Customer Reviews

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I, along with many others, was ultimately kind of disappointed with the original GTA IV. The removal of the staple elements of the GTA franchise was not good; the side service missions such as paramedic/fire/taxi, the wee remote control vehicles, the crazy cars along with the mini tracks for go karting, triple stunt points gone, and so on... and of course the loss of the planes. Heck even give me back the dodo R*! It was a big surprise to see all that gone and not a pleasant one. But when playing GTA IV you kind of felt that they had more planned for Liberty City in the future. Maybe that golfing range might be able to be used, that skateboard park might come into play and perhaps we'll get to ride on the ferris wheel too at some point.

So with the release of TLOD and TBOGT we're getting somewhere. Now for full disclosure I played The Ballad of Gay Tony through first even though it's episode two, primarily because I wanted to base jump! And in TBOGT I can see Rockstar finally giving us back some of what they took away. You can indeed now play golf in that floating driving range, you can base jump off specific buildings as a challenge or indeed just buy a parachute and jump off anything you want. Tanks are back too! Rockstar are slowly making LC a more fun sandbox and I hope that continues with the release of more episodes. With regards to these two episodes, well you can't go wrong. Both are typical GTA fare with varied missions and great story lines. I won't go into the plots of each - do I need to? There's some nice cross-over moments in the stories though that will make you smile!

With TBOGT you have specific optional targets to do in each mission such as a time limit or how much damage you take. The nice thing about the way this works are the new very extensive mission checkpoints, something massively lacking from GTA IV. But there's a penalty for using a checkpoint - if you use a reload then your mission objectives aren't saved. You can still complete the mission and continue with the story but there's an actual incentive to replay each one and do better each time. It's a great game mechanic that satisfies both players who prefer to blast through the game and those who wish to fine tune each play-through. Nice.

It also seems that LC's code and graphics were fine-tuned somewhat because there's considerably less little glitches and popups in TBOGT over TLOD and the original. But do install the game to the HD if you buy the disc version regardless of which episode you play.

All in all very satisfied that I got my money's worth here. I'm now playing through TLOD although I still have some side mission (drug wars) to complete in TBOGT. It took me 18 hours to complete the second episode and I expect about the same for TLOD. So for about a dollar an hour entertainment this hits the mark. If you felt, as I did, that GTA IV was a step in the wrong direction for GTA then I recommend this compilation; GTA is heading back to its roots.

R* should also be commended for not allowing folks to play the episodes without the need for the original GTA disc if you buy the disc version (you'll need the original if you DL the episodes from XBL). Helpful for those of us who put GTA IV on ebay shortly after completing it!

This is a fantastic game! I won't waste time with another glowing review, but it is important to know that if you purchase this version (Liberty City Episodes) instead of the regular GTAIV game, you will not be able to play online with regular GTAIV users, even if they have downloaded the Lost and Damned and/or Ballad of Gay Tony episodes!!

This is a serious flaw in my opinion. My friends have the original GTAIV and downloaded these episodes, but we cannot play online because I bought Liberty City episodes. They are the exact same thing, but we cannot play online!!!!

It's a GTA game...what more could you need to know?

This game is a big treat and very welcome to those who don't take full advantage of XBox live, and it continues the tradition of making 'ported' and 'download only' games eventually available on the console, and at a reduced price. (Still no word on a console version of Chinatown Wars, though.)

These 'spinoff' games are typically shorter than the main game, the missions tend to be easier, and the focus is on more immediate fun. You don't have to unlock any parts of the city (everything is instantly available), and the missions are often focused on shooting up rival gangs and causing havoc, presumably to reduce frustration. The two games here are very different in tone, but make no mistake, GTA-esque action abounds. The stories are also interwoven with each other and with the original GTA IV story, meaning Niko and Roman Belic appear as side characters, in addition to Brucie and other Liberty City miscreants.

The weapons may be the biggest improvement---we get a crop of new and very improved weapons that will ensure you spend that many more hours blowing up things real good. There's an automatic pistol, a couple of ridiculous shotguns (an auto shotgun and then some kind of combat shotgun with explosive shotguns that feels like an earthquake when it strikes something), a M-60 or SAW-esque machine gun (similar to Ghost Recon), and even sticky bombs, which go a long way towards terrorizing Liberty City. Just rampaging with these new toys alone will provide plenty of replay value. Some new vehicles appear, including some very fast new sports cars, an AMC Gremlin-lookalike, an attack helicopter, and best of all...an APC / SWAT (or NOOSE) tank.

