Grand Theft Auto IV First Look

If there's anything about GTA IV that garnered plenty of attention, it has to be Rockstar's decision to disregard airplanes. Flying will be possible though and for now we do know players can operate helicopters. Talking of vehicles, the really good news is that Rockstar has brought back boats in the game, further optimizing the handling. Naturally, the way players can nab themselves some wheels was probably one of the best ideas ever. Yep, customary GTA carjacking is back. Except this time, it won't be so easy. You cannot just open someone's car door, hop in and be on your way. Instead, Niko has to approach the vehicle stealthily, break the glass with his elbow and hotwire the engine to start her up. Again, it will just feel a lot more bona fide than before.

You got somethin' to say about my undies?

Where was I supposed to go again?

We don't know much about the AI, or how your opponents will react. Combat has been reworked, especially hand-to-hand fights, which now have a "much more natural" feel to them. We also understand that the physics and character movement were improved to correspond with the authentic new look and feel of the game.

As ever, the audio is a key feature. Looking back, it's safe to say the audio design was one of those elements that fueled the popularity of GTA, particularly owing to the many brilliant voice talents as well as the option to listen to various radio stations while in a vehicle. For now, the idea of radio stations and the music in general is being reevaluated to suit the game's new-fangled ambiance and spirit, so there's no telling what we'll hear in the final version. The same thing goes for the game's voice-overs. Still, Rockstar has assured fans that the core team intends to include dialogue and acting worthy of the game's predecessors.

Rockstar is showing the tip of the iceberg at this point, with a more in-depth presentation planned for June. On the surface, this appears to be more than a promising addition to the series and we can hardly wait to delve deeper into the game. 2lions will be attending the E3, to give you a more detailed heads-up on the progress of one of the most highly anticipated games this year. So be ready.