Everything GREAT About Grand Theft Auto 4!

[Music] thank you Dave come on you know at some point I'm not even surprised that this is how Rockstar opens a GTA game especially coming off of some of their silliest presidents San Andreas let's go now that's a [ __ ] theme for a game right there always a treat to Hero when opening the game and wish they used it more throughout besides little Mission completed Jiggles there's a lot of aspects where I'm going to view GTA 4 from the lens of when it was released in 2008. so many mind-blowing things were introduced here that propelled the industry forward on a purely technical level imagine going from San Andreas to this sweeping wide shot under this dank ass Dean back in La I bet some of you actually do remember that jumping quality it just screams you're in for something new Buckaroo and with that theme we get that tone straight away that the narrative here and themes presented will be taken a bit more seriously at least when it comes to Nico he's our main guy and as an outsider coming into the US is the only one that doesn't have a story in Life satirized or exaggerated like every other character there's also the feeling with GTA 4 that nothing is actually exaggerated and can be pretty one for one at times but viewing it from the objective safety of a video game and tempered by our Avatar Nico everything and everyone seems heightened crazy to think about when you start seeing people in this game act the same as in your real life so Rockstar came back to New York City and with the main theme of the game is the perversion of the American dream there wasn't a better setting to choose so it's no coincidence that the Statue of Liberty funnily enough named the statue of happiness in Liberty Island named happiness island is essentially the first shot we see they didn't come to find out Nico is an illegal immigrant frames have seen perfectly come to America change your life and follow the dream but only if you're XYZ or have done ABC it is the land of opportunity he's speaking of land of opportunity and then prattles on about the American Dream all while we're seeing this boat is used for all types of crime while Nico just wants to actually start over and move on with his life the start of this game is telling us there is no getting out for Nico the game just has a way of following him all do dumb things that's what makes us human Amen to that brother that's what makes us that was such a sorrowful could be Nico has got to be my favorite GTA protagonist ever with how serious Rockstar takes him and how he rejects all of the satire and Ridiculousness of GTA's America it's like he doesn't know what type of game he's makes him stand out more and more relatable having them be basically the only normal one it's greater than that last night to him the land of opportunity land of opportunity throughout GTA 4 is more or less used as an excuse to indulge in whatever Behavior one does good or otherwise the placement of the opening credits are creative and not so when your face is distracted from the scene one of the few times Rockstar always wanting us to drive makes sense swear there's some irony of Roman squashing the Cockroach went to the rest of the crime World Roman is the Cockroach war is where the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other I was very young and very angry maybe that is no excuse Roman very indicative of the game's teams Nico tries to talk about something real something that hurt him deeply in Roman nods off asleep by it just as he was asking to know more about Nico if it's not about playing the game or climbing the ladder no one in America cares about you or your problem similar to how Nico is describing his experience with war ROM are you sleeping you fat come on mikeaholic is a standout performance in GTA 4. this come on is so well delivered I could hear the many times I've said it just like that to my family members this is the woman that I'm going to marry foreshadowing because we never honestly believe that these two would end up together I guess it's true the beautiful woman do like the guys some brilliant framing flat position is domineering over Mallory and from the moment Nico meets flat we can see him sizing him up engaging his protective sensibilities even for a woman he just met I almost forgot I'm giving you my old phones quick GTA 4 at the time was easily the top three most immersive games when it came to replicating reality which is ironic given how much they perverted like piss wiser or whatever the beer is called anyway that goes from the game engine to the life Sim aspects down to the way Rockstar naturally gives us tutorials like the phone or teaching us the basics of vehicle chases naturally through the narrative made better by the fact that we are fresh off the boat right alongside Nico him being thrust into this new world this city isn't anything like how we remember from three so we grasped Nico to be our Bud through it all GTA 4 overhauled many of its core mechanics and driving being one of them along with their new physics engine I mentioned earlier it gave an entirely new handling to the vehicles going from three San Andreas or even five GTA 4 has an entire learning curve all to its own it takes practice to be good at driving this game no car just turns in a dime I'd say the realism is the best it's been in the series that doesn't mean it's the best gaming experience though be that as it may even with the sports cards you don't feel untouchable when in chases and you've got to give care to how you take corners and this all feeds into that immersion that GTA 4 is providing when I go back the last thing they will expect is for me to take everything spoken like a true gambling at it trust me I know Rockstar keeping it real in their dialogue maybe one day you'll get the premium quality one like mine then you will have really made it Roman really believes himself here this isn't tongue-in-cheek about his position in life Roman's fallen for the classic status phone your entire life could be in shambles and you're way too much dead but you gotta get that nice phone for appearances then you will have really made it I can only wish in our man Nico as he will constantly throughout the entire game seize through it all get out of here Nico proving that he really is exploited with how easily he deals with these wannabes it's no surprise that he gets so caught up in the game we do what we're good at going to stab me now he's going to kill you love how different these two are Roman believes in the latter he described a Nico previously we are at the bottom of the ladder man these stocks push us around but they are not to be feared and actually does live in fear of them then Nico just being the hard [ __ ] he is putting Roman's advice into action this isn't Sal Hi how are you I live on Rotterdam Hill up on Mohawk Avenue just by hearing her voice we should have known something was up with her you look like that like that kind of guy I want to get to know want to know how well you can kill being able to try on clothes or for buying them was a nice touching gives us more of that sweet sweet realism did you just move in no no stuff is new some even still have tags on Nico's attention to detail a definite