Grand Theft Auto's biggest problem: Cars

The Grand Theft Auto 5 hype train has started rolling, but one writer can't get too excited about it. Why? Because of those stupid cars.

[Gungnir]

I agree as well. I hate driving for extended periods of time in these games.

[news4geeks]

I hated driving around those country roads in SA. Talk about boredom.

[Cataclism0]

The problem isn't cars in general its the cars in game. Rockstar needs to grab some people from Midnight club to teach them how to make cars fun.

There's no excuse for stealing the equivalent of a 911 and being unable to drive down a highway at 80 without dying.

[cwir]

Grand. Theft. AUTO.

[Steven21]

If you dont like the set up of grand theft auto then dont play it. Thats is what the game is and always has been about. The author of this is digging for flame bait and its pointless. If you dont like a certain game dont play it.its that simple. Theyre not going to change the whole structure of their arguably best game ever because a couple people complain about the cars. I opened this thinking it would be about the lack of licensing but its flame bait.

[THR1LLHOUSE]

If flying around Arkham City makes you *feel* like Batman because of how fun and exciting it is, wouldn't driving a car around LA trying not to blow it up make you *feel* like a guy driving a car around LA trying not to blow it up?

Sure, being Batman is more fun than being some guy, but it's not like you're gonna play a superhero in GTAV. What're you supposed to do if not drive cars?

[crazytown99]

Leave GTA to the people who will enjoy it, is what. :P

[illegalyouth]

Only if driving a car around L.A. could be fun. Have you ever driven a car in L.A.? Further, would you really want to drive a car in L.A. with controls from a Rockstar game?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

[HardCover]

Have you ever driven a car in Los Santos with a 4 or 5 star wanted level? Have you ever done that in a car driven by a DualShock 3?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

[Blaze929]

you know, Now that we are talking about the cars in GTA, that brings up an interesting point.

Grand Theft Auto - does the name even fit what the games are about anymore? I mean sure you can still steal cars but looking at it from a bigger picture, I don't even think the name fits the kind of games Rockstar makes in the series anymore.

random...

[mynameisEvil]

GTA is now more about, "Oh, I came here with a disadvantage and a terrible past. I lose all that's dear to me and then I become awesome and someone who aims to be on America's Most Wanted" than fun and stealing cars.

Saints Row took the spirit of what GTA used to be and is howing us what could've been. I don't want crappy driving controls and boring minigames like billards, eating, watching lame cabaret shows, and bowling. I can do all that in real life. I want to do what I used to be able to do in GTA. That is, jack a taxi and go on some intense rides similar to Crazy Taxi. I wanna grab a tank and go on a rampage. Hell, I wanna grab that dildo from the jail cell and go beat up old grannies with it.

But, no. Rockstar says, "that's not good enough". Thank God for Volition.

[poindat]

I don't understand what you're complaining about. You can do all of that in GTA. Except run around with the dildo. But why would you want to do that anyway? I mean, unless you're twelve or something, which seems to be the demographic that Saints Row appeals to.

GTA has always been a mature game for mature people. Its witty and emotional and critical and substantial, which is more than can be said about Saints Row.

[NagaSotuva]

You could always hop on a motorcycle. Much more fun and exciting.

[gedapeleda]

I drove motorcycle in gta4 99% of the time

[RioKing]

You don't drive motorcycles

[THR1LLHOUSE]

(@illegalyouth I hit the wrong thing, apparently)

Sure I would.

In GTA I don't need to worry about silly traffic jams or pedestrians, and if my car explodes it's not a big deal because, hey look, there's another one.

It seems like apples and oranges to me to compare GTA with Batman and Infamous just because they're all open world games. I mean, why doesn't Mario run as fast as Sonic? Why can't Sonic get a cape and fly?

[RedDead]

Imo it's a stupid argument, Infamous was not fun to navigate. Cars/planes/helicopters etc are the most fun along with Prototype(to bad the rest of the game sucks)and Spiderman. And RDR, horse is all well and good but it gets boring navigating quite quickly imo.

[brettyd]

never had a problem with it, driving in GTA games is fun if you ask me.

[LoLZoRz]

I liked driving in San Andreas because of more open roads and countryside, not so much in GTA IV because everything is crowded and doesn't have that atmosphere.

[QuodEratDemonstrandm]

So anyway. Ummmm....

[Blaze929]

The taxi can skip ride was the greatest feature in GTAIV.

[LoLZoRz]

so true, I ALWAYS used it.

[AliTheBrit420]

The only problem with any TES game is

You have to actually WALK places or get on a HORSE and RIDE, how crazy is that? unless you fast travel..

Like in GTA IV you have to actually get into a taxi and... oh wait

What was this article about again?

[Yukicore]

Problem : cars? In GTA:IV i was very impressed with their physics, damage and suspension and handling. GTA IV is one of the only games that have free-roam and excellently made vehicles that look, handle and feel great.
40 square km + Cars, bikes, planes = success!

