Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition

I cant play the game. Every time i get into the game it just starts zooming into a car during a cutscene and get stuck on 1fps. Unplayable trash. I cant believe this can be listed on steam as a game if its completely unplayable. I don't want to install 100 mods to fix the issues here. I want to just boot the game and play it, i want a refund!

you WILL spend 2 hours fixing our shitty port. you WILL create an account to play a singleplayer game. you WILL download our Cuckstar Launcher.

the game is realistic and it makes you feel like you are part of a dark environment

Probably the best GTA game, GTA SA had an amazing map, story, and missions but the gameplay wasn't as good. GTA V is amazing all around but theres something about IV that makes it stand out, I do think the story is better but what sells it for me is 1: its cheaper and 2: the open world is so fleshed out in this game there is so much to do you won't be able to do it all in one playthrough. This game is truly a masterpiece

The game is one of the greats. I love it and have 2 copies I have purchased. I am, however, leaving a negative review. Unfortunately, rockstar has decided to require the use of their third party launcher. This comes with the requirement to make a separate account. This alone is pretty agitating and not something I condone. This would not alone be enough for a negative review, although I certainly would have brought it up as a negative point. What is unacceptable is that it is terrible about logging you out. My second account I play this on is on it's own dedicated device hooked up to a TV acting as a steam console. No keyboard and mouse, and with the other games I play kb/mouse are never needed. This, however, required one to be hooked up to register another rockstar account, since you cannot use the same existing one for some reason (let me just own 2 copies on the same account). And I have had to drag in a keyboard and mouse 3 times to re-login 3 times in in the last 30 days. This is just an awful experience when all I want to do it launch a single player game and run around doing typical GTA shenanigans. There is literally no reason for this. If you want to pad numbers for your share holders that people care about your very limited launcher, use OAuth or some other pass through method from steam like SO MANY other games do and stay out of the customers way.

Classic. In some ways better than GTA V. Its an underrated gem of a game. Most people just play the Ballad of Gay Tony since there's better vehicles in that DLC, but the base game has so much to offer and is a very fun playthrough. The only thing bad about this game is I remember some areas where my game crashed and you won't be able to find matches to play some online game modes on the base game like for some achievements. Other than that, I'd fully recommend it.

Got nothing against the game itself, but seriously fυcк that unnecessary bloatware piece of ѕнιт you call "Rockstar Games Launcher"

Not for me: boring, plays awful on controller, and even with high end GPU the graphics stutter.

Still a very great game and holds up to this day.
The story is fantastic for the base game and will give you countless hours of gameplay.

this game is good but the optimization sucks ! would have a better experience getting it on console

GTA 4 developed by Rockstar is continuation of the GTA series in the the Xbox 360- PS3 era. Rockstar debuted their new physics engine, and more serious storytelling. While not everything is perfect with this installment, and trust me we will get into that. In the era when this game came out, and the amount of good open world content makes GTA 4 a hard title to miss. Just make sure you install performance/ bug fix mods.

Lets start with the story and characters! Arguably the main reason to play GTA 4, the protagonist Niko Bellac is a more fleshed out player insert in the GTA series. With a backstory, and a more grounded/ realistic approach to a GTA protagonist, and the story reflects that. With a revenge plot line, and a more of a focus on dramatic moments. Compared to GTA 5, Niko definitely feels like a precursor to John Marstin than Trevor, Franklin, or Michael. I liked this approach, and felt like it made this title stand out from other entries in GTA.

Moving on to the gameplay, GTA 4 is decent. But compared to future Rockstar titles GTA 4 feels dated. Combat particularly feels like it doesn't live up to present standards, but you have to consider that GTA 4 is the precursor to most of refined gameplay of future entries. So the core of the experience is there it just isn't as polished. Driving is a controversial element of this title, but arguably one of the most important. I think the driving feels fine, but I understand what the problem is. Its the physics engine combined with the poor handling of most vehicles. Its something that takes time to learn, and not immediately familiar. And finally we have the mini games. These are wonky as hell and I dont consider them a main feature of the game. I'd only recommend playing them with a controller.

