The Greatest GTA Protagonist I've Ever Seen
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- In this video essay, I do a deep dive on Niko Bellic, the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto IV. I delve into Niko's complex narrative, examining the layers of his character that make him stand out.
Through his story, we explore themes of morality, family loyalty, and the search for identity amidst the chaos of Liberty City.
I invite you to explore with me the depth of Niko Bellic's character, his moral dilemmas, and the powerful moments that elevate him beyond the typical video game hero. Discover why Niko's story remains not only a defining moment in the Grand Theft Auto series but also a compelling narrative that resonates with the complexities of real life.
#gta4 #videoessay #nikobellic #rockstar #gta #grandtheftauto #gtaiv
Hello there, I also made a video on CJ from GTA San Andreas: ruclips.net/video/enw2KF5IV8U/видео.html
whats the song at 36:10
"Greatest protagonist" mentions a mediocre protagonist and a gta game which has been overrated since the the "Gta 4 is better than gta 5" video came out. Confirmation bias at its best. God you content creators know how to milk fanboys
Nobody cares
@@TheMan-s1c alr The man
GTA was always supposed to be a satire of chasing the "American Dream". Niko embodied that perfectly.
niko's story wasn't satyre though, it was a documentary
@yosefyonin6824 better yet, it was a Tragedy
@@yosefyonin6824Satire only works if it tackles something real.
@@andyroobrick-a-brack9355 i mean Niko's story while not a exactly word for word story, is an amalgamation of stories you could honestly get from Immigrants which is a big part of Niko in of itself.
@@andyroobrick-a-brack9355 Yeah. "The American Dream'. "Greatest Country in The World", "Land of the Free" etc.
People always complain that nothing happens in GTA 4, but thats the entire point. Niko achieves absolutely nothing by the end. Packie literally says to Niko near the end, "All that effort for no fucking reward. Story of my life." and Niko responds "Its the story of a lot of lives Packie, im getting pretty used to hearing it."
The only character in the game that genuinely progresses as a person is Roman because hes the only one that tries to be a better man.
Then you might as well not play the game considering very little changes by the end of the game with that logic then
@@IndoGunsnGearthe game is a vibe. And it’s still a good story. So many peoples lives don’t change all that much or go anywhere. But I’d never “might as well kill yourself then since you aren’t really getting anywhere” the vibe and experience in it if itself is worth it.
@@georgec9384 It really isnt a good story, its as cliched as they come, even ends with such a cliche. It was filled with one-dimensional characcters that were introduced only to be killed off or written out in 5 missions, remember Elizabetha? The antagonist is as one dimensional as you can make an antagonist. He is evil for no apparent reason, and he pisses off in the begining of the game only to come back at the very end.
You want a good mafia story? Watch a bronx tale, by the end of it, it also imparted the same moral as gta 4, in which nothing truly changes, but is much more impactful as although the main character did not gain or lose anything physically, he gained in wisdom, which teaches us that despite some things never changing, it happens for a reason, unlike in Gta 4 where by the end nothing truly changes, not physically or emotionally for Niko
@@IndoGunsnGearThere's a lot wrong with your conclusions, and while I don't have all the words to communicate what, exactly, I can say this much: A story is so much more than it's beginning and it's end. If you only see those, you're intentionally missing the details you feel aren't present to flesh out characters, the world, and the events within it, and give them meaning.
@@IndoGunsnGear the game is like Mad Max, nothing SEEMS to changes by the end of each and single movie because Max is just the vehicle to deliver other characters plot
A lot of shit actually happens, Niko technically gets what he wanted, except that was never going to solve his issues, not money, not power, most problems Niko has are mental.
Niko story is about letting go and learning to forgive yourself for things that were not in your control and finally taking control of your present.
Not killing Darko is specifically useless, but it's an act of forgiveness, not for Darko but for Niko himself.
That's why Kate/Roman death is so dramatic because at that point Niko started to forgive himself and move on, until they "pulled him right back in".
If you can't grasp that, you're a literal child.
Roman still doing better than most people i know. He's got an apartment, a taxi business, a car, and a license.
Ikr 😄
And to think that was considered “doing bad” back then 😅
most importantly, a WIFE!
Biggest issue Niko had with Roman was not that he had a decent life, but rather he lied and acted like he was living the good life. One of the reasons why Niko went to LC was that he assumed Roman was a wealthy guy who could help him.
@@TheChosenMoose01 exactly, and also we just gonna forget all the other factors that worsen his life? :
-in debt with the Albanian loan shark gang ready to kill or kidnap him anytime if he dont pay up
-criminals like little jacob and the car parts guy usiing his taxi business to potentially make him an accessory and go to jail too
-vlad bullying and harrassing and threatening him and his crush
-numerous vague gambling debts in shady back alley gambling sites in a crime ridden city
-living in crime and russian mafia infested hove beach
only the ending where he lives is where he has wife, escalade taxi business, penthouse, etc.
at least niko still has hope as a living person not too old to rebuild his life, with roman to help him, its doable for him to get a legit job, work for roman, find someone etc. and rejoin society. fckk kate lol she is very replaceable LOL. probably better he find a girl that does NOT put him and his kids at risk of danger from enemies of the McReary gang.
as for living characters, Gerald has it the worst off the top of my head. dead sister, criminal self destructive addict brother, dead brother, while he himself rotting in jail for life, constant worry his ma could get harmed as well. there is NO rebuilding from there for him.
Roman is luckiest gta 4 character. became set for life with the canon ending and it just cost him a bullet to the gut and recovering from it, kidnapped twice, etc. and his canon good ending with business, money, penthouse, mallory, was mostly paid for by niko who ends up with all the misery to rebuild from.
at least niko also has a good 500k by the end. can work for roman, start his own security business, watever he wants with that ending in gta 4. all his crimes were "wiped clean" as part of the deal with helping CIA/IAA. as long as he doesnt go committing crimes again. he has skills from combat, military, shooting, driving etc. he can build on that or even go back to school for job training or college or watever. he could do well joining the military too.
Niko Bellic & Arthur Morgan parallel each other. Both are good-hearted men who just got caught in the wrong circumstances of life.
they are not direct 'parallels' from one another, and they're certainly not 'good-hearted men' deep down just because of some twisted perception that you have to which has been shifted and influenced by the majority of the RDR2 community in regards to Arthur Morgans' character...
however, their stories does play similar parallels with the whole 'circumstance' that has shaped them towards whatever and how they live off that circumstance...
they are people that were created by the times in which they existed in...
people aren't "good" or "bad", they just are a reflection of their environments, and how they adapt to them is what makes them individuals.
but sure, they are alike in the way that they are both men with penises... i guess.
