10. Rockstar Humour
Over the years Rockstar have become famed for their storytelling prowess and superior scripts. Often at the core of these things is a sardonic sense of humour that seems to permeate every level of detail, from the dialogue of the central characters right down to the little finishing flourishes in the world around you. That humour is ever present in GTA IV and even though the tone is often bleak, that crass, tongue-in-cheek mirth punctuates the darkness constantly, allowing for much needed moments of comic relief after the more intense missions. While it can often get crass, bordering on blatant (in a South Park sort of way) which is hilarious in itself Im referring to the many media parodies on Liberty Citys radio and TV networks in particular here it can also be clever, cerebral and unpredictable. Sometimes the humour comes from simple moments of unexpected irony that Im not even sure Rockstar intended. Yesterday for example, I missed a turning in busy traffic. I tried to handbrake but too late, flipping my already destroyed car three or four times causing the engine to go on fire. Just as I was about to exit the vehicle and leg it from the inevitable explosion that would surely kill everyone in the vicinity the GPS calmly urged: make a U-turn where safe. Oh GPS, how little you know This trademark Rockstar humour is one of the many reasons that were shaking with anticipation for V and invariably one of the reasons that were still coming back to IV all these years later.