Unlike anything you’ve ever seen

“Grand Theft Auto IV”
Console: PS3/Xbox 360
Company: Rockstar Games
Grade: 5 Globes

Metro does not hand out our coveted “five globes” award very often. The Chili’s baby back rib song and the series finale of “Newhart” are the only two examples that come to mind. In other words, it needs to be well deserved. “Grand Theft Auto IV” definitely fits that bill (even more than that twist ending of “Newhart” actually.) Rockstar Games has truly raised the bar here and managed to deliver an experience both familiar and quite unlike anything else in video games.

The game progresses similarly to past iterations. You complete a series of missions in an open-ended world in order to seize your slice of the American dream. What makes GTA IV unique is the attention to detail. Liberty City is a living, breathing world and bears more than just a little resemblance to New York City’s five boroughs. The city’s many citizens have their own routines and interests. It is truly a sight to behold to watch them go about their day. Killing them is also fun.

You can also bowl, play pool and even heckle Ricky Gervais during a performance. Clearly, GTA IV has more minigames than the Nintendo Wii. There’s also a drunk driving simulator that is sure to cause its share of controversy. It is an election year after all.

And then there’s the online multi-player, which is a first for the series. It’s simply an astounding feat. You and 15 of your closest friends have full run of the city to do whatever crazy stuff you want. It’s just like being a Hilton.

Both consoles offer almost identical experiences, with the PS3 edition having a slight graphical edge. Microsoft promises new content available only through Xbox Live in the future though. Either way, you are sure to be glued to your couch for months to come. Start filing for unemployment now.