After a few weeks of going back between GTA VC (ps2), IV (Series X), and V (Series X) I've come to the conclusion that the HD era of GTA is poor compared to the ps2 era. I haven't played GTAV since 2014 or 2015 and I loved it then. I still love the story and characters but it's just not as fun as III, VC, or SA. I can play VC and get lost and just enjoying myself in minutes. I haven't played VC since like the 2000's and yet the map is still burned into my brain. Playing it is a constant thrill. The map design is genius. Despite the fact that Vice lacks hills and stuff, the map isn't flat and has a large emphasis on verticality and getting on buildings and riding your bike over stairs connected to buildings. It feels as if almost every building or house or alley has something hidden for you to do or find. There's tons and tons of alley ways with hidden crap (packages, weapons, rampages) that makes you want to explore even the most minute area. So far in VC I've collected like 13 hidden packages. Getting 10 gives you an armor at your safehouse. This formula is so addictive even now. I won't even get into the mission design which VC obliterates both IV and V in.
A look at a stunt jump compilation for VC shows just how vertical this game surprisingly is.
VIDEO I find V to be extremely sparse with few things to do within any given game radius. In VC the map is jam packed with crap and I explore every nook. In V there's so much empty crap and bloat. Driving far, far, far distances just to do. a triatholon and stuff. I tried the taxi mission and it's not arcade-y, there's not even a time limit and it doesn't keep going. So far the missions are constant cinematic chase bullshit. I really, really, really dislike modern Rockstar mission design. That isn't to say GTAV is bad. It's certainly considerably better than IV, but that doesn't make it a sure bet for fun either. IV is the most shocking game. It's a marvel to look at and explore but there's literally nothing to do in it. I have no idea how we tolerated this back in 2008. It's like pulling teeth. I obviously love and have an affinity towards NYC so I love the details and just love being in the world of GTAIV, but there's nothing to do. I have no idea what they were thinking.
Chinatown Wars was last GTA made just for pure fun. Shame that game is so underrated. I did love TLAD and Gay Tony. I look forward to replaying them.
A few conclusions I've made:
GTA games are more fun with smaller maps because it makes content more dense to go through. Things like hidden packages, missions like the PCJ challenge, constant unlocks, and stunt jumps within a short vicinity. It's all so fun. The GTA ps2 trilogy is all about fun. The HD era is all about realism. Honestly playing V has made me far less excited for VI.
I truly feel that after San Andreas Rockstar became a company that likes to smell its own farts. Sad.
So far my GTA ranking is:
III = VC > VCS > SA > Chinatown Wars > 2 > LCS > 1 = London >>>> V > IV
I love all the 2D GTA's besides Advance. 2D GTA don't miss.
Played Contra Anniversary Collection (twitch vod: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2011289424 ) and played every game legit, besides using konami codes when available. Only got one ending in Hard Corps, good enough for me Any tips with Contra? I could never get good with those games.