How would you rate every GTA game?

[Corndawg93]

On 7/20/2019 at 7:17 PM, Corndawg93 said:

GTA 3: 8.3

GTA Vice City: 4.3

GTA SA: 10

GTA LCS: 7.4

GTA VCS: 7.6

GTA IV: 10

TLaD: 8.9

TBoGT: 8.3

GTA V: 10

Wanna update my rating for GTA Vice City, is now -10

Edited September 27, 2021 by Corndawg93

[Guest]

6 hours ago, MiamiViceCity1986 said:

I couldn’t care less if you’re “convinced” or not.

You know? Fine, there are more important things to worry about.

6 hours ago, Corndawg93 said:

Wanna update my rating for GTA Vice City, is now -10

Why not -100?

[ThatBenGuy1998]

III: 10/10

VC: 10/10

SA: 8/10

LCS: 6/10

VCS: 8/10

IV: 10/10

TLAD: 10/10

TBOGT: 10/10

CTW: 9/10

V: 5/10

Just because I rate a game as 10/10 doesn’t necessarily mean I think it’s perfect. It just means I’m perfectly satisfied with it, I think it’s fine just the way it is and it really doesn’t need to be rewritten.   

[Algonquin Assassin]

40 minutes ago, idontcareanymore said:

You know? Fine, there are more important things to worry about.

Wait. Did you change your name just because of that exchange?

 

I mean do what you like I guess, but it seems a little dramatic to get all emo.

 

Um bye?

Edited September 27, 2021 by MiamiViceCity1986

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, MiamiViceCity1986 said:

Wait. Did you change your name just because of that exchange?

 

I mean do what you like I guess, but it seem a little dramatic to get all emo.

 

Um bye?

Not just for that reason, also because these truly are the darkest times of being a GTA fan (R* shoving "E&E" down our throats, those half-assed trailers and delay, how they handle 3D era modding...)

Excuse me if I was a little grumpy.

Edited September 27, 2021 by Guest

[Be-Deliver]

• GTA III - 8/10
  I got to give this game a lot of credit for being the kickstarter of 3D open-world games into the gaming industry as a whole. Spent over 200 hours of gameplay on this game (both on mobile and PC) messing around with the cops. Gotta say, I'll never forget on how OP the M16 is in GTA 3. I shouldn't be factoring this into my rating, but playing all of the future entries and this game just ages poorly in comparison.
   
• GTA Vice City - 8/10
  Tbh, nothing much changed from the core gameplay asides from the introduction of different weapons for each class, you can now drive motorbikes and fly helicopters. Other than that, gameplay remains more or less the same, and is plagued by the same aging issues GTA III suffered from. The big part that made me gave it a high rating was the atmosphere of the 1980's ranging from the music, story, dialogue to the small details to capture that feeling.
   
• GTA San Andreas - 9/10
  I spent over 500+ hours playing SA on both mobile and PC, and still playing to this day. Story didn't felt dragged out at all, nicely flowing through from start to finish. The map felt a lot bigger then it actually is to the point I think GTA V feels small despite its size. Major part that makes me want to comeback is how moddable San Andreas is compared to all other GTA's. Modded the game so much to the point I wanted to replay the whole story to experience the whole storyline with those mods that mainly overhaul the vanilla game.
   
• GTA IV - 9/10
  First game in the franchise to utilize the RAGE engine, and man it felt like a quantum leap in terms of technology from the 3D games to HD era. Gunplay felt satisfying whenever I land a shot on someone and watch someone ragdolling from the bullet's impact. I was impressed when I learned NPCs don't necessarily die after getting hit by multiple bullets. Driving, tbh, I like how it how stiff it felt when you're attempting to turn at high speeds especially with heavy vehicles. Melee combat was unpredictable and it felt great whenever I successfully pull off a counter attack. I don't know where to start off with the storyline nor am I able to coherently explain why I love it, the character development, the arcs between the maingame and its episodes and the atmosphere all come together to give me the best storyline in the whole franchise. I've replayed the story five times in the span of 4 months and will love to do it again.
   
