GTA IV Was Kinda Weird... 

I disagree, precisely bc of the point you mentioned near the end of the video, the world of GTA IV being the way it is (as in, the world of the entire franchise) actually adds up to the overall dread of the story, bc not only you feel like an isolated alien, exactly how Niko must feel in LC, but it also serves to hammer home how much the world those characters live in does not give a single shit to their suffering or the suffering they cause upon others, so I think this dissonance is actually on purpose and serves the story, the themes and the overall anti-capitalist/anti-US message of the game and the franchise very well.

Looking back as a kid I did not like GTA 4 but as an adult I can finally appreciate the tone they went for 4, much closer to contemporary crime dramas and thrillers.

TBOGT is more like 5 while TLAD is more like 4

No no, I get what you're saying. I always thought thar 4 was the fundamentally different gta out of all of them. All the other games are about starting small and making it big in the criminal underworld. They're all about building a successful criminal empire or just being a successful criminal altogether. While 4 is a personal story about trauma and revenge while doing criminal activities not out of will but rather out of necessity in order to support yourself and your cousin. It completely deviates from the traditional gta formula, and that's why I love it so much.

Making 24 minutes long video essay about GTA IV to tell absolutely nothing.

18:30 GTA V also does this once, in the mission Crystal Maze.Trevor cuts off the radio on his way to the O'Neils because he's too angry

I should note this problem is only really because of the III era spin-off games, which ironically enough despite not being main series really colored people's perception of the series. Pretend those don't exist. Compare GTA 4 to 3 and 2. Suddenly half of these issues go away. Tonally the game world is right in line with 2 and 3s. 4 was the first numbered game with a talking protagonist, so not really out of line from that perspective.

Every detail about GTA 4 you mentioned had me like “Ya… it was the best”

4 is 100% times better than 5

Hon, the Truth is a hipPIE, not a hipSTER 😊 Two very different groups of people that despise each other

I feel it necessary to point out that Nico "smuggling people" _isn't_ human trafficking, it's helping refugees cross borders illegally. When he "lost" his cargo, it was because the boat they were on was stopped and boarded and all the people returned to the country of their oppressors. Of course, being the European equivalent of a Coyote doesn't make Nico less of a criminal, refugees like that are taken advantage of, too, just not in the same way as those who have been trafficked.

I remember being turned off by the clashing tones when I first played, but it’s become almost part of the charm for me at this point. I also think there’s a relevant point there as well, that Niko has gone through hell all his life, now he comes to America where there’s freedom and prosperity, but the people there use it for vapidity and self-interest. It just adds insult to injury for him in a way that’s genuinely quite effective, like he’s the Frank Grimes to Liberty City’s Homer Simpson, continuously frustrated and baffled by the idiocy of it all.

*VI* *IV's physics, more realism , unhinging of TBoGT mixed with grit of IV/VCS , that'd be a hella mix!*

the tone, the urban jungle, the dlcs, the story and characters, etc... what a great game. wonderful work of art

Yes packie explaining how he was molested and dwayne having suicidal thoughts in hang out missions are just funny gimmicks because bowling. 😮

Sometimes deviation is a good thing. It's different but it's still the best game we ever got in almost all the aspects that make up a good open world crime story game. The rest of the games need to take notes from 4 from now on. If you want an example of the same thing happening but in the opposite direction you can look at saints row. The first 2 games were completely different from what we got dorm 3 onward but they decided to take that new style and stick with it for the rest of the series and it was a disaster because it sucked and didn't work. GTA 4 took a different approach and it was a master piece. Even with this in mind though I whole heartedly think you're wrong. GTA 4 isn't a bad GTA game whatsoever. The comparisons don't work. I respect the food for thought though but I don't think it's the same thing.

*VCS's story ark is also darker , the main protagonist is to some extent a proto Niko , I'm surprised that you didn't saw the similarity*

I replayed this game a few years ago and immersed myself much more heavily into the character. It hit hard! I took the approach that Niko truly wanted a normal life and to take in the sights of the city. No car theft. No murder. Avoiding missions that would send him on that path for long periods. Maybe that's too extreme to be the true intention of the writing, but boy was it depressing and fit the tone you describe.