When it comes to the PC port of GTA 4, and you are playing with no mods. Your in for a bugs, crashes, and poor implementation of keyboard and mouse controls. However there is a fan made patch that fixes the game, and resolves the large majority of the gamebreaking issues. The reason these issues exist is because GTA 4 was never made to run at higher frame rates. The install is super easy and consists of dragging and dropping into the game folder. Look up a youtube guide if needed, but this single addition turns a very poor experience into the great one. I HIGHLY recommend this. The name of the mod is ZolikaPatch. Just make sure to play with Vsync on.

Overall GTA 4 is a classic of the Xbox 360, PS3 generation and as of now the experience is still enjoyable with the patch. The episodes/DLC are good, and the base game gives you a solid 25-30 hours of content to playthrough. If you want to play without the patch, I'd recommend playing locked at 60 with a controller. I'd give the base GTA 4 a 8/10, TBOGT a 8/10, and TL&D a 6/10.

One of the best Rockstar games out there. They might toned down some features from GTA San Andreas but they compensate so much on the story and the likable/hated characters. I always come back and replay this game every once in a while for its superb story building.

Generally good story, however the enemies are so spongy that combat is more of a pain in the ass than actual fun. The helicopter controls are AIDs, and most missions become extremely tedious wtih the lack of checkpoints. I didn't even bother doing the final mission because I couldn't bother fighting the same enemies over and over again, or crash the bike into the water because how uneasy the handling on the dirt bike was. Overall, 5/10

nice game but i hate driving and car control and why everything is grey

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition is a monumental entry in the open-world genre, offering a deep and immersive experience that blends gritty storytelling, meticulous world-building, and open-ended gameplay. Even more than a decade after its release, GTA IV remains a standout title, offering a distinct tone that sets it apart from other entries in the franchise.

Story & Characters (9.5/10):
At the heart of GTA IV is a dark, grounded narrative that focuses on themes of the American Dream, immigration, and moral decay. You play as Niko Bellic, an Eastern European war veteran trying to escape his violent past by seeking a fresh start in Liberty City, only to be pulled into the city’s criminal underbelly. Niko’s character is more complex and morally conflicted than previous GTA protagonists, making for a more mature and introspective story. His motivations feel deeply personal, and as you navigate the morally grey choices, you’ll often be forced to consider the human cost of your actions.

The supporting cast is equally memorable. Roman Bellic, Niko’s optimistic but often bumbling cousin, serves as a tragicomic foil to Niko’s somber outlook. Characters like Dimitri, Brucie, and Patrick McReary bring different flavors of crime, friendship, and betrayal, each contributing to the game’s world. The story missions themselves are varied and compelling, though some can feel repetitive toward the end. However, it's the choice-driven narrative—with some missions allowing you to decide the fate of key characters—that gives the game its emotional weight.

World & Atmosphere (10/10):
Liberty City is the star of the show. Modeled after New York City, it feels alive and bustling, from the skyscrapers of Algonquin to the gritty back alleys of Bohan. The level of detail is astonishing—pedestrians go about their daily lives, interacting with one another, reacting to your actions, and giving the city a sense of realism that few open-world games can match. The weather effects, especially the rain, contribute to the game's moody and melancholic atmosphere.

Where GTA IV excels is in creating a gritty, lived-in world. Liberty City is not just a backdrop for chaos but a character itself—one that breathes, struggles, and decays. The game's more muted color palette and gritty, realistic design stand in stark contrast to the vibrant, exaggerated tone of GTA V. Liberty City feels like a place you could actually live in, with its dense urban sprawl, realistic driving physics, and ambient world interactions.

Gameplay & Mechanics (8.5/10):
GTA IV leans into realism more than its predecessors or successors. The driving mechanics are more weighty and grounded, with cars handling more like real vehicles. While this was a controversial shift for some fans, it fits perfectly with the tone of the game. The sense of momentum and physics in the driving adds tension and unpredictability, especially during high-speed chases.