• GTA V - 8/10
  Second HD era game that improved a lot from GTA IV, but felt inferior in other fronts. Gunplay was to say the least a hit and miss. On one part, shooting doesn't feel clunky especially when cover since in IV your aim goes slightly off when you start exposing yourself and shooting. Weapon variety including adding attachments was neat, though I wish we were restricted to one weapon per class instead of a whole arsenal inside our pockets. Though the downgrade of the gunplay is the lack of NPC's reaction when getting hit by bullets, either they get stunned and immediately resume shooting or fall on the floor and die instantly. Driving, to say the least was okay, don't care too much about flying. Storyline was okay, I appreciate Rockstar giving us the option to replay each mission from the menu, though in comparison to IV, there was no replay value for me to restart the story from scratch.

Edited October 3, 2021 by Be-Deliver

[ThatBenGuy1998]

5 hours ago, idontcareanymore said:

Not just for that reason, also because these truly are the darkest times of being a GTA fan (R* shoving "E&E" down our throats, those half-assed trailers and delay, how they handle 3D era modding...)

Excuse me if I was a little grumpy.

Darkest times of being a GTA fan? Sounds a little dramatic if you ask me. I also feel like you suggested to rate VC a -100 because you had a bone to pick with MiamiViceCity1986. I also excuse your grumpiness. It happens to the best of us.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, ThatBenGuy said:

Darkest times of being a GTA fan? Sounds a little dramatic if you ask me.

I guess reading recent topics about how poorly GTA V "E&E" is handled and Take-Two's hostility towards modding has been taxing for me, things don't look bright atm. I feel like there's a void in this genre that sadly no contemporary game quite fulfills for me.

10 minutes ago, ThatBenGuy said:

I also feel like you suggested to rate VC a -100 because you had a bone to pick with MiamiViceCity1986.

Maybe lol. Then again, in his post he didn't seem to regret his negativity towards SA too much either, so yeah. Also you could see that I'd rate VC like 8.5 or maybe 9/10 these days.

14 minutes ago, ThatBenGuy said:

I also excuse your grumpiness. It happens to the best of us.

Thanks. I'm actually thinking it probably would be healthier for me to take a break from the forums.

[ThatBenGuy1998]

37 minutes ago, idontcareanymore said:

I guess reading recent topics about how poorly GTA V "E&E" is handled and Take-Two's hostility towards modding has been taxing for me, things don't look bright atm. I feel like there's a void in this genre that sadly no contemporary game quite fulfills for me.

Maybe lol. Then again, in his post he didn't seem to regret his negativity towards SA too much either, so yeah. Also you could see that I'd rate VC like 8.5 or maybe 9/10 these days.

Thanks. I'm actually thinking it probably would be healthier for me to take a break from the forums.

You’re welcome. Yeah. I hear ya. Taking a break from the forums can be a good idea. It’s a quasi-toxic place as of present day. Lol.

Edited September 27, 2021 by ThatBenGuy

[Tycek]

• GTA 1 - The beginning of everything and great game back in the day. Despite simplicity of graphics and mechanics it was very captivating - 8/10
   
• GTA London 1969 - Great add-on to the first GTA, not only adding London as playable city, but also new mechanics (car tunning) - 8/10
   
• GTA London 1961 - Rather strange thing, as it was add-on for add-on. Game was rather short (only one chapter) and very hard to finish, being on the verge of being so difficult it was no longer fun - 4/10
   
• GTA 2 - Game that was outdated in its premiere, which is a bit strange, since DMA Design made Body Harvest (fully 3D open world game) in 1998. Atmosphere was good, but simple graphic and repeating missions weren't that cool - 6/10
   
• GTA III - Game that theoretically started the GTA 3D era and pretty much all the fuss for 3D open world crime games. Great game I like to return to from time to time - 9/10
   
• GTA VC - Updated GTA III with 80's atmosphere. One of the best 3D era GTA up to date in my opinion - 10/10
   
• GTA SA - Technological marvel of its time, especially for PS2, but its gameplay was becoming stale and the lack of refinement was quite visible. Not my favourite GTA, yet I've completed it 5 times at least - 7/10
   
• GTA Advance - Monster of the 3D series. Game no one asked for, especially that it wasn't even made by R*. I've completed it, but it wasn't pleasant ride. I don't recommend it - 3/10
   
• GTA LCS - First true portable GTA game. Sure its story was not very original and main protagonist was badly written and shoehorned in the last moment of the story, but the possibility to play GTA everwhere? - 6/10
   
• GTA VCS - Pinnacle of GTA 3D era, only slightly worse than Vice City. It had great soundtrack (Phil Collins) and fun bussiness side-game - 9//10
   