hold over from his days as a soldier and foreshadowing to Michelle being moved in here to work on Nico fun fair yeah great let's go Fair ugh the awkwardness is palpable Rebecca Henderson and Michael holick nail it in their vocal performances over on the boardwalk why don't we play a few frames cool let's go bowling Dan ooh I'm gonna be jealous I work with Mallory what do you do exactly you're a hard girl to talk to Michelle I guess you're not used to talking to American women Michelle really working hard for that paycheck also cleverly using all American women as a scapegoat is the best low-hanging fruit she could have used to get out of this do you think that this is 100 my horse and rdr2 didn't die till the end but really I always get a kick out of my passengers panic attacks in-game and in real life I mean what thank you for taking the time busy schedule to protect me from those crazy large sharks you're attacked Nico the dialogue here is completely dependent on if you responded to Roman or Michelle first some nice attention to detail that makes the world feel more alive there's an entire relationship system in GTA 4 where you can make people really hate you or have yourself another Brucie I will not let these men treat you like that again I'm sorry for letting you down Roman Nico really is the most altruistic protagonist that we've ever gotten in GTA game it actually flies directly in the face of all the other protagonists setting itself apart from the previous games and fives our problems with your cousin I told you to stop now it's too Nico isn't the kind of guy that gives two warnings you'll see that Trend as we go on you shouldn't play with sharp objects Darden Nico with the badass good guy one liner forget about the fence sir a surf is basically a person who works under a lord in the feudal system ever Vlad and the falston family they operate on a similar hierarchy Dimitri Mikhail being the Kings Vlad is accounts being the sea level member in the family especially calling Mallory and Roman the lion witch audacity of this [ __ ] is pretty much what went through Nico's head all translated through an ice queen and neatly little dolly Zoom it always impresses me seeing traditional film language and games or even animation when there isn't an actual camera to be used and these Studios kinda have to the camera is a language everyone subconsciously understands that it's important to not stray too far away from that just because anything is possible with a virtual one of course so it's when the rules get broken that we truly see masterpieces but you understand my point come on I'll give you one imagine commanded that much respect that throw look you disarm a man who thought he was on top of the food chain maybe you and Nico can do me few favors sure no I can't do it my cousin will do it Roman really has learned a lot from his time in America Outsourcing everything there were times he seems to not have made it we see that Bellic Enterprises is kind of popping off with these different phone calls he's got to be making prism is a dirty business yeah like War not exactly no maybe not I love how quickly Roman folds to Nico having never been in a war but this little bit of dialogue is always what Rockstar does best lions that feel insignificant but once you start thinking about them there's a lot to unpack Nico loses his dollar to the machine which should give him his soda capitalism has always been the promise of a fair free market but the dream isn't always the reality it's also representative that Nico supporting Roman is more often than not going to bleed him dry like War not exactly and Nico's response War could be very cut and dry orders and defeating the enemies but Nico's experiences showed him that people will play games in war just like they will in capitalism and there's that duality in them stuck at both worlds still trying to make both coexist when you're going to tell me properly about what happened I'm not going to judge you then we've got Roman trying to get Nico to open up about his past but only on his terms in a way he's able to hear it Nico is trying to open up the minute he got into the city but was ignored when you got time there I have time that's a good cousin right there saying no to money just to get some Nico time for all this time cousin Nico every woman take over the world hunting little Jacobs is up there as the best characters from his jokes to his get [ __ ] done policy all things considered his loyalty but if I'm being honest it's the accident dialogue Rockstar wrote for him I'm sure a lot of you struggle to understand him like me but by the end there's no one you get better Little Jacob you'll notice pretty much anywhere Jacob goes he's got a constant Cloud around him respect the cover in actual third person shooter mechanics and four were huge for the time really elevated this from the old school arcady experience to the latest and greatest AAA title that everyone's got to play plus with the new physics you really feel the impact of each bullet you pump it to somebody what's your name again Big Mouth brick better caches Nico's got a sense of humor he knows his worth so he doesn't mind playing along something Roman is struggling to find yes Mickey about I don't understand please give me more of these goofy Zooms in my camera work anyone remember Negan seeing Alexandria for the first time that pull out was the best thing ever oh vagina shop in the Camden Avenue in Dukes the Mission Title Bowl in a china shop isn't even trying to be clever it's a literal china shop gotta respect Rockstar for that here you go don't hurt him don't leave the bad to teach a lesson really shows the difference between Vlad and Nico and more importantly this is the first crack to see that Vlad really ain't [ __ ] you shouldn't cry wolf from and who knows when you'll really need help that's what he got for you Nico I think a cop is gonna help with some loan sharks the new animations for carjacking are great we've got breaking the window hot wiring sometimes the car alarms go off getting you copy the cops I remember when generational leaps were huge back in the day it's part of the reason why I'm hoping rockstars waited so long GTA 6 so it could feel like a San Andreas to four moment see what I'm in earlier they did the New York classic I'm walking here with how his nose is bleeding he's been away friend pay for their drug habits I ironic no well say something you're so [ __ ] late man the inner soldier in him is coming out not speaking out of turn to those above him awesome this is the first definitely not last time Nico declines any type of drugs Nico would be the poster child for dare bruised hickey glass of water yo Nico's a water um Hydro homie if you follow Ivan all the way to the end he will trip and hold on to the ledge and you get to choose his fate if you save him there's a mission later with him but this is the first time we're getting some really weighty choices which is the first for GTA you think this is worth it you are throwing you and your fatty cousins lives away for that beat of Puerto Rican church I'm throwing your life away prick we'll do all right Nico doesn't weigh a person's value off what they can do or offer it's one of his many endearing