Best/worst melee system

[Algonquin Assassin]

Pretty self explanatory question I think.

 

For best I would go with GTA IV/EFLC and VCS.

 

GTA IV/EFLC for the counter attacks and feeling like you wont always win a fight like you're Batman. It feels real and raw. VCS for its grapples.

 

For worst as much as it pains me to say, but GTA III and Vice City. Compared to the other games they're REALLY limited with only punches and kicks. GTA V would be on here, but one thing that saves it I feel is some of the attacks with melee weapons feel pretty satisfying.

[EkaSwede]

Best: GTA IV. It's incredibly satisfying to have a good amount of fisticuffs with maneuvering and dodging and countering. A little disappointed the kick melee is terrible. Gets blocked 90% of the time.

 

Worst: Liberty City Stories. Seriously, what is wrong with Toni? You'll just be throwing useless punches and he seems to have no range at all.

[TheSantader25]

Best:GTA San Andreas

 

Though it's pretty close with IV in variety and even defense I'd say the "responsive" feeling of controls gives it the edge. In IV the character performed a somewhat slow animation. I felt the kicks and punches better in SA. Another thing that gives SA the lead is the melee weapons variety. You also could learn different styles in 3 different places. One benefit IV had that SA didn't was disarming. I'd say I was amazed of the long way SA went after VC in this regard. It was ahead of it's time so I'd give it to SA. 

 

Worst:GTA III

 

Despite the disappointment I find the "stealth takedowns" with different weapons and sudden punches pretty unique and varied in V. GTA V is such a weird game in this category. It's so good in some places and absolute dogsh*t in other areas. The actual combat is limited. I think GTA III is the worst. Pretty similar to VC but VC's punches felt better. 

Edited January 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Algonquin Assassin]

9 hours ago, TheSantader25 said:

 You also could learn different styles in 3 different places.

While this was a great idea on paper I feel it wasn't executed that well in game. CJ wouldn't retain a fighting style if you learned another one which kinda made it frustrating if you favoured one over the others yet it got erased so you'd have to learn it all over again.

 

I appreciate the idea, but it's not as polished as it could've been.

[El Penguin Bobo]

Best: GTA IV/EFLC, VCS, and SA. All 3 of these games have a pretty decent fighting mechanics, for GTA IV, you have over 10 finishing moves, for VCS, you can grapple someone, and for SA, you can learn 3 different fighting skills. The fighting skills in the beginning of SA is pretty unique if you think about it because once you learn a new move, you can't get it back.

 

Worst: Probably GTA 3, it's not bad or anything, it's just that you can't do anything except for punching and kicking, the headbutt was the only thing that was good in it. But when the game first came out, it blew my mind. At least in GTA VC, you can do a backwards kick, a knee strike, etc. I would say GTA V as worst, but at least they feel satisfying and the stealth kills are pretty cool too. 

Edited January 6, 2019 by xXPinguXx

[Samz707]

Best: Vice City Stories, you can grab a guy and break his neck, you can use swings to knock down groups in melee (even if it's really only used for 1-2 rampages and the Biker bar mission) and you can block, it feels like a less-indepth version of Bully's melee combat. (Which should be copied IMO for the next GTA game.)

 

Worst: GTA 5, Yes, even GTA 3 is better than this, in GTA 3, I punch and I KNOW I'm doing a punch, I press the button in GTA 5 and I pray to god I don't do a long winded up melee animation, the fact 4 had a way better system makes it worse since they already had a way better system in 4, then went and actively made it worse.

Edited January 11, 2019 by Samz707

[TheSantader25]

4 hours ago, Miamivicecity said:

While this was a great idea on paper I feel it wasn't executed that well in game. CJ wouldn't retain a fighting style if you learned another one which kinda made it frustrating if you favoured one over the others yet it got erased so you'd have to learn it all over again.

 

I appreciate the idea, but it's not as polished as it could've been.

