February 29th, 2008

Previews round-up part two

Published at 7:05 AM PST

We'd like to apologies for the lake of coverage on the previews released yesterday, due to technical error we were unable to bring you all previews and media screenshots. So here is everything, only a few hours late...Thanks also to GTA-Division.com for some more preview links and some information we missed previously.

Previews:

Information Round-up:
  • Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions were used as demos for the previewers, they saw one or the other, not both.
  • An in-vehicle GPS system will guide you along appropriate paths required to reach your objective. Similar to real-life GPS systems, if you take a path different to what you are recommended to take the system will recalculate a new path for you to follow.
  • Different cars have different GPS systems, the fancier the car the fancier the GPS system. The most appealing cars will have voice navigation. (other will most likely having a map similar to past games).
  • Niko is a master at Krav Maga, which is a fighting style used by Israeli Special Forces.
  • You start off on the island containing Broker and Dukes, and the rest of the islands are blocked off. Bohan opens up shortly after.
  • Customization that we saw in San Andreas has been dropped from Grand Theft Auto IV.
  • Car headlights can be put on full beam or dipped, but can’t be turned off (like in real-life)
  • There are 18 radio stations with a variety of genres, one of which is named Vibe FM (R&B/Soul).
  • The mission markers are now yellow arrows floating in the air, pointing at the floor.
  • Extra features such as eating, working out, and the aforementioned car customization has been dropped from Grand Theft Auto IV, which could be looked upon as a good or a bad thing depending on your view.
  • Girlfriends such as that in San Andreas have returned, however Hot Coffee has not. You can still take your girl back to your place or hers, but the game will skip to the next morning.
  • Vehicles that were seen as fantasy (unrealistic) have been removed. That includes: aeroplanes, tanks, the jetpack, bicycles. Speed boats, heli's and plenty of cars are still in though.
  • Overall; Rockstar have taken a more realist approach to Grand Theft Auto IV then in past Grand Theft Auto's. Features seen as unrealistic and vehicles (like jetpacks) have been removed completely, extras that were praised by some and hated by others have been changed or removed depending on their usefulness and new features have taken their place.

Screenshots: