Games to die for?

Grand Theft Auto IV in Action

A top-down, free-roaming crime-‘em up, GTA gained controversy and acclaim in equal amounts for its violent gangster gameplay, car-jacking focus and risqué soundtrack. A decade later, the now renamed Rockstar Games is responsible for changing the face of gaming.

PS2 Grand Theft Auto III gave gamers a fully 3D playground in which to explore, play, and affect utter mayhem, and each new GTA on PS2, Xbox and PSP has upped the size, scale, style and sheer attitude, cementing the series as one of the iconic gaming brands of its time. Now Rockstar return with the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Experience a new story, fresh missions and gaze upon Liberty City in high definition glory in what’s all set to be one of the year’s biggest and best releases. As you’d expect, the graphics and sound are just incredible, but it’s the gameplay that’s not so much re-inventing the wheel, it’s developing a whole new form of transport altogether!

The free-roaming aspect of GTA IV had hugely surpassed even itself – if you really fancy not playing and watching TV, you can stay inside the game, go back to your place, put your feet up on the virtual sofa and check out what’s on!

The game is causing a huge stir however, because as well as being one of the most advanced games in the world, it is also one of the most violent and ‘adult orientated’, and thanks to it’s ‘sandbox-style’ gameplay – where there is no definitive end and missions develop depending on the choices you make, you can take the option to limit the level of violence.

There have been many calls for stricter sales methods in shops, despite the game already having an 18 rating – asking the question ‘is a violent game any different to a violent film?’ What do you think?