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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Street names pop up at the bottom right as we enter them. On this particular journey towards the park, we pass through Chinatown, Presidents City, Lancet, Hatton Gardens, Middle Park East, and a stretch of freeway, on to Lancaster, and Ruby Street. "I'm in the park, now what?", Niko asks McReary on his cell. (The name of the cell network, by the way, is 'Whiz'). "This guy told me to bring the money there and call him," says McReary. "That means he's somewhere close and he's got a phone. I'm gonna text you his number. You've got to call him and keep a look out for someone answering a phone. He won't be far." McReary then follows up with a text message, signified by a note at the bottom left - '1 text from Francis'. It reads: "Call the thief's mobile and see who answers their phone. Keep him talking until you identify him."
Niko makes the call:
Blackmailer: "Hello? Who is this?"
Niko: "A friend. I am calling about your exchange with McReary."
Blackmailer: "Yeah. He better have my paper. I ain't fucking around."
Niko: "I'm sure he's got your money. Have you got the stuff that he wants?"
Blackmailer: "Yeah I got it. We going to make this shit happen? I don't mess about you know. Push me and this shit is all over Weasel News. I got them on speed dial."
Niko: "Really..."
Blackmailer: "Yeah. And there's a lawyer called Tom Goldberg who's real interested. He's hungry for McReary's blood and shit. Yeah."
Niko: "Good thing Francis is paying them."
Blackmailer: "Call me when this exchange is going down. I don't like all the talking, yeah?"
We then call the guy and can hear a ringtone, so we have to figure out who it is as we get closer. Just at the bottom left of the steps there's a guy speaking on his phone on a bench, so we follow the guy to see where he goes. Niko pulls out his gun, triggering an over the shoulder aiming view, and we cap him nine times to make sure he's a goner. We see the memory stick that we have to return to McReary and collect it. As soon as the shots were fired, police sirens were heard, and we immediately got a two-star wanted level. Pedestrians start running all over the place in panic, and they're all running in different ways and directions.
"Escaping the cops' search radius is realistically based on the line of sight; if you're seen the radius is refocused to your last known location."
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The way the 'wanted' system works is that when a crime is committed, it triggers a wanted level, and a blue and red search radius appears on the radar at the bottom left of the HUD. Police dispatch will notify officers in their area of the details - who they're looking for, description, last known location, and direction they're heading. It's the player's job to try and get out of this search radius as quick as possible, and escaping the radius will lose the wanted stars. It's realistically based on the line of sight as well; if an officer sees you changing cars or spots on the road after your description has been given out, then the search radius is refocused to your last known location.
And the bigger the crimes you commit and the more people you kill, your stars go up and the search radius expands. "It's a lot more realistic and a lot more fun, more of a game of cat and mouse", explains Rockstar. We can see cops on the radar so we know where they are, but new ones can appear as their backup comes to help out. As we exit the search radius, the stars will keep flashing so you have to be careful until they're gone. Once the stars disappear this time, we can head towards McReary to return the memory stick. We head down Cod Row, Denver Avenue, Exeter Avenue and stop at Northwood / East Holland.
Niko: "Yeah, he's dead."
McReary: "Great, I can get rid of these now. I feel like a new man. Not many people get a second chance like this. Thank you."
Niko: "Your sins are absolved, I guess."
So, job done there but, earlier in the day we organised that interview with the lawyers, so we're going to head to a store called Perseus - a quality menswear shop with prices to match its flashy décor - to change into something a bit more presentable for the interview and not to raise any suspicion. A t-shirt icon appears on the radar to mark our destination and we head towards Silicon Street, through Quartz Street, and Middle Park East.
(Continued...)
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