I got the game Tuesday night and I've probably played it for like over 10 hours since then only stopping to go to school and eat and get a little sleep, this game is that good. So yeah, this game certainly met its hype. Rockstar has really improved upon the original formula especially with the Fighting and cover system. In the previous GTA games I actually felt a little apprehensive about getting into firefights because of the terrible controls..I would get shot to pieces pretty soon and I would have to keep replaying the missions over and over again but in this game it is as close to prefect as you can get. Firefights are actually fun and will infact make you want for more. The aiming system takes a little while to get used to but it is solid. The story so far is also pretty good(comparable to Vice city) and I have to say that this is one of the funniest games I have played. Unlike the characters in San andreas I actually like the characters in this one. Some of them are freaking funny as heck(Bruice lol) and like gamespot said they will make you form a "bond" with them. I haven't takled the multiplayer yet cause the single player is that compeling. There is so much to do here..everything from strip clubs, bars, Girlfriends and the internet is available in this game. The graphics are also pretty solid in this game..it is no longer an eye sore like the other games. That said the graphics aren't GEOW like either..they mainly use lighting to spruce it up.
The only problem is the vehicle controls are hard...they do not want to turn and will spin out easily but with some practice you can get good at it. In that sense it is much more realistic than other GTA's. So yeah thats it for now..if anyone was on the fence about getting this game I urge you to go out there and get it..that is if you are 17 or older haha.
On an other note I was looking at the sales figures(the one that was on gamespot from the UK) and I was actually surprised to see that the 360 version sold more than the PS3 version. I was actually kinda worried that microsoft wasn't putting people on note that GTA4 which has been primarily a ps game was comming to xbox but it seems they knew what they were doing. So people get out there and get yourself a copy of GTA if you haven't already. You wont be disappointed.