Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition

The opinions of the critics regarding the Story of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition are varied, but there are some common positive aspects highlighted. COGconnected mentions engaging storylines with over-the-top elements, ridiculous dialogue, and outrageous mission structure, which adds to the entertainment value. Hey Poor Player praises the in-depth story of San Andreas, set in a turbulent period, while MGG mentions the well-written dialogues and grandiose missions that portray the rise of second-rate criminals to organized crime emperors. TierraGamer also acknowledges the intact and entertaining stories, particularly those of Tommy Vercetti and Carl Johnson. These positive aspects indicate that the trilogy offers engaging narratives with compelling characters and missions. However, there are also negative aspects mentioned by some critics. Guardian points out that not everything in the game is in good taste, and not all of the dialogue has aged well. Metro GameCentral criticizes the storytelling in the trilogy, describing it as simplistic and repetitive, with little overarching storyline in GTA 3 and a focus on copying scenes from gangster movies in Vice City. Vooks also highlights the aging of GTA 3, mentioning a simple map and less exciting things to see and do. These criticisms suggest that there may be issues with taste, dialogue, and repetitive storytelling in some parts of the trilogy. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Story of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition offers engaging and entertaining narratives, with well-written dialogues and grandiose missions. The positive aspects mentioned by COGconnected, Hey Poor Player, MGG, and TierraGamer support this consensus. However, there are also concerns raised by Guardian, Metro GameCentral, and Vooks regarding taste, dialogue, and repetitive storytelling in certain parts of the trilogy. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment leans towards a positive assessment of the story in the trilogy, with the narratives remaining intact and enjoyable, especially in Vice City and San Andreas.

In analyzing the opinions of multiple reviewers regarding the gameplay of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, it is evident that there are both positive and negative aspects highlighted by the critics. Starting with the positives, several critics praised the gameplay improvements in the remastered collection. Game Rant commends the modernized controls and quality-of-life enhancements, such as revamped mini-maps and mid-mission checkpoints. TheXboxHub and Gaming Nexus both express enjoyment in the gameplay, particularly the driving mechanics and the experience of exploring the game's open-world environments. Destructoid mentions the addition of in-game maps with markers, waypoints, and GPS routes, which enhances navigation and mission progression. TheSixthAxis also highlights the positive impact of modernized radio and weapon wheels, improved gunplay, and the ability to immediately restart failed missions. On the negative side, critics like Eurogamer Italy, Vandal, and COGconnected point out various issues with the gameplay. Eurogamer Italy highlights technical issues, AI problems, and shooting mechanics that needed more care. Vandal mentions frustrating design decisions and outdated mechanics, while COGconnected criticizes the slippery and imprecise controls, as well as the lack of impact when firing guns. Nintendo Life raises concerns about janky controls, stuttering frame rates, and constant pop-in of objects and vehicles. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has both its strengths and weaknesses. While there are improvements in controls, aiming systems, and quality-of-life features, such as weapon wheels and mid-mission checkpoints, there are also issues with technical aspects, outdated mechanics, and control responsiveness. The gameplay experiences are generally considered enjoyable, with the open-world exploration and mission variety being praised. However, the remastered collection may not fully appeal to newer generations of gamers who are accustomed to more modern titles like Grand Theft Auto V. It is important to note that the opinions of the critics vary, with some emphasizing the positive aspects of the gameplay enhancements, while others highlight the negative aspects and limitations of the remastered collection.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition are quite diverse. Some critics have praised certain aspects of the visual upgrades. Gameblog.fr mentions improved textures, reworked 3D models, and enhanced lighting effects, while Press Start Australia notes the impressive high-definition rendering and increased detail in character models. Eurogamer Italy also acknowledges the improved lighting and sharper environments in the remasters. These positive aspects suggest that there have been some successful visual enhancements in the game. However, the majority of critics express concerns and criticisms regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of the game. Many reviewers mention issues with character models, such as strange proportions, unrealistic angles, and mutant-like appearances. Gaming Nexus and MGG specifically criticize the character designs, with the former stating that characters look strange and the latter describing them as ridiculous and having outdated animations. TheXboxHub and Vandal also criticize the character redesigns, describing them as hit-or-miss and unfinished, respectively. These negative comments indicate that the character models in the remastered edition have not been well-received by critics. In addition to character models, several critics highlight various graphical issues and glitches. Xbox Tavern and Guardian mention problems with lighting, rain effects, and visual glitches. GamingBolt and Hardcore Gamer point out glitches and technical issues, while Destructoid criticizes misspelled art assets and signs throughout the collection. These criticisms suggest that the remastered edition of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has suffered from technical shortcomings and graphical inconsistencies. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while there have been some improvements in the Graphics and Visual Design of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, there are significant issues that detract from the overall experience. The negative comments regarding character models, graphical glitches, and technical issues outweigh the positive remarks about improved lighting, sharper environments, and some enhanced textures. Critics like Game Revolution and NME express disappointment with the visual upgrades, while TheSixthAxis mentions a lack of care and attention in the remastered collection. These opinions suggest that the Graphics and Visual Design of the game have not met the expectations of the critics, resulting in a mixed reception overall.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition are varied, but there are several positive aspects that stand out. Multiple critics praise the inclusion of the original soundtracks and voice acting, with TheXboxHub even stating that the soundtrack and radio banter are the best curated soundtracks and provide entertaining moments. The radio stations and their ability to transport players into the game's world are also appreciated by Guardian and Checkpoint Gaming. Additionally, the voice acting in Rockstar games is generally well-done, as mentioned by App Trigger and Metro GameCentral. However, there are also negative aspects that critics point out. Eurogamer Italy criticizes the censorship of some songs, which is disappointing for fans of the original games' soundtracks. God is a Geek mentions poor audio mixing, with muffled dialogue and glitched subtitles, negatively affecting the overall audio experience. NME highlights inconsistent audio mixing, with some characters sounding fantastic while others deliver lines poorly. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while the sound design and music of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition have their strengths, there are also noticeable shortcomings. The inclusion of the original soundtracks and voice acting is generally appreciated, as well as the well-curated radio stations. However, the presence of missing songs and changes to the soundtrack, as noted by Press Start Australia and Hobby Consolas, is a disappointment. The audio mixing issues, mentioned by God is a Geek and NME, also detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is still regarded as great by Wccftech and WellPlayed, and the '80s beats in Vice City are considered a blast to revisit by Switch Player.

