So who is the "main" character?

[MajesticJazz]

Okay to keep this short, it is known that we will play as 3 Characters in this game, Michael, Franklin and Trevor. We know that in some missions we can interchange between the 3 characters and so on.

 

So what does this exactly mean? Does this mean that all three characters will have their own stories and sets of missions that all somehow connect and interweave with one another similar to how Niko, Johnny, and Luis all have their separate stories that interweave in GTA4?

 

Would I be able to play the game entirely as one character or will I have to or be forced to play with the other characters?

 

For some reason Rockstar has been very vague about this.

 

Thanks

[Honest Bill]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

[MajesticJazz]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

[trevors685]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

Basically. You'll do missions that pertain to a certain protag, and missions that involve two or all of them.

[MajesticJazz]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

Basically. You'll do missions that pertain to a certain protag, and missions that involve two or all of them.

So if that is the case, then we do we get to do the side missions? If I want do some side missions as Franklin, I would have to wait til it is "his turn" before I can play them?

 

That would suck, it seems like the pacing in the game would be really fast.

[Travís.]

Who ever you choose to use for the majority of the time played.

[TheGodDamnMaster]

Mifravor is the main character.

[Elothel]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

Basically. You'll do missions that pertain to a certain protag, and missions that involve two or all of them.

So if that is the case, then we do we get to do the side missions? If I want do some side missions as Franklin, I would have to wait til it is "his turn" before I can play them?

 

That would suck, it seems like the pacing in the game would be really fast.

You can switch between the protags at any time in free roam, so you can do side missions whenever and with whoever you wish at any moment.

[Honest Bill]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

Basically. You'll do missions that pertain to a certain protag, and missions that involve two or all of them.

So if that is the case, then we do we get to do the side missions? If I want do some side missions as Franklin, I would have to wait til it is "his turn" before I can play them?

 

That would suck, it seems like the pacing in the game would be really fast.

No. You will be able to switch to Franklin any time you want, he just may not be able to progress with the story missions unless you use another character. They will all have their own individual maps i bet.

 

Also, many missions involve 2 or 3 of the main characters. so it won't just be taking turns as you said, it will be more focused than that. They will force you in to certain characters at certain points during certain missions, but other than those times, you can switch at will.

[MajesticJazz]

So from what I am understanding, the mini-map would probably have 3 Icons the letter "M" for Michael, "F" for Franklin and "T" for Trevor. Once I complete all of Franklin's missions, I would be locked out of doing more of his story missions until I switch to Michael and Trevor to do their missions. Once that happens, then new Franklin missions would pop up and the process would repeat. While doing this, all of the available side missions would be open for me to complete with any character. Am I sort of right about this?

[Honest Bill]

So from what I am understanding, the mini-map would probably have 3 Icons the letter "M" for Michael, "F" for Franklin and "T" for Trevor. Once I complete all of Franklin's missions, I would be locked out of doing more of his story missions until I switch to Michael and Trevor to do their missions. Once that happens, then new Franklin missions would pop up and the process would repeat. While doing this, all of the available side missions would be open for me to complete with any character. Am I sort of right about this?

You're mostly right. I don't know if they will all share the same map, or all have their own individual map, but yes certain storylines will most likely close until you do do some with the other characters and they'll open up again as you said.

 

But as for the side missions, i think they are character specific. You can only do certain side missions when you're the right character to do them. But again you can switch at any time in free roam so you will always be able to do the side mission you want, but you might have to switch.

[Travís.]

So from what I am understanding, the mini-map would probably have 3 Icons the letter "M" for Michael, "F" for Franklin and "T" for Trevor. Once I complete all of Franklin's missions, I would be locked out of doing more of his story missions until I switch to Michael and Trevor to do their missions. Once that happens, then new Franklin missions would pop up and the process would repeat. While doing this, all of the available side missions would be open for me to complete with any character. Am I sort of right about this?

Basically, Yes.

 

[GR7]

While playing the story you will be forced to play as each characters for certain missions. That being said I think Michael is the main character, He narrates both trailers, he seems to be the mastermind of the crew and before the multi protagonist system came about he was intended to be the only protagonist in the game which would have been quite bold but obviously not as bold a having three leads.

[lightningun]

OP, when ur not doing a mission, you can switch between the 3 as u want, u might not be able to start missions with one character till u reach a certain point with the others but u can still play as and do side missions and stuff with that character. The game doesn't force u to switch unless u are in a mission and only at certain points. All of this was said in the previews. Hope this helps everyone who is confused

[DarkDayz]

Although there is three, Mike stills feels like the main guy for me. He was the present voice over in the first trailer, and started the second trailer.

