Combat System Improvements

[D- Ice]

I've just noticed the few recent threads dealing with improvements to the cars and driving systems of GTA, so I though about the other major aspect of GTA gameplay - combat.

 

How do you think the gunfight and melee systems of GTA should be improved for the next game of the series?

 

As for my personal ideas, I think the system of GTA 4 was absolutely amazing compared to the crap we had in previous GTA games - however, they can probably make a few tweaks to really unlock it's full potential.

 

Probably the major one should be to increase the engagement distance for firefights - do any of you realise the IV game engine has some amazingly eery and atmospheric long-distance gun sounds. I've never really noticed that till very recently while playing TLAD museum mission, and almost getting wasted, so I escaped mid-mission to Burger Shot to restore my health. There was a shootout between some cops and the gangsters, and as I was driving back there was some really eery and realistic gunfire sounds all the way across the other side of Central Park, which actually reminded me of Baghdad.

Imagine approaching enemies who are firing at you with assault rifles from a very long distance (suppressive fire), dodging bullets crackling everywhere around you and trying to get closer so you get a good shot.

 

Another thing I think which could make that complete is generally increasing the volume of gunfire. I think that was generally done well at the beginning of TLAD, but it gradually faded away. I think this is done by having allies fighting alongside you. I remmeber that mission where you and The Lost assault the AOD clubhouse, and the very atmospheric and intenese firefight you have outside. And that was with all of them just having pistols and Sawn Offs. Imagine how intense, hectic and exciting it wouldf be to have some four allies with assault rifles assaulting enemies all also armed with Assault Rifles and Machine Guns!

 

Anyway, what do you guys think could be done to improve the combat system of GTA?

 

 

[sminem]

I agree they really need to improve the sniping.

[Drift-Kingz]

Yeah I agree with you here man. The combat system still has room for improvement you know. As gameboybp said, sniping could be better. And I agree.

[Mr. Scratch]

I hope they back the fighting styles from SA back,that stuff was awesome

[NinjaWJ]

yeah i agree with you i wish they had some type of suppressing fire system like in brothers in arms. enemies just stand out there and die in GTA i wish they could fix that. Also not really an improvement but i wish there were more brawls and melee fights in GTA. they spend a good amount of time teaching you the basics of melee but there arnt even alot of missions where u can practice it

[D- Ice]

gameboybp & Drift-Kingz: Lol must admit I never thought of it in terms of the sniper rifle - but that's definately an awsome idea. I also really hated how real good sniping was impossible in all GTAs. The draw distance can be changed and increased as soon as you use the sniper-scope to be on the specific range you zoom in on, rather than still centre around you. Also, I hated how cps will know exactly where you are as soon as you start sniping, which was annoying too.

 

VF94: That is an excellent idea, if you could change your melee fighting style like SA. I also didn't take up too well to the melee combat in IV - maybe if they can change it to be similar to that from Assassin's Creed 2. I don't think the system there was that much more complex, but the controls were so much more instinctive IMO.

 

 

yeah i agree with you i wish they had some type of suppressing fire system like in brothers in arms. enemies just stand out there and die in GTA i wish they could fix that. Also not really an improvement but i wish there were more brawls and melee fights in GTA. they spend a good amount of time teaching you the basics of melee but there arnt even alot of missions where u can practice it

 

QFT. IV had quite a bit of missions before giving you your first gun, but there wasn't anywhere near enough melee combat. It is quite customary for melee fights to be included in the beginning of every GTA game, but as soon as fighting escalates to firearms, you usually never see it again, which is a major shame. I really think they should have completely melee fighting throughout the game, especially how some fights are actually more difficult than just pointing and shooting a gun at the dumb AI.

There should be more street brawls too - where pulling out a gun and firing it broad daylight isn't an option. Hell - imagine how cool it will be to have you and a gang of allies having a massive melee with a gang of enemies like in gangs of New York.

Edited August 12, 2010 by D- Ice

[meson1]

It would be nice if they were to reintroduce the stealth elements and somehow integrate it into the improved combat system of GTA:IV. i.e. so they don't eliminate any of the IV, just add the stealth on top of it.

 

Admittedly, I do not know how well this could be made to work.

[Kwandilibro]

I would love to see the different fighting styles again. IMO, IV's melee combat was too slow. Punch, back up, left, right, back up again, forward, back up some more, get rocked in the mouth, repeat. In SA, the fights were more realistic speed. And all out street brawls would be nice too. Instead of 5 or six guys jumping out shooting at you because you hit their car, 5 or six guys run up and immediately start fighting you, especially if you punch one of their fellow gang members.

[Tyler]

I would prefer the return of both stealth, and the ability to disarm melee weapons from enemies. Include the ability to disarm firearms, and use the environment to your advantage during fist fights, and I will be happy with that.

 

As for combat with weaponry, I would like walls that are fired upon to chip apart and leave chunks of siding on the ground below. The same applies to windows shattering on buildings and city lights to also shatter. Add the ability to throw your firearm where you wish after the ammo is out, and that will be satisfactory.

[Nativedeem]

im hoping they bring back the different fighting styles to learn like karate and boxing.

