Everywhere you read how awesome the game is, from the game review sites to the New York Times.  And they are right, it’s a very good game.

However, it’s not the best game evar.  In fact, while I admit I’m not fully complete yet I think it’s already safe to say that GTA:Vice City and GTA: San Andreas are actually more fun to play.

The biggest mistake Rockstar made was to make the driving more realistic.  Driving just about any car is a pain, with horrible acceleration and loose handling, it’s far too difficult to make controlled turns quickly.  And driving a bike (what was one of the best parts of the GTA experience) is now virtually impossible, because once you get up to speed you’re highly likely to hit a car or other obstacle that sends Niko hurtling through the air to his death.  Realistic sure, but lame!

My other complaint is that with this series they came “back to earth”, so to speak.  I’m probably in the minority but I played GTA:SA to completion and really enjoyed its far-out storyline, with planes and alien technology and multiple-city landscape.  The simpler one-city environment of Liberty City (while still quite large) feels constrained to me.

Don’t get me wrong… the city is incredible and breathtakingly beautiful.  And they’ve added lots of depth and richness to the environment and the story.  I love their in-game internet and television station and radio talk shows.  The plotline and missions are still pretty darn great — one cutscene in particular made me laugh until it hurt.

I am having a great time with the game, but I want more.  Bring on GTA4:Vice City! (or London, or whatever it will be) and make driving fun again!