 

Franklin was in the first trailer but not necessarily linked as a playable character in any way, and Trevor wasn't in the first one at all.

[Lil ski]

You know from my understanding I thought the previews said that you are free to play as one character the entire game (except on certain parts DURING missions) but it was HIGHLY encouraged to switch characters as often as possible because you might miss out on "the big picture" of the story.

[Travís.]

Although there is three, Mike stills feels like the main guy for me. He was the present voice over in the first trailer, and started the second trailer.

 

Franklin was in the first trailer but not necessarily linked as a playable character in any way, and Trevor wasn't in the first one at all.

Doesn't really mean he is.

 

If you have the choice of the three, no one is particularly the main protagonist.

[Ben73]

LA is the main character. I live here in LA.

[Travís.]

LA is the main character. I live here in LA.

Nice Australian flag Mr. I live here in LA.

[Dick Justice]

 

You know from my understanding I thought the previews said that you are free to play as one character the entire game (except on certain parts DURING missions) but it was HIGHLY encouraged to switch characters as often as possible because you might miss out on "the big picture" of the story.

Well, you wouldn't be able to do that, because Michael, Trevor and Franklin are all going to have their own missions separate from the other two. If you wanted to play the game only as Franklin, then you'd eventually get to a point where he has no available missions because you haven't completed the missions as Trevor and Michael that allow the story to progress forward.

 

What you're suggesting would only work if all three did the same missions at the same time, which would be like a single-player game with two allies (a bit like Mass Effect I suppose).

[Lelouch The Zero]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

Basically. You'll do missions that pertain to a certain protag, and missions that involve two or all of them.

So if that is the case, then we do we get to do the side missions? If I want do some side missions as Franklin, I would have to wait til it is "his turn" before I can play them?

 

That would suck, it seems like the pacing in the game would be really fast.

No. You will be able to switch to Franklin any time you want, he just may not be able to progress with the story missions unless you use another character. They will all have their own individual maps i bet.

 

Also, many missions involve 2 or 3 of the main characters. so it won't just be taking turns as you said, it will be more focused than that. They will force you in to certain characters at certain points during certain missions, but other than those times, you can switch at will.

I really hope all the characters share the same map, If they did as you said, I'd be forced to switch the disc on 360 as much as possible with all these different maps for the characters. I don't think it will happen that way. It will be just like all the other GTA games, One big map, but with 3 characters.

[Dick Valor]

 

So from what I am understanding, the mini-map would probably have 3 Icons the letter "M" for Michael, "F" for Franklin and "T" for Trevor. Once I complete all of Franklin's missions, I would be locked out of doing more of his story missions until I switch to Michael and Trevor to do their missions. Once that happens, then new Franklin missions would pop up and the process would repeat. While doing this, all of the available side missions would be open for me to complete with any character. Am I sort of right about this?

Not exactly. What if Michael and Franklin are both able to launch a specific mission? Would it be labeled "M" or "F"?

 

Main mission icons will most likely be the same as past GTAs and be based on the initials of the mission giver, e.g., "R" for Roman and "B" for Brucie. I doubt R* would populate a single map with constant "M", "F", and "T" icons as these would be ambiguous and tell you nothing about the mission giver or what to expect. It's possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

So how would we know whether to approach a main mission icon with Michael, Trevor, or Franklin?

 

Presumably, the map will change based on the who you're playing as.... specifically, different main mission icons, side mission icons, and safehouses should appear on the map. So, for example, playing as Michael, there may be an "R" and a "B" on the map, and a safehouse icon in Rockford Hills, whereas after switching to Franklin, the safehouse icon appears in South LS and only an "L" appears on the map. If a certain character doesn't have any main mission icons on the map, you will have to switch to one of the other protags to determine who is able to advance the story at this point.

 

I think the system will work this way since it is the most flexible and least confusing. If Michael or Franklin are able to access a particular "R" mission, but Trevor isn't, then the "R" should only appear on the map while playing as Michael or Franklin. Similarly, this system allows the protags to function as mission givers as well. For example, Michael, or "M" may appear on the map while playing as Franklin. This would be a Franklin mission, but Michael would be the mission giver... Dig?

[Johan]

Although there is three, Mike stills feels like the main guy for me. He was the present voice over in the first trailer, and started the second trailer.

 

Franklin was in the first trailer but not necessarily linked as a playable character in any way, and Trevor wasn't in the first one at all.

