Grand Theft Autohas always been about innovation. The series takes what worked before and expands upon it, ensuring that each entry is just as memorable as the last. And withGTA: 6coming out, the question must be asked. What mechanics are going to make their grand return?
Throughout the series’ storied history, many gameplay elements have come and gone. But with Grand Theft Auto 6 looking bigger than any previous entry, it appears as though there will be plenty of room to have some of these ideas return.
Narrative Choices
Grand Theft Auto has always done well at crafting stories that combine original ideas with homages to other standout works of crime fiction. You have not always had agency in the ways these stories turned out, but that changed withGrand Theft Auto 4,and the final choice present at the end ofGrand Theft Auto 5.
These moments helped to play to the strengths of not just the games, but also gaming as a medium. Having players make the hard choices themselves helped to craft even more impactful moments we want more of.
Customizing the Protagonist
Grand Theft Auto has experimented with customized protagonists ever since 2002 withVice City, thanks to a few different outfit choices for Tommy Vercetti. Where this began to take center stage two years later, withSan Andresallowing for everything from clothes, hairstyles, and even CJ’s weight to be influenced.
Grand Theft Auto 5 carried on this tradition, but stripped back a few of the features, like having diet and workouts influence body type. Having this level of control over the player character was a truly unique experience. With technology having only improved in recent years, it will be interesting to see just how much we will be able to put our own spin on Lucia.
Online Mode
Multiplayer components have been a part of GTA’s history ever since its first entry. But, when most players think of multiplayer and Grand Theft Auto, their first thought is GTA 5’s stellar online component, GTA Online. Updated heavily with expansions over the years, it has been enjoyed by players since its debut shortly after GTA 5’s campaign launched.
With its full suite of modes, ranging from traditional robberies, to the more outlandish, like races in the clouds over Los Santos, GTA Online has something for everyone. This is not to say that there isn’t room for growth and expansion. All of which could be accomplished by the extensive map that GTA 6 is rumored to have.
Love Interests
Trying to strike a balance between love and the life of a criminal sounds like a theme fit for a cheap paperback. But, it has worked with surprising success in GTA’s past. Sometimes utilized for comic relief, the mechanic has also been used for more poignant moments, as is the case in GTA 4.
Grand Theft Auto can unfortunately get sleazy when it comes to romance, which leaves GTA 6 room to shine by avoiding this pitfall. Other popular games are proof that a bit of romantic spice is always nice to throw in there to keep things interesting.
Gang Warfare
Across the many entries of the series, Grand Theft Auto has looked at crime through varied angles. From the classic Italian mafia stories, to the ruthless pursuit of the American Dream, the games have proven crime comes in many forms. San Andreas took things at a more street level, placing CJ in his home city caught up amid violent gang warfare.
The mechanics around the territory, and recruiting fellow gangsters, failed to fit in with the narratives presented in GTA 4 and 5. With the plot of the upcoming entry still largely unknown, it could still have a story that allows for us to overtake Vice City with our squad.
Phone Calls
Grand Theft Auto narratives succeed because they operate on both a large scale, as well as on a moment-to-moment basis. There are moments of high-octane spectacle paired nicely with downtime that help build up the characters who inhabit its crime-ridden world.
The ability to place phone calls throughout the game’s story, outside of when it’s necessary, adds that additional layer of on-demand characterization. Thanks to improvements in technology, these calls could even be taken a step further. Video calling to see the recipient’s reaction would be a nice detail, and a way to add another layer of immersion.
Odd Jobs
GTA has always been big on player freedom, which can take unexpected forms. Some players like to live out their chaotic dreams through rampages against the police and military, while others prefer a more subdued approach. Stealing certain vehicles has, in past entries, permitted you to act as a temporary taxi driver, vigilante, or paramedic.
These distractions are an enjoyable pastime that makes the world feel more alive, as well as allows for a bit of wackiness that doesn’t stray too far from the series' grounded tone.
Drug Dealing
Outside of the mainline entries, Grand Theft Auto has had spin-off titles that took its criminal elements to handheld devices. One such entry, Chinatown Wars, emphasized drug deals as a gameplay mechanic. This was a complex system in dealing with the prices of certain narcotics, which could be gathered through purchase or acquired in missions.
Having a continuous background element like this to focus on between story segments helped to establish a cohesive rhythm during exploration. If expanded upon, criminal enterprises could add fresh gameplay to the driving and shooting the series is known for.
The Internet
Each entry in the Grand Theft Auto series makes for a nice time capsule of pop culture. The humor, music played on the radios, and even gameplay elements, all help establish what was popular at the time. Grand Theft Auto 4 chose to focus on online dating as its bit of satire, while Grand Theft Auto 5 upped the ante with a simulated stock market, and websites where you can purchase vehicles and properties.
One thing that has yet to be explored to its fullest potential in a Grand Theft Auto game is social media. And judging from the debut trailer, the latest entry will make up for lost time, and could include a digital world just as interesting as the real one.
Buying Assets
In the GTA series, crime does pay, and it pays handsomely. By the latter portions of each entry, you’re able to often have more money than you know what to do with. This is where properties come in as a way to turn that cash into a passive income. They could also offer useful materials like: weapons, ammo, and armor.
This would all make for an excellent callback to the first time we were introduced to the sandy shores of Vice City. Seeing how the properties changed, and being able to make all new use of them, would be the perfect tribute to a now classic title.
