Grand Theft Auto IV (PC)
Hire an exterminator for this bug-ridden port.
12/8/2008 7:02 PM | 2 Comments | Page 3 of 3
What's Hot: Incredibly immersive core world and gameplay; 32-player online games are excellent; Improved graphics...
What's Not: ...if you can run them; and, for that matter, if the game installs and runs without errors at all; Multiple clients needed for online play.
(And if you buy the game via Steam, you'll be running Games for Windows, Rockstar Games Social Club and Steam all at once -- easily two processes too many.)
Which, naturally, leads back to the general install and error issues that plague this port. The good aspects of
GTA IV on the PC were able to come to light only after the single most frustrating install and configuration process I've ever had with a PC game. Between SecuROM (which hates my firewall, several other protective apps and, evidently, my entire network) and the simple installer used by Rockstar, there were problems with every step.
OK, yeah, that looks really damn nice.
The installer would suddenly decide the disc didn't contain the proper files, resulting in an unfinished error code that actually referenced diskettes. Simply getting the game set up took more than a day -- that's with breaks for severe frustration, reboots and drive cleaning. Finally, because of the volume of disc read errors I was getting, I swapped out my DVD drive. Never mind that it's been fine for every other disc I've thrown at it for two years. Never mind that such a tactic isn't even near the list of acceptable workarounds for a mass-release product like this. More errors, then success ... and then there were issues with authenticating the disc and starting the game. Once installed, configuring the visual settings took a time and compromise. And with that done, the game would still simply crash or fail to load occasionally.
It's enough to make an old PC gamer renew his vows to the 360. If this weren't a work situation, it would have been enough to send the package right back to the store. Despite the tremendous game within, that's the reason for the "Try It" rating. Scanning message boards and talking to other players, I see people who didn't have the problems I had, and people who had other issues.
As much as I admire and enjoy
GTA IV, replaying it on the PC was wrapped in severe frustration. Yes, most of these problems can be patched and fixed, and I'd be shocked if Rockstar hadn't addressed most of them within weeks. I'd be very happy to re-evaluate this edition in the new year, but until then one of the best games of 2008 will be stained by this bad experience.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game purchased by the reviewer.
