noteworthy wrote:
On sale Tuesday.

Grand Theft Auto IV is a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun. It calls to mind a rollicking R-rated version of Mad magazine featuring Dave Chappelle and Quentin Tarantino, and sets a new standard for what is possible in interactive arts. It is by far the best game of the series, which made its debut in 1997 and has since sold more than 70 million copies. Grand Theft Auto IV will retail for $60.

Hardly a demographic escapes skewering.

It looks like New York. It sounds like New York. It feels like New York. Liberty City has been so meticulously created it almost even smells like New York.

I will happily spend untold hours cruising Liberty City’s bridges and byways, hitting the clubs, grooving to the radio and running from the cops. Even when the real New York City is right outside.

Most importantly, it looks like Liberty City. I've already seen several places that just by looking at them, I knew where I was on the map of the original, top-down viewed Grand Theft Auto. Talk about some flashbacks--even the triple set of payphones outside the park are where they should be.

Nifty!

NotASpoiler: Turn on the TV in Niko's apartment when you get there. He doesn't have cable, but he's got (it appears) at least three channels with some really bizarre programming.

Also NotASpoiler: "Achievement unlocked: Warm Coffee" <--ROFLCOPTERS

...and for those who think I'm kidding: http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/Achievements/ViewAchievementDetails.aspx?tid=%09%5d%3bdh-o0%01%07

RE: Grand Theft Auto Takes On New York