@@godzillazfriction could you explain how the rdr2 community depicts arthur morgan? i never noticed they view him unfairly compared to other characters.
@godzillazfriction people know these characters aren't morally good. They have redeemable traits which is why you see people cry over arthur dying for example. Same for Niko when we experience the various endings.
Its called nuance :3
@@theprancingrat that isn't entirely the case at all...
1st of all, there's no such thing as the concept of 'morality'...
2nd, 'redeemable traits' isn't entirely the case considering how it goes against the very 'nuance' that a character such as Niko or Arthur who's supposed to be a scumbag despite the perception around Arthur's character also goes against the 'nuance' such as labelling Arthur a 'guD' Human being, or a scumbag with a 'heart of gold' - this goes against the very characterisation of Arthur and his role in the story of RDR (which btw, Arthur took Johns' spot since John from the 1st game spoke about how he was Dutch's right hand man, and this was before Arthur was brought up as a character).
I am glad Niko is getting the recognition he deserves. Underrated character, game and storyline.
Yeah, Niko is famous even after 15 years, and this dude will remain the same.
Underrated? Pfftttttt, GTA IV is pretty well known and a lot of people like the story and Niko.
I played GTA IV after V and i still like more GTA IV, because of protagonist, story, characters, activities, city, DETAILS on EVERY corner, and of course BOWLING
Underrated?????
Nothin underrated about GTA IV, y’all really just be saying anything.
The scene around the dining table with Mrs Faustin is my favourite in the whole GTA series by a wide margin. No other character gets the chance to have as deep an insight into their morality, philosophy and even theology to an extent as Niko does there, grappling with his internal struggle over wanting redemption for what he’s done and his belief that mortality is meaningless in a world where such evil things as what he’s seen can be allowed to happen. It’s what makes him the most compelling GTA protagonist for how much he grapples with these questions for sure.
Yeah the 50 children part hurt my soul, I'm from Croatia, so part of the territory where the yugoslav wars happened so it hits much harder for me
Me too. There was a similar scene in RDR (my favorite of that game), with John talking to Bonnie McFarlane, but it didn't have the same impact to me. And this isn't nostalgia, I've played RDR before GTA IV
Yeah that's great, soon after that scene he went on a mass killing spree in my play through and stole a hookers money 😆
His talk with Dwayne
@@perpisdich3386I believe he was partly responsible for that massacre during the war. Mrs Faustin asks him if he's worried about his soul, then he just describes something for her to picture, and lastly he states that whoever did that has no soul. Simply morbid. Niko's soul is broken beyond repair.
Niko's "50 children" monologue has stayed with me ever since i first heard it back in 2010.
"War is when the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other."
@@vampirethespiderbatgod9740 it's interesting to see how people react to content like this, its always "underrated" or "overrated", with supporting statements like: " people love drumming up controversy where there isn't" or "this is a non-issue" or some form of "clout-chaser" comment.
But like assholes, we all have opinions and thats what makes life interesting.
@@vampirethespiderbatgod9740what a bad take. He’s the only GTA character with any real personality. GTA V protags are all greedy idiots from what I remember and basically just caricatures. CJ was okay but he was so focused on the gangs and family that he never really goes beyond that philosophically. Niko was legitimately a bad man that was trying to be good which is a really interesting concept.
Stop responding to them, it's what they want, they're winning, don't respond directly to them
Right ? Like damn niko you cold blooded like that ?
Someone said Niko is a Red Dead character stuck in a GTA game and since then I've been unable to see him any other way. He's so complex and unique that when GTA V rolled around I just saw Michael, Franklin and Trevor as one dimensional
i wonder how you perceive 'complexity' & 'uniqueness'...
@godzillazfriction Michael, Franklin and Trevor are one dimensional. There's nothing to them. Niko is complex. He's a man of morals and principles yet kills for a living. He's not black and white. He operates in a grey area
I don’t think V is bad story wise but I don’t think that was the point of GTA Vs story. It was supposed to be entertaining and with fun heists and the characters still get development and it’s still a good story but it’s definitely not as deep as RDR 2 or GTA IV, or even RDR 1. Since rockstar are obviously extremely capable writers then I think they were just doing it differently.
I feel like Niko and his story was the catalyst to creating the idea around what Red Dead came to be story wise. Part of me thinks that Rockstar felt like Niko’s story was too dramatic and serious to follow the tradition of how GTA games are normally written, quirky, unhinged jokes with some serious moments to help the concept of the story to be more clear. Of course GTA 4 still had funny moments but they were kinda pushed to the side because the story was so serious. So they created a separate GTA like universe with Red Dead but with a more serious and dark twist to it and came back to the traditional way of writing a GTA game with GTA 5.
@@Brotherjoe1996 ehhhhhh, this perception around how Rockstar usually wrote GTA is not really true at all...
ever since GTA 1, it's been a tradition to have a intertwined dark, and shades of grey in regards to the more lighthearted stuff...
no GTA game has managed to shift that drastically as of yet.
What makes Niko’s story above all other GTA4 characters, is that he doesn’t win. Even at the end of the game, no matter which choice you take, you lose. If you try to abandon Revenge, your cousin dies, your girlfriend leaves you, AND you still are forced to revenge in the end. And if Niko refuses to let go of grudges, his girlfriend dies and ends the game in a tragic place where he may never lose his demons. He is meant to be a doomed man no matter how hard he tries to be free. It’s a cruel story but it’s done so well, that you can’t help but appreciate the starkness of it to the other GTAs where you always come out on top
Well said 🙌
I always play my file at "To Live and Die in Alderney", right before you're forced to make these choices. It's the only time you can chill with everyone you've made friends with, including the 2 online girls and Kate. And Dwayne if you sided with him, which you high key should.
@@Bokmohwhy exactly should you side w Dwayne?
Don’t understand why ppl love him that much.
I just saw him as a miserable dude who can’t get his shit together.
@@zxcqwe6931 the backup is nice
@@zxcqwe6931
1. Free safehouse
2. Free homie with a great ability that allows you to get backup.
3. The money Playboy gives you isn't that great considering you can do a few other missions and make that easily, plus if you already have all the weapons and clothes, it is rather worthless.
Roman is an interesting character, too.