Yes that's my one problem with the system as well. That's why I always visited the San Fierro club at last because I liked the moves in there better. 

[Ondr4H]

For me is worst GTA V .Many times its one fist=K.O. .Few same punches, nothing special and fun.

 

[A8ul99]

The best? It's got to be VCS. You can do more than punches and kicks. I mean, you can grapple and beat a person at the same time, throwing anyone you want to the ground, and my favorite move, breaking someone's neck, it has never been done again on later titles.

 

The worst? V. Really? A punch and anyone you hit would be dead in no time. Where's the thrill? C'mon. Compared to IV, this system are pretty much a setback.

Edited January 6, 2019 by A8ul99
Typo

[Grotti Vigilante]

16 hours ago, TheSantader25 said:

Yes that's my one problem with the system as well. That's why I always visited the San Fierro club at last because I liked the moves in there better. 

 

20 hours ago, Miamivicecity said:

While this was a great idea on paper I feel it wasn't executed that well in game. CJ wouldn't retain a fighting style if you learned another one which kinda made it frustrating if you favoured one over the others yet it got erased so you'd have to learn it all over again.

 

I appreciate the idea, but it's not as polished as it could've been.

Just thought that I'd put in my own two cents and say that it's perfectly valid to criticise San Andreas for only learning one fighting style at a time, hence you'd have to visit the respective gym to learn your favourite (and in my case I agree with TheSantander25 here in that San Fierro's is the best, though that may be because it's most like mine). However, I think one thing to note is that there probably wasn't any buttons available to accommodate all three at the same time. Square does the standard fighting while Triangle (both PS2 cases here) did the practiced one. Since X was to run that leaves only Circle, leaving one style still left out. It was probably easier for Rockstar from a technical perspective.

 

From a realistic perspective, it is kind of right there in some way. I mean on the one hand I know techniques from a few fighting styles, but generally speaking I have my preferred methods and techniques, so I think in the case of the game you would actually pick your preferred form of fighting after leaning all three. Having said that, the reason we learn a few moves is because of different situations where the preferred method won't work, so the game's realism on that part takes it down a few points even though everyone fights the same way in game. That's just my perspective personally, and I do think it's reasonable criticism to make that the game couldn't have all three styles at once, regardless of possible limitations in the technology of the time. It's just easier for me to overlook because of how I know which system I prefer in the game, but for some others I imagine it's harder.

 

OT: I think it's a toss up between San Andreas and IV. San Andreas melee combat felt more solid and it's locking system was easy to get used to. GTA IV though had some great counter attacks and finishing moves, and you actually can disarm your opponents. It's a hard one for me to pick between the two games. The worst one though, from what I can so far remember, has to go to V. I hate fist fighting in that game just because of the instant knockout punches and sometimes slow movements. I can barely get the hang of it. The redeeming qualities are probably the kills with melee weapons that are much more satisfying. GTA V has great gunplay, but fist combat suffers heavily.

Edited January 6, 2019 by Grotti Vigilante

[TheSantader25]

25 minutes ago, Grotti Vigilante said:

 

Just thought that I'd put in my own two cents and say that it's perfectly valid to criticise San Andreas for only learning one fighting style at a time, hence you'd have to visit the respective gym to learn your favourite (and in my case I agree with TheSantander25 here in that San Fierro's is the best, though that may be because it's most like mine). However, I think one thing to note is that there probably wasn't any buttons available to accommodate all three at the same time. Square does the standard fighting while Triangle (both PS2 cases here) did the practiced one. Since X was to run that leaves only Circle, leaving one style still left out. It was probably easier for Rockstar from a technical perspective.

 

From a realistic perspective, it is kind of right there in some way. I mean on the one hand I know techniques from a few fighting styles, but generally speaking I have my preferred methods and techniques, so I think in the case of the game you would actually pick your preferred form of fighting after leaning all three. Having said that, the reason we learn a few moves is because of different situations where the preferred method won't work, so the game's realism on that part takes it down a few points even though everyone fights the same way in game. That's just my perspective personally, and I do think it's reasonable criticism to make that the game couldn't have all three styles at once, regardless of possible limitations in the technology of the time. It's just easier for me to overlook because of how I know which system I prefer in the game, but for some others I imagine it's harder.