qualities there's also a man that does things because of the right thing to do killing Vlad and this anger is objectively stupid but he's a family man and Robin will always be his blind spot I wish I could be there to watch Mikhail cut your peasant balls off Miguel's name is dropped again setting up that Vlad isn't the top of the ladder and how he cares himself not even close to the top ah you're a big boy vladi some Poetic Justice with the amount of times he called Roman fatty 12 people died they escaped one of them leaves here why are you telling me this now do you always get sentimental after you kill people now that's a good example of bathos Roman's line isn't directly funny but in the context of everything going on is hilarious and perfectly in line with this character hey you did say you wanted to know more about the war and then finally got some backstory about Nico no better time thematically to open up about this Nico was able to stop Vlad from hurting innocence unlike he was previously in the Army and it's his love for his family alongside the Betrayal that got his unit kill that makes his bloodlust for Vlad insatiable all they care about is making money so we say we work for them Nico gets it but it's also much more relaxed because he actually has the ability to provide such service where Roman cannot who are you working for uh my cousin Roman don't be an idiot Roman but it's so fun watching Nico work these guys he's so chill and just shooting he knows he's got him in the palm of his hand he's 100 been in worse situations in the Army you think it's okay to kill my employees if he is yes your captors homicidal sensibilities shows that in a way Niko isn't too far off being like nikael it was some scary music creepier lighting you could shift these scenes tonally to be very serious though they're trapped and this is helpless this is kind of the funniest scene in the game so far go go go I'll take care of him Dimitri playing good cop out here this fast and watching Nova do a gay Tony right now lay off that stuff why because it clouds your judgment not now it's not the time I like Dimitri and falson's dynamic we've got the good cop bad cop but also the businessman and the mob boss or the Gus ring and the tuko Salamanca one looks at it completely objectively about profits and overhead and the other wants to enjoy the debauchery and freedoms this kind of Life ensures that's a good one I'm a fool drunken fool GTA 4 does a better job than previous games I'm backing off in the archetypes and Hyper realized versions of people you'll find in crime faustin's use of drugs here isn't glamorous or funny he's alone in a giant mansion listening to music generally plays at the club surrounded by people having a good time together and then here he is you need to come down with that stuff damn why so I can be like you Mr Bobby is a class of sedative or sleep inducing drug and faustin has his vices and so does Dimitri one takes downers the other takes up they're perfect for each other it's me oh hello Nico really Blends into the background anytime others are talking he's our main dude but in the grand scheme for them he's just a cog the camber respects this since he's in their house we don't get any cuts to his reactions or nothing you know how much money there is in selling this stuff online don't know but don't ask Pamela Anderson women didn't receive or take a dime from her day as we enter we see everyone being all buddy buddy with Dimitri it's an example of the age-old question is it better to be respected or feared Dimitri of the two is respected and fast and feared begging you to shut the fleas don't do this why don't you you want to play games they're like an old married couple you want a drink no thank you you all right what questioning faustin is a no-go Mr faustin no Nico smartly shows respect to him and he completely forgets about the stupid imagined slide [ __ ] you this ain't Russia and we ain't Communists Bill Burr who a tick tock fitfluencer but seriously the most entertaining character outside of when Nico yells at Roman for being an idiot he understands my vision oh so he's an idiot hey screw you Nico knows how to have a good time see who these trucks for that also when he says this he backs up to put his weight on his back foot and case Bruce he didn't take two cards Nico's prepared for anything you should try going online I know how to go on the line on the line Nico are you sure about that let's cool guy I'm glad Nico sees it no he's out okay should I wait outside no no come in it's really jarring seeing these more human interactions with all the craziness that has entered Nico's life but it never gets to him he's still able to retain his humanity and have a civil respectful conversation Mikhail doesn't let me use this anymore says it makes us look like barbarians ironic judging by the comparison I just made I know what you're thinking it is a bit funny coming from him oh she just took my win away from me life is complicated I I never thought I'd live like this these are the types of scenes I'd live for there can only be so many silly characters in Murder missions before it gets a little dull it really says something when the most captivating scene and sometimes just two people sitting down sharing tea in a conversation and that's a compliment and you don't worry about your soul Rockstar loves their Dolly zooms don't they combatic baby faster shows more affection than Nico and even calls him by what should be Lena's pet name it's all because she stepped out of line so she must be punished in his eyes I don't know if I can smooth things over with Panther okay man [ __ ] you who are you my daddy Carl eroded really chews it up as fasten what are you my Daddy has been living in my head Wren free sorry Nikki man how's things okay sweet they go a stone cold on the side of this monkey I don't think I'd punched at him either the no loading screens were built Interiors was also huge back in the day I remember the first time that door just flew open as a kid I didn't understand it that legit is me if I'm in the middle of riding and someone barges in women with this and I am no chubby chaser but if I was in a queer got in trouble you know our board might be into something more than even he realizes hey do I look like I got funny balls to you I haven't considered it people always try to intimidate Nico but every time he finesses his way out of it it makes him more likable you don't love any family you could run wherever you go people will find you not Dimitri but Rockstar alluding to Nico's pursuit in Liberty City do what you have to do that little nod Dimitri props it like he has somewhat of a choice and tactically he does but Nico understands that box Dimitri has put him in and is slightly entertained by it you know if there's one thing I have learned it's that we must obey the rules of the game you'll notice in a moment that faustin falls in direct contrast to Dimitri's beliefs Dimitri is cold and only out for himself at the end of the day you push things too far you would be dead if it wasn't for me that is what Dimitri wanted when he killed blood and then palestin doesn't play better rules he's fast and loose when it comes to Dimitri's question you're given the choice kill