What I think they should have in SR4
1.Have a travel route to Stillwater and Stillport. That way you can go back to revisit and get resources(far as homies,weapons,cars etc),Doing that,Stillport will have to have the same content(being able to go in and out buildings and gang strongholds) as Stillwater(basically combining Stilport and Stilwater )
2.A simple cover mechanic(like mgs4 simple).I say this not to make it like gears of war ,or watever game that has cover,but to improve gameplay.In SR3 there was moments were I was being shot through the wall.Also doing this will bring about stealth missions ,activities and improved npc A.i because if you were in range either behind them or above them,they still saw you somehow.
3.A order and command system for homies.
4.Free Falling control and free control Repelling(Activity only).In SR3 you had free fall control in the 1st mission and thats it,nothing more after that.It would be cool to do some flips while falling.
5.Weapon customization.I personally didnt like every single upgrade.
6.Hud control would be a nice feature in settings(not a cheat code)
What I think they should bring back
1.Detailed character animation(and clothing) customization Height,size,and weight(some people wanted to be like Oleg or the hunters in SR3).SR2 did that very well with how you walked and talked but I wanna see animation choices like how you hold your gun when shooting, aiming,crouching ,and hopefully while in cover(SR1 animation had you shooting with the gun turned to the side)
2.The original activities.Being able to rob the stores for the goods in the safe during the day or when the shop closed.This don't necessary have to be stores,it could be banks gun store etc.
3.The original weapons from SR1& SR2.vice 9 and knives(my personal favorites).
4.The useful homies,like the wheel women.
5.Support and health items.
6.Crib customization....might as well throw in a furniture store in the new installment or SR4
7.Fighting styles.doing this would just change would just change melee presets the wrestling was cool but im not a wrestling type(And control over combat techniques)
*8.Dualwielding guns.I think that the upgrade in SR3 for dualweilding was a step backwards when in SR2 you could just simply pick up the gun on the ground next to you or not.