Grand Theft Auto IV

by GTA4

Product Details

• ASIN: B001N9V420
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,544 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Install and control issues are frustrating, September 19, 2010

By 

Tara T. - See all my reviews

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grand Theft Auto IV (Video Game)

I have to agree with the other reviewer about the install and control issues, due mostly to the port from XBOX, of this otherwise great sandbox action game. Why does the PC seem to get the short end of console video games?

Firstly, there's the convoluted install that requires you to add securROM (anti-piracy software) to your computer, as well as the Rockstar Social Club and a Windows Live account. And RockStar games: Why hide the install instructions in the fictitious "On Liberty: It's our best of issue ever" booklet? There should be clearly marked instructions for such a complex install. To RockStar's credit once I discovered I didn't have install the Social Club (primarily used for multi-player) and figured out the correct install order (that took four tries) I didn't need to use their customer support, that got back to me in a quick and friendly manner when I was pulling my hair out. They also issued a fix that will uninstall securROM.

Once I finally got GTA IV installed I ran into the control issues that's kept me from completing the second mission after a dozen tries. In that mission, you're required to save your cousin, Roman, from some loan sharks who've cornered him in a park. To do so you have to beat up the thugs (you have no weapons at that point). Punches are applied by the left and right mouse buttons, along with space for 'blocks' (that caused my character to jump) and Q for kicking. However, right-clicking also brings up a reticule that you place on your enemy's body that indicates where your next punch or kick will land. Since it takes two clicks to get in a punch or kick this way my opponent nearly always landed at punch while I was desperately hitting the right mouse button. To really get the aiming reticule to work you need to take a step back to avoid being pummeled. However, GTA IV is a third-person shooter so trying to back up by hitting the S key results in your character turning around, which allows your enemy to get in more punches.

If you've managed to defeat the two thugs you then must race to a car to chase a third thug who's taken off in his car. This is where I ran into the horrible driving controls that use W,S,A,D (forward, braking/reverse, left & right). The driving physics are actually quite good, allowing tail-spins during turns and rolling of the vehicle's suspension. However, trying to use the keyboard to control them is nearly impossible since hitting A and D result in the front wheels turning completely left or right, so you're constantly over-correcting and fishtailing while your target speeds away. Since this is an XBOX port there's no in-mission save so you have to start over at the beginning if you fail a mission.

I did find a mod that converts the XBOX controller to a joystick emulator (RockStar should've added this to the PC release). However, only some of the joystick controls worked and it messed up the keyboard and mouse controls to the point that I had to uninstall the game (again). Since GTA IV comes on two dual-layer DVDs it takes an inordinate amount of time to install, but if I want to play again I have no choice. I believe I can tweak the joystick controller file (.ini), but that will probably take hours of trial and error and if it continues to mess with the game to the point of needing to reinstall I'm likely in for a long and frustrating experience to get the game to work where I can play it.

I may just sell it.

1.0 out of 5 stars GTA IV , Worst GTA program ever released, December 1, 2011

By 

SaintEmilion - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Grand Theft Auto IV (Video Game)

Boy am I ever glad I just read all of the bad reviews on this game and on the convoluted install hassle. I was going to buy it but after reading all of the bad reviews on all of the crap that you need to do to get it installed and the bad play issues I would not even consider to order it even if it were free. It appears that the makers of this program are the most inapt incompetent bungling morons to ever make such a stupid program as this is and had no business to ever release it for any amount of money.Grand Theft Auto IV

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GTA used game, November 18, 2010

By 

Mamacat "Mamacat" (Texas) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grand Theft Auto IV (Video Game)

I bought the game for a friend and he is enjoying it. But there was no product key with the game so he had to work at getting it to install for him ... He got it to work and is enjoying the game.

thank you