Grand Theft Auto IV has so far received overwhelming critical acclaim ahead of its worldwide release. Most publications were not sent copies of the game. Instead, reviewers had to play the game at Rockstar premises or in booked hotel rooms.[93] The May 2008 issue of Official Xbox Magazine (UK) published the first Grand Theft Auto IV review, giving the game the maximum score of 10/10. The magazine also stated that the game has an "amazingly realistic world; stunning action set pieces; genuinely engrossing storyline; hugely entertaining multiplayer;" and that it is "vast in every respect."[94]

The June issue of Official PlayStation Magazine (Australia) gave Grand Theft Auto IV a perfect score of 10/10, explaining in their verdict: "The scope and scale of GTA IV is beyond anything gaming has ever had to offer". Throughout the review they refer to GTA IV as "a living and breathing world where anything is possible".PlayStation Official Magazine (UK) also gave the game 10/10 in their May 2008 issue, describing the game as "A masterpiece that improves on all GTA's best bits."[64]

The British newspaper Daily Star gave it a positive review, praising: "This could be a console defining title, one that in years to come people will remember as the stand-out of the era."[95]

The New York Times wrote a favorable review as well, calling it a "violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun.

"[60]The film magazine Empire gave the game a perfect 5 in its game reviews section, calling it "damn-near perfect".[96]Xbox World 360 gave the game a 98% rating,the highest it has ever given to any game, mentioning: "everything we were entitled to expect, and yet somehow impossibly more."[97]IGN gave the game 10.0 out of 10 in every category, awarding it with an "editor's choice" award and praising it as "masterful". The review also mentioned that IGN had not given a console video game a perfect 10.0 in nearly a decade[98]

How sick is this game gonna be?

And right now hundreds of Australians (or maybe thousands) are enjoying it due to its midnight release.. boo-hoooo