First Person Mode is a Grand Theft Revolution

[MOGGYASAURUS]

(Words Alert for those who can't handle more than a line at a time...!)

 

For me, increasingly over the years since Vice City, GTA has been the be all and end all of immersion in video gaming. From the meticulously constructed and comprehensively integrated sound design to the scraps of litter blowing through the streets, nobody in my eyes has put so much attention to detail in an open world sandbox game. And I love that stuff. Forget about missions and completion percentages and stats and just go wandering, driving, flying, EXPLORING a virtual world as and when you want. The shift to HD graphics with GTA4 and seeing all the STUFF in Liberty City while on foot made me wish for a first person mode more than ever. I never really expected to ever see it implemented in a well established third person shooter, yet here we are and its better than I hoped for.

 

Since getting the game three days ago Ive mainly been walking and driving. Almost as if Im seeing the game for the first time, despite completing the hell out of it and ranking up to 164 in GTA online on the Xbox 360 for over a year now. I read some reviews and player comments about how the driving wasnt that great in first person, and they quickly went back to the default third person view. Well Ive had a completely opposite reaction. I find that driving in first person actually makes me a better, faster, and more competent driver. And I was no slouch in driving in third person! It feels much more cinematic now, weaving in and out of traffic and pedestrians with relative ease. Ive literally driven various vehicles for hours and hours on end just for the sheer pleasure of driving and watching the world through windscreens, shattered or otherwise!

 

First person isnt quite perfect, I fully concede that. There needs to be separate look/movement sensitivity slider options for both driving and on foot; when running in first person you dont have a complete 360 field for movement - the control stick seems to move you in slight steps (imagine a clock face where you are running at the 11 position. Moving to the right puts you more at the 1 position rather than moving gradually through 12); some of the weapon aiming doesnt feel quite as robust as in third person, and it would be nice if everything was in first person (golf and certain actions return to third person).

 

But for integrating it for the first time in a GTA game and shoehorning it into a game that was most likely designed without it in mind originally, I think its a pretty damn impressive achievement, a fundamental change in how you can approach and play the game, and a massive upgrade over the last gen version. Ive read enough comments in various topics where people dont like it, and thats cool, as its only ever going to be an option, but its great we have the choice to play it both ways now. For me, personally, I cant ever see me going back to third person, unless briefly for a change. First person is really where GTA is at now, and Im already anticipating the excitement of being able to explore the next GTA game for the first time in first person!

[GtaFanatik]

Nice review, we both share the same conclusion. Also, It's not a racing game or a FPS Call of Duty-like game. It's just a sandbox game. It can't be perfect. But it's almost perfect. I really enjoy driving in highway the Emperor Habanero in first person and listening to the engine. Yesterday I've climbed Mount Chilliad with the Bravado Bison and it's just amazing and feels dangerous like in real life. The well recorded sounds and how the game engine manages the enviorments just makes it much more realistic, even more if you own a 5.1 sound system or high-end headphones connected to your DS4. When you enable the first person mode, all the sounds ingame are maxed out, your ears are now your protagonist ears, what he hears is what you hear. Inside a car, outside, down of the water, the bullets flying around your head. It's amazing, it feels amazing.

[ROCKSTAR MANIC]

It might have its flaws, But guys understand this... Its ROCKSTAR's first game in NG. Now Imagine, what they can do with the development hours they put already in NG consoles. I can not fathom a world where everything is so vibrant and feels so alive. I can't wait for the next.

[jonesz]

Nice read. I think they really did the first person mode with the foresight of the increasing number of head mounted devices, and that next evolutionary step of open world games will finally be VR in 2015. I'm pretty optimistic that soon after the PC release, there will be the first proof of concepts what GTA was really meant to be, either by the mod community or maybe even by an official patch for oculus rift. From the current FPV implementation its not so much of an effort anymore..

