With so many reviewers desperate to get their GTA IV review out as quickly as possible, many people have questioned the incredibly high scores it's been given. Directly after this came the wave of cynics giving the game a serious bashing.

But we've taken our time with this one, because it's important. And now that the hype and anger has faded away, we bring you our totally unbiased and carefully thought out review of GTA IV.

Don't believe the hype? Then see what you should believe.

"Grand Theft Auto IV, if you haven't realized it by now, is a pretty staggeringly huge game. And as a huge game, it's also riddled with bugs and glitches that - while generally not capable of ruining the game - are still pretty silly and entertaining to watch. And after we reported on Liberty City's killer swingset earlier this week, we knew we had to find more.
After a few days of scouring the internet and attempting to replicate these bugs ourselves, we've compiled a long list of weird gli..."

"Grand Theft Auto IV is a true masterpiece, a towering achievement in gaming. From the minute you step off that boat as Niko Bellic you believe it all, you become wrapped up in a tragic tale that is as much his, as it is yours. Haunting, hilarious, touching, dynamic; the possibilities and experiences in Liberty City are endless."

"The level of hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto IV is something we haven’t seen since the childhood memory-killing Episode I. As such, we wanted to wait a while before we reviewed this game, just to make sure we could give our readers an honest review to the game. And now, several weeks after the game’s release we can safely say that it really is as amazing as everyone says. Even before playing Grand Theft Auto IV, the intro song for the loading screen is eerily amazing. It gives you chills as..."

19 reviews for the latest Grand Theft Auto title thus far, and all carry a score of 98 or 100 (most carry the latter). 277 user reviews average out to 8.3. Considering the freezing errors we've seen, the online troubles, and the suspicious activity at IGN, is it fair to be suspicious, or at least critical?

"Stepping off a boat in the shoes of illegal immigrant Niko Bellic as he arrives in Liberty City at the start of Grand Theft Auto IV, you can tell immediately that Rockstar North's latest offering is something quite special. Yes, this is another GTA game in which you'll likely spend the bulk of your time stealing cars and gunning down cops and criminals, but it's also much more than that. GTAIV is a game with a compelling and nonlinear storyline, a game with a great protagonist who you can't h..."

"The most eagerly awaited videogame since CJ rolled through the streets of Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Ventura, is finally upon us with the worldwide release of GTA4. Marking the series' first appearance on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, after an agonising delay, Rockstar North's latest opus arrives to an unparalleled level of fanboy hysteria, boardroom expectations, and mainstream controversy - surely, it's going to be bigger than anything that's come before?

Taking the centre role th..."

So the results are in, and to no one's surprise GTA IV is being touted as an incredible game, with an immersive story, impressive graphics, a fairly good multiplayer mode, and a whole lot more.

GameTrailers reinforces this with their review of the game, leading to a 9.8/10 score, and very few complaints.

"Grand Theft Auto III was a revolutionary title, one that inspired a whole new generation of 3D action games. Grand Theft Auto IV is just as big a leap forward, though perhaps in subtler ways, and sets a new benchmark for open-world games. Everything in GTA IV works in harmony. The story would be nothing without the city; the city gains realism from the physics engine; the physics compliment the improved AI; the AI would make no sense without the new cover system. And on and on. There is no on..."

The Official Xbox Magazine has reviewed GTA4 and scans have hit the internet. With a shocking score of 10/10. Is the game really that great. We will just have to wait and find out.

"You're going to like GTA4. But you'll only love part of it. The game play is essentially the same as it was in previous GTA games, which is what you'll love. There are a few extras/improvements that you'll also love. Vehicles are fantastic. The cover system is effective and easy to get used to, as most games now have some sort of cover system. The squeaky car animation used when hookers do their thing is now accompanied by foggy windows—sweet. You can store your favorite vehicles in garages o..."