Review: Drunk Driving in GTA IV

For those who have played GTA IV, and even those who haven’t need to know this fact. Rockstar will do what they want, how they want and whenever they want to, especially in GTA, the flapship series for the company. Which means, if they want to simulate shootings, sex, and obviously auto theft, then that is exactly what they are going to put in a video game that they make.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that groups are pissed off, and yelling out demands like the game is bad, and etc. However, recently MADD (mothers against drunk driving), have issued a statement, explaining why GTA IV should have received an Adults Only rating for the game. Well, it seems that they may have had a good point, but unlike doing the Fox method of hiring someone off the street to give an opinion, this in-depth reporter decided to experiment.

Lets break down the mission in question. You start the mission at a bar, drinking a nice amount and getting completely trashed. As the driver, its also your responsibility for driving both you and the friend, Little Jacob, safely home. If I learned anything from this mission it was this – never in my life am I going to drink and drive, simply because of all the anarchy that I caused in 45 seconds of driving.

Before I could even get outside, The game made the screen all… tipsy (an understatement), falling around, and couldn’t get the car door open. As I somehow managed to get into the car, the game then led me through a construction site, where Niko crashed into at least five different cars, ran over nine pedestrians, including a cop, which then led to me being chased by three stars worth of Liberty City’s finest. Let’s just say that at the conclusion of my joy ride, I somehow ended up with a black and white screen and blood all over the ground. I think we can safely assume the outcome of my experience.

Luckily for both me and the mothers protesting the game, an option was available to call a cab to get safely home, which is exactly what I used on the second time attempting the mission.

While MADD may have a point with the actual inclusion of driving under the influence, it is important for us to look at the context in which it is brought.  GTA IV ultimately is about doing whatever you want in a realistic environment, and Rockstar made sure to point out, that if you choose to drink and drive, you face some serious consequences.