The Protagonist Problem - How GTA Next Should Fix This

[Maxxeine]

Forgive me if this fits better in the "multiple protagonists" thread, however I felt that the topic that will be discussed warrants its own thread for discussion.

 

Anyway, let's get into the thread.

 

 

GTA protagonists actually have a lot more in common than you think. This may be nitpicking, however with GTA Next I feel Rockstar has the potential to finally fix this common problem - The Protagonist Problem.

 

GTA protagonists always seem to carry this incredibly similar theme - physical abuse, or some other form of a troubled upbringing. While it serves as basic backstory and much of GTA games focus on the present-day version of the protagonists, it almost feels "too similar" when you really look into it. GTA V I think made this problem worse by introducing all three protagonists as having an abusive authority figure/parent.

 

I feel this manages to create a backstory that doesn't make each protagonist seem unique; almost as a fallback template of sorts. With each protagonist it seems like a wasted opportunity to create a fleshed-out, unique backstory.

 

This is where GTA Next comes in. GTAN should introduce a much more diverse range of backstories for the characters, especially for the protagonist(s). This would not only fix The Protagonist Problem, but could also introduce us to brand new sub-plots and thus will create a more diverse range of relatable common themes as well.

 

Perhaps I'm nitpicking. Perhaps this is all over-analyzing when GTA games never really show a detailed version of characters' backstories. However, with GTA Next on the way, and almost 20 years of GTA existing, I think it would be a welcome change for the series.

 

 

Let me know if any of you have noticed this common theme as well. I'm curious to see if there are any alternatives to solving this problem.

[happygrowls]

Another problem I see with GTA is the Antagonists, they literally are always the same each game.

 

Start off as your friend in Earlier missions/Story, then turn their backs on you for money.

It's the same concept each game, and started with GTA III (Catalina)

 

Vice City held off the betrayal until the end (Lance)

 

Whilst San Andreas had it as the big turning point (Big Smoke)

 

I think that the next GTA needs a fresh protagonist, one that isn't as predictable as say, Dimitri, Billy and Bulgarin.

[PhillBellic]

I just want the Protagonist/s to be well written.

[ExtremoMania]

GTA IV for me really nailed the backstory of the characters especially the protagonist, Niko Bellic, in the entire franchise. The painful memories of his past life that is etched into his soul really personifies how harsh the reality of the world he lives in and would directly affect the outcome of his future. Niko lost his humanity that fateful day happened as he embraces vengeance over reconciliation, guilt over acceptance and is the reason why he has set off to Liberty City to bury the person who brought all those pain to him. But of course Niko is not without morals though, despite his thirst for vengeance he still genuinely cares and loves his family, his cousin Roman and you can pretty much see the dynamic of the relationship between them. With Roman and his new friends, they can urge him to find a new reason to live and let go of the suffering of the past thus allowing you to make those morality choices in the missions to emphasize this trait. These morality choices that Niko can make will allow him to finally overcome his guilt, accept forgiveness, and moving on forward without the suffering of the past haunting him.

 

That said implementing individual backstories of each protagonist in the next GTA game would certainly require a really long plot and an acceptable number of characters. It certainly wouldn't be impossible to achieve but we sure don't know if R* is capable of going into that route and delivering more appealing than its predecessors.

[Cheatz/Trickz]

Tommy apparently had a decent upbringing, as a child he used to clean the rollers in the printworks with his father.

[ClaudeSpeed1911]

I want them to give each protagonist their space. Do it EFLC style.

[Racecarlock]

Have a protagonist that chooses to do crimes, rather than a protagonist that is forced into doing crimes.

 

I mean, GTA V only had like one heist that a character chose to do, and even then he forced the other two characters into doing it, even though they have no reason to do so. Oh wait, there was also the union depository. So, there were 2. All the others either involved being in debt or forced by the government.

 

More importantly, I want a character that enjoys themselves. Who smiles once in a while. And no, the occasional whooping you hear on the heist missions in V don't count. I want a character that's actually happy when they get a mansion, lots of money, and nice cars. Who doesn't scowl at everyone and hate everything. A protagonist that isn't a sadsack.

 

That sounds good to me.

[Pedinhuh]

A protagonist that gets into the game because life haven't offered her(yes, I want the protagonist to be a woman this time), so she decides to pickup skills from a mentor(sort of like Matilda and Leon from Leon: The professional) and go from there.

She's aware of her choice and is not regretful of it because it pays her bills and stuff she likes(bikes, clothes, etc..)