8. The Depth of the Driving Mechanics
As youll probably know, as youll know doubt be involved in, theres raging debate about whether GTA IVs driving mechanics were just too realistic and sim-based to be featured in a GTA game. No doubt the new driving mechanics enraged certain returning fans to the point they turned the game off, heads shaking, before trading it in at the local store for something else. The problem is, up until IV, GTA wasnt a series you had to master. You could pretty much just pick up and play whatever your standard. But with GTA IV, R* introduced a mechanic that required practice, that required tenacity. Hence, many returning fans were put off entirely by the change. Im not on the fence on this issue, not by a long shot. On record, I think GTA IV boasts, and by a massive margin, the greatest driving mechanics in the entire series. Sure, theyre difficult to master, thats not in contention. But does difficult to master mean worse? Im not so sure it does. My view is that when you master something difficult, the rewards are all the greater. And when you master GTA IVs driving system, thats when you realise that it might just be the most subtle, nuanced and satisfying driving experience of its kind.