Up to 40% of a game's total sales occur in the first month, according to the SSRN Electronic Journal. Consequently, the best strategy for studios is to ensure their titles launch with a b??ang. Some strategic marketing is necessary to achieve this. Piling up good reviews from critics and gamers is also vital, meaning it's essential for games to launch in a polished state.

Over the years, a f??ew titles have missed the mark terribly, resulting in catastrophic launches. The following list contains some of the worst offenders in gaming history.

2024 addendum

To borrow a common internet adage, it's like Concord read this list and said, "Hold my beer." As such, we felt it would be a good time to add to this list. It fe??lt as though it would remain incomplete without what is currently the most talked about crash.

But rather than slotting in Concord and calling it a day, I'm going to also add a couple of my favorite launch failures. Smangeliso already did a bang-up job o??n compiling some of the worst, so those are left un?touched.

13. Trespasser - Jurassic Park

The move to 3D graphics was a painful one. Over-ambition was common, and nowhere was this more obvious than with Trespasser, a game based on the Jurassic Park franchise. The lead-up to the launch promised a game that used a real-time ??physics engine and artificial intelligence that would make dinosaurs ?flock together and act based on their specific needs.

Trespasser was technically impressive when it launched. However, the game was rushed so urgently that every promised feature was only technically implemented. Dinosaur AI, for example, wasn't ready for prime time, so the dinosaur's anger was cranked up to maximum, and that was it. The real-time physics and inverse kinematic animations resulted in the thunder lizards staggering around drunkenly. It's hilarious, it's easily ??one ??of my favorite terrible games.

12. SimCity (2013)

The first SimCity was released in 1989 and became one of the most influential games in the history of the industry. It practically created the city-builder genre and laid the groundwork for all kinds of management games. Makes sense that EA would be the ones to screw that up. The publisher decided that the once single-player city builder should have a multiplayer element, and that was enough to warrant an always-online requirement for SimCity (2013). Previous botched attempts at always-online had soured the already mixed feelings on the requirement, and it proved to be warranted when many players had difficulty downloading, connecting, and staying connected t?o play the game.

It didn't stop at the online issues, however. Many changes to the SimCity formula were not well received, such as an almost microscopic map size to build on and mindless t??raffic that players would put through veritable mazes of streets to demonstrate their insistence on taking the most direct path, rather than an easily acceptable and better alternative. Three years later, EA would re?move the always-online requirement, but at that point, it was far too late.

11. WWE 2K20

The WWE franchise has had a long presence in the gaming scene, and titles like Smackdown! vs Raw 2006 and SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain are? memorable games that successfully replicate the testosterone-flooded action of?? sports entertainment.

When WWE 2K20 launched in October 2019, day-one buyers ended up with a game sporting atrocious graphics that looked like they belonged on a PS3. The gameplay wasn't any better, and the numerous glitches made WWE 2K20 a pain to play. The game's terrible reception was one of the reasons WWE 2K21 was canceled. It was for the best, as when the franchise returned with WWE 2K22, it ac?hieved double its?? predecessor's launch sales.

10. New World

Amazon's New World hit stores in September 2021, and the launch was nothing but chaos. Servers were flooded, resulting in players waiting for hours before they could start playing. When people were eventually able to play, they discovered that while the core game was good, it was also plagued with game-breaking glitches. Since release, plenty ??of updates have been pushed out, and the game is in a better state, but it failed to be the enduring classic that Amazon was likely aiming for.

9. Anthem

When Anthem was announced, the flashy marketing successfully caught the attention of the gaming world. Unfortunately, when Anthem launched in 2019, it was immediately critically ?panned. Critics and gamers alike complained about many elements, including boring missions, technical glitches, poor performance, and excessive grinding. The game failed to meet EA?'s expectations, and future developments for it were cut in 2021.

8. The Last of Us Part 1 (PC)

Though the PS5 version launched without any major issues, the PC port of The Last of Us Part 1 has been nothing short of a disaster. Players were greeted with technical issues and absurdly long loading times, making the game unplayable for some. Since launch, many have pointed the finger at Iron Galaxy, the studio Naughty Dog entrusted with the port. It won't be the last time the studio appears on the list, so there may b?e some truth to the accusations.

7. Fallout 76

In 2018, Bethesda took Fallout online with Fallout 76. The game promised to allow players to explore dystopian settings with friends, which is an idea that has great potential. When Fallout 76 launched in November 2018, it was far from what gamers expected, resulting in the PC version scoring a measly 52 on Metacritic. Due to the bad press, many gamers stayed away, and as a result, Fallout 76 had lower launch sales numbers than Fallout 4 and Fallout New Vegas.

6. Batman: Arkham Knight (PC)

Arkham Knight's PS4 and Xbox One versions were developed by Rocksteady Studios, and the PC port was handed off to Iron Galaxy. This proved to be a mistake. When Arkham Knights launched on PC, it crashed constantl?y and featured technical issues that?? rendered it unplayable for many.

