Did you like GTA V's story?

[CantThinkOfOne2013]

GTA V's story cops a lot of hate on this forum, and as a result of that, the entire game cops a lot of unnecessary hate because people don't understand that there is more to a game than just storytelling.

While I agree that GTA IV has a better story, GTA V's story was still leaps and bounds better than GTA San Andreas's story (and GTA San Andreas is my second favorite GTA game) and I still think that GTA V had a great story and not an 'unfinished mess' that people say it is. In GTA IV, the story led to a more repetitive mission structure, nearly every mission was drive from A to B and kill C because Niko Belic's tale did not allow him to fly planes into other planes and shoot people will handing from a helicopter (still, at least GTA IV never felt boring, unlike other game which sacrificed gameplay for story, however, in GTA V, story has been slightly sacrificed to make GTA V's gameplay, variety and missions leaps and bounds better than GTA IV.

Overall, I think that GTA V's story is still great and it is as great as they come while still retaining this level of quality in gameplay, and gameplay is the most important aspect of a game (hence the reason why it's called a game).

 

TL,DR: Read it.

 

What are you thoughts?

[BLOOD]

I Absolutely Love it

[Kipsta]

Yes it was great!

[grumpy cat meme]

The missions are more varied and interesting than GTA IV's one, which is what I like.

 

What I don't like is that the story is sometimes incoherent, under-dervelopped and almost antagonist-less. Sincerely, it pales (when it comes strictly to story) when compared to games like IV, RDR or TLoU.

Edited January 19, 2014 by grumpy cat meme

[Tikhung]

GTA V doesn't even have a story...

 

I prefer GTA SA and GTA IV's story

[Algonquin Assassin]

For me it's tied with SA as the weakest in the series. In the grand scheme against other games it's not that bad, but as far as GTA goes for me it's not the standard of what I've come to expect.

 

I did like the individual stories of Michael, Trevor and Franklin, but was bored and didn't care about anything concerning the FIB/Merryweather. The entire second half was a grind.

 

GTA IV had characters I cared about and didn't forget the second they stopped appearing in the game unlike GTA V where I had forgotten a large majority of the cast by the end. On my first save I chose option C. I had completely forgotten who...

Stretch and Wei Chen were so I had no care factor that I had to kill them. Weston and Haines are jokes compared to some of the great antagonists of years gone by. This is the best that could be done compared to guys like Sonny, Tenpenny, Dimitri and hell RDR's Edgar Ross?

.

 

Although I agree GTA IV had repetitive missions the overall tale of Niko seeing the "American Dream" for what it was intrigued me more than GTA V's "Pursuit of the Mighty Dollar" theme, but this is mostly because I don't find any of GTA V's characters that interesting.

 

Coming to think about it I've always been critical of TBOGT especially its story, but even when I look back its story is even superior to GTA V's. Opinion of course.

 

If I had to rate GTA V's story it would be about 6/10 to be honest. GTA IV's would be a 10/10..

[cp1dell]

It was good, but it could have been better. It didn't seem to know if it wanted to be dark with black humor, or goofy and over the top. Bury The Hatchet in my opinion was the perfect tone.

 

My problem with the story is that Rockstar was trying to tell one story with three characters. IV/EFLC ("The Possible Trinity") did this so much better. What GTA V should have been was three stories, with three protagonists, crossing over a couple of times. Like in IV/EFLC.

 

Franklin's main story would be him and Lamar doing sh*t for their two-man, knock-off street gang.

Michael's main story could be him dealing with his family, and trying to wrap up his FIB ties.

Trevor's main story could be him trying to develop Trevor Phillips Industries.

 

The story we have now, could be a sub-plot. We would still have a couple missions scattered inbetween with the three working together. Whether it's heists, the three doing stuff for the FIB, Trevor bumping into Franklin in his neighborhood etc.

 

But we would have three main stories each separately focusing on each main character, allowing all three to be developed equally with the story we have just being a sub-plot.

 

That would have been infinitely better.

[Algonquin Assassin]

It was good, but it could have been better. It didn't seem to know if it wanted to be dark with black humor, or goofy and over the top. Bury The Hatchet in my opinion was the perfect tone.

 

My problem with the story is that Rockstar was trying to tell one story with three characters. IV/EFLC ("The Possible Trinity") did this so much better. What GTA V should have been was three stories, with three protagonists, crossing over a couple of times. Like in IV/EFLC.

 

Franklin's main story would be him and Lamar doing sh*t for their two-man, knock-off street gang.

Michael's main story could be him dealing with his family, and trying to wrap up his FIB ties.

Trevor's main story could be him trying to develop Trevor Phillips Industries.

