[img]http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7564/gta2pn2.png[/img]
To start off, the port is beautiful to look at. Not always, but it has it's fair share of moments. Which is weird when other times you think its 2001 again. I like many haven't had the privilege to play it maxed out, so I can only imagine what that is gonna be like. But also like many I have the "lol, 10fps FTW!" which seems to happen at the most random of times. Plus the fog doesn't seem to help. I wish they didn't dumb down the video options, just because one persons a moron, doesn't mean everyone else can't figure things out. A rough quote from the IGN interview was that to most people in their tests, seeing anti aliasing confused them. Plus with the other options that help people fine tune it to their PC's. Though with the current bugs and needed patch, AA wouldn't be a smart decision right now. But even without it the game looks a lot sharper now that its capable of being seen truly HD. I even brought my computer to work and put it on the 52" LCD to compare it to the 360, let's just say the PC out does itself(obviously).
[img]http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/5103/gta1zd4.png[/img]
Game play is very very nice, just like it was on the 360 when I first played it. But now aiming is even better, because we have teh mouse! But then again there is no gun auto aim, but at the same time its only really needed for fighting anyways. The cover system can work at times, other times it can fuck you over. But for the most part it seems like they put enough thought into that so you're forced to use it unless you wanna get raped ten ways from sunday. Plus blind fire is nice to look at when you see nothing but blood and sparks flying through the air with bodies dropping on the occasion.
[img]http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3306/gta3vq7.png[/img]
Driving is basically the same as it was for San Andreas. The only department where the console beats PC(damn pressure sensitive joysticks). Using the keyboard often results into me over turning and spinning out when I'm either chasing someone or being chased by the man. But after awhile you get used to that and start to perfect the brake turns(not handbrake). And using the mouse to pan around is very nice and fluent.
[img]http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7222/gta4wi4.png[/img]
The missions are your typical run and gun, but the story to me makes it all worth while. I personally loved the mafia missions in GTAIII and Vice City over the gangland missions you did in San Andreas. Maybe because I'm a big Sopranos fan, maybe. Plus the new taxi cab feature makes redoing missions a lot quicker/easier. I of course haven't gotten to far, but over all I've enjoyed every mission besides the gay date missions. They ruin my fun just like they did in San Andreas. You'll be all the way across the world when they call and wan't some cock meat sandwich, and you don't want to disappoint anyone.
The engine is my most favorite thing about the whole game. I could sit here for hours just fucking around with it. The Euphoria engine really shines well, all the little details add up to one big amazing game. From your tire(s) catching on fire after running through some, to shooting someone in the leg and watching them fall down a long flight of stairs just to get up and have their brains blown out by you. I love the new car damage, it's everything I could of ever hoped for. That's one department every GTA dissatisfied me in after III. It was almost as if every car were made of legos, so the same piece would just keep falling off. But I know they were all on the same engine that most likely couldn't handle what we have today. But I know one of my old favorites did, The Getaway. The sequel sucked in comparison, but it has some of the same features as GTA IV before GTA IV even knew it had them.
So to end this non sense rambling, GTA IV for the PC is well worth getting(no matter what way). Especially if they can get some patches out to better optimize it, since they say they still haven't stopped working on it, and its no where near gold yet. But for now I don't mind my 31fps average, its still more than playable. Also I'm gonna give it a 9/10, not for the bugs, but for the date crap. Such as your cousin wanting to go to the strip club, your girlfriend, all of that. I just wanna beat hookers with a bat, not do things I can do in real life. Also the social club is beyond fucking annoying, its a huge pest and should have an option to turn it off.