your best friend or die what do you do passion would make his own rules and try to save Dimitri and get out of the situation kind of does to us all now Dimitri is playing by new rules Allison is stuck in the past when they were in prison together easy submission but foreshadowing Boston can take a whole Bullet to the Head strong man but I'm guessing this was Rockstar giving us a chance to do pistol execution Jacob is our ride or die poet till the end you left a good friend of mine out of pocket big time well the Betrayal came quicker than expected it's the one way to look at Roman's love of the latter metaphor yeah he's here now great I'm sorry I've ruined your life no don't be like that we can find a way out of this these two best friends are direct foil for what we just saw faustin Dimitri Roman doesn't hire someone to murder Nico even though doing so would save his skin he's loyal to us to the end of the day and that's why we love Roman last night I had a dream you and I are the place of Our Own place where people come to eat [Music] we're on the real restaurant Roman having dreams of the American dream promised him when he came here the whole place I've got to go in I've got to get something the ring from Mallory that apartment wasn't glamorous but it was something I'm sure he saved most of his wages just to afford that thing do you know how long it took me to get the place of my own you got after both and I was here for you I know you were I got here and I had nothing nobody now Roman is being real honest about what the American dream really is a Hallmark in individual Mobility having the opportunity to possibly make something out of nothing and though the life wasn't as amazing as he sold it to Nico in his letters it's all relative maybe the whole apartment and answered four phones at work is the dream compared to what life was before and finding peace and enjoyment and that is what's really important we went to the bar back home and found it Race To The Ground yeah we sat down and finished it up there and then wait wait I don't want to talk about back home Nico trying to compare what they went through back home to what's going on now to highlight that nothing is really different here even if it felt like but what is Illustrated more is that Nico isn't cut out for the rules the game is played by in America and it's going to burn some cab companies on the way rewriting the book these girls wearing this in the cologne yeah trying to impress Michelle or something oh after losing everything the one thing that he still got to make him have is his girl Mallory what's the different mental attitude come on Joe from Breaking Bad with love Robin I'm glad you turned up and made some Russian Killers burn down my home in business thanks Snicker thanks a bunch is that better Nico's giggling cause this all started because Roman got in with the sharks and Nico took it upon himself to bail him out despite Roma's protests always going on about having a spine and backbone or something like that so I guess we start again well it wouldn't be the first time for y'all oh our approach Mission Trail is all sad now look man you look good do I look gay no no it's very manly kind of dance the true struggles for a man in 2008. what are you doing what are you saying quick we gotta get some of this dealers off the streets man you know and I want him to know it was me man many means well but he's really not going about it in the best way trying to have all the glory that he didn't even earn for himself hey Maddie why you do this why you want to clean up the street so bad what's your passion do you tell them to get famous see Nico gets it the message is what's important man it don't matter who gives it I for one ain't in this for the ego trip ironic that's always the biggest dudes of the softest right I don't know if it was scripted for this date but if it is that is hilarious one with a lot of money do you do you Tony the 2do series Lost a damned in battle Gay Tony we're super planned prior baked heavily into the main game we've already had a run-in with some actors from The Lost and later we're gonna get some action with Luis hey check this out I need someone no one knows to oversee a deal I'm not sure about Elizabeth is a brother Fisher compared to the most people we've worked with so far she seems the most well-adjusted person to this line of work you got a good look about you and I'm lucky with my gut feelings ah Luck of the Irish and he's wearing green yeah see what I mean about hella big then being a deal in this town I don't know own this [ __ ] real Playboy is such a cute little character everything we've gone through as Nico so far GTA 4 is a slow unveiling of every angle of the crime World in Liberty City how everyone thinks they're at the top of the ladder in the true movers around town it makes me love Nico and Roman so much more because they're the only ones that are truly honest with themselves about their place amongst things buyer of some Asian dude called Charlie like in the Vietnam movies money these undercover cops are 100 the worst ones we're ever gonna see Charlie was a name used for the Vietnam kongson soldiers and the Vietnam war that name got shortened to Viet Cong then shortened by the NATO phonetic alphabet Victor Charlie then just Charlie so the name Charlie quickly got associated with the Enemy and here in the deal one of the cops is named Charlie happens to be Asian the enemy am I endorsing this no but a neat bit of History to be learned from an offhand comment by playboy young black men get out of the ghetto that'll come gotta get me successful first many in Playboy are like two sides of the same coin both wanted to help one day but it's about them first Playboy seems a bit more in touch understanding that you've got to be bigger than just killing a couple dealers in a warehouse though look out for me and I don't look out for you Nico's Really Got It Made though he doesn't love working for the suits he's got free reign to do what he pleases in the city also covers some of the little narrative dissonance with us getting wanted levels all the time for doing stupid [ __ ] in the Overworld they just sweep it all under the rug for us and I'm admitting guilt I ain't guilty enough other than being a man a certain respect I have for Francis being honest that he's given in to his worst human impulses working both sides of the law I don't give him too much credit though because he's using it as a shield instead of actual introspection GTA 4 every now and then we'll get a little creative with its missions which I really appreciate they always come in the right time to breathe life back into the missions from becoming too samey this isn't as good as the best one we get later but it's up there having to use the phone call to find the proper Target I could use a drink you no I love how persistent Nico is always declining a drink America and really a lot of the world has such weird blinders for alcohol it's objectively a poison that we ingest into our bodies and in GTA 4 just about everyone we work with is drinking for the mob bosses to the police to the Irish Biko really being a role model out here to keep you sober of course you could choose to make a drink but I like to think