[Mr. Scratch]

Not to mention the fact that IV's fighting style doesn't even resemble Krav Maga,oh well with Bas Rutten's crotch hit its no suprise that he captured the fighting moves

[thedamned38]

IMO they need to completely re-do the hand to hand combat. For one, make it harder to actually fight someone it has allways been way to easy. It needs to feel more natural and less awkward (like the awkward light push that allways happens in the middle of a fight in IV). It needs to be quicker too, the fist fighting in IV feels delayed. I felt they took a step back in RDR, the hand to hand in that game is pretty bad i think it was a huge step down from IV's hand to hand. I just played the Mafia 2 demo and the hand to hand in that game is really good you guys should check it out.

[Mr. Scratch]

Delayed,knocking a guy out in two punches doesn't seem delayed to me

[Lialls]

I would like a stealth mode type thing too & would be nice if there was a fist fighting combat system like The Godfather or like thedamned38 said like Mafia II.

[thedamned38]

Delayed,knocking a guy out in two punches doesn't seem delayed to me

No. It is delayed. try to kick someone then go for a punch and you'll see what im talking about

[Proud Fool]

I hope you ran roll forwards and back like RDR, and be able to hold A to run without moving the stick was a genius idea in RDR.

[sminem]

 

IMO they need to completely re-do the hand to hand combat.

 

I agree with that statement 100%! Somewhere between San Andreas, and IV hand to hand combat is fine with me.

[BrownBear]

I would like dismemberment to be added with more blood squirting out, maybe a Sin city style of combat.

 

I would also like the fighting system of The warriors to be added, that was brilliant and there was teeth flying, blood spraying and bruises forming all realisticlly.

[TheShogunOfHarlem]

I pretty much agree with everything posted here. Overall, combat is a HUGE step forward in comparison to the previous games. Naturally there is room for improvement. Stealth is a definite addition needed to combat. I think it would be a great way to have the option to tackle mission how ever you want. (either quick and quiet or loud and nasty) I found it annoying that all AI had the supernatural ability to know my precise position. It's even worse that they know my intention before I even open fire or draw my weapon. I'll assume it's a balancing act to offset how stupid the AIs can be.

 

Here are some other improvements that haven't been mentioned...

AI:

Much of my issues with AI can be seen Here. Basically I would like AIs to be not stupid enough to fall for my bottlenecking traps that I lay out for them. Plus I wish they would more effort into forcing me out of cover.

 

Prone:

It's a feature that sadly is lacking in most shooters out there. I would like to be able to use a machine gun or a sniper rifle in this position and be able to move from cover to cover with a reduced chance of taking enemy fire. Plus it would be a great way to have a stealth system. (it's pointless to have stealth without prone)

 

Weapons: (fire mode selector and rates of fire)

It seems that when it comes to automatic weapons R* always gets one big thing wrong: The rate of fire! The only weapon that they managed to get right was the M-249 SAW. Everything else fired far too slow in comparison to their real world counterparts. It irked me, but it wasn't a huge issue.

 

The other improvement that I am dying to see in GTA V (and in more shooters) is a fire mode selector. (i.e. semi-auto/3-round burst/full auto) It's a great way to conserve ammo and I can focus more on precision shooting instead of spraying and praying.

 

 

[TheShogunOfHarlem]

To add:

 

Hand to hand would be best improved if there was a way to grapple/choke/grab/throw your enemies.

[D- Ice]

What do you guys reckon of group combat?

Before anyone claims I'm taking it way too far away from GTA, this isn't anything new. It featured all the way back in GTA3, being integrated into out-of mission gameplay in SA.

 

It always pissed me off even in IV when the SWAT never fought in groups as in real life - they only ever came after you commando. I'd love to see group combat finally being utilised by enemies too, as opposed to just you. It'll be so much more interesting when SWAT, military or even militant enemies (maybe like the Columbian Cartel in GTA 3) would come after you in groups of 3-6.

 

It'll also be great to use when going against enemy bosses - their bodyguards swarming all around them. Maybe group leaders could be distinguished somehow - as soon as you take them out the group disbands. This will also make melee fights so much more fun, once a mob comes chasing you down the street all at once.

[vincentmillidge]

the sniping could be improved.

 

you should be able to use any weapon when firing from a helicopter and be able to move around in the back

 

the weapon option whilst shooting as a passenger should increase and depending on the number of people in the car u should be able to move around the car as well as standing through the sun roof

 

you should be able to shoot from the back of moving pickups, flat beds, lorries..etc

 

But most of all id like to see an improvement in the squat,stand or cover options you have when shooting weapons, so you can dive and shoot, i want to be able to slide over car bonnets shooting, dive backwards down stairs shooting, thru windows and doors shooting, shooting whilst being thrown through your car windscreen......etc i want some hollywood violence

id also like an improved version of the adrenaline pill from previous gtas, this could act as a dead eye, slo mo, kind of effect ,a cross between two rockstar franchise classics dead eye and bullet time but in the form of an illegal drug that could be sniffed or drank or huffed or injected. I wouldnt make it integral to the story line and game play (you wouldnt have to use it to move forward), it would just be optional as the earlier andrenaline pill was. it could be used whenever in a gun or fist fight, or when sniping or driving. In my opinion it would really add to game play and would be ridiculous in multiplayer

 

Oh and human shields and close combat weapon moves like pistol to the back of the head or under the chin or repeated shots to the belly, a similiar move system for knives and other melee weapons

Edited August 17, 2010 by vincentmillidge