• GTA IV - The best GTA in my opinion and the game that practically changed my life. I've completed it so many times I lost count and very likely will do it again - 10/10
   
• GTA IV TLaD - Practically the same GTA IV with some things fixed (lack of rewards) with biker gang skin applied. It could be a bit longer, but I love it - 9/10
   
• GTA IV TBoGT - Despite being add-on to GTA IV it changed many things for the worse. However even if I am not a fan of this new approach I've completed it as many times as GTA IV, since it's part of the same game - 7/10
   
• GTA CTW - Fantastic portable game that had a lot of well designed and interesting mechanics to utilize Nintendo DS system. It also quite nicely combined 3D era (side missions) with HD era (story and city). One of the underrated titles - 8/10
   
• GTA V - Game that was huge disappointment for me. I thought that R* will make the best game yet, but taking into consideration time, budget, their experience and technology they created very mediocre title. I've completed it twice (second time was only to get 100% which was locked during first playthrough due to a bug) and it was painful - 4/10
   
• GTA Online - Complete downfall of R*, which not only destroyed the reputation of the company, future of their games, but also influenced GTA V in a bad way. It may be fun if You're playing with friends, but the idea to play with other random people was completely missed - 2/10. 

Edited September 28, 2021 by Tycek

[Algonquin Assassin]

4 hours ago, idontcareanymore said:

 

Maybe lol. Then again, in his post he didn't seem to regret his negativity towards SA too much either, so yeah. Also you could see that I'd rate VC like 8.5 or maybe 9/10 these days.

 

Please read through the “My trip back to San Andreas” thread I quoted if you haven't already because that was the entire reason I made it. To revisit San Andreas again after all the years of blindly bashing it. I wouldn't commit to something like that if there wasn't some regret/guilt behind it. 

And honestly when I look back at some of the posts I made bashing San Andreas they make me cringe lol. I was a f*cking idiot. I mean yeah there’s still some things about it I’m not fond of, but it’s obviously not a 5/10 game or whatever and that’s what I’ve been trying to explain because my views/opinions have changed since then. I can’t change the past and I can't make anyone take what I say seriously, convince them etc, but I know where I stand and that's what's important to me.

 
Anyway normally I would do a revision, but that list is pretty accurate except for San Andreas which should be a 9/10 (And Vice City should be 10/10 instead of the 9.5 I originally had) so I probably don’t need to revise the rest.

Edited September 28, 2021 by MiamiViceCity1986

[Guest]

1 hour ago, MiamiViceCity1986 said:

Please read through the “My trip back to San Andreas” thread I quoted if you haven't already because that was the entire reason I made it. To revisit San Andreas again after all the years of blindly bashing it. I wouldn't commit to something like that if there wasn't some regret/guilt behind it. 

And honestly when I look back at some of the posts I made bashing San Andreas they make me cringe lol. I was a f*cking idiot. I mean yeah there’s still some things about it I’m not fond of, but it’s obviously not a 5/10 game or whatever and that’s what I’ve been trying to explain because my views/opinions have changed since then. I can’t change the past and I can't make anyone take what I say seriously, convince them etc, but I know where I stand and that's what's important to me.

 
Anyway normally I would do a revision, but that list is pretty accurate except for San Andreas which should be a 9/10 (And Vice City should be 10/10 instead of the 9.5 I originally had) so I probably don’t need to revise the rest.

"Ahh, we all do dumb things... that's what makes us human."

Really, thank you for further clarifying this. The thread you linked came in a later edit, so it's my bad I didn't really look into it. I think we can let the matter rest.

[Algonquin Assassin]

Just now, idontcareanymore said:

"Ahh, we all do dumb things... that's what makes us human."

Really, thank you for further clarifying this. The thread you linked came in a later edit, so it's my bad I didn't really look into it. I think we can let the matter rest.

 

No problem. Misunderstandings happen every now and then.

