“Grand Theft Auto IV”

“Grand Theft Auto IV”

(Rockstar) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Grade: A-

Eight hours into “Grand Theft Auto IV,” I’ve stolen 17 cars, run over 20 people and killed another 15 (some of whom had it coming). I’ve shaken down a couple of store owners and beaten up an old lady. I’ve driven while drunk and, perhaps worse, while talking on a cell phone.

I’ve also bowled and played pool. I’ve listened to some really cool tunes and watched a surprisingly lame stand-up routine by Ricky Gervais. I met a nice young lady and took her out to dinner. I bought some new clothes and got my car washed.

I haven’t murdered any prostitutes or engaged in any graphic sex acts. (Although, for the record, there’s a very brief, noninteractive S&M scene at the beginning of the game — which almost serves as a warning). And the violence has been relatively tame: Certainly, the number of bodies dropped per hour is less than in the last two Oscar-winning best pictures, “No Country for Old Men” and “The Departed.”

Still, protests are inevitable, because any game that puts the player in the shoes of a criminal is bound to be seen as perverse. It’s hard to argue with critics who find the “Grand Theft Auto” games immoral, because the developers at Rockstar Games seem to revel in their nihilism. I’ve attacked Rockstar in the past for such cynical, ultraviolent games as “Manhunt 2,” but I’d never argue that they don’t have the right to publish them.

Just so we’re clear, “Grand Theft Auto IV” is not for the kids. It’s rated “M” for mature, so people under 17 shouldn’t be able to buy it. It has lots of blood, some nudity and a nearly constant stream of filthy language. And it’s very entertaining.

It’s the story of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European who’s just arrived in America. As soon as he lands in Liberty City, he’s greeted by his cousin Roman, who’s been in America for 10 years. Roman has lured Niko with promises of glamour and riches, but all he really has to offer is a dilapidated apartment and a crummy job at a car service.

So far, I’ve found the plot to be the most compelling element of “GTA IV,” which I couldn’t have said about previous games in the series. I really care about what happens to Niko, so much that I wish Rockstar had sent me a cheat sheet so I could get to the plot points a little more quickly.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the scenery. Not surprisingly, given the souped-up graphics of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, this is by far the best-looking of the “GTA” games. What took me aback was just how well it evokes New York City, from the glittering skyline of Manhattan (here called “Algonquin”) to the trash-strewn elevated-train platforms of the outer boroughs.

— Lou Kesten , Associated Press writer