 

The story we have now, could be a sub-plot. We would still have a couple missions scattered inbetween with the three working together. Whether it's heists, the three doing stuff for the FIB, Trevor bumping into Franklin in his neighborhood etc.

 

But we would have three main stories each separately focusing on each main character, allowing all three to be developed equally with the story we have just being a sub-plot.

 

That would have been infinitely better.

 

I agree. This would be far a better match for GTA IV/EFLC compared to the current GTA V story.

[Choco Taco]

The story should have been better. Like others said, the antagonists were weak and forgettable.

[Osho]

I disliked it but they still have the 'benefit of the doubt' with the promise mentioned in 2013 news.

 

So, my decision stays open to have a rethink in response to rockstar plans in future.

[Charles Phipps]

For me, I think Grand Theft Auto has a vast vast number of good stories but they don't bother weaving them all together into a coherent whole. Instead, they all feel like episodes in a larger series. None of the villains stories really interact together and this has a severe effect on all of it coming together.

The Triads
The Lost
The O'Neils
Madroza
Devin Westin
Steve Haines
Epsilon
Merryweather
The IAA
Stretch
The Ballas

In Grand Theft Auto IV, all of the characters more or less build from one to another.

Vlad builds to Faustin who builds to Dmitri who forces Niko to become involved with the McReary family and Torres who ends up forcing him to join the mafia which ends with the Pegorino family which ends up back with Dmitri. The above characters are almost completely unconnected from one another and, as a result, the entire thing feels something of a mess. I think this is what Rockstar was going for, to illustrate the world isn't all neatly bound together, but it's not terribly fun by comparison.

The big reason the IAA/Merryweather/FIB plotline seems so disconnected from the rest of the story is because it kept building to something but that "something" never really occurred. The IAA's neurotoxin was the focus of a huge mission but never really shows up again.

 

Imagine if the story had been written like this:

Devin Westin is a billionaire head of Merryweather and has got Steve Haines in his pocket. He is also a land developer like Donald Love and has his fingers in many pies. One of these pies is selling the nuclear bomb from Trevor's heist to the Chinese and when the Protagonists sink the freighter, he has Steve Haines recruit them to steal the neurotoxin so he can sell something to them instead. All of their missions against the IAA are to cover up the investigation into them by the Paper Contact.

Thus, Devin Westin and Steve Haines are actually dangerous villains doing something villainous (treason and arms trafficking). After having crushed the IAA and FIB investigation, they're now scott free unless the PCs take them down.

This is Plot A.

Plot B would merge the Triads and Madroza with Trevor Philips ruining the meth business of the Cartel moving into Sandy Shore. The Lost MC would be the group that Trevor is working with and we'd ditch the O'Neils, perhaps keeping Johnny Klebitz's death for the very end of the game as he would serve as an enemy in this one.

The Lost would kidnap Michael and Franklin would be needed to save him.

What about Plot C?

Plot C would actually give Franklin something to do. Stretch would be the face of "gang culture" and would be a Billy Grey figure, ratting out the Grove Street Families to the FIB on a regular basis so Steve Haines can keep his ludicrous TV show and Stretch can keep himself out of jail. At some point, Madroza would also be having his "satellite gang" in the Aztecs (which were taken over between now and San Andreas) go to war with the Families.

We'd also find out that Madroza, Haines, and Westin have ties too--the three of them working together.

In short, all of the villains are linked and our heroes can fight them with a satisfactory conclusion. It can also lead to unexpected twists in the story like Merryweather goons rapelling down in the hood or The Lost MC tearing up Vinewood.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Charles Phipps

[atsjoonas]

great story

[Meekail]

It wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't good either. It felt to me like the story was a little rushed.

[Vanto]

I loved the story, except for the FIB/IAA missions.

[Captain Arthur]

Here's is the problem:

 

I think we can all agree that IV has the best story in the series. So, coming out of IV and its excellent storywriting, people expected similar, if not better, storywriting in V. So, after finishing V's story, people were disappointed that the storywriting has been downgraded from IV.

 

People need to realize that V's story wasn't bad but that when compared to IV's, it's awful.

 

But, we should always give the devil his due, V's missions had variety. Something that IV's missions didn't have. So, V wins there.

[Matty]

My problem with the story is that Rockstar was trying to tell one story with three characters. IV/EFLC ("The Possible Trinity") did this so much better. What GTA V should have been was three stories, with three protagonists, crossing over a couple of times. Like in IV/EFLC.

I agree with this.

 

I've said this in the past; but a separate storyline for each protagonist totaling 20-25 missions each, as well as an intertwined storyline featuring all three protagonists (which could have included the six heists) consisting of 20-25 missions would have done each protagonist a whole more justice IMO. This is opposed to a single storyline that is split between three protagonists - as ended up being the case with GTA V.

