Welcome to America
On a cold evening in Liberty City, Niko Bellic arrives from an unspecified Eastern European country to live with his cousin Roman and enjoy the good life. However, the "good life" turns out to be pretty bad. Roman's "villa" is a dingy apartment on the second floor and his livelihood is based on a shady taxi business - in the middle of a city full of deceitful gangsters.
The American Dream
In many ways, the game embodies the classic American Dream - at least a cold, bloodthirsty version of it. But if the American Dream is about rising from nothing to the top, does it really matter how it's achieved? And if so, is this dream even worth pursuing? Although Grand Theft Auto IV is not usually considered a particularly philosophical gaming experience, these questions are at the heart of the masterpiece.
Is it too dark?
That's at least the biggest criticism of it. After Vice City, San Andreas, and Vice City Stories, players got used to bright textures and sun-soaked streets. Grand Theft Auto IV, on the other hand, appears gray and depressing, with graffiti-covered trains, dingy stairwells, and homeless people. But this is the second iteration of Liberty City from Grand Theft Auto III - and that game wasn't exactly filled with sunshine and rainbows either. In contrast, the gloomy Liberty City stays true to its roots.
Nevertheless, there are also lighthearted moments
Roman's raunchy jokes and his constant invitations to go bowling (which have since become an internet meme) contribute to the levity. Players can also take a leisurely stroll through Central Park or visit the beating heart inside the Statue of Happiness. The famous Rockstar humor runs throughout the entire game - from the missions to the NPCs' dialogues to the crazy side quests.
Freedom and money
Like in Home Alone 2, that's also the motto of Liberty City. While Grand Theft Auto IV may be slightly more story-heavy than other entries in the series, it still offers what all Grand Theft Autos do best: allowing players to do whatever they want. Steal a police car and access the police database? Sure. Blow up a strip club? Why not. Explore an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city? Sounds fun.
The key to the city
The best thing about Grand Theft Auto IV is how perfectly it captures the atmosphere and problems of a big city (aside from the daily rampages and car chases). Liberty City feels like a real, living city that never sleeps - from the garbage trucks in the morning to the NPCs' random car accidents. While Grand Theft Auto V has a larger map, much of it is empty space. In Liberty City, on the other hand, every street feels carefully planned. That's just one of the strengths that this game has over its successor.
Additional content: "The Lost and Damned" and "The Ballad of Gay Tony"
In addition to the main game, there are also the expansions "The Lost and Damned" and "The Ballad of Gay Tony," which make life in the city even more diverse and interesting. Both expansions are included in the Steam Keys version of Grand Theft Auto IV and offer even more hours of unforgettable moments in Liberty City.