The situation got so bad that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment suspended sales of? the Windows version of the game in June 2015 while developers worked on patches to fix the game. Though the game has improved plenty, the historically disastrous launch won't be forgotten any time? soon.

5. eFootball

The free-to-play sports game eFootball was released in September 2021. The concept wasn't a bad one, though the execution left a lot to be desired. Gamers were met with atrocious graphics, endless technical issues, and visual bugs that have made for some hilarious screens??hots. With a score of 25 on Metacritic, it is one of the lowest-rated games of a??ll time.

4. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition

When it was revealed that the GTA trilogy would re?ceive a remake, excitement was high. Launch day arrived in November 2021, and gamers were less than satisfied. The trilogy was rife with technical issues, ugly character models, and v??????????????????????????isual errors, which should have been spotted during the QA phase of development. To placate fans, Rockstar offered the original trilogy to all customers who had purchased the remake via the Rockstar Store.

3. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is a title that has been a ubiquitous fixture in gaming for years, and not always for good reasons. When Cyberpunk 2077 launched in 2020, the experience ?was so bad droves of gamers demanded refunds, and Sony eventually pulled the game from the PS Store. Fortunately, the story doesn't end on a sour note, as developers have worked hard to improve the game, and after several patches and updates, the game is one of the most enjoyable open-world titles on current-gen consoles.

2. No Man's Sky

Like many other titles on the list, the developers made plenty of big promises before the game's release. When No Man's Sky launched, gamers realized that many of the promised features were missing, and the performance was poor. There was plenty of outrage, though Hello Games didn't abandon No Man's Sky. Instead, developers got to work releasing patches and updates that slowly but surely improved the game. Today, No Man's Sky is a bestseller available on almost al??l platforms.

1. Concord

Concord's failed launch was so severe that it will probably be studied for years to come. It was enough to warrant an update on this list. It was reportedly the result of years of work and millions upon millions of dollars, and lasted two weeks before it was pulled from marketplaces with a refund being issued to those who had bought it. At least one report suggests that Sony dumped $400 million into the project and was betting on it being the future of the brand. Take that with a grain of salt; it hasn't yet been substantiated. However, the live service sector of the industry is packed to the gills with people hoping to be the next Fortnite, and simply dropping an expensive game in there is not enough to capture the crowd. Whether or not Concord reappears in some form?? in the future remains to b??e seen.

There's no shortage of games with failed launches, and the future will feature plenty more. From these cases, we learn that although delays may be frustrating, terrible?? launches are far worse. We also see that even the worst launches don't have to spell the end for a game so long as deve?lopers persevere.

The post Top 13 worst game launches in gaming history, rank???ed appeared first on Destructoid.

Daylight Robbery

If you have purchased Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �Definitive Edition on PC, then Rockstar has something in the form of a little compensation for you. Anyone who purchased the dreadful and rightfully maligned release can pick one from a selection of Actually Good Rockstar releases directly from the Rockstar Store free of charge.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygcJajXYqbc

Just log in to your account before January 5, 2022 and, provided that you own Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �Definitive Edition, you can choose one of the following seven items gratis: Bully: Scholarship Edition, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition, Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition, L.A. Noire, or Max Payne. Alternatively, you can also choose 55 Gold Bars for Red Dead Online, or a Great White Shark Card ??for GTA Online. I bet you have all th??ose games already.

Released in November of this year, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �Definitive Edition is perhaps the worst received rel??ease in Rockstar Games his??tory. The new compilation of classic, open-world crime scenes received some praise for their modern-day visual effects, such as lighting and atmosphere, but overall the trilogy was roundly criticized for poor character models, terrible weather physics, misspelled art assets, a litany of b??ugs and glitches, draw distance problems, and a high price tag. In addition, players took issue with Rockstar's heavy-handed approach toward mod communities who had, ironically, created arguably far better "remasters" of the original games than Rockstar's own release.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �Definitive Edition is available now on PlaySta??tion, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Rockstar offering free game to Grand? Theft Auto: The Trilogy PC? players appeared first on Destructoid.

Not so definitive

To be blunt: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is a technical mess that shoul?dn't have been released in its current state. To make matters?? worse, though, Rockstar Games also removed the original versions of these games off every digital storefront across PC and consoles.

This mustache-twirling scheme from Rockstar is ironically almost like something you'd hear as an ad parody for a remaster of a game on the radio in any of these classic GTA titles.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition (PS5 [reviewed], PS4, Xbox Series X/S Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC)
Developer: Grove Street Games, Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Released: November 11, 2021
MSRP: $59.99

If you're treating The Definitive Edition as an excuse to replay these games again or if you're a first-timer to the series, there is still some?? fun to be fou??nd here (especially with cheats), as well as some convenient quality-of-life improvements across this whole collection.