The cover-based shooting system was a big improvement over previous GTA games, making combat more tactical and less chaotic. Gunfights feel more impactful, with a slower, more deliberate pacing than the arcade-like shooting of later GTA titles. However, the cover system can sometimes feel clunky, especially in close quarters, and AI behavior during gunfights can be a bit erratic at times.

One of the game’s standout features is its phone mechanic, which integrates seamlessly into gameplay. Niko’s phone is used for everything from receiving missions to managing relationships with other characters. The ability to call friends for side activities, like bowling or going to bars, adds a personal touch, but it can occasionally become annoying when characters call you at inconvenient times, asking to hang out.

The missions are varied, with some spectacular set pieces, including bank heists, dramatic car chases, and intense shootouts. However, the structure can feel formulaic toward the end, relying heavily on the same fetch-quest and assassination formula. But the game makes up for this with memorable moments and a story that keeps you invested.

Performance & PC Port (6.5/10):
Now, the elephant in the room: performance. GTA IV’s PC port is infamous for being poorly optimized, with many players experiencing crashes, frame rate drops, and general instability. Even on modern systems, the game can struggle with stuttering and inconsistent performance. Mods and community patches have alleviated some of these issues, but they remain a sticking point for many players.

That said, once you’ve managed to tweak your settings or install some stability mods, the game can run well enough to be thoroughly enjoyable. Rockstar has made some updates since the game’s release, but it’s still not the smoothest experience out of the box. Be prepared to put in some effort to get the game running smoothly on PC.

The Complete Edition – Additional Content (9/10):
The Complete Edition includes two fantastic expansions: The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. Both expansions introduce new protagonists and a more focused storyline, while still intertwining with Niko’s world.

The Lost and Damned shifts focus to the gritty world of biker gangs, exploring themes of loyalty and brotherhood. Its darker, more serious tone complements the base game, with some new mechanics, like bike-centric missions and a whole new set of weapons.

The Ballad of Gay Tony swings the pendulum back to the more outlandish, over-the-top tone of previous GTA games, with a colorful, flamboyant story about the nightclubs of Liberty City. It’s a fantastic contrast to the main game’s somberness, bringing with it fun new missions, vehicles, and more explosive set pieces.

Both expansions are must-plays, adding dozens of hours of content and fleshing out Liberty City’s complex underworld even further.

Sound Design & Music (9.5/10):
The voice acting in GTA IV is top-tier, with Niko Bellic’s voice actor, Michael Hollick, delivering a memorable, emotional performance. Every character feels distinct and brought to life by the game’s incredible cast.

The radio stations are another highlight, with a fantastic selection of music spanning multiple genres—rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, and even talk shows. The soundtrack perfectly complements Liberty City’s atmosphere, and the music can enhance both quiet drives and adrenaline-pumping chases.

Conclusion:
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition is a must-play for any fan of open-world games. Its grounded story, rich characters, and detailed, immersive world set it apart as one of the best entries in the franchise. While the PC port suffers from performance issues, the sheer depth and quality of the content—especially with the included expansions—make it well worth the effort to get it running properly. If you’re looking for a more serious, character-driven take on the GTA formula, GTA IV is a gem that still holds up.

They put BattleEye on their old games so it becomes unplayable for Linux systems, such as Steamdeck and PCs that run on Linux. They don't even bother to turn on compatibility for Linux... Buying ANY GAME game from Rockstar became a lottery when customers don't know what Rockstar decides to do to make it unplayable for them. This review stays as negative at least until they solve THEIR problems without making my bought games unplayable.

Loved this game back when. Bought it again here mostly for the music ... only to find that most of the music was removed. Can't tell you how terribly disappointed I was.

If you're wanting this one for the game, go for it. It's a great game.
If you're looking for the full experience with the music, don't bother.

Currently on a GTA 3D replay run to get done before GTA 6, just GTA 5 left now.

I have to say, San Andreas was always my favourite GTA game until I replayed this. Being older, just gotta appreciate the leaps made by this title and its DLCs. It's pretty incredible when comparing it over the PS2 titles.

