The Grand Theft Auto series is one of my all time favorite game series. It has been since the first GTA came out for the PC and PS1 way back in 1997. Granted, the series was flawed until GTA3 hit the market and made the franchise a success. I know what you're thinking, "How could someone as hardcore as you declare a mainstream franchise like GTA one of your favorites?"
The games offer a lot of freedom, lots of things to do, replayability, longevity, humor, and are just plain fun. GTA: San Andreas is my favorite, but I loved Vice City, also.
Of course, I won't deny GTA's controversy. These games are violent. And vulgar. And lots of other nasty things. There's a reason I don't play GTA in front of my baby cousins.
But, at the same time, I am going to defend one thing. The games have a lot of stereotypes in them. If you took these stereotypes at face value, GTA would be very racist, sexist, homophobic, and other kinds of bigotry. However, it doesn't bother me, because the games often show just how ridiculous these stereotypes really are. I mean, come on, is every black and Hispanic person you know either a gangbanger or a prostitute? Is every gay man you know extremely effeminate? No, of course not. Bottom line; if the content of Chappelle's Show didn't offend you, GTA shouldn't either*
Now then, you probably guessed I'm writing this because of the recent release of GTA 4 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. A lot of people are proclaiming it to be videogaming's first true work of high art.
Sure, just ignore Chrono Trigger, Starcraft, Grim Fandango, the first Knights of the Old Republic, Final Fantasy 9, System Shock 2, Shenmue 1 & 2, and Tales of the Abyss while you're at it! Hell, I'll bet the game I'm playing right now has better characterization than GTA4! GO YUKARI-CHAN!
However, it does seem like GTA4 does take itself a little more seriously then its predecessors, (I've read the main protagonist isn't supposed to be a psychopath like Tommy Vercetti and CJ.) but you gotta remember something. You have to remember what GTA is, beyond being an action game that lets you do more than run and shoot your enemies. GTA is a parody of modern gangster shows and movies, as well as a scathing satire of modern American culture. Always has been, probably always will be. Sure, the stories in VC and SA were enjoyable, but nothing classic. I doubt GTA 4 could break that trend. I could be wrong though. Maybe it does have better writing. But considering GTA's history, I doubt it.
But don't let that stop you from enjoying GTA games. I still play my PC copy of SA every now and then.
*A place I went to online recently had a debate on "When do stereotypes become offensive?" They were referring to the content of things like GTA. Now, as I said, if you can somehow joke about how ridiculous these stereotypes are, I don't have a problem with that. Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan somehow pulled that off better than anyone else I've seen on Comedy Central. However, if you crack a joke about a stereotype like it's supposed to be factual, well, I take offense to that. Example, if you make a joke about how Asians supposedly can't drive very well like it's a matter of fact, well, not only is that not funny, it's offensive. And offensive to my best friend from Taiwan, too. It's possible to make jokes about peoples' backgrounds, but only if you make fun of the stereotypical views themselves. That's my take.
