Rockstar Games is evolving.

I want to take a break from my "top 10" blogs to discuss Rockstar games for a moment. Rockstar Games holds a lot of nostalgia for me. Their first big hit, GTA III, was the reason I bought a ps2 and I bought every GTA game since. Back then GTA was their ticket into fame, infamy, and fortune. But when this genration hit, Rockstar proved they were not a one trick pony.

Red Dead Redemption proved to me that Rockstar was past the childish elements of GTA. It had elements to it that screamed "Rockstar!" but without all the hookers and the innumerable innuendos of the GTA series. That is not to say I dislike those things, they are fun every once in a while but as I grew older I wanted something more than cheap laughs. Read Dead Redemption had more of a deeper story that said a lot about the earlier old west days; about how history back then is not so different from modern times. Red Dead Redemption was like a window into the past and since we don't have time machines, that is a good as it gets.

Im hoping Rockstar will continue this in their upcoming game, LA Noir. La Noir seems a lot like Red Dead Redemption, only set in the 1940s with a classic detective theme. From what I have seen in the trailers. this is a pretty classy game in many ways. The facial capture technology is not only very good but the story seems mature, gritty and engaging. Rockstar games is once again trying to show us a window into a different time. If Rockstar keeps uo this pace, GTA may have to share the fame with a few of its younger brothers.

Im impressed with how much Rockstar games has changed over the years. When you think they can't get any better, they push the boundaries even more by trying new approaches. Developers who try to copy them are always a step behind because no one knows what Rockstar will do next. They are not followers; they are one of the leaders of the industry. I am very excited for LA Noir, but I also want to hear a little bit about Agent pretty soon too. Maybe that will be the cream of the crop. Until then, kudos to you Rockstar, Keep on developing.

[Stuart5756]

Rockstar aren't making L.A. Noire though! Agent is the focus! However last gen R* had loads of non GTA games, more than this gen.

[n to the b]

Bully comes to mind but I can't think of any others. I'm not doubting you, I'd geniunely like to know?

[SMOK3xFFx]

Midnight Club was/is a killer series too.

[Dsnyder]

Oh yes. MC:Dub edition was the highest point of the series so far. LA was a huge disappoiment for me. That was the real "GTA IV" for them. That absurd feature where the car automatically flipped when you crashed it was pure madness. GTA IV is pretty good if you get the complete addition. That has what it was missing from the origianl build. That is to say, cool weapons, likeable main characters (luis is pretty awesome, jonny is pretty badass too) and that missle launching chopper and tank!

[theonlylolking]

Rockstars last good game was GTA3 sad to say.

[gamerdude132]

I think the only bad game they've really CREATED was GTA IV. Everything else, was gold and RDR was friggin' Platinum. Best Rockstar game ever. GotY for me.

[mmPete]

I'm sorry, what is so bad about GTA IV?
Rockstar is my favorite developer, and I love ALL Their games.

[gamerdude132]

It became bad when they tried to make it realistic. It doesn't fit a series like GTA well and what we got out of it was a boring game that tried to do too much.

And I hate my "friends". All they do is bug you. Pricks.

Let's not forget that character models and civilian NPC animation sucked. There was never much happening on-screen, further making it boring. Then you have the lack of minigames, which it should've had more of if they wanted you to be in a "living, breathing city".

But, for me, there was one additional flaw: disappointment. I thought this was going to be the best GTA game ever. They had enough time for it. They had the resouces, but they failed. I was so psyched for it, I actually had a dream about it several months before release. Then it pulls this crap. No. Just no.

Well, that was my honest opinion...

[mmPete]

@gamerdude132
I disagree.
There were plenty of minigames, such as the fights, darts, police and pizza missions, etc. The achievements/trophies were excellent. The open world environment allowed for plenty of action, such as police chases, setting up chain reactions, or just blowing shit up. And then there is the amazing campaign, which was very long, and you could add on 2 more for a mere price of $40. There were plenty of cheats, which added to the re-playability. And on top of that, there was the (admittedly mediocre) online mode, which allowed you to play with friends. Honesty, you are going to say that it is a bad game because the animations of civilians were bad? Look at how old this game is (4 years?) The game engine was brand new there, and handling a whole city was already a huge achievement, so the animations may have suffered a bit. This does not take away though from the excellent game that it is.

[TheLastGuardian]

GTA IV was overrated by developers and because of that it's underrated by most gamers. I guess people were expecting GTA IV to be more like the PS2 GTA's and they were disappointed. I am a huge R* and GTA fan. I was disappointed that GTA IV wasn't more like the PS2 GTA's but I can still accept that GTA IV is a very well made game.

[ubiquitious]

That's just it. We all have different, honest opinions.

I loved Bully and GTA IV and all of its DLC. So buying RDR was a no-brainer for me.

Sadly, after a month of play time I traded it in. I must have sunk 20+ hours into the singleplayer and I found myself not giving a damn about the story or any of the characters. I found that game to be incredibly dry and missing essential elements of previous Rockstar games.

IMO RDR was the "only gad game R* has created".

I'm hoping L.A. Noire will bring Rockstar back to its roots.

[IllusionRSN]

Great entry, thanks!

[CeilingManx]

I don't know if it was just me, but I thought the facial animations were disturbing in that LA Noire trailer

[Mista T]

ever since they made GTA4, I've vowed to myself to never by one of their games again unless they actualy throw in the element of fun in their games. there games have been lacking gameplay and replay value.

They are the kind of games that you finish once and never play again, which is what I look at in every single game I get. and R* has been failing that.

[Heavy_Rain]

GTA4 was very very average. No where close to the 10's it got. RDR was an amazing game and way way better then GT4 IMO.Maybe the setting felt refreshing I dont know but really loved the laid back environment in RDR. Looking forward to LA Noire which I am sure has Rockstars blessings. But Agent I have a feeling is going to be revolutionary. I have this gut feeling.

[Dsnyder]

I hope so. The devs said its turning into "something special" and if that is coming from Rockstar, ill take thier word for it. But on ther other hand, I still dont even know anything about this game so I cant really get my hopes up quite yet. Screenshot or something! Maybe after Noire.

[bunfighterii]

I haven't played a Rockstar game I haven't liked a lot.