Upon its debut, one of the first things I did was tail a variety of NPCs through the city like a freak and, akin to real-world city slickers, pedestrians went about their days as normal as ever driving to work, strolling through the park, taking photos of landmarks, and much more.Citing issues with Games For Windows Live support. I myself will never forget reading about how revolutionary the citizens of Liberty City were at the time, that is before the game was even released. That last aspect is arguably the most interesting, as one GTA Forums poll from 2014 notes GTA 4 as a standout winner in the category of better pedestrian AI mechanics.

You see, GTA IV was way ahead of its time, not merely with introducing the franchise to modern-day graphics, but also within its use of the environment, ragdoll physics, and, most notably, NPC AI. While, on the surface, it may appear relatively cut and dry, what with the latter experience remaining the most financially profitable entertainment product ever conceived, Grand Theft Auto IV still has plenty of words to say in retribution to the naysayers. The question of which is better, GTA IV or GTA V, persists even to this day. The story itself may have tip-toed around the really important aspects of what the city was still struggling with in the wake of the attacks, yet the pieces are still there note how there are no planes in the game, not to mention the towers themselves are likewise not featured. Releasing seven years after the attack on the World Trade Center, GTA IV was still imbued with the real threat of terrorism in its plot and setting, all while having a middle eastern protagonist take center stage. So it may not have received updated ray tracing support like its 3D predecessors, but it still takes my breath away each time I return to its narrow streets and dirty alleyways.Īlthough I was born in North Carolina, I grew up in New Jersey, not a mere stone throw's away from that city that never sleeps, and that certainly aids in my love for Liberty City. But this only adds to the flavor of Liberty City, both literally and figuratively, given the smog-ridden city it's based upon. Even on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, GTA IV looked absolutely stunning, despite being oversaturated with this brownish-yellow hue, as if it were based in a Wes Anderson film. The sounds of honking cars, bustling foot traffic, and the rattling screech of above and below-ground subway cars is what cements Liberty City as an almost perfect representation of its real-world counterpart. RELATED: GTA: Everything Wrong With The Series Today (& How To Fix It)

Gta liberty city steam