Modify GTA IV to Use Better Graphics

Graphics modifications for GTA IV started out since 2009 and have since been churning out releases improving the graphics to a more lifelike look.

One of the more interesting ones (and recently updated) is the icenhancer modification.

This particular youtube user Fonia5 has some of the best output in my opinion.

He’s absolutely got the best look out there for GTA IV so far.

 

The latest version of iCEnhancer… see the progression?

However, there’s a tradeoff with having extreme realistic modification. It would require a hefty video card in order to pull everything off there. Checking Fonia5’s post reveals that one would need a beefy video card setup to manage the load (aside from a quad core processor, though I think a powerful dual core processor can still handle the details): Fonia5 iCEnhancer video.

Now for those like me who lacked the graphical power, here’s a guide to set-up GTA IV to look similar to his, but on a more friendlier terms with our video cards (as of this month, I’m still running with a NVIDIA 9800GT, not on the same level as it’s 8800GTX cousin).

A. Important Update to Install:

1. Get a Patch (best to choose 1.0.4.0, but I’ll leave the others here as they’re not completely compatible with the graphics modification)

1.0.4.0 link: http://grandtheftauto.filefront.com/file/GTA_IV_1040_Patch_14;102441
1.0.6.0 link: http://grandtheftauto.filefront.com/file/GTA_IV_Title_Update_1060;113171
1.0.7.0 LINK: http://grandtheftauto.filefront.com/file/GTA_IV_Patch_1070;114377

2. Upgrade the textures

There’s several textures, but I find that the Ultimate Textures v2 as instructed by Fonia5. Also the Road Textures by DKTronics70 is a lot better than what I’m running (it looks cartoonish).

Ultimate Textures v2 Pack – This improves the detail of the entire city’s buildings, it will be resource heavy.

DKT70 Road Textures – An improvement of Liberty City’s Road texture

Real Shop – Introduces real brands onto the game

Viva New York – Replaces some signage in Times Square and other places with real brands

3. Install the Graphics enhancement mod pack:

I used to install the original ENB, though it lacked the graphical oomph it has. So I choose iCEnhancer instead as it presented a better look and feel. It boosts the contrasts and in version 2 it now has varying settings needed for those owning weaker video cards as well as better shader and lighting effects than the stock ENB.

Get iCEnhancer 2.0N – a heavily modified version of the ENB graphics mod. Updated to include the ‘natural’ look. It’s recommended to use Firefox as well as downloading from the mirror site instead of the primary download.

Now, one can play the game with better graphics. Now how does one end up with them fancy cars/bikes/copters, custom clothing, new guns or maybe throw in a bank account, a ‘cheat’ mode, work as a cop and more? (if there’s any problem, just head on down to the iCEnhancer Forums to get some answers)

<<IMPORTANT>> The next sections will require the use of modding tools such as SparkIV or GTA IVAUD

B. The Not so Important But Your Game will Look Cool Mods to Install:

1. First of all, get this script parser called ScriptHook and ScriptHookDotNet.

ScriptHook – The default script parser.

ScriptHookDotNet – Script parser for .Net based scripts (C#)

2. Next are the Scripts that would run in-game

Bank Account – This allows us to save our hard earned money to a bank

Trainer – This is the mother of all cheat engine… I just use it for trolling around the game (get the latest version)

Traffic Load – This is used for fixing the Taxi/car bug when putting custom car skins in the game

LCPD First Response – Be something like NYPD Blue or Miami Vice or something. Works for GTA IV 1.0.7.0 (best used in GTA IV 

3. Guns (Some of my preferred guns)

Battlefield 3 Weapon Sound Mod – Replaces gun sounds with the ones from BF3 (Install this first before anything else)

Magpul Masada – The ACR prototype that ‘revolutionizes’ rifle design. (rename file to ak47 or m4)

Remmington ACR – The production model, rifle w/o scope. (rename file to ak47 or m4)

M4 SOPMOD w/ Suppressor – A classic special operations kit with ‘silenced’ sounds (Warning: Police can still hear shots from this gun)

KRISS Vector – Revolutionary .45 cal Submachine Gun of the future

Mk 23 SOCOM – Solid Snake’s pistol in MGS

MP7 – Modern version of the Uzi

Mk14 EBR – Modified M14 that is used primarily as a designated marksman rifle replaces the PSG-1

M110 SASS – Customized AR15 platform rifle for designated marksmen in the US Army, replaces the PSG-1

SMAW – If the RPG is too gangsta.

4. Clothes – A change in Niko’s wardrobe, some would require using a Trainer to get desired look

Ghost from Modern Warfare 2 – Clothing pack to let Niko wear Ghost’s Clothes

5. Vehicles – Change vehicles in GTA IV to their real world counterparts

Essential Cars Pack – Puts in a modest set of remodeled cars to the game as default

UH 60 Black Hawk – for a cooler military transport helicopter (change name from Annihilator to Maverick as Annihilator loses its guns)

AH6 Little Bird – Replaces the Annihilator, very nimble helicopter with guns

Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta – If you want to Gymkhana the entire city

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP570 – If you don’t like the Enzo Ferrari from the Essentials Cars Pack

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 – Alternative choice if you don’t like the stock Murciélago in game

Notes:

Install version patch 1.0.4.0 only if you want a more realistic look. If you want to play the police mods, then install patch 1.0.7.0 and do not apply iCEnhancer.

To install game models/textures that are not packaged as an ISO/rpf file , use the application called Spark IV. it can be downloaded here.

To modify the ivaud sound files, get GTA IVAUD editor here

Acknowledgements go out to all of the wonderful modders out there who made everything possible. Their sites are found in the download sites posted.