TheGrand Theft Autofranchise has evolved a considerable amount since it debuted. While the series was once comprised of relatively simple 2D games played from a bird’s eye view, it’s now been translated into a fully 3D space with tons to do. In fact, it’s now one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, even boasting the secondbest-selling gameever inGrand Theft Auto 5.However, it’sGrand Theft Auto 4that’s the subject of a new rumor.
Talk of apotentialGrand Theft Auto 4remasterhas been circulating the internet, and while the origins of the rumor are dubious at best, it would make sense for Rockstar games to giveGrand Theft Auto 4a proper touch-up. Not only is the timing right coming off the momentum fromGrand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Editionand hype for anyGrand Theft Auto 6news, but it would also give Rockstar a chance to address some of the biggest complaints aboutGrand Theft Auto 4.
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Why Grand Theft Auto 4 Should Be Remastered
Before diving into the key things that Rockstar should change in aGrand Theft Auto 4remaster, it’s important to consider why such a remaster is worthwhile in the first place.Grand Theft Auto 4isn’t a bad game, quite the contrary. It brought the franchise forward into a new era, modernizing the controls and creating one of the most impressive interpretations of a living, breathing city that the games industry had seen up until that point. It laid the foundation that would go on to beGrand Theft Auto 5.
Like any game though,Grand Theft Auto 4isn’t without its faults. It was an ambitious project with ambitious DLC, and not all of its ambitious mechanics struck the right notes. There are clear areas where Rockstar faltered, and while it would be unfair to be overly critical of those areas a decade later, they stand to benefit greatly from an overhaul ofGrand Theft Auto 4’s gameplay. Doing so would allowGTA 4’scharacters, relationships, and narrative to shine through in entirely new ways.
Changing Grand Theft Auto 4’s Driving Physics
Perhaps the biggest gripe thatGrand Theft Auto 4players had when it was released stems from the driving mechanics. Cars are an important part of theGrand Theft Autoexperience, as evidenced by the title itself. Players spend a considerable amount of time behind the wheel, competing in races, car chases, or even just moving to and from objectives. When the franchise jumped from the less realisticSan Andreasto the relatively groundedGrand Theft Auto 4,the car mechanics players once knew were gone, replaced by a different feel.
Cars physics are more realistic inGrand Theft Auto 4than they are in the other games, but that also means that they are more unwieldy. It’s easy to slip around while driving through the streets ofLiberty City, and the problem is accentuated inGrand Theft Auto 4’sfaster cars. It’s not that the change to floatier controls was unwarranted, but things certainly skewed a bit too far in the ‘realism’ direction.
To fix it, Rockstar should take a note fromGrand Theft Auto 5’sbook while preserving a degree of realism to make it feel authentic toGrand Theft Auto 4’score DNA. Players might not need the option to fling themselves off a mountain at upwards of 250 MPH, but the smoother controls ofGrand Theft Auto 5would go a long way in the dense streets of Liberty City. Plus, if the balancing act works, it could even pave the way for an expanded offering of vehicles in aGrand Theft Auto 4remaster.
A Grand Theft Auto 4 Remaster Should Have Fewer Phone Calls
Grand Theft Auto 4put a lot more emphasis on Niko’s relationships with his friends and family than previous entries did with their rosters of characters. Niko is regularly invited to hang out with characters that players interact with throughout the story, whether that’s on a date or just spending time with a friend. It’s a feature that wasalso present inGrand Theft Auto 5,though it wasn’t used as much, with players mostly being left to invite friends out themselves rather than being on the receiving end of calls.
That was probably for the best, asGrand Theft Auto 4’scallsgot obnoxious pretty quickly. In fact, calls happened with such regularity that they became a meme on many online circles. Niko’s cousin Roman is the most notable for this, with his line “Niko, cousin, let’s go bowling!” being almost as infamous asSkyrim’s"arrow in the knee" dialog. It’s not that the hangouts are a bad time, but players have a tendency to skip them because of how often they pop up.
In a way, the calls did help makeGrand Theft Auto 4’sending more impactful. And while that ending won’t be spoiled here, it’s yet another indicator thatGrand Theft Auto 4needs surgical changes rather than dramatic overhauls. The answer isn’t to cut phone calls out ofGrand Theft Auto 4completely; it’s to make them less frequent. Doing so will make for a stronger, more enjoyable game in the long run.
It’s a testament toGrand Theft Auto 4that so little needs to be changed about it. Rockstar successfully managed to capture the look and feel of New York with Liberty City, and seeing it realized with better graphics could be amazing. While fans might be stuck waiting for theGrand Theft Auto 4remaster if the rumors turn out to be true, it could do a lot for one of the most underappreciated entries in the series.
AGrand Theft Auto 4remaster is rumored to be in development.
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