‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ keeps the blood and fun flowing

Eight hours into “Grand Theft Auto IV” (Rockstar Games, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99), I’ve stolen 17 cars, run over 20 people and killed another 15 (some of whom had it coming). I’ve shaken down a couple of store owners and beaten up an old lady. I’ve driven while drunk and, perhaps worse, while talking on a cell phone.

I’ve also bowled and played pool. I’ve listened to some really cool tunes and watched a surprisingly lame standup routine by Ricky Gervais. I met a nice young lady and took her out to dinner. I bought some new clothes and got my car washed.

I haven’t murdered any prostitutes or engaged in any graphic sex acts. (Although, for the record, there’s a very brief, non-interactive S&M scene right at the beginning of the game — which almost serves as a warning that this isn’t “Pokemon.”) And the violence has been relatively tame: Certainly, the number of bodies dropped per hour is less than in the last two Oscar-winning best pictures, “No Country for Old Men” and “The Departed.”

Still, protests are inevitable, because any game that puts the player in the shoes of a criminal is bound to be seen as perverse. It’s hard to argue with critics who find the “Grand Theft Auto” games immoral, because the developers at Rockstar Games seem to revel in their nihilism. I’ve attacked Rockstar in the past for such cynical, ultraviolent games as “Manhunt 2,” but I’d never argue that they don’t have the right to publish them.

Just so we’re clear, “Grand Theft Auto IV” is not for the kids. It’s rated “M” for mature, so people under 17 shouldn’t be able to buy it. It has lots of blood, some nudity and a nearly constant stream of filthy language. And it’s very entertaining.

It’s the story of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European who’s just arrived in America. As soon as he lands in Liberty City (which looks an awful lot like New York), he’s greeted by his cousin Roman, who’s been in America for 10 years. Roman has lured Niko with promises of glamour and riches, but all he really has to offer is a dilapidated apartment and a crummy job at a car service.

Niko and Roman’s relationship is initially played for laughs; they reminded me of the Festrunk brothers, the “wild and crazy guys” from the early days of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” But things quickly take a darker turn when Nico shows up for work, only to end up running errands for a low-level crime boss. Niko also has another motive for coming to America besides trying to strike it rich, and I don’t think it’s giving away too much to say the plot escalates into a revenge drama.

So far, I’ve found the plot to be the most compelling element of “GTA IV,” which I couldn’t have said about previous games in the series. I really care about what happens to Niko, so much that I wish Rockstar had sent me a cheat sheet so I could get to the plot points a little more quickly.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the scenery. Not surprisingly, given the souped-up graphics of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, this is by far the best-looking of the “GTA” games. What took me aback was just how well it evokes New York City, from the glittering skyline of Manhattan (here called “Algonquin”) to the trash-strewn, elevated train platforms of the outer boroughs.

The sidewalks are filled with hustlers, hookers, dealers, junkies, wiseguys, mooks and even some law-abiding citizens, and none of them are shy about letting their opinions be heard. It may be a little exaggerated — I’ve never had a burger joint cashier tell me, “Enjoy your meal, fatso” — but just a little.

The overwhelming sprawl of Liberty City does have one big drawback: It can take a long time to drive from one job to the next. Fortunately, you do have a diverse menu of radio stations to listen to, whether you like talk, rock, jazz or funk. The soundtrack has about 200 well-chosen songs, with talent including David Bowie, The Who and the punk band Leningrad.

The other drawback to Rockstar’s otherwise laudable ambition is that none of the many individual gameplay elements are particularly distinguished. Hand-to-hand fighting is awkward, while gunfights are just a little better. (Rockstar has made aiming and shooting quite a bit easier this time around.)

HHH 1/2 out of four stars.