canonically he stays away from it as much as he can let me put it like this if a guy makes a mistake should that ruin his life I don't know that's Twitter slowly rotting in a hot kitchen I don't give a [ __ ] about the life lessons friend what do you want Nico keeping it real and saving us the time I don't give a [ __ ] about lucky you don't give a [ __ ] about lucky but uh what about you what motivates you the question we've all wanted to know and for Playboy for all his faults is a businessman to a degree and this is an important thing to know for anyone you're working I need money this pays and I can do it sounds an awful lot like Arthur Morgan though which brings me to something that Rockstar does with all their writing they never beat you over the head with their themes messaging your point they show a story as true to life as it could be with some exaggerated characters it's completely up to us to interpret it it's a big reason why GTA has gotten into hot water about solely being a playground for violence there's a whole story here offering the player the chance to reflect on all the harm they've done and depending on which ending you choose you will have to deal with the consequences of your actions and it's presented in such a way we don't feel like we're being sat down in kindergarten like The Last of Us Part Two And even feel respected by Rockstar throughout now I'm still a hustler from these streets I wonder if you were hustling around in a bright rainbow jacket back in the day probably not you said it yourself Money Changes people X also nicknamed Nico money so in a way he's saying that Nico changes people and he does throughout the entire game especially Roman for some folk just like Roman with his gambling it all the same Africa America Dubai I mean I'm kind of inclined to agree we're all still human at the end of the day and pursuit of the same damn simple things that we love to complicate so often detail I loved about Nico not even for a moment with Jacob was there any confusion between them this is one of the more interesting level designs we get in the entire game the verticality adds a lot to how you're gonna approach this firefight and the decaying Island Hospital is a nice change of pace for parking lots and City buildings you see Nico I have been working for the government this twist kind of blew my mind when I saw it mostly because of what it meant for Nico's operations and less because of their relationship I'd only done the one day with her but if you go out there more she's got constant dialogue digging for info on Nico's activities it's a situation where the more you engage with her the more this moment will hit for you but excited to see how the hell Nico and little Jay was gonna get out of this because Nico is not the type to murder a woman in Cold Blood at least once he knows I'm sorry it had to be this way Nico I'm really sorry you thank you this is what makes Nico great she doesn't get any preferential treatment it doesn't even care about as to why just straight up FTB [Music] the post Mission tracks always slide rise into the vibe on how it ended the music feels like things are really starting to ramp up and working for the government is up there you better stop slinging that [ __ ] on my streets yo we don't want it anymore Ayo Jay you're catching this rolling rolling the streets keep playing Manny for passing up a business opportunity she's already burned might as well grab some mileage out of it the streets have spoken not yet they haven't now they have I am in the mood for this right now I take back what I said about her being a bit more on the normal side but when under this kind of pressure a lot of people would crack so I love Rockstar keeping it real especially when she's getting her nose rubbed in it right before it happens no one wants a liver if it's riddled with tumors huh know what I mean no Candor looks like the bullet went right through this one's eye and the price of eyes is through the roof at the moment everyone wants to be seen in this type of America just like Manny care was taken that the cameraman was ironic that you lost the eye they looked through that lens with he'd been trying to help the streets his whole life maybe he'll actually be doing it now [Music] saying about these messenger Jingles I'm sorry but I love them so much but you're damaged goods no doubt hey self-awareness is the first step to growth you've watched too many movies whatever you say Michelle or whatever your name is it's Karen of course it's Karen this all makes sense now I'm not a good guy but I'm fighting with them and guess what so are you hey trying to be relatable to the guy you're blackmailing to be your Hitman and if I say no I had your file over to those cretans in the FIB and organized crime has dealt another serious blow this has given Nico the respect that he's serious business in the crime World welcome to America for Nico throughout he constantly cannot Escape his past no matter how hard he tries nothing is safe no no one hurting maybe delay that's making me ready to shed a tear for Roman yes you're looking for some people we're all looking for that special someone but most of us don't want to kill them when we find them most wives are killed by their husbands yes and my wife I better stop sleeping with that tennis coach or I'm joking I'm sure your wife doesn't need to sleep around oh I'm joking I'm sure she does I freaking love this back and forth between them this man does not respect Nico and sees him beneath them and just as a gun to point and shoot but Nico's quick with it and keeps up with him on the shot talk Nico's special quality that he's always been a bit smarter than everyone he's worked with can I get the medal did you get a medal in your last war more parallels to his past life with this new one being one of the same Dwayne is one of the few characters in GTA 4 that are played completely straight his depression after leaving lock up is some real [ __ ] that even Nico empathizes with him about I'll go speak the both of them they'll ask for your money back and if they don't agree I'll make them see Nico's getting paid by playboy sure but it's not because of that no I'll bother I'm getting paid and besides you remind me of me Nico and Dwayne seem to be dealing with [ __ ] with the conscience prison was easy compared to this [ __ ] Nico completely understands I know you've all heard that a lot of soldiers struggle to adjust to civilian life and a very similar adjustment is happening to Dwayne right now Jacob you really gotta smoke that thing now this is why we love Little Jacob if you go inside the Statue of Happiness you'll find a live beating heart don't know why but you will and I thought you should know friend of mine Dimitri rascolov he would pay a lot of money for your cousin I'll get you the money just not that way Roman Stan loyal is a dog right now no I did I thought things would be different I I don't understand this place so good oh and the truth comes out that's what we hear at gamingwin's HQ call an arc real cool that we've got a family working on both sides of the law then just the regular members caught in the middle of it like Meyer real bad first did no one pay you any attention as I said I said just two