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  GTA 4: A look into Liberty City

  Navneet Prakash, Aug 07, 2007 1154 hrs IST

  The most popular, as well as the most money-making franchise in recent history - GTA 4, has quite a few rumors lurking around. Here's separating the wheat from the chaff.

  

Page 1 - About, The Plot Page 2 - Gameplay, Features, Multiplayer, Episodic Content Page 3 - A Few Screenshots

Gameplay and New Features

There are a lot of rumors doing rounds about the gameplay. Some have been confirmed and I've listed them for you below.

1) The game and its mission will be much broader in perspective; you will not be bound to story-based missions, and will be able to choose exactly how to go about the story.

2) In the game, you won't simply jump into a car; you will break open the glass of the car with your elbow, hot wire it, and then drive the car.

3) Niko will always carry a phone with him; the phone will have all the contact details and necessary information. Whenever the phone is accessed, you can see a zoomed-in view of the phone's LCD on your screen.

4) The movement will be much more realistic when compared to other games in the series. If there is an uphill-slope, Niko will make have to make an effort to walk on it, he will walk accordingly for a downhill-slope, or some other terrain.

5) RAGE will use advanced movements and physics systems to enable realistic gameplay.

6) There will be more than a few animations while entering a car unlike the previous versions, where there was just one monotonous action.

7) Shooting will be easier as you have the option to auto-aim now. Whenever you pull out a gun, you will get a over-the-shoulder view, something like Splinter Cell.

8) Niko will be able to send and receive e-mails (as per the official fan-website), and will be able to access Internet-cafes throughout the city.

9) This is going to be a highly action-packed game; Niko will be able to cling to the back of a car, or even hold on to a flying-chopper, as shown in the second trailer.

10) Every city street will be named and Niko will have to look up for various streets to complete the missions.

11) A rumor also suggests that Niko will be able to uses buses and trains, in addition to taxis like earlier.

12) Police AI has been improved; trying to be out of their reach will now be very difficult since they will shoot better, take cover behind solid objects (so can Niko), and they will frantically search for you if you commit a crime. To outrun them, you will have to skip a major part of the city and go someplace else, far away from the crime location.

Multiplayer and Episodic Content

The official spokesperson said that GTA 4 will be online, but won't be an MMO. There will be interaction among various players online, but without making it look line an MMO. Furthermore, the Microsoft Xbox 360 version will have episodes available for the title in the future. Episodes will have more to the story and missions, and will further enhance the gameplay for the select few who buy it online.

The game is still a few months away, and hence more information is expected soon. I hope now you something to look forward to in your favorite series. For more information on GTA, keep watching this space.

Page 1 - About, The Plot Page 2 - Gameplay, Features, Multiplayer, Episodic Content Page 3 - A Few Screenshots

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