Though it must be said that this experience is not complete without the use of mods to fix the broken PC port. It is broken, you need to fix it yourself. Thankfully it's pretty easy. I recommend using TJGM's video on YT titled Fixing GTA IV with 4 mods. That's the only mods I used and after doing so I locked my FPS to 60 and it was one of the most smoothest PC gaming experiences I have ever played. Also recommend playing with controller + aim assist turned off (personal preference)

Back to the game,

Nearly every aspect of what made GTA games special is amplified greatly with GTA 4 and it's dlcs. The gunplay is infinetly better over san andreas, the world, object and effect detail is crazy and it all makes you appreciate the hard work the team members had done to get this into the complete package.
Going to maintain that this rendition of NYC is the best I've played in gaming, perhaps I'm missing something but Liberty City felt freaking great to explore and drive around.
The characters haven't aged as well as I imagined though, with a lot of the characters regardless of gender kinda having the same facial structure which can be a bit distracting when you notice it.

The traffic experience can be a mixed bag, on one hand it can be so immersive to drive around the tight roads sandwhiched between LC's huge and distinctive buildings or driving behind a queue of vehicles on bridges or tunnels but at the same time it doesn't take a lot for traffic to break itself and pull you out of the immersion. That being said when you feel that engagement it's awesome and it's not really replicated often in gaming, only noticeable new game would probably be Cyberpunk2077.

The parts which really shined though had to be the characters, the writing and the mission designs. Characters are distinctive and memorable, the writing can be serious to amazingly hilarious and the missions definetly left me with more than a few times saying "that was f awesome."

The DLCs do a great job at expanding the base experience and in my opinion is a must play for the whole package. They do a good job at offering different perspective over Niko's misadventures and in Last of Us Part 2 fashion actually shows the personality behind the faces you would otherwise call an enemy, though I feel GTA 4 handled this way better (getting offtopic). I would say TBoGT has enough meat on its bones to be a game on its own, in vein of Stories such as Vice City Stories and LC Stories.Yes! It's offering that much in addition to the base game!

There's not much wrong with the game otherwise, aside from things like annoying hangout requests, cops being hardly a challenge and I'm sure some very minor nitpicking, I genuinely loved my time with GTA 4 and the DLCs. This is a must play for those hyping up GTA 6. Nobody does it better than rockstar. Nobody.

Great game tho it has a game breaking bug on last mission involving a helicopter :(

The game's a masterpiece, unfortunately you have to use R* launcher which is disgusting how companies can change requirements years after you buy the game.

The game is amazing, however on pc there are MANY issues. But, if your using mods like dxvk, the game will run absolutely fine on pc.

yeah this game is cool. but if u have low end pc it will run half decent and half bad.
it has good storyline

A true gaming classic. I even played the DLC stories for the first time and they're better than expected. The port is kind of shitty though but that's probably because Rockstar and their launcher is shit.

If you’re looking for the best game in the series, GTA IV is definitely one of the top choices, right alongside GTA SA, both offering amazing experiences. The driving feels more realistic, and the attention to detail shows how much care was put into the game. Niko Bellic’s story is unforgettable, full of depth and emotion, making it stand out from most other games, I loved everything about it. This game also avoids the repetitive bank heists from GTA V, offering a more fun and better experience in my opinion. If you haven’t played it yet, it’s definitely worth trying it out.

It was an amazing game, and I really enjoyed it, but there's a bug in the last mission of the game which essentially makes it unplayable without messing around with task manager. The fact they haven't fixed it since then makes me suggest you find another way of playing this game instead of purchasing a new copy, if you know what I mean.

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☑ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☑ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☑ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☑ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☑ Short
☐ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☐ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

---{ Author }---
☑ https://vojtastruhar.github.io/steam-review-template

NOTE: This will be purely a review for both DLCs, as i have beaten the main game on PS3.

TLAD:
Honestly, very mediocre DLC. The side activities are not much fun, and feel more like gruntwork. And the main story is just your typical betrayal and revenge story, with not really any spectacular or memorable missions. Decent, but would not go back to it.

