GTA 4: Xbox 360 vs. PS3 – 360 Wins

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.

Sound

Despite the fact that the PS3’s Blu-ray discs can store far more data than the Xbox 360’s DVDs, both games feature the same massive soundtrack and thousands of lines of spoken dialogue. Xbox 360 owners can choose to listen to their own music, but being a system feature, not a game feature, it simply plays tracks over the top of the game and turns off the radio station audio.

Verdict:

To our ears both versions of the game sound the same. Usually the ability to use a custom soundtrack in Xbox 360 games give it the edge, but here the included soundtrack is so good and humorous that you’d be mad to listen to anything else. A tie.

Gameplay

Both games play functionally the same, with the same control options – allowing for target lock-on and free aiming. This category really comes down to the controller and what’s best for you. The Sixaxis’ analogue sticks are a little looser than the 360’s, making free-aiming harder, but when using target lock-on both controllers work as well as each other. In Europe the PS3’s Dual Shock 3 isn’t available so we’re going to have to make do with a standard Sixaxis pad, without rumble support. With a Sixaxis you get optional motion control for reloading, riding bikes and boats, and flying helicopters. In practice none of these additions add anything to the experience and are in fact harder to use than the standard controls. Load times are slightly quicker on the PS3, although not significantly so.

Verdict:

With neither version offering anything over the other (we’re discounting the motion control in the PS3 game as it’s not worth using) this section is an absolute tie – we hope the rumble-equipped Dual Shock 3 will be available in Europe soon. Personally the Xbox 360 pad has a slight edge when using manual aiming and the triggers feel better for driving, but this is just a personal preference.

Multiplayer

On Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 you have access to 16-player online multiplayer over a plethora of game modes, in solo and team-based varieties. In both games the multiplayer is accessed via the in-game mobile phone, allowing you to seamlessly switch from the single-player campaign to online multiplayer. The same game modes are included in each, as is in-game voice chat. Online performance seems comparable, although we have suffered numerous disconnects while playing on PS3, which hasn’t happened on the Xbox 360.

Verdict:

This really comes down to which console most of your friends are going to be playing the game on. Many of the multiplayer game modes are best played with people you know, so having the same version will greatly increase your enjoyment.

Final Score

Let’s make one thing clear: both versions of GTA 4 are deserving of a 10/10 review score. Still, if you own both consoles and want to buy the best version, we’d have to recommend the Xbox 360 game. While both games are more or less functionally the same, the Xbox 360 game looks significantly sharper to our eyes and features more natural lighting. Add in additional points, such as a forced install on PS3 and additional content coming exclusively to the Xbox 360, and Microsoft’s console comes out on top.

For more on GTA 4 head over to our review and head to head video comparison.

Click through to the next page for a series of comparison screen shots.

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