Bros sitting in a Banshee talking about prison privy because they're not gay [Music] after the amount of practice you've had you'd know the difference hey can you keep up I see why Nico would take an interest in her looking for them pecoran a type of cheese pegarino [Music] I don't see the difference both old and smelly man the best thing about GTA games is just how realistic the other drivers are on the road I mean just look at this second happens all the time Nico you well thank God for that he doesn't take a sip almost the whole game anymore tellers wait as long as they can every second counts when it comes to the cops showing up and busting them what's your name son now we're getting some of the Gay Tony up in this tail end of the game imagine that pass in my high school championship football game was a bad idea because I broke my leg in 13 places but my God this dude they really got an analog for everyone in these games stuff I picked an High School guy that will never shut up about it damn sucks that Michael was the only one to go something tells me that his blood runs thick and he would have been great for putting the inbred bags I mean putting the bread in the bags this is probably the best set piece we getting for from fighting our way out of the bank Chinatown being descended upon by a chopper to fighting through the subway capped off with a getaway Chase while talking about our feelings this highest walked out so the ones in five could run oh there he is European they're really cute together crushing on them hard and Nico doesn't want to get too close to her the fear of dragging her too close to the game also he doesn't want to enter without permission good guy Nico brother care of my family hey makes me think of this slime look after my family Nico started from being heavily questioned by Jerry and now he's being asked like a brother to protect his family does it stop you thinking what do you care about therapist Nico on the scene first Wayne not Derek you got a thing for the D don't he apparently your guy hangs out that the Burger Shot in the elderly Burger Shot ain't got nothing on Burger Town though no I mean maybe you're in on it baby I am but if you thought that I wouldn't be standing here right now you ain't as dumb as you look that's how Nico was able to climb the ladder as quickly as he has we climb our way up throughout this game just like Roman did with his cab business starting from Burgess and Loan shark's arm to taking down some coke head on a power trip and now working with different mobs and mafias oh yeah and the government I guess I'll come out I just whatever they're dead and I've got the stuff you want to get your hands on it come meet me at the bridge in Middle Park oh damn Nico now calling the shots get real close to the top of that ladder beside fine you got it you want my word you got my word who is he I keep saying he'll find him it doesn't even know the name and that comedic timing was just perfect yo also Nico is six feet but everyone seems taller so really Nico is a short King and we love him on a level people always behave better with company sure much better getting shot by two guys than one ever since we started getting less Roman and Brucie in the main missions Rockstar really had Nico pick up the slack in the comedy bracket and his dry ass humor sends me every time Isaac these are great the gang's all here Isaac the diamond dealer blaming me for everything there's a lot of importance placed on these diamonds throughout and they're actually set up in the opening scene of the game which is is there a report coming or something where am I going glad they had at least one guy with the most stereotypical accent where am I going you're going to a far away place my friend damn right somewhere the cops will never find me nobody's gonna find you where you're going friend the dramatic irony fun right here uh god with the hat no the guy with the you know the Buddha the poop yeah the guy with the uh and the yeah that guy we've all got a friend we can communicate on this level right as Jenka as it is it's fun seeing Rockstar play around with these more scripted set piece moments in these early days so you're here to work for him shoot him or arrest them or maybe all three it's okay Mrs B I'll deal with this yeah I'm in a life-threatening situation and I'm having a conversation here Mrs P is in sharp contrast to falston and his wife she's been around this so long she's used to it and she doesn't put up with no [ __ ] either kind of is entertained by it so from here on out we've met all the main players we're gonna and if I'm being honest GTA 4 is at its strongest when it's dealing with more of the street level stuff with the more diverse cast of characters all with different motives related to their place in the latter by the end it's nothing but dudes and Suits all vying for a place at the top the other guys like Playboy and Francis are here but they take a major backseat and have some Swift wrap up to their stores the exact same manner too you can even see the apathy and Nico's face that he's got to work with this guy that if I have a talented snake a historical lion who's going to be cut down in his prime I don't know what do you think I don't understand what you're talking about you do but that's a cool thing about these higher up bosses Nico can't play dumb with these guys they see right through his act which will force him to change up his tactics jackasses all of them pecorino's wife is super Jaden he's in love with the business right he's slipping now and we got men sleeping on the job if I was a Betty man I'd say the pecorinos are on the way out show this is the perfect time for Nico to slide in and Save the Day make sure you hit the pavanas real hard Mr P's so angry he even shook the camera ah [ __ ] It's Street days early man on the meal what am I gonna do they even got a solderize Mamma Mia Direction [Music] see someone else going inside There's an opportunity to get the answers Nico dominant down for us who didn't grasp it off oh yeah it raised that kid like like my own son that's hilarious but also why do you think you finally decided to weigh around missions like these are what Rockstar's all about just pushing everyone's boundaries about what's allowed in the video we look at this as just a mob job and the News will say video game let's see his hair Rockstar doesn't give a [ __ ] you know there's no good no evil just shades of Nico agrees with him for sure but I don't see them anywhere near the same level Francis can have this software act but what makes Nico a true gray Jedi and not Francis is that he accepts who he is he doesn't try to explain away why he's a good man or why he should be considered one actually just speak louder than words or something like that this is the mission I mentioned way back when having to call the number on the sale to lure out this target is freaking creative it took me forever to figure out what to do then there's probably a reason enough help phones anymore what why didn't you kill I assumed if you scared you'd have found out well I have found out so he cares it's sounding like I got no choice one McCreary brother is going to get me to kill another that's what I like to hear haha keeping a