Yeah.. and I think Gameinformer says that the intro has Michael in it so right away I consider him as the main character to me.

[Ben73]

LA is the main character. I live here in LA.

Nice Australian flag Mr. I live here in LA.

Here in LA where I live, we have people from every nationality in one city.

[Honest Bill]

It's not 3 stories with a protagonist each. It's one story with 3 protagonists. Rockstar were very specific about that. You won't be able to play through the whole thing as one character. each character arch will be tightly connected and part of the same story.

Hmmm, so you're saying that it would be something like this:

 

I play 2-3 missions as Michael then after that, the game makes me switch to Trevor to continue the plot.....then the game makes me switch back to Michael to continue the plot.....then to Franklin and so on?

Basically. You'll do missions that pertain to a certain protag, and missions that involve two or all of them.

So if that is the case, then we do we get to do the side missions? If I want do some side missions as Franklin, I would have to wait til it is "his turn" before I can play them?

 

That would suck, it seems like the pacing in the game would be really fast.

No. You will be able to switch to Franklin any time you want, he just may not be able to progress with the story missions unless you use another character. They will all have their own individual maps i bet.

 

Also, many missions involve 2 or 3 of the main characters. so it won't just be taking turns as you said, it will be more focused than that. They will force you in to certain characters at certain points during certain missions, but other than those times, you can switch at will.

I really hope all the characters share the same map, If they did as you said, I'd be forced to switch the disc on 360 as much as possible with all these different maps for the characters. I don't think it will happen that way. It will be just like all the other GTA games, One big map, but with 3 characters.

I meant the map as in when you press pause, it gives you a map with all your mission icons on etc. I mean they will all have the same thing, but each will have their own unique icons which will only show the ones relevant to them.

[K-Malo94]

LA is the main character. I live here in LA.

Nice Australian flag Mr. I live here in LA.

Here in LA where I live, we have people from every nationality in one city.

Some people don't realize that you DON'T have to display the flag of the country you live in...

 

Anyways they're all the main characters. I guess it pretty much depends on who you spend the most time playing as. But they're all suppose to have their own detailed back stories.

[MajesticJazz]

My fear is that because there are 3 characters sharing one story instead of 3 characters having their own personal stories that tie together in a bigger way, we won't have much to to "get to know" the characters. Playing as John Marston the entire game in RDR helped with his story and ultimately the ending. However, if we had to switch between John Marston and two other characters, I doubt we would have gotten to know John Marston that well as much of his screen time was shed to give room to other characters.

 

 

[Pegerino]

3 protagonist are the main characters

[Dick Justice]

My fear is that because there are 3 characters sharing one story instead of 3 characters having their own personal stories that tie together in a bigger way, we won't have much to to "get to know" the characters. Playing as John Marston the entire game in RDR helped with his story and ultimately the ending. However, if we had to switch between John Marston and two other characters, I doubt we would have gotten to know John Marston that well as much of his screen time was shed to give room to other characters.

Except that a lot of the time, when you're playing as Michael for example, the other characters will be around too.

[shattered-minds]

I think some people are getting the concepts of having to be a certain character to progress the story round their necks.

 

I don't think it will be a case of "if only do Franklin's missions the story will stop until you have done the other's too" as that suggests 3 different story moving along at different paces and only match when all 3 characters missions are at a certain point i.e when the other two's missions have caught up.

 

It's much more likely that all the main missions can be triggered by any of the characters, but when the mission commences, the game will force you to play as only one of them. For example; free roaming as Michael, you trigger the next story mission. Cut scene enfolds and it turns out its something only Trevor can do. Then during that mission you cannot change character, only play as Trevor. Once it's over you can play as anyone anywhere and trigger the next mission as anyone.

 

This means that side stories can be character specific and go at their own pace. For example Franklin's side mission story could be related to his friend getting into trouble with gangs and be a separate story to the main one that you can do at your own leisure. Micheal's side missions could be a bent cop at the FIB blackmailing him to do his dirty work. Trevor's could be about controlling the gun and drug traffic through his area. The are all unrelated to the main story and can obviously only be triggered by their respective character.

 

I think anything more than that may end up confusing the player. If on each map Franklin gets R,D, H, Michael gets G, I, S and Trevor gets W,N,L it will leave the player thinking which one furthers the story. Do you need to play as Michael, Trevor or Franklin? Where as if each character has the same main story mission givers and only different side mission givers than it makes it much easier for the player to know which once will further the story and whic one is a character specific side mission.

Edited March 25, 2013 by shattered-minds