Everybody knows that the extremely popular GTA series is a spin off of the equally popular Grand Theft Auto games that originated on personal computers several years ago. Between the GTA titles and its self-titled music game, Rock Star has been making an awful lot of money these past couple of years.
Now, GTA4 (or GTAIV as it’s known in Italy) is thieving people’s money as crowds of people flock to their local video game story to purchase it. As these purchases are mostly voluntary exchanges of currency for the product, it’s technically not thieving. Still, that was a very clever way to explain that the game is selling well if you don’t stop to think about it.
The Video Game Fink is a lot of things, but a player of GTAs is not one of them. I have a natural aversion to playing any game with an overly complimentary adjective in the title, and knowing the the GTA games are derived from a series that considers itself “grand” was simply too close for comfort. This same aversion allows me to enjoy Mario Kart Wii, but I may never learn why people seem to enjoy the plumber’s “super” adventure through the galaxy.
Despite this quirk of mine, I convinced myself that “GTA4” is far enough removed from “Grand” Theft Auto to give it a shot, if only for the sake of you, my readers. I had heard a lot of news reports about how these GTA games allowed the player to enjoy sexual relations with a prostitute (or “hooker” for you Floridians) and then murder her to reclaim the virtual money you paid for her services. Smart business, perhaps, but horrifying and immoral.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that prostitutes were not the only people that you can murder in that game! Indeed, I had to take the life of quite a few non-prostitutes before I was even allowed to try my hand at prostitute-killing (or “hookercide” for you Montanans).
If you enjoy murder, then GTA4 should be right up your darkened alley. Personally, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. There are several games that allow you to kill people; why must this be the game that the media jumps on? Probably because its predecessors were such braggarts. Besides, the game is rated M for “Must be a Grownup to Play,” so any arguments about the corruption of youth is moot.
And with that, I must now return an e-mail to a Namco PR representative. They still are not accepting my explanation as to why I’ve not yet reviewed that copy of “Beautiful” Katamari that they sent me.
Video Game Fink 