Hey, I have a question for the Historian: Any chance you've considered having a male narrator again, or to narrate the videos in a deeper register of voice since the transition? I've been watching your videos for a while now, and I love how informative + in depth the long form video essays are. I just figure I can't be the only one who likes to listen to youtube while getting ready for bed. Got nothing against women or trans ofc, but sound/noise/narration in higher pitches is more likely to keep someone up at night (especially in women, maternal instinct isn't a myth).

Lol I love that you list off all the things GTA makes fun of just for existing but you are only okay with it making fun of political parties. So just because you fall into one of the demographics it makes fun of you aren't on board with that one being made fun of? GTA make fun of literally everyone for the most part so taking issue with one just because it targets you is so silly.

*Niko Bellic is one of the best developed (GTA) characters, inspired by the fictional character of Sasha Ivanic (from the movie "Behind the enemy lines") and it also looks that He was created to some extent to resemble Boško Radonjić also known as "The Yugo" , a real life Serbian immigrant criminal that was operating in New York in the '70s ,* *He's arrival by the boat in LC kinda reminds of the arrival of Antonio Montana in the movie SCARFACE.* *One more fun fact, Grand Theft Auto Vice City stories plot is also more adult , tragic , showing that the life of a criminal can have damaging consequences* *Also let's not forget 'bout the two additional protagonists from the EFLC plots , Johnny Klebitz bears some similarities with the Protagonist of The Sons of Anarchy which is Jackson 'Jax' Teller and with the /real life/ Sonny Barger , on the other hand Luis Lopez bears similarities to Peoples Hernandez from Shaft and /real life/ Amado Carrillo Fuentes* *I've found another fun fact , it turns out that there was a Restaurant , night club and ...Cabaret in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach Ave...which was owned by a Russian Mobster, 'twas known as the Odessa*

It was very weird but in the most beautiful way. 😂

I actually think the Contrast of the ridiculous world of grand theft auto with the serious plot and character's actually helps the story in the long run. It makes niko feel like a interloper hes in a place where he doesn't belong and isnt wanted. It also helps further alot the social commentary of gta iv's narrative by highlighting what a greed obsessed world liberth city exists in and also how its essentially a literal war on terror ridden dystopia were the government and people are so paranoid of terrorism they literally supress peopls rights lock down the entire city and hire actual mass mudering criminals to prevent terrorism while crime in the city stays out of control.

*Fun facts about Vice City : It seems that the Forellis are the 3D era Gambinos ,so Sonny is the 3Ds Gotti , although I can't be 100% sure that the Gambinos were the 1st Italian - US crime organization in Miami ,* *Tommy's based on : Tony Montana and Joseph Ianuzzi Jr. however there's also a possibility that Jon Roberts (born John Riccobono) that supposedly was a Gambino soldier , was also taken as an inspiration to the creation of Tommy, while the original Vercetti's appearance was reminiscent of Ray Liotta , the Definitive Edition bears more similarity to Vincent Gigante who was the boss of the Genovese crime family on the other hand* *Upon further investigating the Gambinos and Florida , I found out another pallarel 'tween Tommy and Joseph Armone this time, as Gotti have sent 'em in '86 to Florida in order to supervise the Gambinos interests in there* *Adding to the fact of Ianuzzi Jr. working for Gambinos Thomas Agro to whom Ianuzzi was owning money to , was Gambinos consigliere and worked under the aforementioned Joseph Armone!* *I've something more , something that I ain't seen coming , well there was another guy related to the Gambinos making moves in Miami, before '70s and his name was Thomas Altamura , and that's not all , it turns out that beside being a Mobster he owned a food place that was called ... Sonny's Restaurant , ....and he had close ties with Santo Trafficante , coincidence? , his mugshot looks suspiciously familiar ain't it ??*

It's my favorite GTA game

Hey, just wanted to say congrats on your transition. It takes a lot of strength and bravery to transition, especially when you have an audience.