[Maxxeine]

• GTA 3: 7/10. Great for its time, but the mission design hasn't aged well, which is a main reason why I haven't bothered completing it yet. I love the radio stations and Liberty City, but it's not a fun game to actually play.
• VC: 9/10. Fantastic game. Took what GTA 3 did and did it better albeit with there still being some annoying mission design here and there. Vice City is also gorgeous and I think it's more well realized than 3's LC.
• SA: 9.5/10. Almost flawless. The most ambitious of the 3D era and its reputation is well deserved. It's still not perfect to me due to it still carrying 3D-era mission design (Zero's RC missions are just horrible).
• IV: 10/10. First of the HD era and truly does everything it sets out to do and does it well. I'd argue it's the only GTA to really capture the feeling of the city it takes place in. Liberty City feels like a real location. The episodes are excellent, soundtrack by Michael Hunter is dare I say iconic, and its physics are still unmatched especially with the huge downgrade in V. It's not perfect, but it deserves its 10/10 rating regardless.
• V: 9/10. It's not my favorite GTA but I have to give it credit. V's map is gigantic, and Rockstar did an excellent job with detailing the countryside. It's also the first GTA with an entire official soundtrack, and it was done absolutely flawlessly with a perfect mix of musical styles for each part of the story, character and location. R* chose its talent well for the soundtrack. I know GTAO is an easy target, and it has its problems, but I still have to give R* credit for what they've accomplished. Every piece of GTAO content has been top quality and I still play it, so that has to count for something.

 

No ratings for the 2D GTAs because I've barely played them (same with stories and CTW).

[_Ryan_]

From the ones I’ve played.

 

GTA III: 8/10

Vice City: 8/10

San Andreas: 9/10

GTA IV: 9/10

GTA V: 8.5/10

[ThatBenGuy1998]

Here’s my reasons for my ratings of certain GTA titles.

GTA 1: 5/10. It started the whole franchise off which is really cool but it seems more like a tech demo than an actual GTA title.

GTA 2: 5/10. Catchy soundtrack but once again, feels more like a tech demo.

GTA 3: 10/10. Best GTA title IMO. For me, it’s what really started the franchise. It also came out the same year my little sister was born and also the same year that an awesome XM radio station called Ozzy’s Boneyard. I swear, 2001 was one kickass year. I wish I was more than just three years old at the time.

Vice City: 10/10. Just like GTA 3, it has a fantastic storyline and cast of characters. I like it’s 1980s vibe and the fact that it was the first GTA game to have a rock station. It even had Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax on the radio. You can never go wrong there!
San Andreas: 8/10. It’s storyline could use some improvements but overall great cast of characters. Much like 3 and VC, it brought a lot of cool, new stuff to the table.

Advance: 3/10. The black sheep of the 3D era. I don’t know. Just something about it really isn’t that fun.

LCS: 6/10. Its storyline isn’t the best nor is its protagonist. It also didn’t really bring anything new to the table. However, it’s still set in my birth year, which is an obvious plus. I don’t know what it is exactly but there’s just something else that I like about it.

VCS: 7/10. Didn’t bring anything new to the table and the storyline needs just bits and pieces of improvement. Overall good game though.

IV, TLAD, and TBOGT: 10/10 (all three) Just as great as 3 and VC. They also were very revolutionary for the series in very similar ways to those two games as well as SA.

CTW: 9/10. Quite possibly the most underrated masterpiece of the series. Great storyline and characters. The only reason it’s a 9 instead of a 10 is because of the gameplay and choppy graphics.

V: 4/10. No explanation needed.
Online: 2/10. It’s kinda the worst.

Edited October 2, 2021 by ThatBenGuy

[KingAJ032304]

On 9/27/2021 at 3:10 PM, ThatBenGuy said:

Darkest times of being a GTA fan? Sounds a little dramatic if you ask me. 

TBF it really is imo

Edited October 6, 2021 by KingAJ032304
ok... how in HELL's NAME did this end up on this thread?!?!?!?!?!

[KingAJ032304]

On 10/1/2021 at 3:32 PM, ThatBenGuy said:

Vice City: 10/10.

On 9/27/2021 at 7:01 PM, MiamiViceCity1986 said:

(And Vice City should be 10/10 instead of the 9.5 I originally had) so I probably don’t need to revise the rest.

On 9/27/2021 at 4:33 PM, Tycek said:

• GTA VC - Updated GTA III with 80's atmosphere. One of the best 3D era GTA up to date in my opinion - 10/10

 So as someone who really REALLY inspires to be a game dev in the open world crime game department, can I know how this game satisfy you guys so much? I ask politely because to me there really is nothing technically/mechanically impressive, unique or innovative about the game to me story/gameplay wise even back in 2002, yet its a shared opinion just worldwide when talking about GTA that this game is almost always in top 3.

