Grand Theft Auto 6is easily one of the most highly anticipated games of all time, and it can thankRed Dead Redemption 2for a lot of that hype. Naturally, Rockstar was a major name in the gaming world long beforeRDR2, with a nearly impeccable track record (when it comes to games themselves, anyway), butRed Dead Redemption 2helped solidify the developer as an all-time great, and that will be the case regardless of what happens withGTA 6.
Considering the immense critical and commercial success ofRed Dead Redemption 2, there’s a decent chance thatGTA 6will borrow some of its features, or at least its broader design concepts. Already, it’s clear thatGTA 6is targeting the same level of graphical fidelity and attention to detail as its wild-west predecessor, perhaps even surpassing it in some ways. Of course,Grand Theft Autois far less about realismthanRed Dead Redemption, and it can be assumed that it won’t feature the same sort of verisimilitude, but the sheer density of content on offer inRDR2could be recreated inGTA 6. Assuming Rockstar isn’t trying to radically pivot away from its 2018 opus, there’s at least one obvious mechanic that should sneak intoGrand Theft Auto 6.
The Benefits of Incorporating RDR2’s Social Systems in GTA 6
Red Dead Redemption 2’s honor mechanicis fairly rudimentary, but can nevertheless have a significant impact on the player’s experience. For instance, NPCs will treat Arthur differently depending on his honor level, and shops may adjust their prices in accordance with their opinion of him. EvenRDR2’s ending can be influenced by the player’s final honor rankings. This system is a spin on the fame and honor mechanics of the firstRed Dead Redemption, which were more reputation-focused and less all-encompassing.
The way honor functions inRed Dead Redemption 2makes sense, especially within that game’s narrative context: as its title suggests,Red Dead Redemption 2is about Arthur’s personal journey through the messy brambles of morality and ethics. ButGTA 6will presumably be a bit less concerned with ethical ponderings and what it means to be a “good” person in a changing world. Indeed, if it’s anything like the rest of the games in the series, it will likely present a morally gray world, colored by absurd and over-the-top characters, governments, and social trends. Within this decidedly irreverent narrative framework,RDR2’s honor systemwould have to be tweaked for the best results.
A More Reputation-Focused Spin On RDR2’s Honor Mechanics Could Work Wonders for GTA 6
It would appear thatGrand Theft Auto 6will focus heavily on interpersonal relationships. There’s the central partnership between Jason and Lucia, but the game’s second trailer highlights a number of other colorful characters as well, painting a picture of a story revolving around friendship, love, and trust. If this is the modus operandi ofGTA 6’s narrative, then an honor system that’s more focused on reputation or social sim mechanics could be just what the doctor ordered.
PerhapsGTA 6will let players affect Jason and Lucia’s relationships with NPCs through their actions, making decisions that certain characters will either approve or disapprove of. These could be significant, story-relevant decisions with major repercussions, or they could be small, low-level actions, like greeting or antagonizing certain NPCs in the overworld. ArecentGTA 6leakalleges that players can freeroam as Jason and Lucia simultaneously, with the non-controlled protagonist tagging along as a companion, so perhaps their relationship could be informed by choices made during these exploration sessions. Regardless, a spin onRed Dead Redemption’s honor mechanics has the chance to makeGTA 6’s world and story far more reactive and engaging, so hopefully, Rockstar incorporates such mechanics in an interesting way.
Grand Theft Auto 6
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Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