4:14 Yup, I call this the 'yellow tint' era. Even NFS Most Wanted has that look iirc 4:57 Couldn't help but feel for Niko. Went through and saw a lot in his youth. Not sure if he was even able to enjoy youth like most of us do. War is ugly, no question. 22:25 I acknowledge GTA Advance lol. Sadly the game wasn't any better, but only a year later LCS was released on PSP, taking good advantage of a more powerful handheld hardware. I totally get it now. IV has a largely dark story, and the two endings involve a major compromise for Niko. TLAD was dark, too - pretty much like IV but with (unrelated) better bike handling TBOGT dialled down the gritty tone for something that is more goofy, but in a good way.

Gta 4 was the last good gta, 5 is just bad its just online bullshit.. 4 is a whole different beast its more like a rdr game and tbh it was the last good gta i just hope gta 6 is more like 4 and less like 5

I felt like gta 4 had a lot of jokes that just didn’t fit with the rest like the news story of having sex with clones and killer babies

Nah you can't just say GTA IV is bad as a GTA game just because of it's story/presentation, especially since it's basically just a better, darker GTA 3. The real "bad GTA game" is V, that game as a whole is a big departure from how the older titles were in every aspect.

GTA 4 has a dark humor and perfect storyline and the only game to make a expectional ending and way of story progress but on the other hand it is the only GTA which shows how real a life of gangster looks like however successful he might be in his career because there is no career in criminal life as just like in the reality and fact that it being dark helps show more reality then having a colourful environment to show his story it won't suit at all. In the end it is the best GTA game ever made and this game can never be made again in our whole life's. It is a reality check after all the criminal success in previous GTA game to show the real dark reality of living the American dream.

I think the reason GTA 4 is so dark is partly because Rockstar wanted to differentiate the 3d universe and hd universe. So instead of having more movie like narratives which were clear parodies of films like Scarface or boys in da hood, they wanted to have a story that was more subtle in its influences and more realistic in the way it's told

GTA4 is about an Eastern European immigrant named Niko, who arrives in America’s Liberty City for asylum, a fresh new start, and secretly revenge. Moving in with his cousin, Roman, who claims to be super rich but is actually rather poor, Niko gets involved with criminal work due to prior experience. Quickly gaining notoriety, Niko ends up working for various criminal factions and mobsters, befriending some and killing most of them. Niko even ends up working for a corrupt government agent, who, as a favor, finds who Niko is searching for. But throughout the game and in the end, Niko’s choices will always hurt his loved ones. I think that’s a more fitting summary for GTA 4’s story. You really focused on Niko’s backstory. The story is focused on Niko, but it doesn’t really focus on his past. His past is what haunts and motivates him though, but he doesn’t really talk about it unless if he feels inclined. It’s mostly Niko meeting up with the eccentrics of Liberty City, earning money the only way he knows how. Just working for people to the point he can at least call in a favor. GTA4’s story is just a more expanded version of Claude’s revenge story, but given more depth.

*Since when the Adriatic and Serbia are considered Eastern Europe??*

Great video, but my main question is: where are you playing these? Do you still have you old consoles?

Gta 4 is the best gta game

I didn't realise this used to be the Guinness walker channel. I watched a bunch of your videos years ago when your channel was smaller. Keep up the good work!

hell it hits home for Russian Americans like me or ethnic Russians 3:11

Hipsters? U meant hippie

Yeah, i mean i think i know what you're saying. GTA 4 is totally different than other ones in the series, but it does also slap. Can't disagree with this anyhow. 👍

i’m interested in how fallout and grand theft auto relate to each other lol

*ironically, I'm playing through GTA4 right now and I believe it will be the first ever GTA I finish 🙌 graphically it didn't age well and the story is a bit drawn out.....but its definitely a solid installment in the franchise that holds its own* 👌

Wtf is that voice?

Why do you sound like Dexter from Dexter's laboratory going through puberty all of the sudden?

Damn you killed your channel.I was a big fan...

I make fun of liberals and conservatives alike because theyre both liberals

Wtf is up with all of the creepy him/hers making videos?

Making fun of conservatives is ok but everything else isnt ¿¿? 🤔🫤