Grand Theft Auto 6 has received a lot of hype, but it could take a lot of lessons from other sandbox games outside of its own series. In order for the game to stand out after being built up for so long, it needs to be more than just another Grand Theft Auto game. Rockstar can find inspiration from all sorts of places, and the gaming industry has produced plenty of potential sources for such.
Grand Theft Auto is the most popular series of sandbox games, a reputation earned through a long history of successful releases. However, after so long and with so many other games popping up, it's beginning to look like the Grand Theft Auto series doesn't have an especially strong identity outside of its signature crassness. With GTA 6 possibly being less edgy, as well as GTA's brand of shock humor being less popular in recent years, it may need to find a new niche. This will need to be addressed, or else the series risks falling behind the competition as new games continue to come out.
There are a few games within the same genre that could teach Grand Theft Auto 6 a few lessons on how to improve. While none of them ever reached the level of fame that the GTA series has achieved, they all have something distinctive that makes them stand out in the crowded field that is the modern gaming industry. In order to keep raising the bar, GTA 6 would do well to take some lessons from its peers.
GTA 6 Could Learn From Sleeping Dogs' Combat
One common problem across Grand Theft Auto titles is that melee combat is almost always one of the weakest mechanics in the game, with GTA Online's melee fighting amounting to little more than dodging and attacking. Granted, GTA's combat has always been all about gunplay, so it's not surprising that melee combat would receive less attention. However, melee combat being consistently poor in the series is a sign that something needs to be done about it.
Sleeping Dogs is probably the peak of melee combat in sandbox games. Like the GTA series, it is also a story about crime, although guns only come up in certain situations. The bulk of the game focuses on melee combat, and does so extremely well. With multiple combo strings, upgrades, weapons, and environmental attacks, Sleeping Dogs' combat system is a lot of fun to play with. Despite the fact that it never became as popular as Rockstar's signature series, Sleeping Dogs was better than GTA 5 in some ways, largely due to its Hong Kong cinema-inspired melee combat being so much fun.
Even if Grand Theft Auto 6 can't make a melee system as good as Sleeping Dogs, it can at least provide some ideas for how to improve GTA's traditionally woeful melee system. Even simply adding some combos or making melee attacks quicker could make a world of difference. Since GTA's melee combat has been lacking for so long, it couldn't hurt to take some cues from a game that did it right.
Saints Row Reboot's Characters Could Inspire GTA 6's
It can be difficult to deny that a lot of the lead characters in the Grand Theft Auto series are not very likable. From Tommy Vercetti's relentlessness to Trevor Philips' sadistic nature, a lot of them can be hard to enjoy. Even in a game about crime, having a lead that players can like and is important. Considering that some fans believe GTA 5's Trevor could be a demon, the series could likely use some help in this department.
The Saints Row reboot features a completely new cast, and it manages to do a fairly decent job with them. All four of the game's main quartet are likable in their own ways, with the friendship between them made apparent in various scenes. Even though they do form a gang and escalate their criminal activities over the course of the game, they never lose their initial charm in the process. Although they are not explored as well as they could be, they remain likable enough for the player to keep rooting for them, and they help to keep the story worth following as a result.
Saints Row recieves more hate than it deserves, but Grand Theft Auto protagonists could take a few lessons from it in making their protagonists more likable. While they certainly don't have to be faultless, they do need to give the player a reason to like them. Incorporating some good friendships or definitive lines that they won't cross are a good place to start. With more likable leads, Grand Theft Auto 6 could represent a significant upgrade for the series.
Watch Dogs: Legion Feels More Alive Than Most Grand Theft Auto Games
One of the problems that GTA 5 had - and one that many games in the series have struggled with - is how empty the world can seem at times. There are long stretches of the map where there is essentially nothing for the player to do, and even the map's random events do little to mitigate that. Simply put, the GTA universe needs to feel more alive. GTA 5's lacking open world is a problem that GTA 6 will need to address.
Watch Dogs: Legion also has a smattering of shops and missions throughout the map, but there is much more going on than in a GTA game. The whole world is interconnected, with every NPC having their own s. Their opinions on the player and DedSec change depending on who they help or hurt, making everything that the player does have consequence. Not to mention, with a wealth of chances to spread DedSec's message and disrupt Albion's harassment of the people of London, even the commute from one place to another is rarely without something of interest to do.
Of course, Watch Dogs: Legion's massively interconnected London was a major undertaking, but some of those perks on a smaller scale could be useful, especially if GTA 6 looks to exceed expectations. For example, there could be more random opportunities across the city, either to commit crimes or do something helpful. This could even affect the player's standing, as helping certain people could earn them discounts from various shops, while stealing could increase prices in exchange for an immediate money boost. It's a tactic that may be worth trying in Grand Theft Auto 6.
GTA 6 could be a big step forward for the series, but only if it improves on its predecessors. It has been nine years since the last installment, and its competitors have shown that a lot of advancements have been made since then. By taking a few hints from other games, Grand Theft Auto 6 could be the series' strongest title yet.