Typically, there are new features and side missions. I loved the gang war aspect of LaD and the similar drug war missions in TBoGT. Too bad they haven't brought back the empire building element from Vice City Stories. Oddly, you can't do vigilante missions this time around (nor taxi, or fire, or ambulance, etc). Very surprised they didn't mess around with vehicle modification, either...the whole biker gang/chopper angle was ripe for it (or maybe the intentionally did not want to overlap with the Orange County Chopper obsessions). TLaTt is the grungier and darker story, concerning an outlaw biker gang. You play Jonny, a gang member caught between the recently released gang leader, rival factions, the mob, and the usual insanity. TBoGT is decidedly less somber and features more ridiculous missions. You play Luis, a bouncer in some of the biggest clubs in the city. It inserts more of the earlier GTA humor into the proceedings. The club angle is also fun as the protagonist can do shots, dance, and brawl...or play bouncer, instead. There's also a cage fighting bit in TBoGT where you can hone your melee skills and earn a few extra bucks.

As for the audio, we get the same stations as GTA IV, though with a couple of changes (the hardcore station is now death and black metal and blares constantly throughout TLatD, and The Journey changes in name only), but with all new songs. Many of the commercials are the same, but the talk shows are all new. Perhaps best of all is a belated take-off on the Howard Stern show called 'The Martin Serious Show' that pointedly rips the shock-jock by mocking the cynicism and 'funniness' of 'the show'. There's also new material on the TV, highlighting just how much work goes into these games.

Admittedly, while GTA IV was amazing in some regards, it was also a step back in others. I still think the most 'packed' GTA game was San Andreas, in terms of the ridiculous amount of things you could do---missions, skills, side missions, and the incredible size of the playable game space (essentially three cities in one game). To really pick on IV...what is up with the cheats? The least amount of cheats of any GTA game, by far. No flying cars...no ridiculous outfits for everyone else, no gang wars, no armed civilians, no airplanes!

But let's give the game its due. It's still GTA IV, but with new stories, and some new improvements. This is a great way to feed your GTA addiction until the next game (new platform or ported) appears.

A lot of people were dissapointed with GTA IV when it came out. Mainly because it didnt have as many "Over the top" side missions like San Andreas had. I personally thought GTA IV was great but lets talk about episodes from Liberty City. With this disc you get 2 complete games. "The Lost & Damned" aswell as IMO the better of the two "The Ballad of Gay Tony". TBOGT has more over the top side missions etc. like GTA San Andreas had. (Cage Fighting). The graphics are top notch aswell as the gameplay and story. The only complaint I have is I wish the game was a bit longer but I guess it makes up for that in Side Missions. You have a whole different radio soundtrack which I thought was great. VICE CITY FM being one of them. Make sure to pick this game up, it's def. one of the best games to comeout on the Xbox 360.

My Personal Opinion: I loved GTA IV and rated it five star, but Episodes I am pretty let down by. The most common criticisms that I heard about GTA IV were the lack of extras and the clunky controls. Well, in this sequel Rockstar definitly improved on the extras but fell very short when it came to controls.


PROS:
-New and useful weapons, but not that many, like the sawed-off shotgun, sticky bombs, and grenade launcher.

-Gang wars and drug wars, pretty awesome, although there is sometimes a little too much driving or chasing down involved that becomes a pain and gets repetitive after a while.

-More missions obviously, around 50 total, but not much new or different in variety from GTA IV's missions though.

-In TL&D, you can call your crew for backup and lead them, even on missions.

-Can get a free bike or car driven to you, a gun van with discounted ammo & weapons driven to you, or free weapons/ammmo dropped off at your safehouse. ALL by just calling a friend, and you basically don't have to do anything to get these options.

-A load of racing, mostly on bikes.

-New achievemants, a total of 500 points worth. You should be able to get a fair amount of AP, at least 300/500, from one playthrough.

-Lot of little activities you can still do and more: cage fighting, racing, base jumping, playing cards, video games, pool, golf, dancing at clubs, managing clubs, bowling, darts, booty calls, etc.



CONS:
-Clunky controls.

