Posted By: Shrygue
via Computer and Video Games
2008's first look at the near-finished Grand Theft Auto IV has arrived, and it's the most in-depth look we've had yet at the genuinely exciting sandbox sequel. It's also only the second.
The 4000-plus word rundown of the latest demo describes the missions, gun fights, series-shaking action sequences and everything else Rockstar allowed us to eyeball - including a gorgeous boat trip around Liberty City's waterways.
"Of course Rockstar's 100" TV might have something to do with it, but IV isn't looking dated considering it should have been out for a few months already.
"In fact, it's running visibly smoother at the beginning of our demo. Niko stands on the waterfront at a dock in Broker. It's the kind of rusty, tramp-ridden area of town you'd expect to find flaming barrels and lots of pigeons and that's exactly what surrounds us here."
"The game is in a very, very different place now," boldly claims our Rockstar PR aide. "It's improved in virtually every single way imaginable.
"When we first showed the game a year ago, we said it was really early - it was the earliest we've ever shown a GTA game. A year later and just three/four months away from release you're looking at a game that's virtually complete."
Read the whole thing here.
We're expecting a release date any day now but to help fill the gap here's a fist-full of new screenshots. Don't forget the preview either, it took us ages to write.
Screenshots here