 

[Algonquin Assassin]

2 hours ago, KingAJ032304 said:

 So as someone who really REALLY inspires to be a game dev in the open world crime game department, can I know how this game satisfy you guys so much? I ask politely because to me there really is nothing technically/mechanically impressive, unique or innovative about the game to me story/gameplay wise even back in 2002, yet its a shared opinion just worldwide when talking about GTA that this game is almost always in top 3.

 

 

I can't speak for Ben or Tycek, but for me what makes Vice City so special it pretty much improved on GTA III in every significant way. First GTA with a voiced protagonist and the decision to go to 1980s Miami was so unique and refreshing at the time. You can tell the Housers really loved Scarface, Miami Vice etc and their influences are just oozing throughout.

 

Granted yeah of course some of its mechanics have aged and the story isn't the best, but I still prefer it to San Andreas, LCS and VCS. I just love how simple and carefree it is. As much as I love Niko and GTA IV sometimes it's nice to go back to a GTA game where the protagonist is kind of selfish and only wants to succeed by taking over the city without family drama being involved. 

[KingAJ032304]

2 hours ago, MiamiViceCity1986 said:

 

I can't speak for Ben or Tycek, but for me what makes Vice City so special it pretty much improved on GTA III in every significant way. First GTA with a voiced protagonist and the decision to go to 1980s Miami was so unique and refreshing at the time. You can tell the Housers really loved Scarface, Miami Vice etc and their influences are just oozing throughout.

 

Granted yeah of course some of its mechanics have aged and the story isn't the best, but I still prefer it to San Andreas, LCS and VCS. I just love how simple and carefree it is. As much as I love Niko and GTA IV sometimes it's nice to go back to a GTA game where the protagonist is kind of selfish and only wants to succeed by taking over the city without family drama being involved. 

OK as someone born early 2003, admittedly I didn't think of the fact that an 80s game during such an era where everyone is hyped to be modern (which definitely seemed to die down during the 2010s), would be such a whiplash (in a good way).  I'm just so used to 2000s onwards (and really 90s onwards as well as that's my family's music taste) that I forgot that the 80s were a decade and a half ago by VC/SA.

 

So you personally have two separate personal favorite categories for GTA, one that's just more of a simple badass turn your mind off glazed one note ambitious experience, which is GTA VC, and the other is a heavily detailed, simple yet efficient, sharp and smart melodramatic but still cheek in tongue grounded crass that is GTA IV? If so that's very interesting as one represents the past of what satisfies us and the other represents (admittedly what SHOULD be but kind of isn't) the future of what we want to satisfy us with the new fangled tech. 

Edited October 6, 2021 by KingAJ032304

[Algonquin Assassin]

8 minutes ago, KingAJ032304 said:

OK as someone born early 2003, admittedly I didn't think of the fact that an 80s game during such an era where everyone is hyped to be modern (which definitely seemed to die down during the 2010s), would be such a whiplash (in a good way).  I'm just so used to 2000s onwards (and really 90s onwards as well as that's my family's music taste) onwards that I forgot that the 80s were a decade and a half onwards ago years ago by VC/SA.

 

 

Well I was born the year Vice City was set and I was 16 the first time I played it in 2002 so I guess it just went hand in hand.. I was obviously too young to remember what the mid/late 80s were like so it was nice being giving the opportunity to play a game set during that time at a time where we just entered the new millennium/century as technology was on the rise. 

 

Now I'm the same age Tommy was it makes me feel old lol. 

 

[KingAJ032304]

1 hour ago, MiamiViceCity1986 said:

 

Well I was born the year Vice City was set and I was 16 the first time I played it in 2002 so I guess it just went hand in hand.. I was obviously too young to remember what the mid/late 80s were like so it was nice being giving the opportunity to play a game set during that time at a time where we just entered the new millennium/century as technology was on the rise. 

 

Now I'm the same age Tommy was it makes me feel old lol. 

 

Hehe you must feel REALLY old knowing that VC is about to be 2 whole decades old while the release was about a decade and a half after your birth, you are experiencing 5 different decades right now lol. If you served the same sentence Tommy served after playing VC for a few months, then you would be coming out of jail right before RDR2 was released.

[Tycek]

22 hours ago, KingAJ032304 said:

 So as someone who really REALLY inspires to be a game dev in the open world crime game department, can I know how this game satisfy you guys so much? I ask politely because to me there really is nothing technically/mechanically impressive, unique or innovative about the game to me story/gameplay wise even back in 2002, yet its a shared opinion just worldwide when talking about GTA that this game is almost always in top 3.

