A bit of history... the only GTA game i've played previously is Vice City, and I can't say I liked it that much. At the time, it seemed a bit too open (I know that seems daft now) and though I'd probably appreciate it now, the setting didn't really appeal. Add to that clunky controls, especially combat, and I didn't get very far in.

Well, I'm now a more mature gamer, in personal terms and game terms (once upon a time I hardly ever finished a game, i'd get bored before the end) and given the furore GTA attracts, and all the positive reviews, I thought I'd dip my toes back into the seedy underbelly.

I'm glad I did. The controls, while still clunky, are much improved, and popping a cap into some punk is easier than it ever has been. The driving, slidey and arcadey as it is, is great fun. But the real improvements are in the story. Both in presentation and content, the story so far (I haven't finished the game yet) is mature, serious and at times, grisly.

There are consequences to your actions at times too, which is a boon. When presented with a choice of who to murder, I chose, only to have characters chastise me for it and then drop me as a friend. Ouch, that hurt my feelings.

It's definitely an essential part of the current generation line-up, so i'd be interested in hearing from other folks that are playing it, cos I'm sure there are some.