Grand Theft Auto IV, is a game about choice and perspective. "What does the American dream mean today," was printed on the back of the box and the game runs with the theme. Liberty City, like the city and country it was based on, is a land of dichotomies: Pessimism vs. Optimism, Principles vs. Greed, Promise vs. Reality. Each of these dichotomies reflect part of American life, and through the lens of an immigrant, they are given a different perceive than we normally receive in media.
While Niko's American dream may be different from another mans, their shared pursuit of dreams makes both Americans.

This was the first video game I ever owned and played. It's something that has a lot of nostalgia and meaning to me. However, beside all of those memories and good times, lies a really good game.
It's been years since I last played the console version, and deciding to pick it up again on my PS3 was an amazing choice. The level design is so good, every level has a sense of scale and purpose, nothing feels out of place or too ham fisted. It's an incredible balancing act. The gameplay is also incredibly deep for a Lego video game. This playthrough was the first time I even noticed the Lightsaber characters delayed combos, and it was an incredible game changer. The music is also amazing, lifted right from the saga, it enhances the gameplay with it's amazing mixing.
This truly is one of the best platformers of all time, and one of the video games to start with. Finally, I also 100%ed the game, It would make a young me really proud.