Since You're asking I'll gladly oblige. I guess there are two main reasons for my opinion.

 

Reason number 1 is I'm 80s kid, born year before Chernobyl incident, which is the same year GTA VC took place in. I was raised on a 80s cinema and music, swallowing this 80s atmosphere and its aesthetics. I love almost everything that you may link to the 80s - neons, kitchy style full of pastel blues, greens and pinks, New Wave and Synth music, boxy cars with pop-up headlights and digital dashboards, things like that. I guess in my mind that decade became a symbol of carefree times, where everyone was having fun and could achieve everything (take movies like Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Scarface, Miami Vice). 

Like MVC has stated Vice City is soaked with atmosphere and references to some of these 80s flicks. These little details like apartment 3C or police Cheetah chasing You at three stars really add to the coolness of this game. 

 

Reason number 2 is I perceive GTA VC as no bullsh*t game. It may have quite short storyline, but it's as focused as video game can be. VC had only features that were necessary for game like this without anything added for the sake of being there. GTA SA is technological advancement, but it tried too hard with its three big cities, rpg system, whole customization, option to be fat, slim, tattoed, etc. It tried to incorporate many different mechanics, but none of them was fully fleshed or done with good quality. GTA VC was relying more on the fun and simplicity. You wanted to change clothes? Sure, there are these complete outfits You may choose from. You didn't have to eat, train, care about affinity of the ladies You'd met, respect among Your gang members and other in my opinion unnecessary things. You had one city, one man and one mission - to take over and win. No micromanagement, no gangster simulator. Just a video game which knows it's a video game. Nothing more nothing less. No bullsh*t, just fun as in GTA 1, 2 and III before it. 

Edited October 6, 2021 by Tycek

[KingAJ032304]

Before I address the quotes in depth, I want to say I've noticed that outside GTA III, the lack of quantity to do or get involved doesn't seem to bother you guys that rated GTA VC and IV (and rdr1) as 10/10, and that you guys just are ok with having the bare stuff but done pretty well with no obvious complaints. I think that's a really BIG difference from what I like in my open world crime games. I just CAN NOT stay in gta 3, vc, and lcs or the games before it too long. I can hardly stay in RDR1 and to a smaller extent GTA IV too long sometimes as well. They just don't have enough.

 

And it's weird to mark a game down for that (or for the 3D universe they just have many things that are just annoying even ignoring age like no sprinting with 2 handed weapons or the cars flipping and exploding, no swimming, the entirety of no camera movement/free aiming, cops only caring about you, etc, etc.) And I don't mean I specifically like the random sh*t thrown at the wall stuff of SA and too an extent V too much like valet parking, train and freight and crane stuff, your general paramedic/firefighting side missions in the 3d universe along with the nice ideas but kind of crappy/unfun taxi, and vigilante side stuff, or whatever else SA had.

 

So many GTA fans especially GTA IV fans think that's what I must want when I mark a GTA game down for lacking content, when in reality I just want more of the crime stuff delivered in diverse replayable ways kind of like MP gamemodes in a way. I want drug trafficking/deliveries/clearance. I want to be involved in drive by side missions (LCS did this and I wish it was in GTA IV but stylized for that game), I want to do store/home robberies or muggings, dropping off dead bodies for people, hostage holdups, planting bombs/evidence, tower defenses with homes from crimelords/cops, stealth content on foot or following behind in cars, bodyguard/"witness" protection stuff, loan sharking maybe with only melee weapons, destroying interiors of people's homes/vehicles for money, rescuing missions of those held hostages/apprehended in police cars/in jail, or just something man, and while none of the GTAs really do this, VCS/SA/EFLC/and sorta IV/V have you doing SOMETHING that can end up enjoyable.

 

Seriously outside of RDR2 and GTA Online, we haven't really evolved beyond that basic structure the was layed out in VC and arguably just III, and I really don't think VC should have ever been used as a base beyond like 2005. It seems like few open world games actually can be on topic with its side content, have a large quantity of them, and have a lot of quality of them. Really all I can think of is True Crime (which may lack quality in many places but it's actual side stuff/content/features aren't one of them), Sleeping Dogs, WD1, and Saints Row 2 and especially 1 (and the upcoming reboot). So with saying this, I realized that this ties in to what I was about to say much more than I originally thought which is...

