Highlights
- Grand Theft Auto 6 is highly anticipated and expected to be the most realistic and captivating in the series so far.
- The mechanic of dynamic body types, last seen in GTA: San Andreas, would add to the immersion of GTA 6.
- Bringing back the body type mechanic would allow for visual changes in the protagonist’s appearance and impact gameplay elements like health and stamina.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most anticipated games of the generation. The GTA franchise is legendary, as is its developer, Rockstar Games, and this is for a good reason. The Rockstar brand has become synonymous with high-quality and boundary-pushing products. Red Dead Redemption 2 immediately became a modern classic when it launched, and Grand Theft Auto 5 is the highest-grossing media product of all time, reflecting its enduring popularity. Each game from the developer brings with it a massive boost in immersion. Grand Theft Auto 6 will presumably continue this trend, and bringing back one feature last seen in GTA: San Andreas would help it to do so.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the latest game from Rockstar, and many of its mechanics are simulator-esque. Arthur’s hair and beard grow and must be maintained, and he and his horse can both get dirty, requiring players to clean them manually. One mechanic in the game that is underutilized is its nutrition tracking. The player must eat food to keep Arthur nourished, but there is no visual indicator of whether he has eaten enough. Instead, players are required to check Arthur’s sustenance levels in a menu. This is a problem that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas already has a solution for. The protagonist of San Andreas, CJ, could gain and lose fat and muscle, changing his appearance in the game.
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Dynamic Body Types Made GTA San Andreas Immersive
Until Grand Theft Auto 5, San Andreas was Rockstar’s most customizable experience. CJ could actively gain and lose fat and muscle. If players didn’t eat, CJ would lose muscle and grow weaker, but eating too much made him put on weight, impacting his health and stamina. Mechanics like this are why GTA: San Andreas is a timeless classic in many fans’ eyes. Not only did CJ’s lifestyle impact how the game played, but it was also reflected visually alongside other customization such as haircuts, clothing, and tattoos. Systems in later games are more in-depth, but the visual feedback provided in San Andreas makes it feel more immersive.
Dynamic Body Types Would Add To GTA 6’s Immersion
The dynamic body types in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas were years ahead of their time. The immersion provided by this mechanic resembles the dynamic systems of Red Dead Redemption 2, yet it is absent from that game. Grand Theft Auto 6‘s reveal trailer is filled with incredibly detailed buildings and character models, making it clear that it will be Rockstar’s most realistic and captivating experience yet. Bringing back the ability for the protagonist’s body to change dynamically, gaining and losing muscle and fat, would be an excellent way to pay homage to San Andreas while making GTA 6 more immersive.
Grand Theft Auto Could Build on the Body Type Mechanic From San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will turn 20 years old in 2024. In the intervening years, technology has come a long way. On top of bringing the body type mechanic back in a game that is visually richer, Grand Theft Auto 6 could build on the system. CJ’s clothes would always be somewhat formfitting in San Andreas, but GTA 6 could let players buy differently sized clothing that becomes tighter or baggier as the bodies of GTA 6‘s Lucia and her partner change dynamically. Like in San Andreas, the character’s levels of fitness could impact things such as stamina recovery and overall health, providing pros and cons for maintaining different body types.
Grand Theft Auto 6‘s immersion would be boosted by bringing back the body type mechanic from San Andreas. GTA 6 won’t be in the hands of gamers until 2025, but that doesn’t mean that fans of the series will have no new content. 2024 will see the continuation of GTA Online and could hopefully see the VR port of San Andreas for the Meta Quest come to fruition. A mobile port of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition was also just released in collaboration with Netflix, meaning subscribers can now check out some of the series’ classic entries on their smart devices.
