Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony Review

As usual, there's no shortage of amusing characters.

“All good things must come to an end.”

It’s sad, but true.  Football dynasties, parties and even life eventually conclude, and now, it’s Grand Theft Auto IV’s turn. Last year’s opus draws to a close with the third and final chapter, now available both as a download through Xbox Live and as part of Episodes From Liberty City.  Thankfully, Rockstar saved the best for last, as The Ballad of Gay Tony is just as compelling as the original tale starring Niko Bellic.  In some ways, it’s even better. 

You play Luis Lopez, a young hoodlum who works for a popular club owner named Tony Prince (aka Gay Tony) to make ends meet.  One day, Tony flips out, explaining that he’s so far in debt that he’s about to lose both his straight and gay clubs, unless he does something to work it out.  Luis ends up doing a number of favors for not only his employer, but other seedy types throughout the city.  Even his mother gets involved, tied up with a promoter who stages underground fights.  Luis must struggle making things right, while still maintaining loyalty to his family and friends.

The Ballad of Gay Tony’s storyline will keep you hooked with a number of twists and characters, including some that previously appeared in earlier games.  As usual, the best part of the game involves straying off the beaten path.  Go on a high-speed pursuit with cops hot on your tail, try to win the local fight championship, hang out with friends, beat up a few Liberty City locals for fun or hit a few balls at the driving range (preferably towards human targets).  The choice is yours.

If you stick with the story, you’ll enjoy a number of diverse missions.  One even puts you in the middle of an ocean, sneaking onto a yacht filled with “unlikable types” (as your newfound buddy, Yusuf, puts it) to steal a helicopter and then blowing it up with machine guns and rockets.  If things get too tense, you can always chill out at Tony’s clubs, dancing with the locals and drinking a few shots.  Just remember that alcohol takes its toll on you, despite being free.

Rockstar Games continues to make the gameplay shine.  You’ll have a wonderful time exploring, whether you’re running around on foot or freewheeling it in a replica Mustang.  The vehicles, in particular, have excellent physics.  A boat feels like a boat should, bouncing on the waves and turning slowly, while the helicopter is tricky to get the hang of, but a blast once you get used to it.  Even the little things, like base-jumping, will make you smile from ear to ear, even if you forget to open the parachute. Furthermore, you’ll find a variety of new vehicles and weapons, which you can use however you please. 

Along with the single player mode, you can also take part in multiplayer match-ups.  Instead of going with the newer modes from The Lost and Damned, Rockstar stuck with the content from Grand Theft Auto IV.  Free play lets you goof off with friends; deathmatch and team deathmatch pits you against other teams; and race and GTA race let you speed against others through city streets, with a little help from a nitrous tank and extra firepower. 

As for presentation, the Grand Theft Auto engine shows its age.  The further you walk away from buildings, for example, the more they fade and completely disappear.  It’s forgivable, though, because everything that surrounds you up-close looks excellent, particularly the characters on the street that react to you (mostly out of fear).  Even if you go inside buildings, the smaller things, like the lighting around corners and the way they crumble apart from gunfire and sticky bombs, are amazing.  In addition, the characters look terrific, especially the main antagonists.  Watching Gay Tony run back and forth in a panic is humorous, while Luis manages to keep his cool, whether he’s wearing a smooth-looking suit or something he’d show off at a ball game; you can change his clothes. 

Then you have the sound, which is superb.  The voice acting continues the Grand Theft Auto trend of excellence, even with weirder characters like Yusuf.  (“I seem to have forgotten my pants.”)  The dialogue is excellent, even if it is laced with enough slurs and profanity to make a senator cringe.  The multiple radio stations return, from dance to news radio to classic rock and roll.  There’s no shortage of licensed songs, and they all give the game superb ambience.  The sound effects are top-notch too, from the squeal of your tires to the pulse-pounding boom of your shotgun.

Ballad of Gay Tony can be purchased one of two ways.  If you have room on your Xbox 360 hard drive (about 2 GB worth), it’ll set you back 1,600 Microsoft points ($20).  However, if you don’t, or for some reason you missed out on The Lost and Damned back in March, Episodes From Liberty City is available as a separate retail release for $39.99.  No matter which way you go, you’ll experience everything the game has to offer; the disc version has an extra radio station (the returning Vice City FM with Fernando).

Au revoir, Grand Theft Auto IV.  It’s been a hell of a ride, first with the original journey, then with The Lost and Damned, and now with the enthralling conclusion, The Ballad of Gay Tony.  It’s a title you can’t afford to miss this holiday season, as it’s packed with hours of explosive gameplay, a detailed presentation and varied options for both solo play and with friends.  We bid Liberty City a fond farewell and now look forward to whatever chapter Rockstar cooks up next.  Personally, we can’t wait.