Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition

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I have been a fan of the franchise way back since the very first Grand Theft Auto on the original PlayStation so when I heard there was going to be a special edition for the PS3 I just had to get it. When I got the box home and opened it, I was pleasantly surprised!

Everything is packed in the lockbox, which is surprisingly sturdy. I was expecting it to be made out of cheap plastic like a happy meal toy but they actually made it out of metal. Admittedly, my expectation bar wasn't high for this item but they clearly beat my expectations

The Art book is hardcover and has great pictures of the city and characters, as well as detailed descriptions. Very fine quality.

I love the keychain! Solid metal Rockstar insignia on a quality key loop. Replaced my old keychain fast!

The Duffel bag is decent. Better than the free duffel bags from a duffel bag giveaway night for the local baseball team but not as good as one you'd buy in a store. The Rockstar emblem on it is a big plus tho.

The soundtrack is pretty good as well. I would've preferred if it was in a jewelcase vs. a cardboard sleeve but thats minor.

All this packaged with arguably the most anticipated game of the year for just $30 extra. In my opinion, if you are a fan of Grand Theft Auto and have the extra money, it is well worth the difference in price.

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I was personally shocked when I first played this game. I knew this game was going to be amazing but I didn't know that so far it is one of my favorite games of all time. This first thing to grab my attention was the level of detailed realism in the game. The car crashes, the guns, the character apperances, the mini games, everything are perfect. The biggest fixes in the game that hands down win over the game to me are the lighting effects and new and improved aiming system. The lighting in the game has gone over a dramatic makeover and makes the game look beautiful. Instead of two settings light and dark you can tell the differences in light throught the gaming time while playing. The sun will gradually change and the effects it has on the shadows and glare on everything in the game is amazing. The aiming system is hands down the best in the series and is very similar to Gears Of War. COVER is now a must have in combat. There are some close range issues with the aiming system though but overall it is perfect. The next best thing is the story and characters in the game. The story is hands down the best in the series and the animations of the characters for such an indepth game are gorgeous. Your running is more realistic the way the crowd reacts, and the intelligence of the local LCPD is incredable. The police are extremely smart and deadly increasing the level of difficulty in a new "What the hell do I do now to escape the pigs chasing me way". Overall the police are now incredibly smart and you'll need to think twice on what to do. The game is overall to perfect to describe in words on what you can do with up to the 35-40 hours of game play it offers and the best multiplayer i've played this year. This game is a deffinit by for video fan-boys or not and is worth every penny. This is deffinitley a candidate for GAME OF THE YEAR.

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Niko is new to America. Brought by hopes and promises of his cousin Roman about how wealthy he is. Unfortunately for Niko he quickly finds the stories to be lies. Grand Theft Auto IV starts as others in the series with an anti-hero. Getting involved in doing the wrong things is all to easy in this game. From the very get go you are learning that living the American life can be difficult and in order to get your story going you must break the law. For the most part Niko doesn't have a problem with this since he has become raw after being a soldier in war.

GTA IV has probably one of the darkest stories so far in the series. This is not the type of game you will play and comment on how cheerful the story is. For those of you who have played previous GTA games you will notice many similarities. From the gameplay mechanics to the story line. Although people who are new to the GTA series will find how simple the learning curve really is in this game. The game gives you an incredible amount of tutorials and guides you thru your first several missions making things easy to understand. Most features in this game are simple to understand and keep this game from getting over anyones learning curve.

What has made the Grand Theft Auto series so superb is the story telling. Excellent voice acting with intense and exciting missions make GTA IV a true winner. From the first moment on you will notice that you aren't really playing a game as much as taking part in an intense crime drama. Think Sopranos from the former Soviet Union. The game is mission based and gives you the ability to choose what you want to do at any given point. You meet numerous characters who are all about committing crimes and they give you certain jobs. Of course these jobs increase your reputation and help progress you thru the story. Along the way you will find numerous characters. Some you will like and others you will probably want to get rid of yourself.

This game has further evolved ideas from previous GTA games. Niko can not only date one woman at a time but several. It's really up to you. Just remember how in real life this can be time consuming it can also be in a game. You will have woman calling and texting you if you ignore them to long. Then comes taking them out for dates. Each woman has different tastes and interests and it's up to you to know where to take them. Some of the activities can actually be fun like playing darts or pool as these mini games do have learning curves. The girl you are with will respond to your success or failure at these games. Obviously there are numerous other activities in wonderful Liberty City. Also it's important for Niko to accessorize and finding the best clothing to wear is important. Image is everything as as you progress you get access to better clothes. The car mechanics have improved in this game but don't expect to have similar handling to a racing game. What is cool to look at is the amazing detail they have put into the car damage. Every little ding makes an impact on the car you are in. Lastly is the music selection. An incredible 200 songs are available in Liberty City to listen to on the radio. Numerous radio stations including the talk ones belt out hit songs and comedic advertisements. Niko even has the ability to watch t.v. They covered every detail in this game and it shows.

