If GTA4 isn't a 10/10 game, why did it get reviews like it did?

[Hephaestos]

richardhutnik said:

Hephaestos said:
$$$

big name means lots of clicks means $$$

and 10/10 reviews will be read by most everyone as you want to know why it's so exceptionally good.

So, because of the money, and attention the game generates, GTA4 forced reviewers to feel compelled to give the game a 10/10 review?  Is there something about GTA4 as a game, that caused people to rate it highly early, but then sour on it later?

Your words are correct, it's the Brand GTA that forced (and not a company or bribery...). The game is none the less good and worthy of a 90ies rating, but it was also a game that was there early in the gen, so it's easy to get lost in visuals and all the fancy effects.... things that don't seem as great a few months later...