 

2 hours ago, Tycek said:

Reason number 2 is I perceive GTA VC as no bullsh*t game. It may have quite short storyline, but it's as focused as video game can be. VC had only features that were necessary for game like this without anything added for the sake of being there. GTA SA is technological advancement, but it tried too hard with its three big cities, rpg system, whole customization, option to be fat, slim, tattoed, etc. It tried to incorporate many different mechanics, but none of them was fully fleshed or done with good quality. GTA VC was relying more on the fun and simplicity. You wanted to change clothes? Sure, there are these complete outfits You may choose from. You didn't have to eat, train, care about affinity of the ladies You'd met, respect among Your gang members and other in my opinion unnecessary things. You had one city, one man and one mission - to take over and win. No micromanagement, no gangster simulator. Just a video game which knows it's a video game. Nothing more nothing less. No bullsh*t, just fun as in GTA 1, 2 and III before it. 

Though I thought SA hit the mark with it's quantity more often then it didn't, I do very much understand that the game was perhaps too cluttered and made the experience more tedious in a way if you are just trying to play the stylized crime game. It always makes the actual focus feel blurry, watered down, etc. Hell SA doesn't have enough focus on it's direction as it is. But despite that, I still think VC feels more like a game that people just pretend is bigger than it actually is, consciously/subconsciously. Like people are constantly hyping up each story point, mission, character, feature, car, reference, weapon, etc and adding more in their head than what it actually is almost like VC is an ott blank 80s crime game canvas that you add on to yourself rather than being non-immersion breaking with the way people seem to talk about it (non-immersion breaking as in being gripped by it's story, direction features that Rockstar has actually crafted such as RD Revolver to RDR2, Max Payne, GTA IV, Bully, etc.). I just don't think it has much longevity outside of doing what you expect (also why I just could not get into RDR1, the game just does WAY too many conventional stuff and if it want' for the fact that there is hardly a game of scale like it on the market, nothing would feel like it exclusively came from R*). For me VC just feels way too simple mechanics/features wise and outside SA/IV all the games just feel like theme swaps that makes it not really stand out from LCS, VCS, and (GTA III as well though of course that's before VC), and too an extent V and SR2 [I truly do think SR2 was just a heavily improved GTA VC but about street gangs rather than SR2 being a spiritual SA like many people feel]). That being said I would love VC way more prior to lets say 2008 at the latest but after that it's just a classic. A heavily outdated but not treated as such classic that kind of seems like its living off it's name now.

2 hours ago, Tycek said:

Reason number 1 is I'm 80s kid, born year before Chernobyl incident, which is the same year GTA VC took place in. I was raised on a 80s cinema and music, swallowing this 80s atmosphere and its aesthetics. I love almost everything that you may link to the 80s - neons, kitchy style full of pastel blues, greens and pinks, New Wave and Synth music, boxy cars with pop-up headlights and digital dashboards, things like that. I guess in my mind that decade became a symbol of carefree times, where everyone was having fun and could achieve everything (take movies like Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Scarface, Miami Vice). 

Like MVC has stated Vice City is soaked with atmosphere and references to some of these 80s flicks. These little details like apartment 3C or police Cheetah chasing You at three stars really add to the coolness of this game. 

In regards to this, I can totally understand this for sure in a theme swap sort of way with me being into the 2000-2010 type of stuff but in a more underground way, I like the crappy but funny internet meme stuff, the music video looking still serious but silly, the new definition of pop, I like the movies/series the came our and references such saw, straight scared, and the boondocks, the hiphop/baggy clothes, the somewhat taste of the future cars with more cupholders, the GTA/COD come up. It was especially nice in the midwest it seemed. 2010-2015 I like for a different reason admittedly but it'll be plain rambling to get into that. I like it all really though none of the GTAs outside GTA III do 2000-2010 all that well imo (even GTA IV just doesn't really hit that same feel for me outside the political satire stuff, it feels like a lower quality in tech version of what we still are living and arguably feels weirdly dated/generic by 2008 like it's a game taking place in 2004-6). In regards to ratings, does this have a strong effect in the ratings of the game for you?

