In spite of me not being a warm weather/climate person for this setting, there's something to be said about how solid of an open world this has. Aimlessly driving around while fumbling with the radio was incredibly satisfying and more or less the most enjoyment I got out of the game as a whole.
Things kinda fell apart elsewhere, especially with the narrative (which has awful pacing in the back half), two of the three protagonists being unlikable, and so forth. More than anything I was struck by how close this still feels to Grand Theft Auto III in terms of the core gameplay. Sure it looks miles ahead graphically but the same clunky mission design (god forbid if you do something in any way but the exact one they want in some cases) and other factors that date back to the PS2 entries exist here. It's not unplayable by any means but there's this weird clash where the aesthetics/settings don't feel like they belong to a game that plays like this.
Hopefully VI sees something of a further refinement on the gameplay and a better protagonist (or set of protagonists). Maybe a rainier/colder location for the map.
Things kinda fell apart elsewhere, especially with the narrative (which has awful pacing in the back half), two of the three protagonists being unlikable, and so forth. More than anything I was struck by how close this still feels to Grand Theft Auto III in terms of the core gameplay. Sure it looks miles ahead graphically but the same clunky mission design (god forbid if you do something in any way but the exact one they want in some cases) and other factors that date back to the PS2 entries exist here. It's not unplayable by any means but there's this weird clash where the aesthetics/settings don't feel like they belong to a game that plays like this.
Hopefully VI sees something of a further refinement on the gameplay and a better protagonist (or set of protagonists). Maybe a rainier/colder location for the map.
3 Comments
This review absolutely hits the nail on the head. Almost everyone in this game is unlikable and the map - while detailed and sprawling, is largely void of any soul or personality. Remember in GTA4 when the cops wouldn't just immediately shoot you to death? No Burger Shot, no Cluckin' Bell, huge lack of interesting enterable buildings. Taking Chop to the park and playing fetch with him was the most fun I had playing this game...
how are only two unlikable one is a lame asshole the other a maniac asshole and the other the other is as lame as a battlefield character
InlandThempire
3 years ago
Rockstar spents all of its resources creating these detailed graphically impressive worlds but does nothing to further its gameplay. It's caught between two identities and it ultimately hinders the whole thing.
Not that I care about a rockstar game but still :o