-In TBoGT, you get rated on missions which makes it more challenging but less fun in my opinion. Some of the things you get rated on is time, firearm accuracy, car damage, headshots, etc. Also, in order to get a 45 point achievemant you have to score 80% or above in ALL missions, and 100% to get another 80 point achievemant. Possible, but not easily and not without replaying at least a couple missions.

-In TL&D, you can't run very fast or sprint for as long for some reason, and if you walk around with an assault rifle or shotgun you move even slower, which is more realistic but much more annoying.

-Can't whistle for a taxi to stop, you have to cut if off or chase it down. This pissed me off greatly.

-As far as driving goes:
1.Driving cars and riding motorcycles feels like you're sliding on oil.
2.Braking is garbage, often you won't be able to stop in time to make your turn or exit and you'll have to make a U-turn.
3.And if you decide to use the handbrake you'll spin out of control half the time.
4.It's easy to go flying off your motorcycle when your chasing someone down or racing.

-There are barely any planes, boats, or tanks in Episodes. Also, the helicopters you do fly in TBoGT are terrible to control.

-Stories and characters aren't really anything special, but new if anything.

-You cannot play online with players that own only GTA IV and have bought the add-ons on Xbox Live. Therefore, you can only play online with others who have bought Episodes.



BOTTOM LINE: If you didn't like GTA IV do not get this game, but if you're looking for a glorified expansion pack then this game was meant for you.

Well it's certainly a very unpopular opinion for some reason, anyone who says Grand Theft Auto IV was a disappointment tends to get the evil eye, saying that we just didn't get it and to go back to our casual games or the Wii. Well having played every installment since III, this isn't really a case of I don't like hardcore games but rather I just didn't like Grand Theft Auto IV. I felt what Rockstar did was move the series from outlandish, over-the-top and Fun with a capital F to something more realistic, detailed and immersive at the expense of the fun. You could spend so much time doing whatever you wanted in the old games whereas in IV I felt like "yeah I could but do I feel the need to?" So why did I check out "Episodes from Liberty City"? I guess partly because part of me at least wants to give the series another shot; after all I did spend so much time in the previous cities that maybe I just need to change how I approach the games. Combining the Lost and Damned as well as brand new Ballad of Gay Tony episodes, I find some improvement but it still falls into pitfalls Rockstar should've fixed long ago.

Story: The Lost and Damned has you control Johnny "the Jew" Klebitz, Vice President of the biker gang The Lost, which is just having its President, Billy Grey, released from doing time. But seems that there's some tension brewing as Johnny has differing views on how to handle business while Billy is getting more progressively outspoken and maybe even a bit out of control. Eventually this'll tie into the botched diamond deal seen in IV, Johnny's drugged up ex Ashley and Johnny having to potentially save the gang from itself. The Ballad of Gay Tony, meanwhile, has you control Luis Lopez, right-hand man for Tony Prince, who's starting to feel pressure in terms of money, the diamond deal that goes south, potential buyers for his nightclubs not to mention his own drug issues.

The problem with Lost and Damned is that there's really no characters to actually like and main guy Johnny is such an ***hole but not a likable anti-hero type either. For all the bad things Tommy did, he at least came across as an awesome dude but Johnny barely has any redeeming features despite his pleas for less bloodshed and mayhem. And love interest Ashley doesn't even hold much interest for him or Johnny which is a shame since the want-to-be-do'gooder Johnny still being around messed up and drug-using Ashley could've made for some good character development but nope, he just treats her like ****. Ballad of Gay Tony on the other hand is a bit better, mainly thanks to a bit more outrageous cast such as Yusuf, a completely nutso helicopter-owning dude. I still prefer the story in Vice City but nice to see Rockstar lighten up with this episode.

Graphics: The Rage engine is starting to show its age, really. The graphics here do look colorful, especially in Tony's nightclubs, character animation during cutscenes is well-done and the draw distance is pretty incredible especially since there's barely any load times other than mission loads. However, graphical textures will still show themselves appearing later than they should and strangely I find certain facial animations to look bizarre, especially smiles and laughs. But Liberty City is certainly a very detailed and elaborate place but hopefully next game, Rockstar will do some upgrades. Oh and I'd suggest turning off the filter in the Lost and Damned because it just makes the game look ugly.

