Reviewers lauded the open world design, some further complimenting the freedom that it allows the player. Seth Schiesel of "The New York Times" named the city the "real star" of the game. "Official Xbox Magazine"s Hicks was impressed by the city, attributing this to the game's AI. Robinson of "Computer and Video Games" considered the environment believable, and felt that the world was "utterly unmatched". Goldstein of "IGN" felt that, although Liberty City is inspired by New York, it is not beholden to it. He wrote that the city "exists in its own universe and rightfully so". Crispin Boyer of "1UP.com" directed praise at the city's "breathtaking vistas, incredibly varied scenery, and lived-in look." Conversely, Jesse Costantino of "GameRevolution" felt that the game lacked important features common in other open world games.