He lured Niko to America because he needed protection. Roman knew he was too weak to dig himself out of the hole... but his cousin was a war hero. Niko had a fantasy in mind when he came to America... and Roman had a fantasy in mind when he invited Niko to live with him. Roman's cousin, traumatized by the war, was only trying to escape the criminal life he'd cut out for himself in Serbia. Roman had no idea what he was doing by pulling Niko back into it... but he did know Niko would be disappointed when he arrived. Roman was deeply ashamed of all his bullshit. That's why he was drunk when he first picked Niko up.
GTA IV is so well-written.
That's an interesting perspective, thanks for sharing 🙌
He was gonna end up in liberty city anyway since he was looking for florian
@alfonsosalazar921 That's true. Roman's invitation created an opportunity... to the land of opportunity. HUH.
Niko may have been disappointed, but he didn't leave. Creating a new life was a pleasant idea, but it wasn't what Niko really wanted. Every ideal in GTA IV is just a white veil for a dark truth.
Fuck me GTA IV is SO well written.
finally, most people who tried gta iv and spitted on it for 12+ years finally are mature enough to fully comprehend how big and deep IV was. The exact opposite is happening for V, and I love it
Yesss I feel the same exact way as you do, I’ve always loved GTA 4, even tho I feel gameplay could’ve been better, GTA 4 still really blended in very well wit the series as well as being very fitting in the rockstar games universe same way about how I feel abt the RDR games. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about GTA 5, it felt very out of place both as a rockstar game and as a GTA game
oh no the Hive-Minded Droneness is coming against (not for anymore) GTA V...
@@godzillazfriction wdym
Im one of those people not gonna lie
NAw this game and its characters were boring compared to 5.. characters weren't memorable or entertaining whatsoever.. story was forgettable.. I mean even vice city and San Andreas were both much better and much more enjoyable.. 5 is the best of the series and it's not close
And this is why I believe that GTA IV has some of the best writing in gaming ever. The strong sense of morality, while trying to impose and juggle the concept of right and wrong, it's just so deep and complex. It has such a serious tone that it helps you to understand that this isn't a game simply to have mindless fun with. It's a game for you to experience morality and to think and profoundly understand said experience.
Well said 🙌
Definitely the best in GTA.
The fact that on certain missions you're actually given choices/options says alot.
This is so true, every single time I had to make a decision, it would take me 30 to 40 minutes pondering whether the choice I pick is either wrong or right.
I don’t care how janky it could be, the themes of GTA IV spoiled me and I just couldn’t get into how soulless and on-the-nose GTA V felt in comparison.
What I hated about gta iv was the overall gameplay, it kinda punished you for being stupid. But I loved the story. And gta v was exactly the opposite. The gameplay was a lot of fun but that story just didn't do it for me, even though I feel it was one of the best performances in a video game ever
@@j2jwhatsapp "It punished you for being stupid." What do you mean? I'm curious.
@@XmaskwalkX I think he's talking about stuff like driving, if you drive like an idiot, you're sent flying through the windshield.
@@datboi1413 that's because no one wears a seatbelt
GTA V isn’t a worse game or story, but it’s just a little weaker. it has plenty of soul, but the nature of Los Santos/Los Angeles is the fake, plastic lifestyle. so many characters are fake or liars even among criminals.
what people need to understand is that GTA IV’s plot is like a movie’s, but GTA V’s is like a TV show. the same can be said for Red Dead 2, which felt like a limited series
What sets him apart is all those pictures with finger gloves. Finger gloves you couldn’t even unlock :(
I never realized that, so true 😄
Bro just crash a Turismo into the high end clothing store and the cashier gives them to you. trust
One thing I can say aged badly for Gta 4 was the clothing system. It took way too long to switch between the upper body, lower body, and shoes, and then the black screen in between changing your jacket, pants, shoes, etc took really long.
GTA IV was the first GTA game I could play. I had heard, it promotes "drugs, alcohol, violence, and sex." In the game, druggies are pathetic losers, alcohol makes you unable to do anything functional, violence never solves anything but begetting more violence, and sex is meaningless by itself. In particular, Niko never, ever says "yes" when offered drugs/alcohol despite the offer coming frequently. And yet, I think Niko is the most badass/hardcore/cool/based/whatever character in any GTA ever.
Frankly, GTA IV is the one of the best sales pitch for a conservative lifestyle of any game I've ever seen. Turn the other cheek. Don't drink or do drugs. Don't sleep around or it may come back to haunt you.
Crazy.
That's wild 😄
This is the most boomer Facebook style response I have seen on youtube
Niko is able to heavily drink, even says so in narrative cutscenes that he does at times and sleep with dates and SW if you choose, I don't really get what you're saying. He only doesn't drink on the job. Niko is just as much as a "loser" as the rest of the cast that does way heavier stuff. Kate even drinks, alcohol killed more of humanity than any drug. What is this conservative parallel? Niko is friends with LGBT in 2008. A conservative doing that wouldn't even be elected. Actually, have you heard the radio in gta 4? The talk shows call Liberals whiny yeah, but the basically call conservatives evil without directly saying it. Like the segment of them basically calling everyone subhuman then talking about their junk for half the segment. Or insulting anything new schools teach kids about other countries and sexuality, this is from 2008, I can turn on any conservative news channel today and hear these things. Nikos friend burnie was having an affair with a conservative senator that blame gayppl for terrorism. This game is heavily against conservatism as an ideology. Im genuinely a little confused on your views on what it means to be conservative. You can be progressive and be stoic, no nonsense, capable, and have self control. Those arent conservative qualities.
Niko actually does take a drink from Playboy when he asks Niko to unalive Dwayne.
Bro drinking is literally one of the activities in the game. You clearly know very little about being conservative as well
The people calling this boring forget that that's the reality of crime in life, you can own a lot with money, but make no progress as a person. It's the first time Rockstar made a game that was a realistic view of crime. No glamorization of crime, but the harsh reality of it.
You must know a lot about the reality of crime life
Sounds to me you have had some experience😂😂
True. In rawry twenties Italian mafia was really protecting Italian migrants from govt injustice you can see in musical Cell Block Tango. Now it is not the case. I wonder if any mafia does so.
When that one character on the airport said he betrayed and killed people for 1000 dollars and then begged Niko to kill him... my heart sunk seeing Niko's reaction. It was one of those moments that stuck with me, and I keep being reminded of it each time I see Niko anywhere online, like this video.
