GTA, Humor, and Protagonists - Wordplay and the Discourse of Video Games - page 91

terms of critical reviews, show what gamers focus on in GTA . GTA : San
Andreas was hailed as the best game ever made for the PlayStation 2 and
was matched by a slate of 10.0 reviews for Grand Theft Auto IV . Reviews
of both demonstrate just how hard it is to understand what makes these
games interesting, unless you play them. San Andreas was the largest world
in GTA , and when fully unlocked of ered a thirty-minute drive from one
end of the game space to another. The added depth is
why San Andreas is so awesome: it's a world that can of er dif erent
people dif erent things. If a solid storyline and some incredibly tough
missions are all that you're looking for, then you can have them. If
you'd rather spend your time doing nothing but exploring the city and
fi nding new ways to make money, destroy property, and dress like a
pimp, then you can do that too. Live the life you want to live, do the
things you want to do; it's entirely up to you. But however you choose
to do it, do it now. Drop everything and do it right now. This is the best
PlayStation 2 game ever made. Period. 39
San Andreas was more than a game—Rockstar created a world in which
players were able to choose from a tremendous range of options; no single
design element would be enough to make the game 'work,' but the combi-
nation of all of the parts, especially the little pieces of design that gave the
game depth are what makes playing GTA: SA fun. A dif erent reviewer
summarized the game, claiming,
the strength of all these dif erent gameplay elements—too many to
count—makes for a powerful package that does not disappoint, despite
the extremely high standards that Grand Theft Auto established and
that San Andreas ne e de d to l ive up to. W it h it s st rong stor y, wel l-w r it ten
dialogue, terrifi c voice cast, impressive graphics, great in-game sound,
and extremely entertaining and varied gameplay, Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas is a stupendous thrill ride that shouldn't be missed. 40
GTA : San Andreas continued the development of the series, enriching the
world as a whole and doing everything it could to make the game world
seem real and alive. In so doing, the elements of the game that are most
disturbing to many external critics recede into the background when play-
ing GTA and are replaced by things like roaming the virtual San Andreas
where players can lift weights and eat fast food.
GTA IV applied the lessons learned from previous games, while taking
advantage of the processing power of a new gaming platform. It expanded
on the wealth of activities in which players could partake, including inte-
grating mock internet access, comedy shows by Ricky Gervais and Katt
Williams, and a variety of other activities that allow players to “unwind in
Liberty City.” Players can “watch television, listen to numerous dif erent