Grand Theft Auto IV: Difference between revisions

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] 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-9/11 post-9/11 hysteria] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity celebrity obsession]). On the flipside [[Roman]], as well as other characters ([[Brucie]], [[Ivan]] and [[Hossan]] 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.

The American dream is also shown not to be promised to anyone, not even when they already live in America; [[Playboy X|Playboy, ]][[Dwayne Forge|Dwayne]], [[Elizabeta]], [[Carmen Ortiz|Carmen]], [[Gerry]] and [[Packie]] all have trouble making and responsibly saving money (living beyond their means, often referred to as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto_fabulous ghetto fabulous]), not restricting it to any one nationality. A very interesting part of the in-game media is a show called ''[[I'm Rich]]'', which documents the most outrageous displays of gluttony by the world's wealthiest people, enough to make anyone feel inadequate.

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. Niko is haunted and shadowed by his past actions wherever he goes, telling 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 character|random characters]], and working alongside [[Johnny Klebitz]] or [[Packie 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.