Niko's disgust that the lives of all his friends were just merely worth 1000 dollars is truly on point. His survivor's guilt is truly on show there.
He also asked a valid question of, "How much do you charge when you unalive someone?" and then called him a hypocrite. The entire scene was great
It’s actually really tragic but in a cynical way where at this point in the story Niko was getting paid 5K to kill one person. And it just flips the question around that killing is okay if the pay is good. It stumped Niko momentarily.
@@TheChosenMoose01To be fair it is not that he ever killed a friend though his killing randoms for gangsters definitely put live of Roman and his girlfriend in danger
Darko.
I swear roman sleeping while niko is talking about the war is the funniest thing ever 😂 and when niko bangs the table to wake roman upis even more funnier im playing gta 4 rn and it is a master piece 😩🤌 i really loved this video u did a great job underrated my dude
Haha, that one or the one where Niko tells Vlad that for an annoying dick, he's an annoying dick 🤣
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, I finished replaying gta 4 before publishing this, and it definitely was a journey 😊
@@ViciousTNT and plus also Roman and niko getting kidnapped is funny while Roman is cowering while niko is just acting like that one wise guy while Anderi threatens him with a hack saw lol he's just acting like all of this is normal while Roman panics and when they took the gag off if Roman and he started screaming while Faustin and niko telling and to shut up but doesn't and then gets shot in his kidneys is very funny and the way niko says fuck when Roman is hurt is just so funny gta 4 is the most funniest sad and good story telling game out of all the others gta's I've played 5 too but gta 4 for me is just better in every way it has the most funniest jokes and parts in the campaign in my opinion which is top tier
Gta 4 is def head and shoulders above 5 when it comes to the story and characters
@@ViciousTNT definitely I'm really hoping gta 6 will be the same like 4 with funny jokes and good story telling
@@ViciousTNT and plus it's also funny how the npcs fight each other when they crash into each other's cars which I had yesterday wish I recorded it too I sometimes just hit an npc for fun and walk up to a cop car let the npc hit me and watch them get arrested lol
Niko was a legendary protagonist. It's crazy that GTA V's three protagonists don't make as much of an impact as Niko, Tommy, and CJ. Or the fact that his villains aren't as well written as Officer Tenpenny and Dimitri Rascalov.
Dimitri Rascalov is literally the most bland villain that has ever been writteen in Gta history, He is evil for no apparent reason, pisses off in the beginning of the game only to reappear at the end of it. I worry for people who think Dimitri is a great villain.
@@IndoGunsnGearalways thought that too like what the hell was point in betraying us only thing i can think is that hes jealous of niko cuz he can't do what he does
@@presi08AMA I just assume it's because of money, then as the story went on he realized just how dangerous niko is, I guess.
@@Airbigbawls so basically he wishes he was as rich and handsome as us and could do the things we do, mans cant even respawn at the hospital he just dies id be mad too
@@presi08AMA Well I think it's because at the start dimitri did it for money but at the same time realized he couldn't keep niko by his side and under control because he thought he was dangerous and could get him fucked up by others or just from niko himself.
But as the story went on I think he realized that niko is even more dangerous than he initially thought so he really steps up in trying to kill niko throughout the story. Those are just my thoughts though.
Nico was just too real. Too relatable to many people and hit home like a Mac truck.
Aye, spot on
I’ve said for years that this is by far the best GTA story-wise. It’s a massive tone change from San Andreas that’s way more serious and dark, and it’s incredible. No other GTA can make you laugh AND angry cry in the same game lmao. When Roman dies, when you find out your girlfriend is a cop that’s just using you, the revenge plot… and in the end you aren’t some big time millionaire that runs the city. You’re still Niko. You don’t really get that sense that you won because the world is brutal and I love that about the game
Well said 🙌
Story wise? You mean the cliche filled story that even ends with the most cliched ending of all time? Do you not have a cinema near you or smtg?
World's only brutal when you arent the hero just like in real life, why would you want to play as a nobody in a game?
@@IndoGunsnGear Gta 4 is a bitter end unlike almost every hollywood movie, also unlike that shitty hollywood knockoff that's too popular for it's own good gta 5. Wow I love being able to kill half the city for a good ending with not a single consequence.
@@Airbigbawls dont respond to this moron
he only likes to criticize people on their gta 4 opinion
the GTA 4 theme had no right to go so hard.
Pure 🔥
Recently played GTA 4 and TLAD. In the museum mission, in TLAD, Johnny is way behind Niko and he just sees a lot of dead people on the ground, killed by Niko. That mission made Niko more badass that he was
He also comments on it saying something like “damn, dont fuck with that guy” 😂
@@ZombieGangster he blurted "this guy is one dangerous mtfk" or something along that line
When he says "no one fucks with my family" i get goosebumps every time
Niko Bellic has to be the most altruistic, pragmatic and generally well written characters in the GTA franchise. When it comes to games nowdays, I want a game that tells a story that only a game can tell. I am sick and tired of developers just selling quick cash grabs with stupid emotes and battlepasses. The peak of game story telling was in the mid 2000s to early 2010s. Think Far Cry 3 era. I want a game that makes me reflect and challanges my own values, a game that is philisophical, to see life through a different perspectives in the same way that GTA IV did with its small details, such as the conversation with Faustins wife. It the small things. This game despite it almost being 16 years old, still remains to be my favorite video game of all time. I remember playing it at a friends place when I was 8 years old (2009 or so). I didnt pay to much to the story when I was younger, but after a recent playthrough when I was older, I appreciated the story so much more. This was also a great video. Keep up the good work.
I wish i could replay Far Cry 3 for the first time, as well as the DLC Blood Dragon.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video ♥️
"When it comes to games nowdays, I want a game that tells a story that only a game can tell. I am sick and tired of developers just selling quick cash grabs with stupid emotes and battlepasses."
I'd highly recommend any of CDPR games then
@@driv3ver you mean the guys who made cp2077? LMFAO
@@Professor_Genki7 cyberpunk was a really good game. I didn't play it at launch by by last December when i played it, it was fantastic. Couldn't get into the witcher though, the gameplay was too weak.