TBoGT:
Now this is where the DLCs shine, TBoGT really feels like a last hurrah to GTA4, with a lot of new features, mission challenges (which incentivizes a replay) and some really great missions, especially that final one, putting a closure to one of the antagonists of GTA4's story. Also, this DLC gets rid of the depression filter, and really makes GTA4 look younger than it is.

Need a Rockstar account to play my single player game that when I originally purchased require no such account. Love how these companies can amend the terms of a sale after the sale and our spineless governments don't throw these criminals in prison for such blatant crooked behavior.

I played GTA 4 for a few hundred hours on the PS3 with the multiplayer mode too. This game was amazing when it first came out back in 2007. It’s still awesome to play in 2024 and that is really crazy, GTA 4 is almost twenty years old! I still remember when GTA 3 came out on the PS2 and that game was incredible too at that time.

I also remember back in 2006 when the first trailer for GTA 4 came out. It was mind blowing with the music from Philip Glass (which is in the game on the radio). This version on Steam works great with a decent PC and a modern operating system. They also included all of the story DLC and achievements in this edition, so it's all good.

It’s just a shame that the multiplayer has been removed because I used to love it on PS3. I stayed up all night playing one on one sniper battles at the airport. Anyway, this version of the game is still great to have and everything worked very well for me. GTA 4 looks great in 4K at max settings and I got a very smooth 60FPS with this 'Complete Edition'.

I highly recommend this version of one of the best games of all time. It’s great to have it preserved here on Steam with decent performance, achievements and all of the DLC.

This port is pathetic. The cutscenes are broken, the game crashes, performance issues, and they removed 90% of the original soundtrack. The fact that this has a Very positive review on steam is crazy to me and how people are letting big corporations like rockstar serve us shit on a plate and eat it up like it was made by jesus himself. Its ridiculous how a game from almost two decades ago just doesnt work because they were too lazy to port it correctly. I personally dont want to go spend my free time downloading the assortment of mods to actually fix everything wrong with the game because that simply isnt fair for us. So dont buy it here, youre better off playing it on console.

Rockstar Social Club is required to use this game, however, it is impossible to sign in, impossible to reset your password, and impossible to create a new account. The game is unplayable

Great atmosphere, the city is huge, this is a technical marvel. There is so much attention to detail. Rockstar games deserve every bit of the praise they get. It's GTA after all, you have to play this one.

This is the worst PC port I have ever had the displeasure of playing.
I would never even if threatened by all the worst horrors of each of the seven circles of hell willing recommend experiencing the game through this medium and would suggest playing this using any other viable means.

I was not even able to complete the last mission of the main game due to a game breaking bug i was unable to fix that occurred 99% of the way through the mission. This as well as graphical and cutscenes issues harmed my time the game.

As for the actual game itself, it is largely impressive especially for the time.
However
If you are expecting some 'forgotten masterpiece' or a 'game that's greater than GTA V'. you are going to be let down.

The Main Game's story is good but the actual moment to moment gameplay is highly repetitive and not particularly satisfying.
There is only a handful of missions that are actually memorable and most blend together and are not very engaging.
The character interactions and main plot as well as the general gritty and realistic vibe are fantastic.
Niko is also One of the if not the best GTA protagonist

The Lost and Damned DLC has a story that is good but feels slightly rushed.
The rest of the DLC is awful as it relies on bikes massively and the bike handling in this game is the worst I've yet to find in any game. The new side objectives are also painfully boring and uninteresting and most of the characters are the same generic biker guy. I really don't get why people care that Trevor killed Johnny in the beginning of GTA V he was boring as hell.

The Ballad of Gay Tony DLC is Fantastic.
The story is great and the characters are all fun and interesting people especially Luis, Tony and Yusuf.
The missions are the best in the game and introduce game-changing vehicles and weapons that are all incredible additions.
The step up in moment to moment gameplay is staggering and the ability to get cars from Henrique while in open world is a needed addition.

However the final mission requires you to use a bike which was detrimental to my health.

Scores:
GTA IV 8/10
GTA IV TLAD 6/10
GTA IV TBOGT 8/10

Side Note:
If i need to download mods to fix your modern *NEW* edition then it fails at what it set out to do.