How GTA Became The Dragonforce Of Gaming

Seeing Paramount announce a 2013 release date for Star Trek a few days ago, another one of our most anticipated games of the year, we now wonder if we have another game on our most anticipated list not actually releasing this year. Then again, it could be at E3 2012 where we see some major announcement of Gta 5 New Radio Stations V potentially being a launch title for the Wii U , something that was heavily rumored last summer... wouldn't that be e

Rockstar’s mentality of "bigger is better" is what is making Grand Theft Auto less interesting of a series than it should be. For such a maverick of a series, one that broke ground for gamers, critics and politicians alike, it sure hasn’t been as ambitious as its peers these days. While Skyrim was displaying a smart array of carefully placed activities and Saints Row was slowly chipping away that obnoxious padding between missions, Grand Theft Auto was just putting on more and more unneeded pounds. I like the idea of big games with lots of stuff to do, but simply making a game bigger and smugly putting down your competitors for their "lack of ambition" isn’t a good way to evolve your series, especially when your game is big and empty enough that you need to include yoga as a legitimate side mission.


In Scouting The Port, you control Trevor in what is probably one of the most boring missions in the game. You need to maintain cover as you take pictures of a ship that you'll assault in a heist mission. In order to keep yourself inconspicuous, you'll need to do menial cargo worker tasks... which is as much fun as it sounds like. Obviously, people boot up Grand Theft Auto V just to drive slow forklifts and move around containers using a cr

BioShock 2 has been described as a worthwhile experience by some, or a game that should simply never have been made by others. But all can agree that the game itself was almost justified by the 'Minerva's Den' DLC. Casting the player as an Alpha Series Big Daddy, they're soon drawn into a rivalry hinging on Rapture Central Computing, the home of the Thinker - the world's first artificial intellige

Of course, the biggest question on many's mind is whether or not this is a mere gimmick. With the amount of work and customization Rockstar clearly put into it, it's far from a throwaway feature. Those who tailor the settings to their likings will realistically find a whole new way to experience the title. Some may even prefer many aspects of first-person mode. While I found it agreeable, I still prefer to experience the entire game in third-person, but there's no denying that gunplay can be more smooth and precise in first-person. However gamers decide to experience it, though, they can be assured it will be in a beautiful setting.

Rockstar has improved upon one of the greatest games of all time. The original version of Grand Theft Auto V was a major accomplishment upon its initial release and remains that way even after a year of the new console generation. The current-gen version, however, allows it to continue its legacy for many more years. It's worth diving back into Los Santos simply to experience the saga in smooth 1080p, but Rockstar has gone above and beyond by adding new features and content to it. More than just a gimmick, the first-person mode really does change how it's experienced by adding a new layer of gameplay. It won't be for everybody, but the sheer fact that the option is there is commendable. More still, multiple new vehicles, weapons and animals have been introduced. If none of that were enough, over a hundred new songs have been added to the already robust radio stations. While there's nothing wrong with the last-gen version of Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar has created a museum piece with its remastered version. Everybody, from those who have spent the better part of the past year exploring everything its world has to offer to the three people who have yet to play it, should experience what has been put together here.


Next week, the PlayStation Vita First Edition bundle will grace the hands of consumers all across North America. Gamers will turn on the system, and be entranced by its beautiful HD touchscreen. Some will not go to their jobs, the streets will be filled with wrecked cars as drivers crash while playing WipEout 2048 . The world will be in shambles, and then aliens will come and enslave us. Because that was Sony's plan all al


But until that happens, you've got the Game Ranter Banter discussion to look forward to. This week, five of our lovely writers talk about the new Battleship game, based off the movie... based off of the game. In addition, we discuss Double Fine's unprecedented success with Kickstarter, why terrible games can sometimes be the most enjoyable, the UMD Passport's absence outside of Japan, and the release date for Grand Theft Auto V . Without further ado, let's get this star


Given just how beloved Dragon Age: Origins is by longtime fans of BioWare and RPGs in general, it's no surprise that its only expansion is just as lauded. Picking up months after Origins concluded with the player's Grey Warden defeating the Darkspawn, 'Awakening' drops them back into a world where the enemy remains, now smarter and more devoted than ever bef