Whenever a game is remastered, a lot of players wonder whether purchasing an updated version of their beloved title is worth the price tag. We’re providing our readers with insights regarding the new content available in the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy remastered version.
Rockstar has recently been investing in remastering some of their classic titles to cater to newer consoles. Their attempt to remaster Red Dead Redemption was met with mixed reviews, with some fans being excited about an updated version of the game while others criticized Take-Two’s decision to offer the game at the same cost as a new title in this generation. Even so, Take-Two’s leadership defended their decision and even addressed the media. Their CEO, Strauss Zelnick, told IGN, “That’s just what we believe is the commercially accurate price for it.”
That said, some fans were initially hesitant when it came to the GTA Trilogy remasters because of the state that it was initially launched in. The bundle would include Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, as well as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. So, in theory, fans would be able to purchase a new-gen remaster of three games in one.
The first thing we notice is the use of Unreal Engine 4 in the remastered version. The use of this industry-standard game engine gives developers the tools needed to improve the graphics, provide high-definition textures, improve the lighting, shaders and other visual components of the games.
Visually, the remastered version stands out. It has a better draw distance, the visuals have been commended for their accuracy, and improvements are noticeable in every aspect. For those interested in the specifics, the Definitive Edition can run in 4K 60 FPS on current-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X.
Controls have been revamped in this remastered version. GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition grants players access to the Weapon Wheel in the game, which is a surprisingly recent feature that was available since GTA 5 and GTA Online, but not in the original three games.
Though something that was interesting in GTA was the different music featured in each car, this is going to change for the better in the remastered version. Now, players have the ability to change Radio Stations in no time. The controls have been simplified, and Nintendo Switch users also get the advantage of Gyroscope pointing thanks to that being a feature in that portable console.
A feature that will please players with dire luck, or those who love to have multiple saves: you can now restart missions if you need to. This is referred to by many outlets as the biggest gameplay change in the entire GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition. This option was not available in previous installments of the record-breaking IP. Now, players can restart any failed missions without having the long loading screens. This means players do not have to worry about it being a time-consuming process.
Originally, long-time fans of the Grand Theft Auto franchise were not able to set up waypoints and had to travel in those games as they would in real life prior to the existence of the GPS. Now, waypoints can be set up, giving players more accessibility. Being able to navigate the waypoints makes the games more user-friendly to people who were accustomed to the mini maps in recent installments.
Trophies and achievements have been updated in this edition of GTA. Rockstar Social Club achievements have been added to all three of the classic GTA titles included in the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition bundle. This version of the Rockstar-classics now includes support in several languages across the three titles.
The languages that are now supported are the following:
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Simplified Chinese
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Polish
- Russian
- Spanish (Mexican and Castillian from Spain)
- Traditional Chinese
Additional Changes Made to the Game
According to many sources, the developers at Rockstar have made significant improvements to the targeting, gunplay and drive-by controls featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. They also improved water, and day and night effects, which displays a smoother transition of time. Trees, foliage and other environmental aspects have also seen noticeable improvements and add to the visual appeal of the game.
Players note there are more details and a higher resolution on buildings and windows in the video game, which now also has support for NVIDIA DLSS players on the PC. Camera Zooming is now touch enabled, and menu selections can be performed on the Nintendo Switch. This is a huge victory for gamers who prefer the portable console. However, co-op play is a feature that has been removed entirely from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Allegedly, there are claims (that are considered hearsay) stating that a Steam port version of the trilogy will be coming soon.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Rockstar.