The long wait for Grand Theft Auto 6, characterised by a deafening silence from Rockstar, makes the first real gameplay drop as big of a blockbuster as the game’s release day. Between the releases of Grand Theft Auto 5 and 6, the world has seen a pandemic, a new British monarch, the AI revolution, Twitter becoming X and the growth of a generation. Let’s dive straight into what might just be the greatest gaming news in over a decade.
Gameplay: The Bread and Butter of Grand Theft Auto
Back to Vice City
The game takes us to Leonida, a fictional version of the Sunshine State of Florida. The story places the protagonists into an arc of drug business and crimes. Moreover, there will be the music industry and social media tied into the narrative.
Jason, one of the two protagonists, is an ex-army with a troubled past who works the drug-running circuit. The more he wants an easy life, the more he gets pulled in. Lucia, on the other hand, spent time in prison for protecting her family. She is trying to build a good future with Jason. Her past adds emotional weight to her struggles.
Dual Protagonist System
The extended look confirms the fact that we will have two playable protagonists. Players can either play as Jason or Lucia with the other by the side, or they can play as just one character. The protagonists have each other’s back. For instance, there is the option to let one protagonist drive and the other to relax or shoot at enemies sitting in the backseat. The cherry on top is the smoother and faster, sometimes instantaneous transition between characters.
The Driving: a Love Letter to the Fans
Let’s move over to the driving. Gamers complained about the boat-like driving from Grand Theft Auto 4. Rockstar listened, and made the cars in Grand Theft Auto 5 lighter and more arcady.
This time, Rockstar — listening to the nostalgic crowd missing Grand Theft Auto 4’s driving depth — made it somewhat heavier than Grand Theft Auto 5. Despite that, the cars are fun to drive. According to TGG, someone who had access to 2.5 hours of extra gameplay, the driving feels like a “mix of GTA 4 and 5, but even better.”
Convertibles are also making a comeback
Overhauled Combat System
In terms of gunplay, to me, it felt punchier than Grand Theft Auto 5. The weapon sounds are deeper with more bass, making the guns feel heavier. The particle effects, including muzzle flash, smoke and shell ejections, looked very dynamic. The killcams from Red Dead Redemption 2 are making a comeback here. Despite the amazing gunplay, I will miss the round reticle from the last two Rockstar entries.
When it comes to new combat additions, there is a focus system similar to the “Dead-Eye” system we experienced in RDR2. Moreover, there are non-lethal takedowns by shooting at the limbs and disarming shots and an overhauled fist combat system.
Smarter Police Departments
The police department underwent a major overhaul. The cops are smarter and will aim for the tires, making it incredibly hard to drive the car. The six-star wanted level is making a comeback. Cops will search a specific area for the player normally. But map-wide search will be initiated if the player attains a rare six-star.
The police in this game will be harder to shake off: they will remember details about the player, including whether the two protagonists were together. On top of that, the police no longer show up in the minimap. Speaking of the minimap, it’s 3D this time. We can speculate that this might become a standard in the gaming industry in a year or two.
Does your Reputation Matter?
Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature a “Criminal Profile” system. Committing acts of unnecessary violence will drop your Criminal Profile, whereas clean crimes — like a robbery with no killings — will boost it. That said, if the level drops low enough, there will be no recovery at a point. Whether this will affect the gameplay, however, is still unclear.
Car Theft will No Longer be Easy
Rockstar Games has also created a deeper car theft system. There is a WAINK scanning app to check how difficult a car is to steal, whether it is alarmed and whether it carries a tracker. The more valuable a car is, the harder it will be to steal. As the game progresses, players will also unlock tools to break into cars. Moreover, stealing cars will have consequences this time.
Side Activities
The side activities will be totally optional, but participation will lead to in-game rewards like a health boost. Players can rob restaurants or big businesses and participate in wrestling, basketball, racing etc. The gameplay also showcases scuba diving and kayaking. Last but not the least, the gym and nutrition systems are returning similar to Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.
Overall, the gameplay overhauls the bread and butter from the previous Grand Theft Auto games and includes some new additions. The game appears to be more fluid and action-packed relative to predecessors. Besides, Rockstar Games appears to have made an effort to keep up the momentum in between action.
The World Feels Alive
Having visited Miami, the real-world basis for Leonida, last year, I am genuinely impressed at how Rockstar created the world of Grand Theft Auto 6. I immediately recognised the bridge that the duo crossed before picking up Raul from my trip. On top of that, the architecture of the buildings and the skyscraper density match that of real-life Miami.
Random events from Red Dead Redemption 2 will appear in Grand Theft Auto 6 as well. The extended gameplay depicts a man standing on the edge of a bridge and a road rage incident. The gameplay footage also shows how a random guy was hiding in the trunk of a car doing a social media trend that the player stole. On top of everything, there will be an advanced version of the NPC conversation system from Red Dead Redemption 2.
Social media will be deeply integrated with the world. The player will be able to see NPCs posting online, travel to the location and see it first-hand. There is an Instagram parody called Snapmatic. It will only allow the player to browse and follow; posting is disabled, since the protagonists are trying to avoid a digital footprint. There will also be Ryde Me, a taxi app for fast travel.
On a personal note, I really liked the car models. While Rockstar cannot copy-paste real-life car designs for copyright reasons, the vehicles look real. From Mustangs to GMCs, the fictional car models closely match real counterparts. To me, it makes the world feel more alive on top of all the other elements.
Visuals: Vibrant Neons and Gritty Crime
The game’s art style puts the vibrant colors of the sunshine state at odds with the gritty nature of the underground world. From the neon lights to the pale blue waters — Leonida is a colorful city. The visuals complement the story: warm pastel colors sell the paradise-like feeling of Leonida, while the harsh practical lighting portrays chaos.
The graphical fidelity is, needless to say, impressive. Character models and environments bear carefully crafted details. The hair texture is noticeable, for instance. Moreover, NPCs show greater variations because of an improved animation system that supports NPCs having different heights.
On the topic of animations, cinematics look incredibly real. The motion capture is a massive upgrade from Grand Theft Auto 5. From looking up when scrolling on someone’s phone to heated conversations — the animations feel real. There is actual flow to the movements, as opposed to the animations from the predecessor, which feel somewhat stiff.
Environmental responses to player actions also feel more dynamic. For instance, after shooting a light, it dynamically goes dark, and then flickers a little bit at low intensity.
Soundtrack and Sound Design
The music genuinely blew me away. From 20th century classics to modern hits, Rockstar used a diverse range of licensed tracks truly helps the game’s atmosphere pop. From Def Leppard and The Bellamy Brothers to newer artists like Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, the music in this game is truly amazing.
In terms of sound, as mentioned earlier, the weapon sounds got a massive overhaul. Moreover, the driving and shooting sequence sounds brilliant. Other than that, we will have to test the game out ourselves to get a proper idea about the sound design.
Conclusion
Looking at 2.5 extra hours of gameplay and after a chat with Rob Nelson, TGG said that the constant decision-making and dynamic nature of the world will set Grand Theft Auto 6 apart from its predecessor. From enhanced driving and punchier combat to social media, the game aims to build upon the foundations laid by both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5. Grand Theft Auto 6 releases on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. We are looking forward to the all-nighters, cop chases and the post-launch drama from the game launch.
