I played GTA III on PC so targeting wasn't a problem (though later when I played the PS2 version, I noticed how flawed it was).

The reason GTA III is the best is because it broke ground on an entirely new way to play video games. Taken out of historical contest and played head-to-head against SA, it probably wouldn't stand the test of time. But, that's no different than putting any old game up against its newer counterparts. Advancement of technology skews how great a game was at its time of release.

It's a good game.

Not great like GTA III, VC, and SA.

True, I just felt that the targetting system was not good enough for it to beat SA (which was only 3 years later) which had so many extras, a better location and just better game mechanics

I can definitely see how that argument can be made, I just personally don't agree with it.

For example, when Dead Rising 2 releases, I'm positive it will be a more polished, expansive, refined, and "better" product than the original. What it will lack, however, is that new car smell. The unexpected fun found when smashing zombie faces with frying pans while wearing a horse head mask, all topped off by doing it while clad in a young girl's sundress.

That kind of feeling goes a long way in a game (or any kind of entertainment, really). Like comedy, a lot of what we call "fun" is found in the unexpected and being pleasantly surprised by it. That is always lost to some extent by sequels, where the formula has already been created and experienced by the player/viewer.

GOTY...no question about that and i really can't understand all this GTAIV hate: it's the best of the series plain and simple.

I enjoyed it more than previous entries, because I prefer a more story line driven game and I didn't enjoy screwing around in the other GTAs very much. It depends on your preference of this type of game. The only thing that I don't enjoy much about it is going through the process of going and buying armor, driving/walking to the first part of the mission(It lets you skip to the mission start) each time I fail a mission. On a few missions I have done this many many times. It would have been nice to have some sort of check point system in a mission.

Anyway great game, but if you have friends that own it, borrow it. Or run down to Blockbuster because they are selling their used copies for $15 right now.

jetpacs ... mmm ... OK ... but cheats??????

Its a good game, its just not a good GTA game.

couldnt have said it better myself.

GTA4 was really a step sideways

- 'improved' graphics (the pixelization was insane, in a bad way)
- Smaller world then prev games
- less options then prev games.

Rule 1 of sequals, ensure it at least matches the prev game in content size and features. Rule 2 is add more.