 

GTA V's storyline isn't bad, but was probably better suited to being told through the eyes of just a single protagonist, rather then three, in my opinion.

[Algonquin Assassin]

Here's is the problem:

 

I think we can all agree that IV has the best story in the series. So, coming out of IV and its excellent storywriting, people expected similar, if not better, storywriting in V. So, after finishing V's story, people were disappointed that the storywriting has been downgraded from IV.

 

People need to realize that V's story wasn't bad but that when compared to IV's, it's awful.

 

But, we should always give the devil his due, V's missions had variety. Something that IV's missions didn't have. So, V wins there.

 

GTA V still has some repetition though and not every mission is an action packed blockbuster like people say.

 

All the heist prep tasks follow the same routine "go to location, steal something for heist, go back". Rinse and repeat. It gets tiresome very quick.

 

"Scouting the Port" IMO is the most boring scouting task for a heist in the game. 10 minutes of tediously moving around containers. I'd rather go bowling with Michelle. Seriously. "Reuniting the family" is some seriously boring sh*t too.

 

"Did Somebody Say Yoga ?" is overrated. It's massively tedious really and only liked for the second half.

 

I agree GTA V has better mission variety, but it's still a bit sloppy in ways.

[Captain Arthur]

 

Here's is the problem:

 

I think we can all agree that IV has the best story in the series. So, coming out of IV and its excellent storywriting, people expected similar, if not better, storywriting in V. So, after finishing V's story, people were disappointed that the storywriting has been downgraded from IV.

 

People need to realize that V's story wasn't bad but that when compared to IV's, it's awful.

 

But, we should always give the devil his due, V's missions had variety. Something that IV's missions didn't have. So, V wins there.

GTA V still has some repetition though and not every mission is an action packed blockbuster like people say.

 

All the heist prep tasks follow the same routine "go to location, steal something for heist, go back". Rinse and repeat. It gets tiresome very quick.

 

"Scouting the Port" IMO is the most boring scouting task for a heist in the game. 10 minutes of tediously moving around containers. I'd rather go bowling with Michelle. Seriously.

 

I agree GTA V has better mission variety, but it's still a bit sloppy in ways.

 

Yeah, I wanted to point this out but I had to leave the computer. I agree that Scouting The Port was the most boring scouting mission. In fact, for me it's the worst mission in the game, aside from the hiest prep tasks, of course.

 

But, aside from that mission and the hiest prep tasks, the game's missions have a lot of variety. In IV, only a few missions are varied such as Three Leaf Clover, the mission where you had to kill Goldberg, etc. but, the rest of the missions are just "Drive here, shoot X". So, I still prefer V's missions over IV's.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Gta_V_Fan_101

[Algonquin Assassin]

I think we can agree if GTA VI has GTA IV like story telling with GTA V mission variety it'll be a shining jewel.

[Captain Arthur]

Whoa, if that happened then I wouldn't be on this forum, I would be playing the game. But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

[Official General]

CantThinkOfOne2013

 

GTA V's story cops a lot of hate on this forum, and as a result of that, the entire game cops a lot of unnecessary hate because people don't understand that there is more to a game than just storytelling.

 

I certainly understand there is more to a game than just the story. But the great success and popularity of GTA is that it has always managed to find the near-perfect formula of blending in a decent, engaging story with immensely fun and enjoyable gameplay and features. In my view, the storytelling and fun in GTA goes hand-in-hand together. It was the same experience for me with excellent games like RDR and Far Cry 3 - I would never have enjoyed those games as much as I did if it were not for their brilliant storylines.

 

To answer your question in short, I would say that GTA V's story just okay, it was nothing great or special. As far as GTA standards go, I think it's the worst in the main series. V's storyline just does not match up to the classic, intriguing storylines of GTA IV, VC and to some extent, SA, and even GTA III.

 

My problem with V's story is that it although it started off quite well, it quickly lost it's sense of direction, it was poorly written and not put together very well. It was supposed to be about "the pursuit of the almighty dollar", yet I found a lot of my time doing heists and jobs for the cops and feds for small amounts of money. Each of the 3 protagonists were supposed to have their own individual stories, but Franklin, never really had a story, Michael's story was almost totally consumed by the cops and feds bullsh*t, and Trevor spent most of his time just either doing stupid, crazy things or arguing with Michael. And that cop/feds/Merryweather section was the most uninteresting and boring section of a storyline I've played in any GTA game. I'm used to having more dealings with the criminal underworld, because I find that more interesting and intriguing, not cops and feds the whole time.

 

The gameplay and mission variety of GTA V was fun in many parts, yes I will give it that. But it was choppy and inconsistent, simply because of the storyline's poor writing and structure. That's what ruined it for me.