Sound/Music: The GTA series has always had impeccable voice acting and here it's no different. While I find Luis to be a bit flat-toned, the rest of the cast is really well-done and there's even some funny lines to be seen though the swear words to get thrown around very frequently, maybe a bit more than necessary. Other benefit in GTA is the radio stations which range from jazz to hip-hop to dance and even yoga-esque new age music and of course frequent visitor Lazlow. One problem I had is that I would've love to be able to see exactly what song is playing because there was this one song on a station I started to fall in love with only there was no actual way to say what it was so it prompts a visit through the OST or google lyrics to figure out what it was.

Gameplay: What made the old GTA series fun is just the insane amount of stuff to do. Fire truck missions, police missions, taxi missions, learning how to ride bikes better, cars, pedal bikes, planes, jets even, hidden packages, jumps, races etc. Even Vice City had the whole property buying but GTA IV got rid of most of it so now hidden packages are those damn pigeons, police missions are most wanted hunting and there is jumps, races and base jumps (in Gay Tony) but I guess it was my problem with GTA IV, a big expansive and elaborate universe that wasn't much fun to play in. The DLC expansions some of it but it still feels like there's not as much stuff to do, it's just a bigger world to move in. The mission variety is also starting to wear a bit thin since it really comes down to get ambushed, shoot everyone and outrun cops or chase someone and kill them. Also there's some missions that were clear missteps, namely the use of the helicopters which are some of the more frustrating-to-control vehicles I've seen in awhile and they make you ride these things more than 3 times for missions. Controls are also spotty for combat in that gunplay is still roughly the same like taking cover and it's supremely easy to get headshots but cycling through targets still doesn't want to target the guy right to your left but rather some guy on the street below and it's very easy to stay locked on to a target you already killed. I would've liked separate controls for helicopter and on-foot as well since one camera type didn't work for me in another type.

As far as extra stuff to do, both episodes include the idea of gang wars (TLAD) and drug wars (TBoGT) and these work somewhat similar to territory control in San Andreas where you fight off some enemies in a given area. Gay Tony also introduces the idea of base jumping where you parachute down through rings or get an achievement by freefalling without pulling the parachute for the longest time (hint: try to do it before you hit the ground). One thing I will criticize Rockstar for is that there's secondary mission objectives in the Gay Tony missions where there's almost certain things you need to do in the mission to get a better score such as little to no damage, accuracy and time. Wouldn't be bad if the achievements weren't directly related to it nor mention what exactly needs to be done for each one but at least you can replay after the story's over.

Strange as it sounds but a lot of people preferred Saints Row 2 for just how zany and outlandish it was yet I didn't much care for it, seeing a lack of refinement that Rockstar does with their games yet I didn't like GTA IV. Not sure what it is and the Episodes from Liberty City reminds me of other games in that this wasn't awesome enough to fully invest in (like Fallout 3 or Call of Duty 4) yet they weren't bad enough to outright quit. But I'm sure this'll be a very unpopular review so bring it on (or not would be preferred).

Ballad of Gay Tony is an Excellent addition to the GTA4 product that really captures the true essence of the Manhattan Club scene. the storyline itself is pretty good...but the free roam is where its at when it comes to GTA. i love how once the game begins, you are started in Manhattan with all areas unlocked and all of the guns are available to purchase...as well as extra outfits, its alot faster than the original GTA4 with Niko. having multiple bootycalls, participating in a fight club and managing the dance club are interesting aspects as well, however boring after a while...but this game does an excellent job of simulating an Actual Life...probably the best out of any game iv played...it mirrors San Andreas in many ways...just with 10x more sex...

Lost and Damned wasnt really my cup of tea. the storyline is OK but for the most part, felt very boring, maybe because biker gangs arent my thing?? i feel they could have done alot more with it. maybe have an ongoing Turf War mode where other gangs attack your area of town at random. on a lighter note, it does capture the biking culture well so for fans of that, you may be very satisfied with it...

overall, Rockstar did an awesome job at extending the Life of GTA4 with these add on's and they are truly worth your time and time.

iLL .

This is a must have game if you've completed Grand Theft Auto 4. There are many improvements made. The motorcycles in The Lost and the Damned are nothing like GTA 4. It's virtually impossible to get knocked off the bike. The cars and weapons are also upgraded. Great game.

this is an excellent game. the action intense, the story is epic and you will fall in love with the characters

Great add-on to the GTA IV, they add a lot of things that should've been in the first game, like base jumping. The actual story line isn't as good as that of Niko's but you will still enjoy these two add-ons very much.