Five Things I Learned from a Weekend in Los Santos
Written by: Adam "ManKorn" Korenman, CC2K Video Games Editor
5) In a Murder Simulator, Organized Murder Feels Off
We’re running straight at the lunatic with the automatic weapon? Sounds like a plan!
Let’s get the obvious statement out of the way: Grand Theft Auto Online is a marvelous achievement for gaming.
The entire map of San Andreas, from glamorous Rockford Hills to dusty Blaine County, is available for you and fifteen strangers to explore and enjoy. You can rob liquor stores, sell stolen cars and bust up drug deals. There is property to buy and a life of crime to establish. Almost all of the mechanics of the world seem tailor-made for an incredible and seamless experience.
Except for, say, the deathmatches.
Rockstar North has never been the best when it comes to shooting mechanics. Guns certainly feel powerful enough, but aiming at a target is more difficult than trying to have a civil conversation with a Deathclaw.
Who wants a hug? No one? How about rended flesh?
While they were able to make some improvements in Max Payne 3, there is still a lot to be desired. The targeting reticule is minimalist by design, but that makes it easy to lose during a firefight. The sensitivity of the auto-lock (which can be turned off) means that you will either constantly fight to bring your small white dot to bear, or constantly fight back a yawn as your magic magnet gun fires seeker rounds into your enemies.
The team deathmatches fare somewhat worse than the free-for-alls, mostly due to the unbalanced damage model. While hiding behind a concrete pillar, my character came under shotgun fire. Thankfully the attacker was at long range, so I felt safe as I traded rounds. Suddenly a pellet nicked my arm, apparently separating some massive and hitherto unknown artery. As you only get one life per fight, that was it for me.
Maybe that’s why so many players want to bring the carnage into “Free Roam” world rather than be limited by the game types. But then things just devolve into drive-bys and hit-and-runs, and with hospital visits costing upwards of $1000, it takes some fun from the experience. I had been led to believe that GTA O would feature a variety of colorful tribes a la Gangs of New York, all fighting for trurf and honor while taking in the odd golf game or tennis match. But that doesn’t seem possible as…