Far cry 3 (and 2 tbh), GTA IV, spec ops: the line, games were thoughtful then, and not just indie one
Grand Theft Auto IV is not only my favorite game in the GTA series, but my favorite game of all time. Ever since getting the game on April 29, 2008, I’ve been enraptured with the story, the characters, the environment and basically everything about the game. Niko Bellic quickly became my favorite character in the series as the depth that he has to him is so interesting and real, that no other protagonist before or after him in GTA can really compare. He’s such a unique character that he stands alone in so many regards. I seem to always play this game once a year from beginning to end, because even though I know what’s coming, I’m always invested in what’s going on and the interactions that Niko has with the various characters in the game that I can’t help but find time to play this all the way through once a year. And the expansion packs are truly well done. Johnny and Luis are excellent in their own right, but Niko stands above them. Thank you for the video man, I like how so many people are embracing how excellent not only GTA IV is, but how great of a character Niko Bellic is. I hope you’re doing well. Keep up the great work, take care!
Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed the video ♥️
@@ViciousTNT you’re very welcome! The video is excellent!
He’s not deep ngga omg y’all have not played the game😂😂😂
I feel the same. I love reading people's appreciation for Niko, the game's writing, and brilliant cast. Can't get enough.
It is my favourite game.
*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*
nah vice city is nowhere near as sad as gta 4 that games a comedy like san andreas 🤦🏻♂️
@@presi08AMA *I meant VCS*
I love that Niko only cusses when he’s angry which adds weight to the moments
True, well spotted 🙌
Niko's story starts from hopelessness and ended with it. Even after the end of the game, he regrets what he did on the last mission
GTA IV had the both greatest protagonist and antagonist
I agree with the protagonist, but San Andreas has the greatest antagonist. Frank Tenpenny.
Yep Dimitri was the best villain in gta he's one of the few antagonists that are unique and not mustach twirling
@@nm4206 nah tenpenny was barely in the game and I didn't hurt Carl nearly as much as dimitri did niko
@@RobertEdwinHouse9 the worst part is how he first comes off as a guy Niko could trust, to not only betray him, but to basically ruin his life after that
I agree, I've never wanted to brutally kill an antagonist more than Gracie Ancelotti.
GTA IV is the darkest and most realistic GTA ever. The game felt 'real' or like a movie. GTA IV made Niko one of my fav characters.
Well said 🙌
Out of curiosity, who are your other favorite characters?
little jacob speaks max level patois that’s almost uncle level
And then there's Badman.
One love, brethren
Having to lock in on the subtitles everytime Jacob is on screen is real.
With Bedman, just don't bother trying.
If I remember correctly, the subtitles of little jacob and badman slowly become just normal english without the accent as niko is around them more and understand them better
Bro, I turn on the subtitles and still can't understand Jacob or Badman. 😂
I love the literal children in this comment section who are mentally unable to grasp Nikos character because it's not a shallow and direct power fantasy like gtav characters.
It's funny how they out themselves as emotionally immature and pedantic just because they can't grasp the rational conclusion that recovering from emotional trauma is always more valuable than money and power for a character like Niko.
That's why every "successful" mission with a big payout is just a side effect of getting Darko in front of him. That's why there's"nothing to do with the money" in game, because Niko is far removed from wanting wealth and status, it's part of the narrative, money is simply a brand to an end.
Googoo gaga, go play gtaonline kids.
One of my favorite comments it completely hits the nail on the head. And besides that, gta 4 gave me so much replayability as a kid, I've played gta 4 more than any other game.
We all know Niko has a soul. This video amplifies it leagues bigger.
“The greener grass comes with its own set of complexities”
Well said
Thank you.
I've been saying for years how ridiculously and unexpectedly good GTA IV is of you actually try to roleplay as Niko.
I mean I even avoided stealing cars when I could (though, didn't respect traffic laws, ngl).
When you kill that loan shark and Niko says "I promised myself I wouldn't kill here", it feels genuinely impactful if you didn't turn the sidewalk into an improvised cannibal meat grinder ten minutes earlier.
I used the cab most of the time 😅
Exactly, this was gta 4's great writing flaws, making a character that goes against the gameplay, if you really wanted us to feel remorse for murder, then punish us for murder, otherwwise dont make the character whine about hating killing, Gta 5 fixed this by making characters who legit dont care about taking lives, no wonder that game broke records while 4 was clowned upon release
@@IndoGunsnGear Ah, but you see: the immersion lies in the choice of self-control and the struggle that Niko also faced.
@@IndoGunsnGearyes and now 10 years later more people have become fans of gta 4 cuz we realized that game was garbage, how does a normal guy from the hood start killing with no remorse? thats somehow good to you? feel bad for you head dropped clown 🤡 🤦
only reason gtgay 5 became that popular was cuz of better graphics, a bigger map and more stuff to do more things to spend money on no one gives a shit about it's hotdog water story its side missions are more interesting 🤦 and even with all the things you can buy the game still feels dead as shit all the cars feel the same and the map is trash, a city smaller than liberty city then the rest of map is mountains, deserts and more mountains, such a trash map 🤦🏻♂️
Nothing is ever going to beat the beauty of red dead redemption 2 and GTA IV
Such great games ❤️
Niko and Arthur are like actual people rather than just video game protagonists
Spot on
.... No they are videogame protagonist please stop being so cringe. And there are many great videogame characters.
@@tomgu2285bro don’t be in denial
@@tomgu2285have a bit of fun and imagination in your life, sad ahh nga☠️
bowling with nikos cousin became an instant classic
100%
Im so glad Niko is finally getting the recognition he so rightfully deserves. He's the best written character in any GTA by far.
I can't put into words how disappointed I was with V's protagonists. Always bickering, always quipping, always disconnected with what they were doing. What seperates Niko from them is that he always knew who he was. A criminal. You don't get an easy life when you choose crime. You don't get peace. You don't feel pride. You never feel complete. Those are the rules. That's the game. But never did Niko choose to play. He was born into hardship. After the war, who would hire him? He did not live in the land of opportunity. In submission to the criminal life, he survived the only way he logically could. But no matter where he ended up, he always kept his conscious. He was always human deep down inside. Even if he did just carjack an ice cream truck.
Well said 🙌
Niko is well written but there's full videos essays about why he's the best gta protagonist with millions of views years before this video. He's always was recognized
How is he better than CJ. He was also born in shit but didn't lose his morals....inside atkeast
@@MrDeano-eu9rg cj is overrated and he barely does shit tbh
also hypocrital, wants to help the family and his brother and then goes into the making property and business wtf, where's releasing your brother thing?
also the releasing your brother thing comes off out of no where when toreno shows up lmao
@@MrDeano-eu9rg CJ is undeniably iconic for his time, yet he lacks the profound depth of character that Niko embodies. As @mcsquigly3342 pointed out, Niko's emotions are palpable throughout the narrative, adding a layer of realism and connection for players. To put it simply, CJ represents the 'Badass' protagonist archetype, while Niko is portrayed as the 'Human' protagonist, with a rich emotional journey that resonates deeply.
