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No game has generated as much rabid fanboy forum posting as GTA 4. The Xbox 360 and PS3 armies have been out in full force, claiming their version to be best, piecing together tiny bits of info from articles all over the internet. We thought we'd save you the trouble and settle the argument once and for all. We've played both versions, gone online, taken screens and video footage from each (GTA 4 Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3 video), and are ready to deliver the ultimate verdict. Which version of GTA 4 is best? Xbox 360 or PS3?

Graphics

GTA 4 is one of the most impressive looking games ever released. It lacks the sheer "OMG WOW" factor the likes of Gears of War and Uncharted had on their release, but given the size of the city it's a phenomenal achievement. There's just so much to see, with tonnes of detail packed into every suburb. The lighting also has to be seen to be believed. Given the scale of the city some sacrifices had to be made, most notably in the frame rate and pop-in of minor objects as you hurtle through the city. It's here that the Xbox 360 and PS3 games differ slightly.

At a push we'd say that the pop-in is better in the PS3 game, but the frame rate seems generally smoother in the Xbox 360 game. Of more importance though is how rough the PS3 game looks in comparison to the Xbox 360 version. With both consoles set to 720p and connected to our 55" Sony HD TV via HDMI the PS3 game clearly features more aliasing issues and a general roughness. In comparison the Xbox 360 game is far sharper. Lighting is also an area of difference. The PS3 game features more yellow, giving it a slightly garish appearance, while the 360 game's more subdued lighting looks more natural.

One almost incidental difference is in how the two versions let you view the TV programs from your apartment. In the Xbox 360 game you have a distant view and a view that shows Niko watching the tele, but on the PS3 there's an additional view that is nearly full-screen. Whether this is down to the PS3 offering higher quality video thanks to the Blu-ray disc's larger storage capacity isn't clear, but watching the in-game TV is certainly better on Sony's console.

Verdict:
Much has been made of the pop-in seen in the Xbox 360 game, but it's a minor problem that most gamers won't even notice. What is more significant is the roughness of the PS3 game, which came as quite a surprise after spending an awful lot of time with the 360 game. You won't be disappointed with either, but if you're only interested in the visuals we'd definitely recommend you buy the 360 game.

You can see a direct comparison of the two games running side by side in our GTA 4 Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3 video. Please note: it was not possible to accurately match up the time of day. The video contains some strong language.

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