Grand Theft Auto IV's reality bites

One of the things that could always be used in defence of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series, was it was not taking anyone or anything seriously. The almost-cartoon world, the sneering at the American establishment, the downright frivolous attitude of it all. It started to change a bit as the GTA III-branch got older, and though San Andreas was still very much tongue-in-cheek, it was already ‘growing up’.

With Grand Theft Auto IV that is no longer the case. It has grown up. While the parody and humour is still there, it is more separated from the in-game world.

Taken at face value that sounds like a bad thing. But it is not. It only emphasises the gap between fantasy and reality in a self-referential way. For instance, GTA has always hammered upon the fake society created by commercialism. In the previous ones that fake attitude also build the world you played in. The fake-comparison you had to draw was with your own life.

Fast forward to GTA IV and Rockstar is far less subtle. Now the in-game world is gritty, full of its own problems. Sure there are still bits to laugh about, but the gravity of the situation has set in and it is noticeable. And yet, the in-game media are still as cheery as they have ever been. Instead of making the player realise on their own strength how fake and hollow the world is, it is now pushing it on its own terms and leaving no mistake about it.

It is emphasised by Niko’s stance. During the first ten hours Niko usually refrains from indulging in any of the offered wares like alcohol and drugs. The only thing Niko actually does accept is a cup of tea.

Combined with the real-fake split of the world and the character’s overall hesitation to creep closer to crime unless forced, it seems the seriousness makes everything more sane. Less rampaging, more thought.

The first kill I made in GTA IV shocked me. It a far more brutal act than I expected. To me it said that if we want games to be taken serious by all parties, we might need to start being serious about the content as well. We do not need to cover up what’s happening, but we should not glorify it as well. We should treat it like it is in reality.

With that in mind, the defence of a "parody on real life" has actually been GTA‘s weak spot all along.