Grand Theft Auto IV: Kikizo Preview 3

Our third GTA IV preview spectacular reveals exclusive new details for the first time anywhere, and takes a much broader look around Liberty City in a fantastic build of the game that's nearing completion.

Page: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 

Page 5

Next it was time to move on to a mission about a third of the way into the game called Deconstruction for Beginners. It features another new character called Playboy X, who we've been introduced to by a mutual friend, Elizabeta, a paranoid drug dealer. At this stage in the game we've met Playboy X a couple of times, and we're now at the stage where we can get missions from him. The upbeat tune that we're listening to by, I don't know, some fella or other, is interrupted by another non-urgent call from Roman on our cellphone. You get phone calls throughout the game of course, and you don't have to answer them - if someone really wants to get hold of you they'll keep phoning, so you'll know whether you're meant to answer it or not. Roman and Niko just have a random chat - Niko remarks: "You know Roman, I haven't been having that much fun since I got here... it's been a lot like hard work!"

We stop right outside Playboy X's mansion. We buzz in and are greeted by Playboy X, who we can see lives up to his name with half-naked ladies lounging around on sofas in the welcome area. It's pimp-ghetto-badboy-smokey-style all over the show. We go up to the penthouse floor and onto the outside area that overlooks the city. "This is my town!", pronounces Playboy as we survey the impressive view from his roof...

Niko: So I guess you do OK?
Playboy X: Yeah OK. But uh, what about chu? What motivates you?
Niko: Hmm. Well, I need money... this pays, I can do it, I don't care if I live or die, and I'm looking for someone.
Playboy X: Someone special...
Niko: Yes. You could say that. So, why do you need me?

Playboy needs Niko for some dirty work, unsurprisingly. In this scene we're also introduced to Dwayne, fresh out of jail. There's a certain discomfort about their meeting when he arrives, as Dwayne fears that Playboy has moved on in the world and left him - and the street life - behind.

Dwayne's confident, booming voice sounds a lot like Rockmond Dunbar, the guy who played Benjamin Miles 'C-Note' Franklin in Prison Break, though this is just our observation not a confirmed voice actor. We're told that most Rockstar staff will only find out the confirmed list of who the voice actors actually are when they get the game manual to proof read and localise. "I'm aware of a couple of famous actors in the game, but I'm not allowed to say," says one Rockstar rep.

Niko and Playboy are together in the car in the next scene. Playboy advises that we need to head to Castle Gardens. "There's an alley we need to hit up just off of South Parkway", he says. We put our foot down and head Downtown on this sunny morning, also passing through Middle Park, Lorimar Street and eventually Star Junction, the game's version of Times Square, which we first saw last time at night and looks just as spectacular here in the bright daytime. It's so cool. I think I caught a glimpse of what looked like Chinatown somewhere around here as well, although I could be mistaken as in fact Canal Street is nowhere near Times Square in real life.

Page: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 

NEXT PAGE >>