What is the gamestyle of GTA IV like?

Asked by meemorize (324) December 23rd, 2008 from iPhone

I’m considering getting the new GTA IV but I didn’t like the other games of the series very much because they had next to no continuous storyline. Gameplay was pretty much irrelevant inside the vast ‘open’ world… Now I’ve heard that the new title has a great storyline and I’m wondering what the style now is?
Is it something along the lines of “do a certain mission then at the end of that mission you get the next one”?
Or is it still pretty much irrelevant of what you do in the game?

(before people complain of insulting their favourite game, when I mention the ‘other titles’ I am mostly referring to the old “2D” style gtas)

Thanks for reading