Grand Theft Auto IV: A New Breed of Action

Rockstar has been doing the rounds recently with an impressive new hour plus long tour of the latest build of GTA IV. Our U.S. and U.K. compatriots have already taken extensive looks at the new demo, but there's so much to talk about in the game - whether it's the missions, the moment-to-moment action, the controls, the dynamic city, the technology, the graphics, or any of countless other aspects, that we're also chipping in with a little commentary of our own. A few days ago Patch posted his examination of the use of Euphoria middleware in GTA IV, and today I'm going to take a look at just how different the action and combat mechanics are from previous games in the series.Indeed, in terms of combat GTA IV almost has more in common with Gears of War than it does with San Andreas. What we've seen happen over the last couple of years is that a new standard for combat mechanics has emerged for third person videogames, regardless of genre. Whether it's an action adventure game like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, a straight-up shooter like Gears of War or an open-world title like GTA IV, certain things are expected – smooth, accurate control for targeting, intuitive cover mechanics and non-restrictive agility. GTA IV checks off all those boxes, and while going hands-on will be the most important test, it's clear from our latest – extensive – eyes on, that Rockstar North is on the right track.