As if a single player mode that will take you 30 to 40 hours to beat is not enough there is also online multiplayer. Yes you and 15 others can play on the beautiful streets of Liberty City. The multiplayer is truly open ended for your enjoyment. Several game modes plus the ability to create your own multiplayer. You can also invite seven friends to take on eight others. It's easy to say this game will be enjoyed for months on end.

It's easy to be impressed by Liberty City. It's as close to New York City as any game has ever got. From the pedestrians that make up the neighborhood to the realistic design of the buildings. The weather changes and the days progress realistically. This is one of those games where you can just take it in and enjoy the scenery. In Grand Theft Auto you have the freedom to do what you want. This game is intended for adults. The language and content can be mature most of the time. Although that is at a parents discretion. I wouldn't suggest this game for everyone. Although I would suggest it for those who have enjoyed previous Grand Theft Auto games. I would also suggest it for those who enjoy mafia or crime movies. This game will have you sitting back and enjoying the incredible story. Just don't forget that it's your story to play.

**Now for those of you asking. Is the special edition good for you??? If you are a GTA diehard fan I would say yes. If you enjoy getting extras for extra money I would say yes. The Special Edition comes with a mediocre soundtrack album featuring songs you may have never heard before. You also get a good quality lock box with a duffle bag. In the box is a rockstar key chain. I now own this stuff. It's nice but I don't think it's of the best value.

Read Best Reviews of Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition Here

This review will just be on the extra goodies that came included with the Special Edition.

Firstly, I was quite pleased with Amazon.com's added bonus for pre-ordering this version: Maybe I wasn't the first person on my block to get a copy, but I am the only person with a Liberty City license plate!

The safe deposit box is very sturdy, with the GTA IV logo impressed on the top of the box. While I like having the keychain and keys for it, I can't see myself using the keychain the huge star on the end of it would hurt like hell if I had it in my pocket!

The CD is more of a sampler than anything else as with previous Grand Theft Auto titles, the full soundtrack won't be out for a while.

It has the following tracks:

Michael Hunter "Soviet Connection (Theme from Grand Theft Auto IV)"

Mobb Deep featuring Havoc & Prodigy from H.N.I.C. Part 2 Sessions "Dirty New Yorker"

The Rapture "No Sex For Ben"

Munga "No Fraid A"

Busta Rhymes "Where's My Money"

C.J. "I Want You"

Joe Walsh "Rocky Mountain Way"

Bob Marley & the Wailers and Damian Marley "Stand Up Jamrock"

Seryoga "Liberty City: The Invasion"

Greenskeepers "Vagabond"

Electrik Funk "On A Journey"

Qadir "Nickname"

David Axelrod "Holy Thursday"

Nas "War Is Necessary"

Fela Kuti "Zombie"

Global Communication "Maiden Voyage"

Both the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Box Set and the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Box Set are welcome additions to my musical library, We'll just have to wait a while for GTA IV's box set to arrive.

The duffel bag? Well, it's a duffel bag with a Rockstar logo on it. Not much else to say on that one.

But what's the best reason to get this version?

"The Art of Grand Theft Auto IV". This 36-page book shows us all kinds of scenery from the game: Characters, weaponry, clothes, enviroments, the animation process, and much more.

My favorite segment in the book is from the art director of Grand Theft Auto IV, Aaron Garbut. He gives his own thoughts on the difficulty and sense of pride in creating a fully functioning, living, breathing, and interative city. From the cigarette butt dropped on the ground to the changing of daylight to dusk, we have untold areas to explore for days, weeks, maybe even months.

And of course, the game itself is FANTASTIC. I haven't had any of the reported problems with freezing during the intro movie or other cutscenes, so I'll consider myself lucky there. With a game this popular, I'm sure a fix will be along soon.

If you can get your hands on this version, I'd highly recommend it. As for me, I'll be preordering the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack boxed set when it becomes available.

Welcome to Liberty City!

Want Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition Discount?

This is for people still deciding between the regular and special editions.

I have over 15 special edition games in my collection. I have never seen a special edition as elaborate as this. For an extra thirty you get a wide variety of quality bonuses.

First thing you will realize is that it is a large, heavy box. Slide off the cardboard box and inside is the safety deposit box. This box is sturdy and has a decent amount of room. I would not say use this thing as a safe, but it is nice to store things in. It come with two keys.

The art book is probably the nicest surprise in here. It contains some incredible production art for the game. It is a 30 page (or so) hardcover book. Not a pamphlet like I was expecting. The quality of this thing is amazing. For me it was worth the extra thirty alone.

The soundtrack was the reason I got the special edition. I thought I would like a lot of the songs on there. I did enjoy most of them, but likely not all the songs will fit your tastes. Either way nice bonus. I would think they would release a more complete version down the line.

You also get a Rockstar logo keychain which is nice.

It also contains a duffel bag. It is a surprisingly good size. If you travel often you may be able to put this to good use. It is also good if you go to a gym often.

Of course you also get the game which is the most important thing of all.

If you feel burned by previous limited editions there is little to fear here. This is a great deal for collectors and grand theft auto lovers alike.