I just started playing this game, late I know but I have not gotten around to it until now. I bloody love it, it manages to completely submerge me into the world. Not many games can do that. The atmosphere of the city is awesome and the graphics are very good albeit buggy and sometimes too dark. What really made it for me is the story, a former russian soldier coming to liberty city (new york) to make it big in the underworld.
I have 5-6 hours into it now and cant wait until I get to the second island.