The voice acting of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has received a mix of positive and negative opinions from the critics. App Trigger and Gaming Nexus both praise the voice acting, with App Trigger stating that Rockstar games usually have well-done voice acting and Gaming Nexus specifically praising the voice acting in the later two games of the trilogy. Metro GameCentral also highlights the improvement in voice-acting throughout the trilogy, particularly noting the star-studded cast in San Andreas. These positive opinions suggest that the voice acting in the game is generally well-executed and adds to the overall experience. However, there are also some negative opinions regarding the voice acting. God is a Geek mentions that while the voice acting is praised, the audio mixing hampers its quality. NME criticizes certain characters' delivery, describing it as sounding like "gravel monsters." These negative opinions indicate that there may be inconsistencies or issues with the voice acting that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is somewhat mixed. While there are positive remarks about the voice acting, particularly in the later games of the trilogy, there are also negative comments regarding audio mixing and certain character performances. Vandal and WellPlayed's opinions, which briefly mention the voice acting without providing specific praise or criticism, suggest that it may not be a standout aspect of the game. Therefore, it can be concluded that while the voice acting in Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has its strengths, there are also areas where it falls short, resulting in a somewhat divided opinion among the critics.

In terms of the technical performance of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, the opinions of the critics vary depending on the gaming platform. Starting with the positives, some critics mentioned that post-launch patches have addressed many of the initial issues, particularly on the PS4 platform. PSX Extreme notes that most of the issues have been fixed with patches, resulting in very few graphical issues. Gameblog.fr also mentions that the overall performance on the PS5 is enjoyable, with fast loading times. Additionally, TheXboxHub mentions that updates have been released to fix some issues on the Xbox One platform. However, the negatives regarding the technical performance are more prevalent across all platforms. Critics such as Game Rant, GamingBolt, and Vandal mention technical bugs, glitches, crashes, and poor optimization. Xbox Tavern goes as far as describing the digital launch as a beta test, with major flaws and hundreds of bugs. On the PS5 platform, Destructoid heavily criticizes the technical performance, mentioning broken character models, frame rate issues, crashing problems, and resolution problems. Other critics, such as App Trigger, COGconnected, and Guardian, also mention various technical issues including audio hiccups, severe pop-in, screen tearing, and framerate drops. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has significant technical issues and stability problems across all gaming platforms. The game is criticized for its poor optimization, graphical glitches, crashes, and bugs. Critics like God is a Geek and NME mention that the game feels like a work in progress, with bugs and wonky animations tarnishing the reputation of the original games. The remastered collection is described as a mess, with long loading times, freezes, and a struggling frame rate. While some patches have addressed certain issues, the overall sentiment is that the technical performance of the game falls short of expectations.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Replay Value of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition are quite varied. Some critics, such as Game Rant and Gaming Nexus, mention that the game offers plenty of content and entertainment for players to fully complete the games or create their own experiences. They highlight the creative mission goals, the enjoyment of riding around in cars, and the nostalgic fun that can be had. On the other hand, there are critics like TheXboxHub and App Trigger who suggest that replaying the original versions or waiting for the remastered games to go on sale would be a better option. They mention that the game is just alright and that there isn't a strong reason to invest in this collection if you already have access to the original versions. WellPlayed also points out that portions of the games have aged badly and may not appeal to new players. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed. While some critics, like Guardian and Switch Player, believe that the games still have replay value and are worth revisiting for diehard fans, others, like Game Revolution and IGN, feel that there are better options available, such as replaying GTA 5 or playing other inspired titles. The general sentiment seems to be that the games still provide nostalgic fun and have a crazy amount of content, but they may not be as attractive to new players or those who already have access to the original versions.