Grand Theft Auto IV: Difference between revisions

The game was developed by [[Rockstar North]] and was published and released by [[Rockstar Games]] for the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]], and [[Personal Computer|PC]]. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were been released worldwide to widespread hype on April 29, 2008. GTA IV was subsequently been awarded the Gaming World Record of the Most Successful Entertainment Launch of All Time and has received numerous other awards and accolades. The original version made even more success than its expansions. The PC version was released on December 3, 2008.

 

 

The very first dialogue by Niko in the very first trailer for the game, this sets up the first notable [[protagonist]] to be from another country, [[Niko Bellic]], to enter the [[United States of America]] and make more critical analysis of American culture than previous main characters have done. ''Grand Theft Auto IV's'' deeper meaning circulates around Niko's own philosophy, and his clear, blunt critiques of American culture and life in general make the deeper ideas much easier to see and understand. Niko is normally shown to be in the right, but is also proven to be overly cynical, leaving interpretation open to the viewer. The game and its very complex plot deals with several themes:

As read on the packaging of the game, Rockstar Games asks "what does the American dream mean today?". Niko is cynical about America, saying "capitalism is a dirty business" and only people who are extremely greedy and/or born into wealth have any opportunity. [[Mikhail Faustin]] also laments before he dies that "America made [[Dimitri Rascalov|him]] greedy! ...This American greed takes everyone! It is like a disease!". Niko mocks American stereotypes like "strip malls and clinical obesity" (as do the makers of the game by hilariously parodying concepts like [[wp:Post-9/11|post-9/11 hysteria]] and [[wp:Celebrity|celebrity obsession]]). On the flip-side Roman Bellic, as well as other characters ([[Brucie Kibbutz]], [[Bernie Crane]], [[Ivan Bytchkov]] and [[Hossan Ramzy]] among others) are optimistic about America and life in general, tend to do very well for themselves financially, and try in vain to encourage Niko to be more optimistic.

Grand Theft Auto IV has an extremely complex plot with a very long list of characters. It is also the first game that allows the player to change the plot by making choices, which all have consequences. This creates an atmosphere where Niko is haunted and shadowed by his past actions wherever he goes. He tells Roman "There is no such thing as a new beginning, Roman. With every day we live, we pick up new baggage, baggage we must carry with us for the rest of our lives. There's no dropping it and pretending we are fresh and clean, just because we get off a boat in a new place." Prime examples include his numerous run-ins with [[Ray Bulgarin]], most of the [[Random Characters in GTA IV Era|random characters]], and working alongside [[Johnny Klebitz]] or Patrick McReary while he had, either by not having met them yet or circumstances beyond his control, killed someone close to them. In the finale, Niko feels the coffin of Kate or Roman, depending on the player's choice, on his conscience because of his criminal lifestyle, saying they "never should have gotten close to me". He is deeply depressed about being trapped in the criminal lifestyle (by a need of income), telling Kate McReary and others that he wishes he could leave it behind, but often adds that he knows he can't.

*[[Roman Bellic]], [[Little Jacob]], [[Brucie Kibbutz]], [[Kate McReary]] and [[Bernie Crane]]: The '''optimists''', people Niko likes because of their positivity, and they all try in vain to encourage Niko to be more optimistic. Many are foolish and could be mistaken for comic relief, but they do offer pearls of wisdom about life and success, a realization that Niko must make at the same time. Other interesting cases are Ivan Bytchkov, and Hossan, both immigrants like Niko but with much more confidence in the American way of life.

 

*[[Packie McReary]], [[Gerald McReary]], [[Derrick McReary]], [[Dwayne Forge]] and [[Phil Bell]]: The '''pessimists''', people Niko likes because they have angst that he instinctively responds to. Packie and Dwayne especially become friends of Niko because of their shared struggle; Niko confides in Dwayne remarkably early in their relationship when he says "you remind me of me". It's also notable that he relates well to Jon Gravelli and his bleak sense of humor, despite an enormous age gap, other lifestyle differences and Niko's traditional dislike of his bosses.

*[[Vladimir Glebov|Vlad Glebov]], [[Dimitri Rascalov]], [[Mikhail Faustin]], [[Ray Bulgarin]], [[Francis McReary]], [[United Liberty Paper]], [[Manny Escuela]], [[Elizabeta Torres]], [[Playboy X]], [[Ray Boccino]] and [[Jimmy Pegorino]]: The '''corrupt''', people Niko doesn't like (or forced to take orders of them) because of their greed or immorality. He had to take orders from all of them, considers killing most of them at least once, and inevitably kills above one third of them. This, combined with his dislike of capitalism, shows that Niko has authority issues and can't stand corrupt people in power. With the exception of United Liberty Paper, Elizabeta (who ends up in jail) and only if spared Playboy X and Francis McReary, all of the corrupt end up dead

*[[Mallorie Bardas]], [[Karen]], [[Jon Gravelli]], [[Darko Brevic]], [[Bryce Dawkins]], [[Johnny Klebitz]]; '''other''' characters in the game.