 

The story was ok, but that is a failure on GTA V's part. It should have been much, much better.

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

 

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like not enough interiors, no buying safehouse properties, no gambling, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

Edited January 20, 2014 by Official General

[Journey_95]

it was just ok in my opinion

-too much FIB and Merryweather stuff which was just boring

-weak antagonists (Haines and Weston were a joke compared to Tenpenny and Dimitri)

 

probably one of the weakest stories in GTA games overall like TBOGT

I really don't like Rockstars current direction

[Captain Arthur]

 

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

 

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like more interiors, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

Yeah, I wish the day would come where a Gta game has all that so that less people would complain.

 

 

If I had to rate GTA V's story it would be about 6/10 to be honest. GTA IV's would be a 10/10..

Not even surprised.

[Vercetti42]

 

 

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like more interiors, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

 

Yeah, I wish the day would come where a Gta game has all that so that less people would complain.

 

 

I hate to say it but that will never happen. SA fanboys will make sure of that. Even if a HD remake of SA is made they'll still be ranting about how it isn't great as the first.

 

And there are GTA IV fanboys too (not SOL or Official General ) but guys like Fluttershy Pony/Bert, his posts speak for itself.

Edited January 19, 2014 by AceKingston

[Captain Arthur]

 

 

 

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like more interiors, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

 

Yeah, I wish the day would come where a Gta game has all that so that less people would complain.

 

I hate to say it but that will never happen. SA fanboys will make sure of that. Even if a HD remake of SA is made they'll still be ranting about how it isn't great as the first.

 

Yeah, that seems about right. SA fanboys praise their precious game as if it's the best game in the series. They won't accept anything except for "The jewel of the Gta series".

[Algonquin Assassin]

 

 

 

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

 

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like more interiors, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

 

Yeah, I wish the day would come where a Gta game has all that so that less people would complain.

 

I hate to say it but that will never happen. SA fanboys will make sure of that. Even if a HD remake of SA is made they'll still be ranting about how it isn't great as the first.And there are GTA IV fanboys too (not SOL or Official General ) but guys like Fluttershy Pony/Bert, his posts speak for itself.

It's ok Ace. You can call me a GTA IV fanboy. I don't mind.

 

I'm not sure about General. I think you'll find he's more into Hawaiian shirts and palm trees.

[InfernoV]

Great story but underwhelming after

 

RED DEAD REDEMPTION!

 

I am now officially a bigger fan of red dead and looking forward to the next game more than gta 6!

 

Damn, riding out into the wilderness at night hearing the sounds of the animals it was spectaular! Gta v amazing but not on that level which makes me sad because I was expecting it to be better.

 

Gta iv is a game I have really loved over time and is now a nostalgic game for me. I enjoyed the madness of gta iv multiplayer a million times more than gta online!!!

[Captain Arthur]

 

 

 

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like more interiors, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

 

Yeah, I wish the day would come where a Gta game has all that so that less people would complain.

 

 

And there are GTA IV fanboys too (not SOL or Official General ) but guys like Fluttershy Pony/Bert, his posts speak for itself.

 

I might disagree with you on that. I believe that SoL is the biggest Gta IV fanboy on earth and I am getting sick and tired of reading his sh*t-filled posts.

 

 

 

 

 

*User warned for this post.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Gta_V_Fan_101

[The Odyssey]

 

 

 

 

But, I feel that even if it had mission variety and a good story, people would still find something to complain about.

The only thing I'd complain about is lesser, but important stuff like more interiors, lack of random gang wars in the streets, and decent crime-related side missions. Now if that stuff was added to what you have stated, I'd be saying the game was damn near perfect.

 

Yeah, I wish the day would come where a Gta game has all that so that less people would complain.

 

 

And there are GTA IV fanboys too (not SOL or Official General ) but guys like Fluttershy Pony/Bert, his posts speak for itself.

 

I might disagree with you on that. I believe that SoL is the biggest Gta IV fanboy on earth and I am getting sick and tired of reading his sh*t-filled posts.

 

 

 

 

 

*User warned for this post.

 

I disagree. I think that his love towards IV isn't annoying in the slightest and I see why he likes such an extraordinary game.

 

 

 

 

*user was commended for this post

Edited January 19, 2014 by The Odyssey

[CantThinkOfOne2013]

I think we can agree if GTA VI has GTA IV like story telling with GTA V mission variety it'll be a shining jewel.

I don't think that it would be possible. GTA IV's story is the reason that the missions lack variety as Niko's life never involved him stealing huge planes mid flight, sinking container ships or crashing trains into each other. That is why I said that GTA V's story is the best we are going to get while still retaining mission variety.