"Whaaaat....has become of me?"
Solid video and analysis. I really should play this game because the narrative sounds so much more engaging than GTA V. I'd love to see a Vice City analysis or a video on what GTA IV should be. This game comes across as more tragic than I expected for a game called Grand Theft Auto.
Also, you weren't kidding. I can't understand that Jamaican guy AT ALL.
Thank you 😊
GTA IV is the only GTA I ever completed cause niko bellic was the only character in GTAs that I ever saw as a person and not a caricature.
Edit: Brucie was a riot though. 😂
I'll never forget his line after he gets punched by niko in the gut.. "Now that's some real Red Army shit."
Brucie was hilarious 😄
Niko Bellic is definitely the most underrated protagonist in the entire GTA series. When he starts recounting his past and how many regrets he has, and when he helps those random people, you really feel for him. Sure, other characters also did bad things and had bad things happen to them, but Niko feels so much more real than them. Not my favorite game in the series, that would be San Andreas, but it definitely has the best story.
Saw the thumbnail and ABSOLUTELY overdue. Niko perfectly represented GTA... Roman sleeping at the end cracks me tf up lmao
Marnie is a brilliant example of how concerned I am for GTA 6 - In GTA 5 she gets caught up in a cult, completely undermining the progress she had made in clearing out the unhealthy habits and ways of thinking. Hopefully GTA 6 doesn't continue on the mediocre trajectory started by GTA 5 and course corrects by adding brilliant qualities from GTA 4 - balance can definitely be found and it seems like there is a chance of creating an awesome game if what I've read about the protagonists being grounded while the world is crazy comes out to be true.
PS - Loved GTA 4 for being my first truly adult game, Niko's journey shared metaphors with my life while I was becoming an adult and taught me a lot of lessons to keep for life.
Honestly, most of GTA 5's inclusions of GTA 4 characters was a mistake and seemingly done for shock value with no care for the character that was behind it. Johnny gets killed and then somehow everyone in the MC still hates him for everything in The Lost and Damned even though that entire campaign proved he could let go since he seemingly dropped Ash and that he was just straight up tougher than that.
Every lead from GTA 4 goes through so much just to stay alive that even if you ignore the video game bullet tanking _they were made to survive_ so just crying before literally being stepped on is the most unforgiving thing possible and actively makes me hate Trevor and glad all the screen time he got was the worst Heist of the Online Heist update so you can forget him easier.
Add on top Yusif just kinda showing up to be the DLC equivalent to clickbait as the only person who talks to you during the work being his annoying and random made up cousin, Marnie ONCE AGAIN being terrible because she shows she's still trying to screw people over in the Short Trips, and overall The Lost for some reason always still having members JUST so they could be generic enemy faction when Rockstar needs them, and the waste just keep adding up.
Tony wasn't any better as while he does have alot of voice acting work during club promos and the post gas crisis VIP stuff, the club as a whole lacks so much interaction due to it being more about the DJs they promoted along with relying perhaps a bit to heavily on the idea of "a place to party with friends" that the actual amount of content on a gameplay level was just like 4 missions that Tony doesn't appear in instead led by again a new made up character for the DLC with English Dave (though, I don't actually dislike him).
Personally, the only well handled characters in my eyes is Rocco and ULP. Even then, Rocco because most people just wanted him dead anyway, it's a nice little if entirely unintentional nod to how everyone's enemies in GTA 4 was killed by a different lead, and ULP because he was saved from his random and useless inclusion in GTA 5's main story to instead be a VIP to save (twice) and an entire DLC mission chain that just kinda has him being nice for a change.
The lesson here is, if Rockstar is gonna bring characters back, they need to bring them back *with purpose* otherwise GTA 6's story has a high chance at just being another far too action movie with no substance style distraction that will just be there to justify a $70 price tag while they prepare to nickel and dime the Online portion that (if we're lucky and people wise up) won't even last more than a single year because people will be fed up with Rockstar only caring about Microtransactions.
i like what they did with marnie’s character. having lived around addicts my whole life, her trajectory rings extremely true. it’s very common for recovering addicts to take that same addictive tendency and turn it towards religion. that’s why you see so many preachers with a history of drug abuse. it’s not a perfect happy ending where everything goes back to the way it was before because that’s an unsustainable fantasy. one can never truly go back, but they *can* adapt in a way that mirrors the positivity they lost in giving their life to drugs. i believe she did have (somewhat of) a positive outcome because she was able to shift her addictive behavior into something that she could at least trick herself into believing improves her life, whether or not it’s actually just a scam.
i’m happy for her, and i’m glad the writers took her story in a realistic direction.
@@armondo1477 Don't forget Packie who at least is character wasn't butchered and can participate in the story mode Heists with quite a lot of dialogues.
So I typed out a somewhat length response but uh... something happened to it so I suppose I'll try to keep it short instead? I'm somewhat back and forth about Packie actually. I can appreciate that he wasn't randomly killed off and is considered a good gunman so you'll never lose him. However I don't actually think he has that much to say outside of the Paleto score, really just a quip or two in the other jobs as he doesn't get as much "talking time" without Paleto.
Worse than that however is the fact that once again he was part of the "added into online" problem I explained earlier that makes me double down on the idea that he's only treated well, but not handled well. His Online inclusion literally reuses what he says to however finds him in story mode so his inclusion basically just decides whether or not you get LMGs on aggressive for the fun of it. It adds to my problem of adding characters just for the sake of it instead of giving them purpose on a return. I mean he even is in just a generic police van with no reason as to why he got arrested just so he could be a _random event_ in order to unlock him.
I love Little Jacob. He is the reason why I keep subtitles on for all my games.
Proud to be a Serb 🇷🇸
U mean turk
@@steelbicepsno
@@quavious.. u were under there rule
@@steelbiceps🤡
@@steelbicepsby that logic theyre glorious austrians.
I always found roman a underrated character,.. I like how loyal and understanding he is
He really was a good character albeit can get a bit annoying with the excess of “wanna go bowling cousin”’s lmao but he was loyal albeit quick to fall into his old habits
I really hope GTA 6 gives us a protagonist that's as complex as Niko and Arthur.
