by Patrice Downing, Contributing Writer
If you have even a passing interest in video games, you’re certainly aware that the next chapter in one of the most popular gaming franchises in history drops later this year. With just under three months until Grand Theft Auto VI starts overheating consoles across the globe, Netflix and Rockstar Games teamed up to bring us a 26-minute taste of the mayhem to come.
Don’t get me wrong, Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look is basically just a really long commercial for a game that has pre-sold over four million copies and yet I still found myself mesmerized the entire time. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one. When the video launched at 3:00 PM EST, error messages popped up on phone screens and users took to social media to gripe about the streaming outage. And no wonder, given the spike in traffic Netflix experienced throughout the afternoon. Their website traffic went up 125% over the average for the previous 12 Thursdays, and app usage 35% for that same period in the first hour following release. A feat not at all shocking considering Rockstar’s decision to delay the YouTube debut by six hours. But that’s enough about the hype, let’s talk about what is actually in the video.
I use the word “video” specifically because it is an actual recording from a PS5 edited by Rockstar Games to showcase upcoming gameplay throughout Vice City, Leonida. That’s right, after the heinous hijinks that took place on the west coast of San Andreas in previous editions, GTA is jumping coasts back to a scene so remarkably Florida-like I could almost feel the white sand beach beneath my toes. As someone who has spent their entire life living in Floridian beach towns, I was blown away by the level of detail created to envelop players in GTA’s latest adventures. Absolutely every street, hallway, elevator, hotel, shop, and, of course, vehicle is dripping with ornate flourishes that make Vice City feel like an actual lived-in location and not just a fictitious gameplay backdrop. The sheer volume of unique NPCs inhabiting the city enforces this feeling as each has their own specific voice, look, texture, and nuanced behavior. Characters have sweat stains, sunburns, scars, wrinkles, freckles, etc. which isn’t unusual, but the execution Rockstar’s designers have pulled off makes every interaction feel more authentic in nature than your standard RPG.
That level of detail isn’t just confined to the characters but the city itself. If you thought the streets of San Andreas were buzzing with life, wait until you start wandering the roads of Leonida. Every location is layered and lived-in and unique. You won’t find any repeating posters, ads, or graffiti and each location shows an appropriate level of wear. Water-stained ceilings, loose wires, peeling wallpaper, glare, shadows, shine, and imperfections touch every surface in the city. Even the inside of the main characters’, Lucia and Jason’s, refrigerator is dirty, complete with knocked-over beer bottles. It really is mind blowing the amount of time and effort that went into programming even the tiniest of details.
The visuals may be the most impressive part of the video showcase but that is far from the only thing going for it. The musical score serves to further give the vibe that you are rocking your way around Vice City. Cliff Richard, Depeche Mode, Lil Wayne, and Def Leppard can all be heard throughout the video romp, although my absolute favorite was the use of Phil Collins playing during a dialogue-free elevator ride. Definitely the biggest laugh I had watching, but not the only one. Another of the video’s strengths is highlighting the natural flow of conversations between characters. These all feel like real people, whether they are friends, business associates, or just partygoers. However, the banter between Jason and Lucia is where the writing shines. These conversations feel authentic in a way that I’d believe if you said they were pulled from transcripts of real life. For this recording, the game was being played with the two as a romantic pair (actual gameplay allows the choice between platonic or romantic couple dynamic) taking the story in a Bonnie and Clyde direction. This includes the banality of getting dressed for a party, followed by the ensuing bickering on the car ride there about being late. Lucia is a spitfire of sass and snark that balances perfectly against Jason’s cool and collected nature.
The video showcase ends with a supercut of all the thrills to come intermixed with iconic Florida activities like airboats, kayaking, snorkeling, and …base jumping? Well, maybe not that last one. Congratulations Rockstar, what was originally a mild interest in a franchise pushing 30 years old, has officially turned into desire to play the game when a PC option eventually becomes available. Until then, I guess I’ll be waiting on Rockstar to partner with Epic or Steam.
Rating: Like It
Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look is streaming on Netflix.
You can read more from Patrice Downing, and follow her on Serializd and Letterboxd