Yesterday, we were treated to our first look of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy. And after our first glimpse of the overhauled graphics, most fans – myself included – are simultaneously surprised, relieved and impressed.
Also called The Definitive Edition, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy includes GTA 3, San Andreas, and Vice City. It had been rumoured for months ahead of the official announcement, but initial fan reaction to those rumours was lukewarm at best. And I wasn’t very hot on them, either. It wasn’t because I didn’t want a remastered version of those classic GTA titles. But rather, I didn’t have much faith in Rockstar (after disappointing reveal of the GTA 5 PS5 version) to deliver something worth buying. Not only that, but it felt like a bit of a cheap cash-in rather than delivering what fans really want – Grand Theft Auto 6.
Thankfully, it seems I was wrong.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy Graphics Overhaul
The most notable improvement in the new collection is the graphics overhaul. I have to admit, I didn’t expect much. Remasters are notorious for underwhelming players who often have their expectations set unrealistically high. With GTA: The Trilogy, Rockstar and Grove Street Games have thoughtfully modernised the look of all three titles while retaining their classic visual style. Graphics are, of course, subjective and others may have different opinions. But, for me, Rockstar have achieved a remarkable compromise here.
Rather than looking like simple, higher-resolution PS2 games, The Trilogy resembles modern games and has a deliberate cartoon-esque style. That means the remastered set doesn’t feel old. It feels fresh and vibrant. And quirky and distinct. Just like Grand Theft Auto should. Despite all its negative press, GTA is a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously. And this graphical style compliments that tremendously.
According to the official PlayStation blog post, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy‘s graphical enhancements include a “completely rebuilt lighting system; improved shadows, weather, and reflections; upgraded character and vehicle models; along with new higher resolution textures across buildings, weapons, roads, interiors, and more.” Not only that, but there are environmental upgrades, too. These include “new foliage, smoother surfaces, and increased draw distances”.
Modernised Gameplay
While the most noticeable improvement is in The Trilogy‘s graphics, Rockstar are also modernising the gameplay.
As fondly as we might remember the PS2 classics, GTA 3, San Andreas, and Vice City haven’t aged particularly well, much like many games from that era. It’s not that they’re unplayable as they were. But simply that they lack the polish of modern titles.
To bring the collection in line with Grand Theft Auto V (which itself is getting on in years), a number of improvements have been implemented. Enhancements include “wide-ranging modern control upgrades, including improvements to targeting and lock-on aiming, updated Weapon and Radio Station Wheels, updated mini-maps with enhanced navigation allowing players to set waypoints to destinations, updated Trophies, and more.”
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy Release Date
Fans won’t have to wait long to get their hands on the new Definitive Edition collection. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy is arriving on November 11, 2021. It will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.
After the new trailer, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Are you excited for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
