This wont really be a review.  I don't think I'll ever hit every aspect of the game enough to give it an honest review.  The game is just that massive.  Rockstar has definitely outdone themselves with the newest installment in the GTA series.

I picked up the game at 10 AM on release day. Took it back home and popped it in.  From the opening sequence of the game, I knew I was in for a treat.  Everything you love about GTA is there, while making improvements to different areas of the game.  The physics of car crashes and even ejection from the cars, which is just wrong the first time you do it, have been updated.  The controls of the cars are little touchier than before but has a very small learning curve.  The aiming system for the weapons is greatly improved and allows for a lot more precision hits on the enemies.  The online experinece, at least on the Xbox 360 version, is very fluid.  It was fun to hit some open games and just blast other people away and run them over with cars.  It's just much more fun when you know someone else is controlling that character.

If the first 8-10 hours of this game are any indication of the experience involved, I see myself and other gamers playing this game for a very long time. It is definitely worth picking up now and if you have a Xbox 360, the exclusive episodes will make it all that more enticing.

[Brian's note: entry moved to Previews category]