Edited November 25, 2014 by jonesz

[MOGGYASAURUS]

Given how impressive GTA5 is on last gen, after Rockstar had gotten used to developing for the respective consoles, I can't imagine how the next game in the series will look in a few years time! And with the inclusion of first person and, surely, VR, in the future, it's going to be incredible wherever they go with GTA!

[ImSmaher]

I just hope that GTA doesn't turn into a permanent First Person franchise like it did with the third person. That would suck.

[Spaghetti Cat]

I've only put in a couple hours so far, so this is an incomplete perspective (so to speak) but the FPV is a neat addition. I don't think its the be-all-end-all but it's a nice feature to have. It would be a mistake to do away with the third person entirely, so along as R* keeps it as an option I'd be happy. Though reliving some of the in-car conversations has been fun!

[bensons]

I was modding in FPV in vehicles since Vice City. I thought FPV was going to be in gta 4 so to me they are way behind lol.

[poasternutbag]

I switch back and forth fairly often but absolutely love first person view, especially when driving. It feels like a brand new game.

[CarlitoDorito]

I just hope that GTA doesn't turn into a permanent First Person franchise like it did with the third person. That would suck.

FP will never become permanent i don't think, it's something that will be in any future GTA though, but as an option. GTA is about choice

[malcolmfunktion]

Haven't got the game yet but looking forward to experiencing FPV. My only concern is that R* don't let third person suffer in future. I used to HATE FPV but FC3 won me over...not sure how I'm going to play GTAV yet...

[fwenshy]

I've mentioned on some other thread before that there is only one issue I have with FP. That's when you are in a car on any kind of hill the players head/view stays level with the car(unlike real life where you would naturally tilt your head if your car was leaning drastically to the side). This doesn't sound like much of an issue until you start driving at night in the mountains and you can't tell what gradient you are on.

[fluffydude51]

In my opinion the fpv is makes this go up on my list of favorite games becuase it was already the most fun gta game I've ever played. My only problem is gunfights becuase I always want to stay in cover due to how fast you get shot and die(even with high strength) and I can't decide if I want free aim assisted or assisted aim full becuase of the difficulty and sometimes janky first person cover

[RedChuCKz_]

R* do really know how to create a impressive world. I played a lot of open world type of games because those are my favorite and none of those come close to GTA or RDR game world. The sheer amount of details they put in is absolutly amazing. I cannot wait what R* has in store for us next.

[grantelicious]

They need to increase the FoV, otherwise it is a pointless feature.

[ZZCOOL]

no it's a mod that has existed since 2009 that rockstar games saw we liked so they added it themselves so not that brand new

[universetwisters]

no it's a mod that has existed since 2009 that rockstar games saw we liked so they added it themselves so not that brand new

 

They did retwerk the game for first person, though, like car gauges, the phone, etc.

[killahmatic]

Since getting the game three days ago Ive mainly been walking and driving. Almost as if Im seeing the game for the first time, despite completing the hell out of it and ranking up to 164 in GTA online on the Xbox 360 for over a year now. I read some reviews and player comments about how the driving wasnt that great in first person, I find that driving in first person actually makes me a better, faster, and more competent driver.

 

 

First person is too slow, too clumsy, and that's not based on skill level. Not just in GTA, either. I've seen games where its been executed far better than in GTA but it's still a bad experience. I understand why first-person was introduced into the gaming world originally, it was a nice attempt at making players feel like they are in the game, but the fact is, you don't feel like you're in the game any more than 3rd person. Your view is so small compared to the way your eyes really see things. Zero peripheral vision. Hearing is another huge advantage of real life that makes you aware of your surroundings, that doesn't transfer into the game. and that's just walking on the street, the view from inside vehicles is horrid. It makes things more difficult than they need to be.

 

I suppose in the end there is no point of voicing opinions are creating arguments because people who like first person will continue to play first person and people who like third person will continue to play third person. Its fair enough, but the cockiness over first person is ridiculous.