Same 🙌
It's probably better for you to abandon that hope. CEO of take two interactive - parent company of rockstar games - sighned a contract up to 2029, which basically ties his benefits to microtransaction efficiency of company's games. And you already saw a trailer of GTA 6. This will be a pile of crap like GTA 5, but probably even worse, with primary role of online play and microtransactions. There's rumours says GTA 6 have a budget of 2 billion USD. Because this game must be a perfect at money sucking, investors knows it and put their money on because they want a piece of that pie.
And you can be sure - budget of 2B would not be spent on best ever script writing. No game can cost so much, but cash printing machines can.
Google search says GTA 4 cost around 100 millions USD. And for that money we got a good story, an pioneering physics engine and a ton of details which makes GTA 4 a good game even today. 2 billions of GTA 6 wouldn't result like that.
@@Chastity_Belt Keep your expectations low so you can be surprised when the game releases, wise choice.
@@Chastity_Belt Spot on.
Don't even try to hope for that. We are way past that age. They want whatever sells best and that goes double for their next online experience. I do not expect too much from GTA6 but I keep an open mind. I rather be positivily surprised than disappointed.
Currently replaying this aftee doing a playthrough last year and the year before. I find myself coming back to this game every year and each time older me appreciates what 5 year old me didn't quite understand when it originally released
Great story to replay 👌
Same started another play through just a couple days ago
3:15 - The dynamic of both Nikos calm and intelligent ways, and his cousin Roman as the chaotic out of control idiot gotta love them two 😂
The chemistry is great 😄
Niko is the sole reason why I couldn’t like gta5 at all. He felt real, the story was rough and hard, it was a really hard gta game and felt way less satirical…
Then 5 came in and everything was bright and funny, nothing had weight, the story was meh except the very ending…
Niko ruined gta for me by giving me the best gta game of all
I like both
"You killed my friends for 1000 dollars?" The heartbreak in his voice, such a powerful line, that voice actor did a great job
The whole dialogue in that scene is pure gold 🔥
just completed the videos and i was seriously disappointed that only 40k people have watched this incredibly crafted video. You deserve more views my man
Thank you for the kind words 😊♥️
To be fair Niko is a man of instinct and you don't need to really understand what the jamacians are saying to understand what they are saying in their contexts
I can understand Jacob fine, maybe it's all the weed 😂😂
Niko doesn’t always understand him. When they first met he replied to jacob with “um yeah sure” or something like that implying he didn’t quite understand everything he said he was just trying to be respectful and didn’t want to hurt Jacobs’s feelings
@@therookie5714 I mean, he understands enough to move the conversation along, handle orders, etc. I'm proud I understand almost as much as he does lol
Nikos gritty grounded depressing story really dragged me in, hes definitely my favorite protagonist.
I love the part where Niko monologues about the old tricking the young into fighting in war.. it's always been in my head and I could never remember where I heard it from... Thank you for letting me realize it lol
Grand Theft Auto 4 is my favorite video game of all time. I’ve replayed it, at least 15 times. And Niko is one of my favorite characters of all time. He’s one of the few GTA characters grounded in realism.
one of the best viedeos about gta iv keep up the work man i hope this gets more views
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it ❤️
I'd love a remaster of this game.
The camera work on GTA4 is pure cinema
14:20 i think i came to a realization after this ten years. I realize now what Niko refering too in here is not the Enemy soldier, but him.
GTA 4 uniquely stood out to me as depressing even as a kid I knew this was a good story but I never had the heart to complete it
the scene where niko finally meets darko has so much emotion, niko's voice actor definitely gave it his all
Aye, he nailed it 🙌
I think Rockstar are far beyond caring about the players that are interested in the story depth that IV offered.
Rather, the casual players that V captured.
But for those that want a great story like IV, VI may be make or break for the series in their eyes considering the modern development time.
When he talkes to kate about romans mom always hit me differently, all the things he talks about in the game, all the sacrifice he made for roman. He never told him, he carried it with him silently for his cousin
As I’ve been playing through RDR2 for the first time and watching stuff along the way, your videos kept cropping up but I didn’t watch till the end due to spoilers. And after binging a lot of video essays on the game, I can easily say yours are some of the deepest, most insightful and thought provoking, as well as just the best edited with references to other media to reinforce the points.
It’s all supremely well done, and this GTA IV video is no exception. I’m kind of shocked by how small your catalogue of videos is in comparison to how good a video essay creator you are. I eagerly await more like them on Rockstar games and beyond in the future. ❤️
Thank you, that's very kind of you to say 😊
”How would you like to die?” so perfectly shows Niko’s sense of humour but also composure
I always come back to IV every couple years just to replay the storyline. It's just so gritty and well-written. The gameplay also holds up amazingly well considering it was created in 2007. It still feels like it was made within the last decade.
I wish Rockstar would go back to exploring more darker themes like they did in IV
16:45 this part always hits me, niko’s va did a marvelous fucking job
GTA4 is one of my favorite games ever. It’s as a whole my favorite GTA
I feel like a lot of people felt a bit let down due to the fact that Niko didn't actually achieve any actual reward by the end of the story, but I feel like for better or worse, that was actually the point, but also a blessing in disguise. If you chose to save Roman (which i personally consider the canon ending), by the end, you're back to square 1. You have nothing but Roman, but perhaps that is enough.
And from seeing how by GTA5, it is said that Niko went silent, it either meant that he died unceremoniously, or just stopped doing crime, and I think the latter is more fitting.
I'd like to imagine that after all that happened, Niko and Roman just simply went back to working together at the cab stand, perhaps not rolling in dough and making millions, but working for a living, a regular blue collared job. It may not be the most glorious thing, but it is hard, honest, and most importantly, a job that doesn't eat away at your conscience.
That would've been a beautiful ending after everything they went through.
I’m a simple man I see GTA IV I click
Thank you for clicking, I hope you enjoyed the video 😊
I loved Niko, man! Great job making this video! Hope this gets more views 😁
Thank you ❤️
I can still hear Roman and Niko talking to each other in my head all these years later. Great game and great memories from my younger years.
Same here, how they banter with each other is so good 😄
I played GTA Vice City and San Andreas, was a bit too young at the time but good enough to know that I shouldn't do what I saw on the monitor. Arcade control, serious and enjoyable story. One hell of a nolstagia hit and I still play the original 2000s version.