*[[Michelle (GTA IV)|Michelle]], [[Kate McReary]], [[Carmen Ortiz]], [[Kiki Jenkins]] and [[Alex Chilton]]; '''girlfriends''' Niko can date. Michelle and Kate are unlocked in the story mode; the other 3 must be met by the internet. Each girlfriend has their own opinions on what they would like Niko to drive in, wear and go to. The 3 online girlfriends can give Niko a special ability once he pleases them enough in quality and quantity of date.

{{audio | file=GTAIV-Theme.ogg | caption=[[Soviet Connection - The Theme from Grand Theft Auto IV|Soviet Connection]] - GTA IV Main Theme | author=[[Michael Hunter]] }}

* In The Ballad of Gay Tony, whose timeline intersects the original GTA IV frequently, Gay Tony mentions in [[I Luv LC]] that "the banks" had been bailed out which was made official on October 3, 2008.  

* A Weazel News segment on the radio says that [[Paper Trail]] and [[Entourage]] were about one month apart.

* The entire plot also likely happens in less than three months - a celebrity named [[Cloe Parker]] has a three-month-old child, and in tabloid tradition there would have been extensive coverage of her pregnancy.  

* The real-life New York City begins to snow around mid November, and it never snows in the game.

* It's never revealed whether [[John Hunter]] or [[Michael Graves]] was elected governor, which would have occurred in early November.

Roman is kidnapped by Dimitri's Russian mob once again, after his gambling habit led him to "gambling in their private club". After Niko rescues him, Roman finally becomes a millionaire and purchases a luxury condo for him and Niko. Soon after he is contacted again by Packie McReary, and begins working with his family and friends in the Irish mob (also finding out chief McReary is his brother). Niko becomes a family friend, eventually dating Packie's sister [[Kate McReary]]. Niko is introduced to Ray Boccino of the [[Pegorino Family]], who employ Packie's crew as extra muscle. Ray leads everyone involved in a messy, complex [[Diamonds|diamond]] deal that pits them against the [[Ancelotti Family]], resulting in Niko and Packie kidnapping the don's [[Gracie Ancelotti|daughter]] to demand back the diamonds that were stolen back from them. The diamonds are lost in garbage during a firefight between Niko/Packie and Ray Bulgarin again, who was the very first owner of the diamonds. Niko is also forced to make a choice of killing one of Packie's older brothers, Francis or Derrick. Francis is a crooked police commissioner, and if spared will reward Niko with $10-20,000 and the favor of calling off a police pursuit. Derrick, however, is a derelict heroin addict and has nothing to offer Niko aside from the satisfaction of killing Francis.

*[[Ivan the Not So Terrible|Spare or kill]] [[Ivan Bytchkov]] (sent to kill him by [[Vlad Glebov]]).

**Reward: Random character if spared.

*[[Ruff Rider|Spare or kill]] [[Cherise Glover]] (sent to kill her [[Jayvon Simson|boyfriend]] by [[Dwayne Forge]]).

**Reward: Random character if spared.

*[[Holland Nights|Spare or kill]] [[Clarence Little]] (sent to kill him by [[Francis McReary]]).

**Reward: Random character if spared.

*[[The Holland Play|Kill]] [[Playboy X]] or [[Dwayne Forge]] (each request you kill the other).

**Reward for killing [[Playboy X]]: [[Playboy X's Penthouse]] as a usable safehouse, [[Dwayne Forge]] as a friend and a new costume.

**Reward for killing [[Dwayne Forge]]: [[Money|$]]25,000

*[[Blood Brothers|Kill]] [[Francis McReary]] or [[Derrick McReary]] (each request you kill the other).

**Reward for killing [[Francis McReary]]: Nothing

**Reward for killing [[Derrick McReary]]: [[Money|$]]10,000 (20,000 if you call Francis on the roof) and the ability to remove your Wanted Level soon after this message (this ability is removed by the end of the game).

**Reward for choosing Deal: [[Kate McReary]] is alive, paid $250,000 sooner.

**Reward for choosing Revenge: [[Roman Bellic]] is alive, paid $250,000 later.

{{Gta}}