• sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    I felt GTA IV’s “emptiness” was totally fitting for the story though. Niko was all alone in a massive city, so it makes sense that he’d only know a handful of places to go. It felt like a big city you could easily get lost in, with a few major roads that helped you figure out where you were.

    GTA V, however, had no such excuse. The MCs were all natives to the area, all involved in the criminal underworld in different ways, and yet there’s still nothing to do. I expected Franklin to do something gang or car theft related other than a handful of missions, Michael to have more heists and equipment hookups, and Trevor to have some fun drug-related minigames. But no, the side content for each was underwhelming.

    • VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      Maybe it works well for the story, but just because Niko doesn’t know about places doesn’t mean they shouldn’t exist for the player to find.

      I don’t really mean crazy side missions, more small side content similar to how San Andreas had bars with arcades and pool, horse betting, driving school, flying school, collectibles, dancing, low riding, delivery missions, home robbery. Or how III had a place you could go get bombs put in cars. Small stuff that I think fleshes out the world.

      The thing is, GTA IV and V do have some of this stuff, but I think their worlds are getting so big that Rockstar just can’t make enough content to fill them the way they used to. I know they like to push bigger worlds and better graphics with every game, but I think if GTA VI had a map the same size as V with the ability to enter every building and a ton of different businesses and activities populated throughout, it would feel much fuller and more alive.

      But that also doesn’t invalidate what you’re saying about GTA IV. If it feels right, it feels right. And that’s the best feeling a game can give you. Fallout 3 is a busted mess with some of the worst shooter controls I have ever used, but maaaaaaaan do I think that game feels right.

      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        their worlds are getting so big that Rockstar just can’t make enough content to fill them the way they used to

        I really hope GTA VI is smaller than GTA V. I really don’t see the point of a bigger world if it doesn’t add to the fun. But maybe it makes sense for the online version, since players have more places to go, but surely they could have added online-exclusive areas instead (maybe they did? I never played online).

        A bigger world isn’t a selling point for me, it’s more of a liability.