And then I played GTA IV. Years later I still lament how good it is. It's realism, the story, the people, atmosphere, is real. Realism in a game are many things, and GTA IV ticked most of it. GTA IV characters made me cared about them more than previous GTA games, and as such I hung out with Roman, Jacob and others, as well as dating. Sometimes I feel bad for turning down calls to hang out. The game let you choose the fate of a number of NPCs. It is a game that can create impacts, something to remember which few games can do. Let's not forget the 2 DLCs that pulled their weights alongside the main game, each with their own story, characters, extra gameplay mechanics and atmosphere. Don't try to argue, GTA IV is the GTA peak yet to be overshadowed. A world and a story like GTA IV might be impossible to recreate let alone to topple it, and if that is true be glad that Rockstar Games hit perfection, in 2008.
And then there is GTA V, the semi arcade, semi hero shooter (again don't try to argue, Trevor is unkillable) with a weakest GTA plot and unattachable 3 protagonists. Putting GTA IV and V side by side is the quickest way for me to bash V over and over (this is my personal sentiment to the game, don't take it seriously).
I don't know if it's weird or not, but I've always loved the silence in between the dialogues of the cutscenes. It felt genuine, ruthless, and had space for contemplation for the weight of the maturity it had.
i really liked the essay , capturing all the important scenes showing the psyche of niko as he progresses through the story, i had not come across marney while playing the game and hadn't seen any other youtube video mentioning the interaction , thank you for covering this . cheers mate
I'm glad you enjoyed it, thank you ♥️
Nah, GTA IV is legitimately the best storytelling of interactive media. On the tier of oscar winning films.
17:05 i sit there and thought minutes and minutes thinking what i would do with my 14 years old ass back then.. damn gta 4 got a special place in my heart
I remember being 14 and reading about GTA 4 in PcGamer magazine. I was so hyped and saving up money to buy GTA 4. It will always hold special place in my gamer memories ^^
I always found 4 to be the most realistic, grounded, serious and thus dramatic in terms of story. I think part of that comes from Niko being more of a realistic and relatable character than other protagonists, like Tommy in Vice or Trevor in 5.
You might like vic in VCS
I'm so happy there has been a GTA 4 renaissance recently. I love this game so much
GTA IV isn't just a good GTA game. It's a great game.
I always loved this kind of *Documentary*, especially from games that I played lots of time without tired of it. Because of your narration, makes me understood things about Niko. I can relate with some of it and currently going through some of it.. Anyway, Loved your video and keep up the good work.
Thank you, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video 😊
love this, great content! Great selection of dialogue.
GTA IV was my favourite GTA, and also...I love going bowling so win-win!! 🙏 Thanks for the awesome video brother! 🙏
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😊
Nice video dude definitely gonna keep watching your page
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Details that I think are worth pointing out -
1. Depending on whether you spared or killed Darko, Niko's phone call with Bernie (after the end of the mission) is different. If you spare Darko, he starts the call by calling him Florian (his old name) and ends the call by calling him Bernie, even talking about hanging out sometime. If you kill Darko, he still calls him Florian and has a pretty small conversation, feeling rather unfulfilled and somewhat distant.
2. Niko orders Vodka after Darko's mission. This is significant because throughout the story he rarely partakes in any alcohol/drugs when they're offered. Even in the scene with Playboy X, he was initially reluctant when offered a drink. Even after taking the glass, he still didn't take a sip.
Great points 🙌
I really liked Michael Hollick, the voice actor for Niko, he plays him so well, there is that world weiriness, cynicism, dry humor and much more and I think if it wasn't for how good he played Niko the game may not have been so engaging.
I think GTA IV is a great story but I don’t see why so many people use the greatness of GTA IV to shit on GTA V. It doesn’t make sense considering they depict completely different circumstances for 3 generations of players. GTA V’s story was still good, the conflict with Michael and Trevor, Franklin wanting to escape his hood life and the past mistakes of Michael catching up with him. The underlying issues Trevor has that you have to piece together to understand why he’s like how he is. It’s a good story, just a different one that means less than GTA IV which doesn’t make GTA V’s story worse. That’s not how that works.
Because GTA V doesn’t allow you to get invested into one aspect, yes the characters have relatable attributes to a certain extent but it’s only an isolated aspect of any individual character, which is then dashed when greeted with the reminder 1 dimensional nature of the characters which simply does hold up the how much more satisfying it is to see a drastic development of the human experience through one perspective than it is to see little bits and pieces of multiple people’s stories that obviously don’t care so why would the audience? It’s just not as narratively impactful
It's the fact that V got to the top and in the spotlight for so long, it got boring fast and it's replayability is almost zero once you complete the game once (unless you play gta online). People are cynical about a game they hardly like, sticking around for so long. GTA is my favorite game series, I grew up with it, same with many other people, the entire series being halted for one seemingly mediocre game that got lucky with the amount of children that played it, just leaves a bad taste in our mouth. V was way too over the top, stuck around for way too long, and was extremely hard to get invested into anything in the game since it was just spread so thinly (70% of the map being desert, the story being based on three characters none of which I felt even remotely close to or anything for them really at all).
I don't really hate gta 5 but it definitely is one of my least favorite games, behind even gta 3.
Arthur Morgan and Niko Bellic. Two of the greatest characters in gaming I've ever seen. Both are good hearted men, both got caught in deep shit for so long. It's as if they parallel each other
John Marston is much better then fucking Arthur. I agree with niko. But no arthur is kit even close.
It would be nice to include Niko, Roman, Little Jacob, and Badman included in the new GTA. Maybe Packie can have his redemption arc in this too. I feel like they could be key characters in the plot and it would be nice to see their aspirations be a reality in GTA 6’s timeline.
He will be long remembered
I was 16 at the time of gta IV
I won't ever forget this story and Niko Bellic! 🇷🇸 😊
Another small RUclipsr making BANGER videos about gta. subbed.
I might have to get in on this
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😊
Damn. This video was so good. You deserve so many more subscribers I’m gonna share it with my friends!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😊
Super underrated! Hope to see you pop off soon cause this was the best video essay I’ve seen talk about GTA IV 🔥
I'm super glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for the kind words 😊
8:32 top tier gaming moment
😅😅😅
Niko is such a complex character. He's tonally inconsistent but it never feels out of character for him. He's like a seesaw that goes from vengeful, hateful, nihilistic murderer to a sarcastic yet amiable and accountable man. These layers are what make him the best GTA protagonist, at least to me.
Well said 🙌