vague to Francis or our choice isn't spoiled all the choices on who to spare are really well balanced and how hard the choice is we've got the dirty cop with the good intentions with a possibly healthy life ahead of him or the drug addict who's only got a couple years left anyway but has been a loyal friend and loyal to the game the haters are trying to kill me stand it it's not fair I'm just being mean Bernie this is how I feel about getting low honor and rdr2 Bernie is the best so entertaining and not like anyone else Nico has had to deal with oh I'm so glad you've come back into my life it's cool Bernie was the last thing Nico expected to find when it came to tracking down his ex unit and with um the changes Barney has made it wouldn't have taken much convincing for me either that he didn't set up Nico's unit gosh I can't wait for GTA 6 to come out and to take dark generation loses their mind and tries to cancel Rockstar because they can't understand satire and that these games make fun of everyone I expect nothing less at Burning having a pink helmet and where do you think he stores it people are so damn vague some people even you even me an old man facing the end and I still care care how I look and he is even on his deathbed he's forcing himself to wear a nice button down for these meets and when it comes to his line of work and America as a whole reputation and appearances could get you just as far as anything else so then Nico doesn't care about truly he's not here for the nice cars the fancy clothes Nico's many missions where he's forced to wear a suit otherwise he can't start the mission because he's got a looked apart in exchange for that guy you've been asking about being blood here from wherever it is he's hiding these older Mafia bosses are always the real ones Nico asked for something in exchange and he doesn't him and ha about offering him something else gravali understands you gotta give to get anyway this is the future that Nico gets to look forward to there's an interesting thing to think about that Rockstar doesn't really address Nico is constantly doing these jobs saying he needs the money is always looking for work and some of it is to get the details on Darko but most of the time it's not once we've completed the bank highs we never really want for money after that so there seems to be a part of Nico that likes this line of work hurting people winning he enjoys what he's good at and in America there aren't too many places for a man with Nico's skill set you you are stressed ah goodbye Florian no too angry to respect his new name Nico has kind of become the thing he swore to destroy him he's hell-bent on Dimitri because he tried to Whack Him and now Niko's backstabbing rayon orders when it was Rey who's the one he was working with in the first place I have a boy back in the day I won't be able to get do I keep into his beliefs remember when he said people so quick to forget we put him in the ground Nico killed the man and is giving him the ultimate respect to bury him too course like a soul like us all flip-flopping the sound designer whose voice is coming through the phone I was thinking the other day of all the little things that have got to be painstakingly crafted in a video game film some things which is given by the nature of I don't know capturing real life and things but every little pixel in a game has to be handcrafted and I believe we all kind of take that for granted sometimes it's part of a reason I think we're seeing so many incomplete games nowadays games are getting bigger and more complicated to make at the AAA level and these Publishers are trying to squeeze more work into the same time frame that the older titles used to take and that's just not something that's possible anymore either way Rockstar has always delivered with their games and though we don't love GTA 5 spanning three generations we at least know they're working on six and only gonna release it when they feel nice and ready with it this mission is so much fun just because Grace [ __ ] with the steering wheel typical for a woman to take us off the straight and narrow that's a joke I am Gracie hanselotti and I shut up fine strange choices how much this is where Nico really has to sit back and look at himself all the time he's been in Liberty City he's been killing people for money stabbing some that trusted him in the back and Darko gets it too [ __ ] come on look let's go let him suffer he knows what he did man I've missed Rome in the last like five hours of the game the story and these two are really what's at the heart of this game and sadly it does meander a bit but the instant we get focused back on these two I'm glued to the screen we're given the choice what to do with Darko and because I'm bad at video games I killed him but canonically I believe Nico doesn't understanding the lesson about the cycle of violence at The Last of Us Part Two tried to explain to us but leaving in the player's hands to use it as a point of introspection not just for Nico and Roman but also the player in what they believe is just retribution which is when video games are at their best giving us an opportunity to learn about ourselves I killed Darko because I just didn't care anymore I'd already done so many pointless murders to get to this point and if I didn't end it then what would it all been for to have a holier than thou moment and be the bigger man was not enough for me I was just as upset as Nico that he murdered over 10 friends for a thousand dollars and needed some sort of closure just knowing why wasn't enough for me and I learned that I needed to be in control oftentimes I can't just take it on faith that the world will punish Darko for what he's that darker will spend the rest of his day suffering what if he's going to hurt someone else I had an opportunity for closure and after spending so long looking for this bottom fever I didn't really feel like I had a choice and maybe made the wrong one after dealing with Darko this is the first and only time we see Nico order a drink and of course it's Gotta Be vodka didn't work out earlier with Nico not really needing the money it's a bit of commentary how in capitalism there isn't a cap on these things for many people it's always just more more money more likes more followers more cars it's a thirst that can't be satiated so we're given two choices in the end and there really is only one that I feel resonates the best and that's the deal ending Revenge has this kill Dimitri cool but then Kate dies at the ending Whatever by pecorino why and then he's the final boss for some reason but rum is alive so that's cool but then there's the deal and I'll talk about that as we go oh everyone's here and it's all great and I bet nothing's gonna go wrong and wait this is seeming a bit too happy for a rock star there we go oh Roman died because Nico defended himself from Dimitri and if you look at all the decisions that led to this point it can be really easy to blame you for the death of Roman as why I think this is the Canon ending it matches up more pointy with the themes of the game and has a bigger gut punch to throw him a dying and Dimitri being the final boss throughout the entire game Nico is being dragged deeper and deeper into the game