GTA 4 - fun with obstacles

Installation:

The installation took a long time, as expected, but it is beyond me why you need to log in to a whopping 2-line services in order to start the game. A one-time online activation I would have understood, but that one has to live at least for storing an offline game. Be online in Windows, is very pushy!

Graphics:

The second problem is the start and graphics issues! It takes several attempts to start the game at all ... and some more tests to find reasonably stable graphics settings. The one, the program also dictates the texture resolution, for example no greater place to be able, is an impertinence. For this, the performance is on a machine on the Crysis with medium details run smoothly, real under all sow. I have to play to 1024 x 768 and low texture so that the game does not crash, freeze or textures is incomplete!

The Game:

After an afternoon of frustration, I finally was able to really play.
The first step is easy and as GTA Kenner makes you feel immediately at home. The characters are interesting and sometimes initially stimulates the scenario to smile. The Atmossphäre comes across very well. Excellent!

Long-term motivation:

Unfortunately, I realized that all mini-jobs, like delivering pizzas, ambulance, fire, ice cream truck, etc. are missing. Can drive only taxi yet, but only awkward about Roman's taxi service.
At first not so tragic, this is one of the biggest shortcomings of the game. One can not in between or after the end of the main missions have hours of fun ... it lacks these typical GTA Liberty.

Missions:

The Mission repeated amazingly fast. Actually, it is always running so that you drive alone or with AI colleagues to the site, wegballert all the main enemy flees and is ultimately killed in drive-by. Highlights like the bank robbery are sown very scarce.
Generally simply lack innovative missions that change reinbringen (eg the Mini explosives cars from VC)
And unfortunately, the main story of all side missions is too soon ... after 25h flickers of credits across the screen, incl. (If there is something at all. In the end I had to make anyway all available missions to unlock the Final). Sometimes you will be thinking that many missions were always built only to stretch the season. So you drive useless for any characters hanging around (Francis, Gerry, etc.), without effectively contributing something relevant to the history (was not so bad, only you have to play these missions to get ahead!).

Conclusion:

The main story is definitely (and, unfortunately, the only) highlight of GTA 4. lack side missions and mini-jobs (like pizza service etc.) there is a lack of long-term motivation.
In Vice City and SA could ride for days in the Satdt around and still had a lot to do. Now all that is missing, what is even more upsetting because of the large and detailed city. Only to find the 200 pigeons (packet) still remains.
Since you ultimately can even play on high-end PCs with squishy low resolutions and textures, I express no buy recommendation. A pity!

PS: In fact, I have the impression that is aimed to attract the customers from the PC to the console. And honest buyers are here by Internet and application Forced punished. It is therefore not surprising that the number of pirates is increasing steadily. Because who the game sucked without pitfalls on their plate already released a few days before .... kinda funny that the game developers do not get that!