[Foxgod]

GTA without cars, what is a grand theft auto without cars?
Stealing someones shoes?

Troll article.

[SybaRat]

Ah. Someone else who didn't actually read it.

[kramun]

Let's compare Batman and Grand Theft Auto -

Batman = Batman

Grand Theft Auto = Grand Theft Auto

I think that was science at its finest. Thanks for reading.

[Faztkiller]

GTA 4 the best part was the driving they done really good with the physics and damage IMO

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

More useless complaining that really doesn't even make sense.

Your sick of driving cars in a game called GRAND THEFT AUTO, that is supposed to be BASED IN REALITY.

Really, did this moron think that GTA would have the primary mode of transportation to be something other than a CAR.

How about replacing all the cars with hovercrafts and moon shoes. YAy

people who dont like something jsut need to shut up about it and stop wanting it to change for them. Their complaints are always crappy and off based.

[crazytown99]

That is such a good point that it appears in the article you're complaining about.

You did read it, right?

[steve30x]

This coming from somebody complaining LOL.

[kma2k]

Dont forget about Protype same idea traveling.

Also after all the hype with gta v i started playing Episodes from liberty city last night again & forgot just how much i hated driving in those dificult as hell to drive cars. I was thinking the same thing, dammit why cant i go all Ezio & just climb lol

[steve30x]

My favourite part in GTA is stealing different cars and driving the nuts out of them.

[mrsatan]

They should have made the new GTA in the future or something along those lines. It would be cool jacking hover cars and running over robot pedestrians.

[blaze22-qwerty]

Its called Grand Theft.... AUTO

[blvdnights1414]

The GTA series has always had ridiculous things within the game that you were able to do so why not include that to the ways you travel. Examples of alternative means of travel, key word ALTERNATIVE ! : Hang Glider, Hot Air Balloon, Pogo Stilts, Circus Cannon ( yes I want to be shot over the city in a &%$#*%! cannon), Submarine, Jet Pack Vertical/Horizontal (im sure some of you read the recent articles of Jetman) , it's a city so it has to have a zoo so how about any animal with a saddle ie: ostrich, Parachute with Giant Fan, Wing Suit (Transformers 3) It's a video game people, not a damn simulation stop trying to be so realistic for no good reason.

[YogiBear]

They have already included jet packs and parachutes. I think the points yourself and a lot of other people above are missing is this...

1) It is Grand Theft Auto. Auto, being the key word here. I know the franchise is not JUST that anymore, but I believe from a design standpoint every GTA has to have some kind of car-jacking and driving element.

2) The second point is that this franchise, while over the top and stylized has always been rooted in a more realistic world(i.e. no superheroes, mutants, or magic). All the games have been inspired by crime movies to a certain degree. There weren't zombies or rocket cars in Goodfellas or Reservoir Dogs.

[yezz]

"im tired of kickig the ball in fifa, there are other games where you can use your hands to move the ball like nba" that is basically same kind of issue your talking about.. its just so stupid to make an article like this! you cant judge gta for not having a damn superdude flying around the city it wouldt be gta anymore!!!

[IronFistChinMi]

I wouldn't use Infamous as an example of how traversing an open world should be done, it was annoyingly tedious getting from A to B in that game. Crackdown was more fun IMO.

[Enigma_2099]

...THEN PAY FOR A CAB AND STOP B*******!!!

Why you can even skip the trip if you don't want to sit through the whole thing. but in all seriousness, I gotta echo some of the other posters... if you're playing an open world sandbox game, how can you sit there and complain about this?

[SignifiedSix]

Is this guy being serious? Cars are what make GTA, well GTA. Without cars, the game would be lame. I like driving around, searching for hidden areas, or maybe smashing some pedestrians, watching them fly and roll as soon as they hit the ground!
Better yet, pick up a hooker, do your thing and let her walk out, only for you to kill her and get your money back! I prefer running them over and shooting them in the head afterwards. xD

[Enigma_2099]

Without cars, they'd have to rename the game!

[SignifiedSix]

Lol, exactly! Sorry for the long reply. got banned for some odd reason... :/

[americanGTA]

Grand Theft *ahem* AUTO *ahem*

but seriously, did this guy even play gta for more than 15 mins? san andreas had jet packs, and f14s (these will prob come back in V). gta4 took place in liberty city, aka nyc, which is notorious with its traffic. duh. you can hail a cab you can let it take you anywhere you want instantly in gta4

[Dakidog]

I always had fun driving, shit sometimes i even followed the traffic laws, at times i drove fast as hell but tried to be controlled cause I didn't want to ding up my new ride(i know you had the pay and spray but i didn't feel like finding one or driving in and out till i got a color i liked). There's a whole bunch of ways to change it up...ever jump on a motorcycle? The difference is amazing and just popping wheelies front and back pure joy!

I won't lie though those missions out to the country side in san andreas were a bitch...but I always made them interesting cutting through for short cuts, losing my car, having to swim, run etc...

