch of this new Liberty City. Riding through the city, we see supremely detailed stuff everywhere, a visual fidelity that is simply not comparable to anything before in the series; bus stops, people on cells and payphones, people smoking, all manner of different trees and flower plant boxes on the sidewalk, roadworks and workers. We even saw one everyday pedestrian on their cell 'gasp' at something she'd heard in her conversation. We see trashcans with individually modelled items of different trash in them, newspaper dispensers, American flags hanging from many buildings. We pass a Cola van with the slogan 'Deliciously Infectious' and a hot dog stand (we're told we can buy a hot dog if we like) as well as a food joint called Burger Shot and a Chemist both right next to the TW@ internet café earlier. We also spotted a 'Vinewood' branded video hire store (Vinewood was San Andreas' rendition of Hollywood).
We see extremely detailed and varied sidewalk textures, steps, brickwork, street markings and so on, and the natural shadows cast by all the different moving traffic. Car lights convincingly light up and reflect the street tarmac and all their surroundings, and the different surfaces Niko walks on are distinct, including a shiny marble type surface in a scene earlier. Simply put, the texture and detail in the city, as well as the overall effect of it all in motion, is unquestionably the highest quality we've seen in any next-gen game in a realistic setting, bar none.
(Continued...)
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