[ZZCOOL]

 

no it's a mod that has existed since 2009 that rockstar games saw we liked so they added it themselves so not that brand new

 

They did retwerk the game for first person, though, like car gauges, the phone, etc.

 

that has been a mod too called RIV but it seems noone knows about that mod

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iapwmenY8jk

 

but yeah ofcourse this first person is more extensive

[MOGGYASAURUS]

I've mentioned on some other thread before that there is only one issue I have with FP. That's when you are in a car on any kind of hill the players head/view stays level with the car(unlike real life where you would naturally tilt your head if your car was leaning drastically to the side). This doesn't sound like much of an issue until you start driving at night in the mountains and you can't tell what gradient you are on.

That's very true, there have been a few instances where I've been driving along and can't see the road until it levels out. It would be nice if you could move your head down independent of the car position, but (so far at least) it hasn't been enough of an issue to shatter the illusion for me. Hopefully things like this, and the imperfect wee quirks I mentioned originally, can be patched out in time.

[rampage08]

I think its a great fps system considering its R* first time doing it. I'm 100% sure the next one will be even better

[bensons]

Camera hack gives you 1st person driving in GTA and has been around since 2003 lol.

[Fuzzknuckles]

They need to increase the FoV, otherwise it is a pointless feature.

Is the FOV control slider not working for you?

[Dr Kain]

I played around with the first person view yesterday while looking around in the desert for the 8 rock and house and it was pretty cool, but is not how I would play any of the missions in. It will make doing Michael's Epsilon trek cool though.

[Hazel Mae]

I absolutely adore the first person feature. It's so well done, and so well executed. Congrats to Rockstar, really, they really knew what they were doing. I just can't use it while driving Online because shooting and driving in FPV puts you at a HUGE disadvantage.

[Official General]

 

Since getting the game three days ago Ive mainly been walking and driving. Almost as if Im seeing the game for the first time, despite completing the hell out of it and ranking up to 164 in GTA online on the Xbox 360 for over a year now. I read some reviews and player comments about how the driving wasnt that great in first person, I find that driving in first person actually makes me a better, faster, and more competent driver.

 

 

First person is too slow, too clumsy, and that's not based on skill level. Not just in GTA, either. I've seen games where its been executed far better than in GTA but it's still a bad experience. I understand why first-person was introduced into the gaming world originally, it was a nice attempt at making players feel like they are in the game, but the fact is, you don't feel like you're in the game any more than 3rd person. Your view is so small compared to the way your eyes really see things. Zero peripheral vision. Hearing is another huge advantage of real life that makes you aware of your surroundings, that doesn't transfer into the game. and that's just walking on the street, the view from inside vehicles is horrid. It makes things more difficult than they need to be.

 

I suppose in the end there is no point of voicing opinions are creating arguments because people who like first person will continue to play first person and people who like third person will continue to play third person. Its fair enough, but the cockiness over first person is ridiculous.

 

 

I totally agree killah.

 

The OP is getting gassed over God knows what, GTA in FPV is just another FPS. Wow, so amazing

Edited November 27, 2014 by Official General

[Geralt of Rivia]

OG, name another FPS like GTA V.

[Official General]

OG, name another FPS like GTA V.

 

I don't need to. Ok GTA V's FPV is open-world and whatever, but it don't matter to me. It's still just another FPS, you run, gun, hide, cover, drive and that's.....pretty much it. It's nothing special, and it certainly is not revolutionary, despite the the OP's bullsh*t claims. Like I said before, Rockstar wasted a lot resources and effort on this feature, I just don't think it was very necessary.

 

The most original and innovative FPS game I've played is Far Cry 3. I'll leave it at that, I'm not gonna go back and forth in an argument about it, I can't be bothered to (since that's what you like to do).

[Geralt of Rivia]

So is GTA V just another Third Person Shooter as well? Especially since there's a lot more similar games in the Third Person Perspective?

[Cutter De Blanc]

What you call a revolution I call a different camera mode. Which I use sometimes.