Guess I'm about 6 hours in, and so far it's a nice little jaunt. I'm rooting for Nico, and find it almost surprising when he does something bad, even though I'm controlling him. He seems like his heart is in the right place, but his past is very much a part of who he is. To even things out, I'll drive down the sidewalk once in a while, just to get that old GTA feeling back.

And that feeling is the one big thing that is missing. Remember when you played your first GTA III version? How new and exciting it was to do pretty much whatever you wanted, and the only consequences were a fun filled police chase, and the loss of a few of your hard-earned dollars? For those of us that have gone that would way though, that shine is off the game (just as it is missing from the city, intentionally), and it's loss brings a touch of disappointment. That's what makes Nico's story stand out even more. The fact that you get wrapped up in it fairly quickly provides a wonderful substitute for the missing new-found freedom of the game. How much did Rockstar take the returning player into account when designing their world? Of course, if this is your first go-around with a GTA game, you get the best of both worlds!

Stay in touch, and let us know how the game is working for you. For something this big, and with so many ways to play and things to do, each experience is bound to be unique.