Wednesday, 2 November 2011
GTA V Trailer
The car-stealin’ prostitute-beatin’ crime-em-up is back. Revealed today on Rockstar Games' website, the trailer for GTA V introduces a new main character, an unnamed retired con who just can’t resist one last job. Ring any bells? The story of a reformed criminal seeking redemption in the American dream echo’s Niko Bellic’s move to Liberty City to escape his troubled past (GTA IV).
What else? Well, it appears we can expect the usual Rockstar mix of social commentary and satire. Scenes of homeless folks and homes being put up for sale are contrasted with vistas of luxuriant wealth and golfing. Not shown so far is evidence of the MotionScan-powered facial animation as used in L.A. Noire. Let’s hope this makes the final cut.
And what about the setting? GTA V returns to San Andreas (a whole state based on southern California and Nevada). Towards the end of the trailer we’re given a glimpse of the Vinewood sign, previously featured in the sprawling GTA: San Andreas.
My personal thoughts?
Convincing, open-world games are now standard fare. Just Cause 2 and Arkham City spring immediately to mind. Two astonishingly beautiful games that take the open-world experience to some pretty spectacular places. Can GTA V really make the same kind of impact in this overcrowded market place? With all the best will in the world, I doubt it.
I mean, think about it guys: GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire, Saints Row: The Third – Rockstar will have to perform a miracle worthy of Jesus himself to make GTA V feel relevant. Sure, the prettier graphics alone will ensure millions of sales, but if I’m honest I was a little underwhelmed. Based on the trailer it looks as though Rockstar is set to continue with the same old GTA formula. Here’s hoping that I’m proved wrong.
Have to admit though, the voiceover and the music have a distinct Goodfellas vibe about them, which I totally dig. And just in case you were wondering, the music is Ogden's Nut Gone Flake by Small Faces.
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GTA's USP these days is that it's hugely story-driven. As far as it's concerned, stealing cars, beating up grannies and whatever else your average 15 year-old will do is old hat and part-and-parcel with the experience. The real richness comes from the character-driven storylines they weave in: I'm really excited to see where the story of GTA V goes more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteYou sir are aggressively current and Johnny-on-the-Spot with your blog posts. I LOVE IT.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about the return to San Andreas. I play GTA: SA daily just to drive around and mess with people, it never gets old! It's by far my favorite game and favorite setting, so I'm pretty excited about this! It'll be cool to return to some of the old places like Grove Street just to see the new, updated versions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with every inch of this blogpost. Open world games need to be fun, accessible and overall, a unique experience. Just Cause 2, Prototype, Arkham City and Saints Row offer something different, but I get the feeling that this is going to be a dry experience with a dash more colour. It's looking like this will be this generations vice city/san andreas, which is what gtaIV should have been.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, people should stop cumming in their pants over a reveal trailer. Are consumers really that stupid?