15 Years Later, Grand Theft Auto IV Is Still Rockstar’s Undisputed Masterpiece

Ever since its inception in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto video game series has captivated a global audience. 

The Rockstar Games franchise has produced titles like GTA San Andreas—often tabbed as the best game ever—and GTA V, which is the third highest-selling game in history with 175 million copies sold since 2013. 

While each game in the franchise has always been praised for its open worlds and narrative, many fans and critics often neglect GTA IV. 

Released in the middle of the Great Recession in April of 2008, the sixth installment of the series is an underrated masterpiece due to its profound story and realistic gameplay. 

On April 29, the game will celebrate its 15th anniversary, reminding us that video games can serve as a medium to convey the complexity of our human experience.

Heartfelt Narrative

Set in Liberty City, a fictional depiction of New York City, Grand Theft Auto IV follows the story of Niko Bellic—a Serbian immigrant who arrives in the United States in search of a new life. 

After settling with his cousin, Roman, Niko quickly embroils himself in the criminal underworld to save his cousin from debt. Soon, he begins to form relationships with gangsters and mafia bosses as he rises up in the criminal underworld. 

While all of this takes place, we see glimpses of Niko’s somber and cynical personality as he recalls his traumatic memories during the 1990s Yugoslav War and his desire to leave crime. 

This is the first thing that makes Grand Theft Auto IV special. While other series’ glorify crime through satire and over-the-top jokes, this rendition gives us a thoughtful and realistic look at the misery of living a life of violence. 

Aside from this, the game also shows us the devastating consequences of revenge. 

Near the end of the game, we learn that Niko went to the U.S. to find a former comrade who betrayed him and his unit in an ambush during the war. 

After finding him and learning he betrayed his friends for drug money, players are left with the choice to let him live or kill him to fulfill Niko’s thirst for revenge. 

That was the most emotional part of the game for me because either choice will remind you of the futility of revenge. 

Revolutionary Gameplay

To complement its storyline, GTA IV features a gritty visual gradient that’s mostly devoid of color. 

While many criticize the game’s gray aura, the stylistic choice from the game’s developers makes perfect sense considering the dark nature of the game’s story and setting. 

Another aspect of the game’s mechanics that is undervalued is its physics engine, which even after 15 years, continues to be one of the best in gaming. 

As opposed to GTA V, the car handling in GTA IV feels more akin to real life than to Mario Kart. Each vehicle has a different rate of acceleration and handling depending on its size and weight. 

The physics engine, as well as other minor details like NPC interactions, combat and other rag doll mechanics, make GTA IV the most immersive and realistic rendition in the series yet. 

GTA IV’s immersion is further complemented by the setting itself. One thing players will quickly notice about Liberty City is how many side characters with unique missions Niko encounters. 

The city’s inhabitants also have a life of their own. Like NYC, Liberty City features historic neighborhoods with clusters of Russian, Hispanic and Asian culture. 

While we continue to wait for the release of the long-awaited GTA VI that’s set to take place in Miami, every gaming fan should revisit Liberty City to unravel Rockstar Games’ undisputed magnum opus.