Summary
2013’s long-awaitedGrand Theft Auto 5marked a significant departure from its 2008 predecessor,GTA 4. WithGTA 6on the horizon, it’s worth looking at the many differences between the previous two games in the series. Perhaps a similar level of disparity can be observed between it andGTA5.Grand Theft Auto 4was the firstGTAgame to be released on the seventh generation of consoles. On the graphical front, it represented a massive leap forward for the series, while also reflecting the conventions of the time.
2008’s Liberty City is awash with the beige, gray, and brown tones that characterized so many AAA releases of that generation.GTA 4’s focus on gritty realismis evident in its narrative, which is dark, unforgiving, and emotional. These fundamental aspects ofGTA 4’s tone and identity stand in stark contrast to the vibrant, colorful, sometimes over-the-top personality of its successor, but it’s not the only major difference between the two seminal titles.
The Most Significant Differences Between GTA 4 and GTA 5
GTA 4’s Story Is Gritty, GTA 5’s Is Funny
Honing in on the most obvious difference between the two, the tone, essence, and general personality ofGTA 4’s main campaign is considerably more serious thanGTA 5’s. Indeed, it could be argued thatGTA 4’s story is more akin toRed Dead RedemptionthanGTA 5, as it’s defined by themes like corruption, death, and betrayal, whereasGTA 5’s story is more about shining a critical light on American excess, consumerism, and phoniness through comedy and satire. Overall,GTA 4’s gripping narrativeis more grounded and arguably more genuine.
That’s not to say thatGrand Theft Auto 5’s story is lesser, only that it is different. The saccharine, oversaturated aesthetic of Los Santos is the backdrop for Rockstar’s lambasting of modern American culture, and the three protagonists ofGTA 5are not as well-defined or unique as Niko Bellic.
Rather, they are more like archetypes of stereotypical Americans: Franklin represents the impoverished youth striving for the “American Dream,” Michael represents the middle-aged, jaded husband living beyond his means, and Trevor represents the repressed darkness of the country unleashed on the world.GTA 4provides social commentary, but it is more focused on one man’s struggles. Niko is the star ofGTA 4, but America is the star ofGTA 5.
GTA 4’s Sandbox Is Smaller, GTA 5’s Map Is Sprawling
Released 15 years ago as thefirst game on Rockstar’s RAGE engine,Grand Theft Auto 4is noticeably hampered by the hardware of the time. Key technical considerations like draw distance and memory, along with creative design choices, played a role in limitingGTA 4’s map, both in its scope and level of detail. As a result, the game is considerably smaller thanGTA 5, with an obvious lack of natural landscapes and a greater focus on urban environments.
GTA 5, by comparison, is massive with a map that extends far beyond the city of Los Santos to include scenic mountainscapes, deserts, valleys, and dense forests. These more rural andnatural areas are some ofGTA5’s most iconic, as they are brimming with personality and detail, and the juxtaposition between the urban and small-town cultures serves as fertile ground for additional social commentary. WithGTA 5’s map being decidedly bigger and more varied, it seems to hold up a bit better when compared toGTA 4’s sandbox, which feels much more dated, despite being released during the same console generation.
Online Multiplayer in GTA 4 Vs. GTA 5
The most enduring element ofGrand Theft Auto 5isGrand Theft Auto Online, whichRockstar is still updatingover ten years after the game’s initial launch. The online game mode is beloved by many due to its wealth of available activities, endless customization options, and long-term support and content refreshes. On the other hand, many resent the mode for its abundant microtransactions, while arguing that Rockstar has been too focused on long-term support. Many of these detractors feel that games likeRed Dead Redemption 2andGTA 6would have come sooner if not for the focus onGTA Online.
Whatever someone’s thoughts are aboutGTA Online, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t ambitious, at least when compared toGTA 4’s multiplayer component. WhileGTAOnlinehas grown exponentiallysince its release,GTA 4’s online multiplayer is much more limited. The multiplayer only offers a handful of game modes anddoesn’t feature anything resembling the MMO or life-sim elements associated withGTA Online. Additionally, the free roam portion of the multiplayer inGTA 4is much more barebones, serving more as a sandbox to explore and experiment with friends, rather than an active and reactive open world, like that ofGTA Online.
Other Differences Between GTA 4 and GTA 5
While there are obvious andpervasive elements ofGTA 5that set it apart from the game that preceded it, there are plenty of more specific differences between the two titles, including:
While they are both excellent games,Grand Theft Auto 5’s focus on comedic, larger-than-life storytelling and world-building seeps into just about every aspect of its design. This makes it a far more bombastic and feature-rich game thanGTA 4, though with significantly less realism and immersion.
Grand Theft Auto 5
WHERE TO PLAY
When a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a terrifying psychopath find themselves entangled with some of the most frightening and deranged elements of the criminal underworld, the U.S. government and the entertainment industry, they must pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which they can trust nobody, least of all each other.Grand Theft Auto V for PC offers players the option to explore the award-winning world of Los Santos and Blaine County in resolutions of up to 4k and beyond, as well as the chance to experience the game running at 60 frames per second.The game offers players a huge range of PC-specific customization options, including over 25 separate configurable settings for texture quality, shaders, tessellation, anti-aliasing and more, as well as support and extensive customization for mouse and keyboard controls. Additional options include a population density slider to control car and pedestrian traffic, as well as dual and triple monitor support, 3D compatibility, and plug-and-play controller support.
