Fishy, the first 5 hours are what I liked most about the game. If you hated it, then you'll hate the rest.
I did like it, early on I gave it a 95%, but later wanted to change my score to 90%.
I think Crackdown was almost as good, to be honest, and I definitely got sucked into the hype, though, there is no doubt in my mind that I certainly did have a good time when I was playing GTAIV, for the most part. The end had a little bit of that old GTA frusteration crappiness, but overall, this was my favorite GTA game, but there are tons of other games this gen that I've liked better, including Galaxy, RE4 Wii, Radiant Dawn, Metroid Prime 3, Gear, Vesperia, Bioshock, Braid, CoD4, Orange Box, Brawl, and a ton of DS/PSP/PS3, and PC games that I've failed to mention here.
It's a great game, but in a time of great games, to me, and imho, it didn't stand the test of time like some of the other games I've played recently, or am playing, did/will.
I sold my copy 1.5 hours after beating the final mission. Didn't bother for the alternate ending. No regrets. Stick with a 9/10, or if you wanna get specific, 8.9999999/10 Not quite as good as most other games I'd give 9/10. This is also according to my personal taste, which, for instance gives Tales of games a 10/10, and gives GTAIV a 1/10, which definitely affects the scrores.
I don't need your console war.
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
You're power hungry, spinnin' stories, and bein' graphics whores.
I don't need your console war.
NO NO, NO NO NO.