[Ricksta_13]

That used to be the best part, stealing a car then just drive around listening to the amusing radio stations while doing drive by at random ppl.

[UnagiMaster]

You people really are stupid. Niko didn't have super powers, wasn't a billionare in a city ruled by crooks who dress up, he didn't call himself Super Bellic and dressed in spandex. Niko was an war vet who came to Liberty City (NYC) to live with his cousin. He did what he did best, kill people for money and be a badass. If they would of put in the ability to fly and other weird shiz, they wouldn't of sold much, this isn't Saints Row.

This guys argument is invalid and stupid, its his opinion yea awesome, but its a stupid one. If i want to grind on power lines and shoot lighting, i will insert InFamous 1 or 2. If i want to free run through the top of buildings and jump down and kick crooks, insert AC. If i want to free run and jump from building to building at high speeds in a time WITHOUT CARS, then ill put in AC Brotherhood.

I cant believe this made front page.

[theWB27]

im not a gta nut by any means, but i enjoyed the driving when i did play. beat gt4 and enjoyed it. I dont think batmans world is as big as gta or assasins creed. its incredibly dense. If your tired of driving in these cities now, what are you gonna do when they start connecting 2 cities the size of san andreas with interstates and such. Open world are gonna get bigger n denser. To me its defeating the purpose of a detailed city if you skipped past the actual city. Infamous was a chore to get around, cool, but a chore

[OooHJohnny]

Grand Theft Auto's biggest problem : AIMING SYSTEM.

[Wintersun616]

And the reason why Grand Theft Auto can't be different from super hero or assassin games is? Yeah, thought so, you don't have a proper reason for that.

Cars are a very important part of what GTA itself is, and a GTA without cars wouldn't be a GTA. And sometimes I want to just drive around trying to destroy everything in sight including my car and protagonist, find the craziest places to jump from, mow down as many pedestrians as possible or just cruise around for no real reason.

This article is taking complaining about nothing and lacking logic to a whole new level.

[JoeCoolxD]

Please, do me a favour and don't buy this game. If you're stupid enough to debate cars in a game called Grand Theft Auto then you really did miss the mark on the game. It's not about who can speedrun to the objective, flying over buildings, skating pipelines and what have you. For me it'll be the journey. Take in the scenary as I cruise by slowly on an orange glowed afternoon.

I mean seriously wth is wrong with you? Probably spent 8 hours playing GTA 4 at most and spent most of the time in taxi's. Just to reitterate, please, don't buy this game. You don't deserve it.

[mamotte]

mmm... I agree with this article, but I'd use other words. Obviously, I dont have problems with GTA having cars, since that's, well... obvious. What I didnt like about GTA4, is the realist approach the game is getting.

I dont have problems with traveling from A to B, but, come on... breaking the rules in GTA4 was a pain. The realism in the cars was useless. I wouldnt have problems if the game had controls and dynamics, like, idk, need for speed hot porsuit. But felt like Rockstar was packaging half of Gran Turismo in it. And, for the sake of my memories of GTA, it wasnt full at all. Sometimes I felt like I had to stop at red lights, and I was like "GTA? really?"

This was corrected in Chinatown Wars. Those controls were brilliant, the action nonstop, and yes, you can go on rampage if you want to. To hell with realism. I want an arcade style GTA.

[giovonni]

I can agree with the writer. However, the games he has used to fuel his argument against vehicles are just plain unfair. See, those games feature superhuman powers to get around, a super suit, or a machine that magically takes you to the city of your objective.
GTA is centered around an ordinary person, no powers ,no super suit just god honest/dishonest ways to get around the city. Now, I can agree that the driving is getting really boring and it needs to be spiced up, but if it an't broke don't fix it just add ways to make the player get around the city by limiting how to steal cars. I mean gta is known to walk up to a car and open the door with limited resistance start there and work your way up the creative ladder

[Dfooster]

Totally pointless article. If I want to feel like a superhero ill fly and grapple playing batman if I want to climb around stelathily I'll play assassins creed and if I want to feel like I'm a gangsta I will drive around and play GTA.

That's all there is to it, nothing more to discuss. Go think of something worthwhile to write about GTA.

[RedDeadLB]

The problem isn't the cars, but how the game wants us to use them. It's absolutely fun to drive around in high speed, running away from the police and mowing down pedestrians, but once you start a mission.. It's not fun to drive anymore, it's only a chore. I remember in the earlier GTAs (Vice City and SA) - I was collecting different rare cars such as the white admiral in VC, in SA I absolutely loved being able to buy a monster truck.. This feeling just isn't there in the last GTA. Make cars fun to use again. Make them one of the key points of the game, not just means to get around.

[Sarcasmology]

What the hell is with all the people saying the driving was the best part of GTA4...are you nuts? That was probably the worst change they made. Totally removing from the experience. If I wanted a driving sim, I'd play...REAL LIFE

[kingPoS]

Rockstar should have GTA V drive somewhat similar to Midnight Club La.
They should also bring back car customization because I really miss that part of from GTA SA.