I really want to enjoy Grand Theft Auto 6 when it launches. Given Rockstar's recent track record, I may need to set my expectations low as their obsessive pursuit of realism might turn me off from fully diving deep into the depravity of Vice City and everything it has to offer.
Don't get me wrong, the studio is still one of the pioneers of the gaming industry. There's no denying the amount of polish and craftsmanship they put into their games can be rivaled by very few developers in this industry. That said, Rockstar's recent projects have not been ones I've truly been able to appreciate for the most mundane of reasons: I find them incredibly boring to play.
I'm able to admire the artistry and boundary-pushing technology the tech wizards at Rockstar can pull off with each new AAA release they cook up. The sheer fact that the recent GTA 6 trailer footage was captured on base PS5 alone is mind-bending.
The system's been out for almost five years and it looks like we've barely seen developers justify its existence. There's a reason the line between console generations has been blurred beyond recognition and why plenty of studios still release their games on last-gen hardware. It seems Rockstar will be one of the few to demonstrate what the current-gen consoles are truly capable of.
It all sounds extremely exciting and appealing. The grimy vibes of a Vice City that looks to be the studio's Magnum Opus, a Bonnie and Clyde-esque story, a banger OST with plenty of radios to tune in while cruising around town, and social commentary that's too on the nose to not find it endearing.
Yet, as soon as I picture having to control my character, and move mindlessly from point A to point B I can't help but groan. My issues can be traced all the way back to Grand Theft Auto IV.
Again, I'm not saying I didn't enjoy GTA IV. I loved it, I was in high school when Niko Bellic arrived at Liberty City. It's a big part of my youth. But the game hasn't aged well. Clunky driving mechanics (which the developers addressed with the DLC), a cookie-cutter mission structure, and barely anything to do in the open world outside of going bowling every 15 minutes with cousin Roman caused me to grow a certain disdain for it as years went by, even if I adored the overall look and feel of Liberty City and its inhabitants.
GTA V fixed some of the issues I had with IV. None of the protagonists had the charisma of Niko, though, and the game suffered for it, but it was a much smoother experience gameplay-wise. Cars didn't feel like you were driving them on ice, and the map was much more expansive and diverse, even if it once again felt rather dull after a few hours of exploring it. The missions leaned more into the fantastical and over-the-top as they had been during the San Andreas and Vice City periods.
click to enlargeBut was I over the moon with my return to Los Santos and surrounding areas? Definitely not. There was still that arcadey feeling I sorely sought from past titles.
Now, I'm about to perhaps commit a cardinal sin. You see, Rockstar put out a few other games in between GTA IV and V: L.A. Noire (technically developed by an outside studio), Read Dead Redemption, and Max Payne 3. All of which are incredible for their own reasons. They all gave me hope that Rockstar would implement the best bits of each and make the new GTA a return to its former glory gameplay-wise.
Instead, they hit me, and the gaming community with Red Dead Redemption 2. Perhaps the first game that had me falling asleep with a PlayStation controller in my hand.
I can appreciate RDR2 in the same way I can understand the significance of a very historic piece of art. Now, ask me to spend a couple of hours staring at the Mona Lisa or riding on horseback with Arthur Morgan and the last thing I'll want to do is go to another museum or boot up a game for at least a couple of weeks.
I'm undoubtedly in the minority here, but I do hope Rockstar is finally moving away from the hyper-realism that has plagued recent major entries and gives us that playful sandbox fun that the early years of GTA are known for.