[Algonquin Assassin]

4 hours ago, Tycek said:

Reason number 2 is I perceive GTA VC as no bullsh*t game. It may have quite short storyline, but it's as focused as video game can be. VC had only features that were necessary for game like this without anything added for the sake of being there. GTA SA is technological advancement, but it tried too hard with its three big cities, rpg system, whole customization, option to be fat, slim, tattoed, etc. It tried to incorporate many different mechanics, but none of them was fully fleshed or done with good quality. GTA VC was relying more on the fun and simplicity. You wanted to change clothes? Sure, there are these complete outfits You may choose from. You didn't have to eat, train, care about affinity of the ladies You'd met, respect among Your gang members and other in my opinion unnecessary things. You had one city, one man and one mission - to take over and win. No micromanagement, no gangster simulator. Just a video game which knows it's a video game. Nothing more nothing less. No bullsh*t, just fun as in GTA 1, 2 and III before it. 

 

That's how I'd describe Vice City too. It's completely no nonsense. 

 

It's the kind of game I like to play to kick back and relax without thinking about things too much. A bit like GTA III and 2D era GTAs. Then again I was introduced to the series with those games as a youngster so I kind of have a sentimental attachment to them. 

[Tycek]

18 hours ago, KingAJ032304 said:

In regards to ratings, does this have a strong effect in the ratings of the game for you?

I wouldn't say that historical accuracy in depicting specific period has strong effect on the game rating.  I definitely won't bash good title for anachronism (e.g. Bullet in San Andreas despite being based on 2004 Ford GT didn't bother me), but I may praise game for good presentation of specific time lapse. I care more about general atmosphere of the game and the period it's set in, though. 

[KingAJ032304]

1 minute ago, Tycek said:

I wouldn't say that historical accuracy in depicting specific period has strong effect on the game rating.  I definitely won't bash good title for anachronism (e.g. Bullet in San Andreas despite being based on 2004 Ford GT didn't bother me), but I may praise game for good presentation of specific time lapse. I care more about general atmosphere of the game and the period it's set in, though. 

Oh that's great! I was actually just referring to your own experience in real life and wonder if that gave an edge more than if it wasn't in the 80s but like another time period but that kills two birds with one stone! 

[Badman_]

GTA III: 7/10 (It was already kinda dated when I first played it).

Vice City: 9/10

San Andreas: 10/10

Liberty City/Vice City Stories: 6/10

GTA IV & DLCs: 8/10

GTA V: 9/10

[illicitstreet]

GTA III: 6/10; I get that it's a revolutionary game, but it's just so forgettable compared to the rest of the 3D games, just boring

GTA VC: 10/10; Atmosphere, charm, music, everything about VC is just top notch, even if some of the stuff didn't age so well

GTA SA: 9,5/10; I love it almost as much as VC, have some very fond memories of this one

GTA IV: 9,8/10; This is the one I always come back to, that story and those characters, no other GTA game even comes close on that department imo (TLAD: 8.8 and TBOGT: 9,4)

GTA V: 7,5/10; It just isn't my cup of tea, really dislike the characters on this one, Michael is ok and I couldn't care less about Franklin but Trevor is probably one of my least favorite videogame characters of all time. (GTAO: 6,2/10)

[ThatBenGuy1998]

I apologize for being a bit late to the party but much like @MiamiViceCity1986 and @Tycek, I agree about VC basically being a no nonsense type of game, which is what I also like about it. VC is without a doubt in my top three favorite GTA titles as well. Just like with its predecessor known as GTA III, you can obviously tell that R* were classic movie enthusiasts. The 3D era definitely did it best IMO. III and LCS had a similar theme to The Godfather and Goodfellas, VC and VCS had a similar theme to Scarface and Miami Vice, and SA had a similar theme to Boyz n Da Hood. III and LCS seem to go great with the Italian Mafia aesthetic, VC and VCS seem to go great with the cartel aesthetic, and SA seems to great with the street gang aesthetic. IV and EFLC as well as CTW did a great job with different aesthetics too IMO. IV with the Russian Mafia, TLAD with the outlaw biker, TBOGT with a combo of VC and IV, and CTW with the Triad. I pretty much like my GTA games the same way I like my COD games even though one is obviously a crime and law enforcement game whereas COD is a military game. I kinda like for both game franchises to just stick with the more realistic approach as opposed to veering too off course with supernatural or paranormal stuff. Both RDR games, all three Max Payne games, and LA Noire all seem to follow a similar formula to a lot of great GTA and COD titles which is why I also love those games a lot.