 

 

The lack of buttons is understandable but it would be nice if they gave us the option to switch between the styles whenever we want via a menu. 

[ProKiller93]

Best: SA and VCS

Worst: GTA V. same sh*t over and over again

[FadeAway]

Best: IV/EFLC specifically TBOGT (I mean there were side activities to do cage fighting). They seemed more...raw. Aside from the kicks which would be blocked, but you can also block. It didn't feel so super-hero like V did. 

 

Worst: GTA lll. Bless its heart, but it was mostly only punches and kicks although the kicks are cool. Obviously the 3D era graphics/physics, and with VC, but around a group of people and you throw a punch and all of them hit the ground.

[Algonquin Assassin]

On 1/7/2019 at 7:03 AM, Grotti Vigilante said:

The worst one though, from what I can so far remember, has to go to V. I hate fist fighting in that game just because of the instant knockout punches and sometimes slow movements. I can barely get the hang of it. The redeeming qualities are probably the kills with melee weapons that are much more satisfying. GTA V has great gunplay, but fist combat suffers heavily.

The thing that annoys me in GTA V is the enemies being weak as f*ck and of course a lack of counters/disarms. Mechanically I think everything GTA V does better it goes backwards a couple of steps somewhere else. It's pretty embarassing for a game that had a $265 million budget.

 

At the very least GTA IV started with a clean slate and with its own melee system instead of copying & pasting the 3D era's. Niko doesn't move around frantically, but it feels more realistic. Kind of like old school boxing games. GTA V's feels like it was watered down so the kids in GTAO can fight eachother to be "cool" since all you really have to do is spam hit a single button and you're a winner.

[Bryce Montrose]

I think Bully had the best melee system

[ThatBenGuy1998]

GTA IV/EFLC definitely had the best melee system IMO, much like most other GTA-related things. As for worst, as much as I really hate to say it, VC and III, even though they ARE my second and third favorite GTAs respectively.

[DirtCheap]

SA had some really great fighting moves as you could change them, but like mentioned in this topic, once you learn a new list of moves, the previous ones are forgotten.

 

IV had some real good fighting/melee and fighting NPCs with fists was pretty fun.

 

V had the annoying detail of making the player knockout NPCs with one punch, but I can slightly forgive it for the great stealth takedowns in the game.

 

VC and III's fighting was really barebones, so I'd say they're the worst.

Edited January 12, 2019 by DirtCheap

[Femme Fatale]

Best: IV with VCS at a close second.

Worst: III, VC, and LCS.

[Tao Cheng]

On 1/5/2019 at 5:47 AM, Miamivicecity said:

Pretty self explanatory question I think.

 

For best I would go with GTA IV/EFLC and VCS.

 

GTA IV/EFLC for the counter attacks and feeling like you wont always win a fight like you're Batman. It feels real and raw. VCS for its grapples.

 

For worst as much as it pains me to say, but GTA III and Vice City. Compared to the other games they're REALLY limited with only punches and kicks. GTA V would be on here, but one thing that saves it I feel is some of the attacks with melee weapons feel pretty satisfying.

Add Chinatown Wars to the poll please!

 

 

Best:

- Chinatown Wars is the very best IMO because actual martial arts. 

- GTAIV / BOGT with counterattacks. 

- San Andreas in terms of technicality and adjusting fighting styles any time. 

- VCS was pretty awesome with some combos, especially used against the final boss on a rooftop. 

 

Worst:

- Vice City with a halfassed punch against a submissive Vercetti Mob.

- GTAV one hit kill? That's just plain lazy!

