Yes the controls are terrible. Especially after playing Crackdown for so long. However I didn't expect anything else from them. The controls have sucked for EVERY GTA. Apparently reviewers feel it's OK to give them a pass because ooooooo they have strippers.

everybody wins

I agree with you. The controls on the Xbox 360 version are fucking terrible. At least compared to previous versions on the PS2.

I have read that the controls get a lot better further into the game.

nevermind, its back...

game data and save data are separate

Why would the controls get better the further you are into the game?

I can see the controls getting better with better cars, but how is Niko going to get better to control?

When I first started playing I didn't care for the controls of the cars or of Niko, but now a few hours later it all feels totally natural to me and I don't have a problem with it at all.

EDIT:

So I just noticed "sleep mode" on the cell phone. If I turn that on, does it simply but the story mode on hold? If so, I'd like to do that for a while and just goof off around the entire city. I don't want to do it if it "hurts" the storyline or anything like that though. It seems like it'll do what I want, but I just want to make sure.

Couldn't agree more. I thought at first it was because I had played so much Burnout that I was used to cars handling that way, but I have tried several cars and most handle like complete garbage. Niko is no dream to move around either. I don't understand how GTA IV can have controls that are a big step back from GTA III 7 years ago. I can deal with it, but it will make many of the missions a pain in the ass to complete.

Between this and the freeze issues on the PS3 it is without a doubt the most broken game I have ever played that got perfect 10s from most of the media.

BTW, tried the reinstall thing and it did not fix my stuttering and freezing issues.

The media has always been too generous in reviews for these games. I think they got so caught up in the "openness" that overlook many crucial flaws. The controls in this game are a huge flaw.

I'm happy to see people are agreeing with me. I thought I was going to get vilified stating my opinion here.

Because you get used to them.

might be an interesting article, but with all the other GTA threads I think this one fits well into there. Merging.

But using one title for the "attach rate" statistic is absurd. Generally when it's talked about, it's xxxxx amount of titles per xxxxx amount of consoles. Rarely does breaking it down give you anything other than exactly what's already tracked: total sales figures.

OK I think I died in the lamest way possible. I was out on a date, and I drove the car into the mini golf course, and wound up submerging us in the little pond LOL.

Also, I can't find the station with metal. I know the page here says Radio Broker but it's nothing but crap. Where's the Slayer and Tool?

Well, if the GPS tells you to turn right you have to turn right, right!?

Wow, coming from darkside, i think i need some times to think about getting this game. Mind boggling at perferct 10 ratings all over the place...

no, the guy is a dick, please don't buy it for more than $90.

I know, that's why I said it doesn't seem to have any relevance in this case.

I don't think it is impossible to adjust to the controls and I'm sure many people will and be driving around Liberty City like pros, but it is definitely a tougher learning curve than I expected.

So did the other GTA's. The controls are fine. The driving controls are hard to get used to but it's more realistic.

I love everything so far about the game.

Into a lake apparently.....

I just started and i'm not really having any problems with the controls at all. Although I played all of the other games on PC, so it might just be because I never dealt with the gamepad. Oh well.

You apparently only play GTA games. The controls are horrible. Really, they are.