expecting a puddle, and i got a poodle

[chronovore]

Playing more GTA IV last night and this morning, I realized that the game isn't really what I'd expected.

My earlier comments on the change in tone from over-the-top parodying of American culture to something which is maybe a more cinematic interpretation of American culture still stand. Even cinéma-vérité is not real life, and Hollywood movies are even less realistic. But it's really the Hollywood approach they've taken to their storytelling, where the GTA III-era games were more like a comic book such as Tank Girl or Those Annoying Post Bros. But they've really backed off from the craziness, and amped the realism.

Looking back, what I expected from IV, what I wanted, was similar to these Multi-Theft-Auto mods the fan community had been crafting from abandoned wreckage of the previous PC versions of GTA III-era games. In those games it was fun and easy to just wreak havoc and laugh at the cartoon violence. In IV, when I crash into another car, or a crowd of people, it's disturbingly realistic. It's not fun, or funny, I just feel bad. The boss characters' motivations don't really play as comedy, either. I don't think there will be an instant of Donald love EATING the roasted remains of the deceased mayoral candidate.

Hey...? THERE IS NO AMMU-NATION. Whisky. Tango. Foxtrot? If there was anything that I considered a hallmark of the series, it was that there was a 24-hour convenience store which would sell armor and weapons to you at 03:00 a.m. when you've just been pursued into the store by the FBI and tanks from the National Guard. In IV you buy your weapons from a black market dealer in a back alley; I don't know if it's realistic or not, but it looks just like the set used in BURN NOTICE when the hero is tracking Libyan arms smugglers. So. For whatever that's worth, the game's left some of its roots behind.
 

Comments

[sdemory.livejournal.com]

Hm. I'm not sure whether increased realism is a benefit or a hindrance. San Andreas has a certain Boyz N The Hood verisimilitude to it which works well, but it's still obviously GTA and, thus, adds depth to the run and gun that I look for in the game.

In Mercenaries, I'm desperate for the game to be as real as possible. GTA, on the other hand, I'm not so sure.

Are you digging the amount of stuff that's available to do in the game, or is it a distraction? With all of the dart-throwing, internet dating and e-commerce, are you popping caps in bustas and jockin' hoes?

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

I can't tell if it's distracting or not; every previous GTA has been more interesting in the side missions than the story missions to me. I've played 10s of hours of R3 missions between each story mission. Traditionally speaking, I've been reluctant to advance the story because when it's done I stop wanting to fool around in the world. In IV, I'm more interested in the story, it just doesn't feel like a GTA story, where the Russian mob is concerned. OTOH, it's nice to be interested in the story!

But in general, I've played darts and bowled only as long as it took to unlock their Achievements, but I enjoy playing pool with friends. You also /have/ to do something with friends to get them to like you more, so pool is a nice choice. Food is OK, and quick, and drinking together means getting unwanted police attention while your driving skills are fuckz0r'd, so... I dunno. I'd have liked it if they included "Sunday drive" as an activity, similar to the "Car Salesman" minigame from LCS...

I figured out another thing; there's a character called Brucie, an over-the-top steroid juicer who gives you missions. He has catchphrases like, "Be genetically different!!" and "STAY ALPHA!" He rules. Most people on the boards really like him, and I think it's because he's the closest thing to GTA III-era characterization. He's batshit insane.

San Andreas I think had more of the "reality" and gravitas than I'd initially remembered. Immediately previous to this GTA IV play, I'd been trawling Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, both of which primarily feature comedic characters with unrealistic behavior, drives, etc.

To war!

[sdemory.livejournal.com]

As I continue replaying GTA: SA, I'm finding that I like the focus and clarity of the game. Yes, I can play pool and yes, I can date hood-rats. My prime job, though, is obvious: to wage war, take turf and blast on fools. It doesn't feel like fooling around in the world, because it's part of the plot and part of what CJ should do.

Re: To war!

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

Well, since my 360 died last night, I may end up revisiting San Andreas a little. More likely, I'll try playing Okami.

Re: To war!

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

Oh, but further: Yeah, there's a lot of direction to San Andreas' turf wars. People resented them, but I don't know why. I liked them. They're less-well-implemented in Vice City Stories, but that's a different matter.