How much affect does the setting have on the story?

[American Viking]

For example, would Niko's story had worked if it used GTA V's bright and sunny San Andreas, or was the dark and grimy feel of GTA IV's Liberty City what really gave Niko more credibility? I would say the latter is true. I think GTA does an excellent job at setting the tone of the game based on the story they're telling. I really can't see Tommy V's story taking place anywhere other the Vice City. Maybe Tommy could pull off dark and grimy Liberty City but the three yahoos from GTA V never could.

[Femme Fatale]

Yeah, in order for the story to feel dark or cheerful, you need a setting that feels dark or cheerful...

 

For example, if you're story is about children laughing and playing, the setting would be a playground, not a morgue...But of course, it depends what you mean by laughing and playing...

[Osho]

The simple answer would be NO.

But I still think any setting SHOULD work provided a lot of ideas are reworked in ways that translate well within a new setting. That includes all of the many little nuances throughout the story, including all the other characters and their development, situations, missions, and other factors around Niko.

I had no idea about the story, nor the setting ( dark LC ) they created in which Nikos story takes place and other characters as well before playing the game.

So had Rockstar decided that they make Nikos story ( since he was an immigrant ) in a VC/LS setting chances are these might also work. Not considering the DLC characters which are more or less an exception here.

The same can't be said for CJ in a different setting because of his LS roots as being born in johnson family.

Can't say about Tommy V.

[tranceking26]

I'm not sure about the protagonists having the same effect in a different location, but what I am sure of it R* has got it right every time, matching the protag(s) with the setting.

[The Dedito Gae]

The tone affects the history, i don't know why most people here think that New York (Liberty City) must be a dark place and Los Angeles (Los Santos) must be a shiny lovely place, cities are not meant to have a preset setting.

[MrDeSanta]

I think we feel this way only because we`re used to it. I`m sure if they would add Niko into LS we would think it`s OK this way because we wouldn`t know how it would look like otherwise.

[matajuegos01]

If the writing is good, the setting may not be affecting the story at all. There are a lot of dark and gritty stories set in L.A and many cheerful stories set in NY, it's just all about how good the writers are at making a believable story. Of course the setting can help, but it's not a very important piece if you're a good writer.