[ChengizVlad09]

No way in hell that GTA III or VC are the worst 'melee' games. Sure their general or melee mechanics is old and outdated, but have you guys played V, tf was that supposed to be, it all comes down to one punch almost exclusively, no real opponents as well, only cool thing being evading 'eventual' punches from the opponent?

 

It is amazing how challenging and definitely entertaining melee fights can get in III for example, please go and test it for yourself by fighting couple of Triads in hand to hand combat - hands only, but sure as hell Claude will leg kick and headbutt them - you would be surprised. Here's a tip: use a bat when it gets ugly, it's a life saver.

 

I'd go with either SA or IV, SA is awesome for its variety, but there's no real opponents, it's way easy to kick everyones a$s and IV for its awesome mechanics and ragdoll physics and a top of that, you can see the oponents health bar and it even has combos. Nice touch. Would kinda go after IV, but III and Vice melee combat is underrated here for the reasons mentioned above.

[Crossbones]

Best- GTA IV/EFLC

Worst- LCS, III and too some extent V.

[John_Wade_007]

IMO

Best : GTA IV/EFLC

Worst : GTA III..

I don't Hate the game it's just broken melee system even GTA VC has some good melee combat move

[Copcaller]

Best 4- krav magav and disarming plus the peds put up a good fight hm to vcs

 

Worst - V half the time I'm trying to punch and Franklin just steps on their foot

[hogei]

Every time i play the VCS's last mission, LAST STAND, I always kill Martinez and Diego, wringing their necks

[4nsmiley]

On 1/5/2019 at 7:04 PM, Samz707 said:

Best: Vice City Stories, you can grab a guy and break his neck, you can use swings to knock down groups in melee (even if it's really only used for 1-2 rampages and the Biker bar mission) and you can block, it feels like a less-indepth version of Bully's melee combat. (Which should be copied IMO for the next GTA game.)

 

Worst: GTA 5, Yes, even GTA 3 is better than this, in GTA 3, I punch and I KNOW I'm doing a punch, I press the button in GTA 5 and I pray to god I don't do a long winded up melee animation, the fact 4 had a way better system makes it worse since they already had a way better system in 4, then went and actively made it worse.

vice city stories is sooo underrated and worst for me would be GTA V with those one knock hits 

[Patrizio]

III's system equally as bad as V? Head to head I'd say no - there is almost ZERO chance of losing a fight in V - in III its still a possibility.

 

Comparing across the series - III is the first (of the 3D era) and so I'll give it a pass for it's melee. V had IV and VCS before it and so there's no excuse for such appalling melee.

[iiCriminnaaL]

Best: IV, followed by Vice City Stories.

 

Worst: V, followed by III and Vice City.

[Comrade Monke]

Best: Vice city. I know it's weird opinion, but It's really fun, for some reason to me it felt like you could  face multiple targets at once and it wasn't too hard neither too easy, Tommy can kick backwards and doesn't just use his hands like Claude.

Worst: V. Seriously? What the f*ck rockstar, the characters can't use their legs and you can just one-punch K.O people.

[theGTAking101]

GTA IV was the best, with the ability to disarm enemies and use multiple different counter attacks. The new ragdoll physics also made it much more enjoyable.

 

GTA V had the worst system, where all you had to do was punch or in some cases even just slap an NPC and they'd be dead. It's not like they'd be knocked to the ground struggling to get back up like in IV, they'd literally be dead. From one hit. Another thing that annoyed me from V's melee system was if you were chasing an NPC on foot and pressed the button to hit them, your character would get a random speed boost and be able to catch up to them and knock them to the ground. It's the dumbest thing ever, I don't know how Rockstar could mess it up that bad.

[Eugene H. Krabs]

Best: f*ck, I can't pick between IV and VCS. IV had those swift ass Krav Maga moves and disarming, while VCS is the only GTA where you can snap necks and grapple people. If IV had what VCS had, then I'd pick IV with no hesitation.

 

Worst: V. $265 million budget but 1-2 hits is enough to kill your opponent in a fistfight? Gtfo of here.