The Catholic Game Nerd

Have you played Grand Theft Auto 3?  Grand Theft Auto: Vice City?  Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?  Same story, next verse, but you're back in Liberty City as you were in GTA3.  Graphically, this game is stunning.  The amount of processing power required to handle all the detail must be pushing the next gen systems to the limit.  Beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.  And, like the previous games, you can explore till your heart's content.  Plenty of side missions and activities to keep you busy should you decide to take a break from the branching storyline.  But that's not why you're reading this article.

No doubt, you've come here to know whether this is a good game for your little Johnny.  If you're old enough to buy this game for yourself, you're old enough to be culpable for the morality you engage in, even if only virtually, via GTA4.  But you know that.  Parents, if your kids ask you for this game, I have to ask you to say no.  Why?

I'm not the type to say games make people do things, but like many other things in this world associated with vice, they can indeed enhance feelings and behaviors already part of a child or adult.  Just don't blame Pac Man because your child doesn't like long division.  Pac Man is just a game.  Your child needs to study.

Back to the game.  This game has loads, and I mean LOADS, of questionable and even blatantly immoral content.  Despite the beautiful graphic artistry and amazing programming put into this game, you still get points/money for carjacking, among other crimes.  You are still encouraged to cavort with women (prostitutes or otherwise), and you spend a lot of time on the wrong side of the law.  This is not a wholesome game.  Don't buy it for your kid.

I really wish I could say go get this game.  I'd love to tell you that, but I can't.  I have to look beyond the shiny wrapper of all the amazing, and I do mean amazing, gaming wizardry that makes up Grand Theft Auto IV.  I have to look beyond all that and see that it reflects the worst parts of our great nation: greed, lust, struggle for power, hate, pride, envy.  Haven't I seen those words somewhere else before?  Must have been in a book I'm sure.

I'll give this one 2 Police Badges out of 5, for sheer artistic and programming merit.

Since I cannot show footage of this game, I can at least provide you with a safe alternative.

BEHOLD!

 

 Grand Theft Auto IV Cut Scene Alternative: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

So many games would fit into the Lego ________ formula. If you haven't played either of the Lego Star Wars, first of all, WHY IN THE WORLD NOT?  Second, you will not be disappointed with the Lego platformer.  You have a week to play some Lego Star Wars before Lego Indiana Jones hits the store shelves.  

I've been able to get some hands on time with this game (PC version), and I was extremely satisfied.  Gameplay elements such as destructible and interactive environments will be familiar to Lego Star Wars veterans, as is player attributes making a difference in solving the games many puzzles.  Even with so many familiar elements, the game still feels fresh.  I didn't feel as though I was playing Lego Star Wars with Indiana Jones people.  

Graphics are crisp and colorful and the controls are super responsive.  It is a lot of fun to swing that whip as Indiana Jones, swinging over chasms with ease, then laying the smacketh down upon thine enemies.  Fun for all.

And even though we're going to have the original Indiana Jones trilogy on this game, I'm not the least bit worried about letting my kids play.  They are not allowed to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark because of the last scene.  They can't watch The Temple of Doom because of the whole human sacrifice thing.  I don't have a copy of The Last Crusade, so they can't watch that either.  Even so, there is no problem with this game.  No blood.  No worries.  All "violence" is Lego style.  Your people don't even die.  This is a very family friendly title.  

Will I have a copy of Lego Indiana Jones on release day?  You better believe it. 

I give Lego Indiana Jones (multiple platforms) 5 Mola Rams out of 5.

Reserve your copy today.  I have a feeling this one is going to sell quickly.