and many times it's because he doesn't have a choice in the matter he's either being blackmailed threatened to continue his work or he just can't control his own emotions and finally at the end when he gets a choice the American Greed gets to Roman and convinces Nico to go against his principles to hopefully put everything behind him to really go for that American Dream to move on and have money but only to have it all blow up in his face and lose the only person he truly cared about it's proof that once you're down that bad choice robe there's no getting off of it even if everything seems perfect I love the camera work here just cutting it closer and closer on Nico's face to emphasize a shock and anger Nico automatically dresses in the same clothes as it came to America and it's like nothing has changed for him now and he's only just lost things since coming to America don't know where Little Jacob got a helicopter but this is why he's our number one coming in with the Cavalry um I know it's a dramatic time to mention this but the helicopters in the new engine control unbelievably well their weightiness is top-notch 15 years later LJ opening and closing this book with us it all ends at the feed of the Statue of Liberty the biggest symbol of America of the American dream a statue once glistening bronze with a promise of the future now looks a sickly green of greed Dmitry kneels at the base of the statue paying the price for his greed and what was supposed to be his land of opportunity yes another statue is just Greener because of oxidation but let me have this much speak English Nico finally accepting America and not letting Dimitri cower back into Russia for some semblance of protection also that he doesn't want someone like Dimitri speaking his mother tongue killed my cousin even if you don't go for the Revenge ending you get your revenge ending so now look from Nico says it all what exactly did I win and for the first time winning truly feels like losing with frenico so this is what the dream feels like this is the victory we longed for that's the final line that were left off from the girl the American dream is nothing but a false puric one yes he won but at what cost you may have noticed by the last quarter of the game I skipped a lot of missions and that's because there is a lot of characters introduced that we don't really care about or at least I didn't GTA 4 someone has an issue with constantly throwing new characters at you not giving them enough time to really develop before another is introduced and takes a valuable real estate when it comes to screen time such as the feud between Playboy and Dwayne it's hinted at a bit with him being fresh out of prison but then all of a sudden they're calling up Nico to ice each other and that leaves me at a crossroad intentionality there's one road where they could have died into the Nuance more of Dwayne and Playboy Niko's loyalty again and to make that front and center with more scenes and more missions to really highlight those parallels to Dimitri's betrayal to fauston and then later Nico and also Darko or what they did having to be quick and off the cuff without any real Breathing Room the latter highlights more the reality of how things would go down skipping all the melodrama that we would expect our stories and I'm torn because I love both sides of the coin and like I've harped on continuously that's where Rockstar really sets itself apart from all the other AAA developers they sniped my butt with rdr2 story because while I played it I actively was hating it and not seeing the point in the story and then had the same feelings for GTA 5 and 4 in Red Dead Redemption and then after looking back on them with analysis I realized how brilliant they're riding really actually is them writing their characters as people first who are just going through their day-to-day lives isn't as common as you might think how often do you find yourselves having meaningful conversations with people that would be interesting for film or a game not many I take it and Rockstar finds this balance between the mundane and exaggerating on another note their mission design emphasized exactly the point GTA A4 was trying to make that people have a tendency to be gluttons and they can never have enough we see that in Ray the mccreeries even Roman and Nico there's a lot of missions in GTA 4 and they get very samey after some time to the point that it really does just feel like work we feel that with Nico just the same different day go here kill these guys and for a while this is fun and works but after some time maybe we need to go drinking out with LJ or go bowling with Roman we can't let our work consume us because if we're not careful it'll take everything away from us U.S capitalism has had a very unhealthy obsession with hustle culture if you're not winning then you're losing if you're not grinding then someone else is getting ahead and therefore you aren't living up to your potential and all of our principal characters seem to be caught up in that except Roman Roman is that guy who understands that work has got to be done but we'll hang up at the expense of money to talk to his favorite cousin who will endure them worst punishments and still just take what he can and stride and even phone you up to go bowling it's why I love the dealing because Rowan didn't do anything overtly long just caught up and paid for it you could do everything right and still lose it's an indictment of the crime world and how just dipping your toad could be a slippery slope if you're not careful and keeping proper company and it all comes back to money everything in this game comes back to money that damned invention that was meant to set us free and give us Limitless options when more often than not it feels like we're more constricted by it than ever land of opportunity for sure especially when compared to other places but opportunity for who is the real question Nico had to come to the US illegally because not even with a sponsor from Rowan and when he does get to America he's plugged doing the same thing he did in Europe more like land of do what you're expected to do to make the cogs go and make us guys above Richard is this a cynical take on the US absolutely but to me it's what GTA 4 has to say about America at least how it was in 2008 and um seem like things have changed too much what did you gather from GTA 4 . it's a title that you get what you put in the closer you look at this game you can see how smart it really is past the senseless violence that would corrupt our nation's youth let me know down below and remember Drive the speed limit drink some water Pizza [Music]

Channel: GamingWins

Views: 282,094

Keywords: gaming wins, gamingwins, game wins, gamewin, game review, minecraft review, everything great about, everything great about grand theft auto 4, grand theft auto 4 gamingwins, grand theft auto 4 gaming wins, gaming wins grand theft auto 4, gamingwins grand theft auto 4, grand theft auto 4, everything great about grand theft auto 4 gamingwins, grand theft auto 4 is great, everything great about gta 4, gta 4 gamingwins, gta 4 gaming wins, gta 4, everything great about gta

Id: oxV62VxtULs

Length: 54min 56sec (3296 seconds)

Published: Sun Feb 19 2023