Recently, Rockstar Games, in collaboration with Netflix, released a 26-minute gameplay demo of Grand Theft Auto VI - GTA 6: An Extended Look.
This footage, recorded entirely on the base PS5, showcases the evolution of this title, which has been awaited for over 13 years. The video includes a wealth of game details, from protagonist design and graphics to gameplay, etc.
If you're curious about the gameplay and presentation of GTA 6, keep reading!
Romance System
Previously, players knew that GTA 6 would feature two protagonists - Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval - but GTA 6: An Extended Look offers a glimpse into their lives.
Lucia is the series' first playable female protagonist. She was imprisoned to protect her family, and after serving time in Leonidas Penitentiary, she was released by chance, determined to give her mother the life she always dreamed of.
Jason grew up in an environment of con artists and criminals, struggled with issues during his adolescence, served in the military in an attempt to escape his past, and later returned to Leonidas Keys to work for local drug dealers.
The two are positioned as a criminal couple, hence the inclusion of a Romance System: players can cultivate a romantic relationship between the two or choose to ignore the romance entirely. Regardless of the player's choice, the two protagonists remain criminal partners throughout the story.
Furthermore, the video demonstrates a smoother character switching mechanism: players can instantly switch between Jason and Lucia by pressing the down arrow key - even mid-mission.
Game Map
GTA 6's story takes place in Vice City - a fictional city modeled after Miami, first appearing in 2002 title of the same name. The entire map is set in the state of Leonidas, a parody of Florida.
According to interview reports, the playable area of the map is approximately three times that of Red Dead Redemption 2, while Vice City itself is approximately twice the size of Los Santos.
Even more commendable is that the developers didn't waste map space in pursuit of size: the demo video shows bustling city streets, beaches, neighborhoods, nightclubs, and restaurants everywhere.
It's predictable that players will be able to earn GTA 6 money by completing various missions and then enjoy various services in these locations.
Wanted System
The most exciting news for veteran players is the return and upgrade of Wanted Level system: In GTA 5, the highest wanted level was five stars, while GTA 6 raises the maximum to six stars, meaning players may face encirclement by the military, tanks, and fighter jets.
But the changes to Wanted System go far beyond simply increasing the wanted level. The system also introduces a brand-new Evidence Tracking mechanism: multiple red icons will appear on HUD below the wanted level, representing specific information held by the police.
The character icon indicates whether police have a description of your physical characteristics or know you are acting with an accomplice;
the coat hanger icon indicates whether police know your current clothing; car icon indicates whether the police know your vehicle information, and so on.
Therefore, players can develop targeted strategies when escaping. For example, if police know your clothing, you need to change clothes. If the police know you and Lucia are working together, you need to split up.
When police know a crime has occurred but have no information on the suspect, the wanted level star will be blank.
More Rich Interactions and Character Development
It is said that the development team created individual art designs for almost every NPC in GTA 6 - from tattoos to drinks on tables, everything is different.
GTA 6 borrows heavily from RDR 2's design, giving players multiple options when interacting with NPCs - they can be friendly or hostile; when encountering a dog, you can choose to pet, scold, or study it.
Moreover, it is said that the development team created individual art designs for almost every NPC in the game - from tattoos to drinks on tables, everything is different. This also differentiates their interactive content.
In terms of character development, players can take their characters to the gym, replenish health with food from the apartment refrigerator, and even have their character's physique change based on diet and exercise frequency.
Rich Open-World Activities
GTA 6: An Extended Look also showcases a dazzling array of open-world activities, including but not limited to scuba diving, jet skiing, kayaking, dirt bike racing, base jumping, street racing, and more.
Furthermore, the demo also featured in-game Social Media system called Snapmatic. In Snapmatic, players can scroll through their contacts' activities and even watch live streams.
Visual Presentation
Besides these new gameplay features, 26-minute demo video boasts stunning visuals: close-ups of character faces clearly show wrinkles, freckles, and other details; almost no two NPCs are exactly alike; and every light source accurately illuminates surrounding objects and casts shadows.
Before this video was released, many players were concerned about the visual performance of Grand Theft Auto VI on consoles, given the console version's 30fps lock. Now it seems they have absolutely no reason to worry.
That concludes the information GTA 6: An Extended Look has to offer players.
Overall, GTA 6 not only adds a wealth of new gameplay elements and enhances the game's realism from various angles, but its graphics and smoothness are also stunning. In short, let's look forward to its official release.