FAngels Top 25 Favorite Games of All Time

**El Fangel** · 03-04-2012, 11:09 AM

Grand Theft Auto IV was the first game I ever pre-ordered. At the time of release I was in Montreal for a concert and it awaited my return. After a few hours of gameplay I became frustrated with the cars handling and lack of speed. It seems to smother you, there was no open areas to explore just a massive concrete jungle and a main character I couldn't get attached to and the game was shelved for a long time.

Over the last few years, I have become fascinated with New York City and how it is portrayed as a sort of entity in movies and television shows. GTA IV was still laying unplayed in my stack of games and I thought maybe this game has more going for it then I first realized.

After a bit more time and several hours exploring the city I began to appreciate the setting much much more. This is what New York is supposed to feel like. A massive jungle of brown and grey. The only relief is a small gem in the city named Middle Park.

I truly believed I stumbled onto something special in this game as you are playing as an immigrant to America seeking the dream with promises of riches and glory but finding a desolate lifestyle and a city underworld full of corruption and violence.

It is amazing as you watch Niko attempt to adapt to American culture while fighting himself with the morals of what he is doing. Some say the story is weak and Niko himself a cardboard protagonist. That may be true, the story may lack any buildup to its climax and Niko seems one dimensional at times.

However look at it from the perspective of an immigrant, betrayed by someone he considered a friend. Coming to the land of opportunity and the greatest city in the world to escape his former life and is met with circumstances that force him back into doing the only thing that he has ever known.

Put that together with the incredible detail and scale GTA IV has to offer and it changed my opinion vastly from the frustrating throwaway I thought the game was.

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03-04-2012, 11:09 AM	#2
El Fangel ELF ANGEL Posts: 39,476	Grand Theft Auto IV was the first game I ever pre-ordered. At the time of release I was in Montreal for a concert and it awaited my return. After a few hours of gameplay I became frustrated with the cars handling and lack of speed. It seems to smother you, there was no open areas to explore just a massive concrete jungle and a main character I couldn't get attached to and the game was shelved for a long time. Over the last few years, I have become fascinated with New York City and how it is portrayed as a sort of entity in movies and television shows. GTA IV was still laying unplayed in my stack of games and I thought maybe this game has more going for it then I first realized. After a bit more time and several hours exploring the city I began to appreciate the setting much much more. This is what New York is supposed to feel like. A massive jungle of brown and grey. The only relief is a small gem in the city named Middle Park. I truly believed I stumbled onto something special in this game as you are playing as an immigrant to America seeking the dream with promises of riches and glory but finding a desolate lifestyle and a city underworld full of corruption and violence. It is amazing as you watch Niko attempt to adapt to American culture while fighting himself with the morals of what he is doing. Some say the story is weak and Niko himself a cardboard protagonist. That may be true, the story may lack any buildup to its climax and Niko seems one dimensional at times. However look at it from the perspective of an immigrant, betrayed by someone he considered a friend. Coming to the land of opportunity and the greatest city in the world to escape his former life and is met with circumstances that force him back into doing the only thing that he has ever known. Put that together with the incredible detail and scale GTA IV has to offer and it changed my opinion vastly from the frustrating throwaway I thought the game was.