Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, a compilation of remasters of three classic GTA games, was released by Rockstar. Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001), Vice City (2002), and San Andreas (2004), three of the studio’s most influential PS2-era titles, can now be played in 4K on newer platforms with upgraded graphics and gameplay modifications. However, it’s fair to say that the reaction has been mixed. Some fans have praised the new visual style, which aims to maintain the beauty of the classic games while using modern lighting and post-production techniques. Others have been less enthused, expressing their disappointment and, in some instances, wrath on social media and GTA fan groups. Us? We fall somewhere in the middle.
Good: World and Scenery
It’s no secret that the original games’ popularity was due to their gameplay rather than their graphics, but that doesn’t mean they were ugly games for their time. It’s fair to say that time hasn’t been kind to the original trilogy’s blocky visuals, which now seem horrifying even when compared to certain recent indie and mobile games. Thankfully, the definitive edition trilogy significantly enhances the aesthetic of the surroundings, notably in the last two titles.
The landscapes in Vice City and San Andreas have never looked better, owing to enhanced lighting and more realistic weather effects.
Bad: Poor Design Choices
Nobody expected Grove Street Games to make too many drastic modifications since they were tasked with remastering the trilogy rather than recreating it. However, it’s pretty common for developers to incorporate quality of life enhancements when updating older games, and the definitive edition trilogy, unfortunately, lacks them. The fact that cars are still so simple to turn over and explode in GTA 3 is just one example, but there are dozens more across the three games. The developer’s decision to use missable trophies/achievements is also a bad design choice.
Good: Wave Of Nostalgia
The storylines in PS2-era Rockstar games were typically average when compared to those found in Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. This could be said about the original trilogy as well, but it didn’t prevent players from falling in love with the trilogy’s three now-legendary titles. Now gamers have a chance to get back to this beautiful world, walk down the familiar streets again and live through experience from their childhood. Do you want to meet Lance Vance Dance again? Go to Vice City. Take revenge on Catalina? It’s time for GTAIII. Or maybe you want something special: dress up in an expensive tuxedo and go out for a night on the town? Then travel to an exciting venue in Las Venturas. Our partners from Exycasinos say it’s their favorite location!
Bad: Bugs, Bugs, And More Bugs
When a publisher creates a “definitive” version of a video game, it’s expected that it’ll be superior in almost every way to the original. Unfortunately, it’s tough to defend the way the GTA Remastered games perform at launch, since there are several technical faults with the trilogy’s first release (at least on a base PS4, anyway).
Certain textures are often loaded at an incorrect height, resulting in floating foliage that should be on the ground. Worse, some textures may fail to load altogether, resulting in undetectable walls and bridges. The game also has some significant lag in various areas, notably when players are driving past checkpoints during races.