Ultimately, though, I'd advise just sticking to your original copies (if you have them) either until they've he?avily patched these games or until the collection is at a significantly reduced price. Each game in this collection has its own unique and odd issues �alongside plenty of issues present across the whole thing �but let's start with the game that forever changed the landscape of 3D open-world games to ?come.

Grand Theft Auto III: Definitive Edition

Someone once described Grand Theft Auto III as "a lot iller," and much like the word "iller," GTA III hasn't aged all that gracefully. Its missions are relatively basic and bland compared to modern open-world games and even to its younger siblings found in this sam??e collection. If you're a big fan of picking up things to a timer, driving through rings to a timer, or killing people to a timer, you're going to be in for a good time (pun intended).

If not, well, the Definitive Edition of GTA III offers some improvements in the form of an in-game map with markers, waypoints, and GPS routes to help you find, steal, and kill things to a timer. One of my favorite updates to the Definitive Edition is now just being able to simply press down on the d-pad to make the on-screen mini-map expand and show more of t??he map itself. This minor update to the mini-map was a godsend for finding various markers during mis?sions or quickly finding those pesky bridges.

There have even been some minor tweaks to the control schemes; for example??, using the sniper rifle feels so much better now on analog sticks compared to the original PS2 release (although that could be the hardware itself). Missions like "Bomb?? Da Base" �where you have to guard 8ball as he infiltrates a container ship and plants a bomb �are a complete breeze now since I could pop everyone's heads in a matter of seconds.

As a result, the sniper rifle became one of my go-to weapons in the Definitive Edition of GTA III and Vice City because it gave me the distance advantage, and I didn't have to deal with the incredibly dated lock-on shooting systems. I'm surprised Grove Street Games didn't wholly overhaul this shooting system, in general. Switching between targets does a feel bit faster and snappier now across the whole collection. However, you still take so much damage out in the open in GTA III that you're better off picking enemies off from a distance ??or relying on your vehicle to drive people over or gun them down.

Don't rely on your vehicle too much, though, as gangs in GTA III are still incredibly hostile late into the story and can blow you up out of nowhere. This became very frustrating whenever a race or mission had me going back to older (and now much more hostile) areas. Thankfully, this collection also has one of the best quality-of-life improvements in simply re?starting a mission upon failure. No more reloading a save or restocking all your weapons after waking up at the hospital. Now you can begin the mission again with all your health, armor, and weapons you had on you when you initially started it.

For GTA III, specifically, it's a much-needed necessity given that it's the most challenging game in the trilogy. However, the biggest crime with the Definitive Edition of GTA III is just how soulless it feels in terms of art direction. Although the new lighting system is impressive, the original PS2 release had a distinctive blue, green, and gray color pallet that added to Liberty City's dreary atmosphere, which is now completely absent. I even miss the more minor details, like the random newspapers blowing all over the streets. In the Definitive Edition, the overall aesthetic looks so m?uch cleaner and sterile now as a result.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Definitive Edition

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is my favorite out of the PS2 trilogy, and it also feels like it got the most love within the Definitive Edition trilogy. The new lighting system is put to good use with all the bright neon featured in Vice City. The more colorful color pallet is also more appropriate for the setting and atmosphere. Walking out of the Ocean View Hotel early in the morning, for example, looks stunnin?g with the vibrant pinks and blues in the skybox. The same goes for once the sun sets, with the dark purples filling the night sky.

Combine that with an incredible '80s radio mix (despite missing a few notable tracks), and it makes just driving around Vice City pure bliss. That said, I'm still not crazy about some of the updated character models, including Tommy's updated look. There are also several bizarre misspelled art assets and signs throughout this collection, with some notable highlights in the Vice City Definitive Edition that either ruin the joke entir?ely or no longer make any sense at all. It's just do??wnright baffling this stuff wasn't caught or addressed before release.

The narrative is more memorable than GTA III's more cut-and-dry rise through the criminal ranks approach. Although you'll still be doing exactly that while you take over Vice City, what makes it so much more memorable is the cast of characters and major set-piece moments. For one, it helps that protagonist is fully voice acted, and although being a bit dry at times, Ray Liotta does a pretty decent job overall. However, my absolute favorite characters are all the side characters and mission givers you'll encounter on Tommy's journey to ruling Vice City.

Drug-fueled adventures with Love Fist, gangs, lawyers, and entrepreneurs that deal with competition in ways you'd expect hiring a criminal such as Tommy would entail are just some of the many encounters you'll have in Vice City. However, in these larger set-piece moments and shootouts, ?the overall gameplay shows its age. Having a handy weapon wheel that slows down time when switching weapons is an excellent addition, but the controls and gunplay are still incredibly underwhelming by today's standards.

Although Vice City is still a bit easier overall than GTA III and its overuse of timed missions, it has plenty of larger shootouts that can be just as unforgiving. Certain weapons also feel terrible to use, such as the M4 that locks you into place and puts you into a first-person perspective. Although the remapped controls and lock-on aiming feels a bit tighter now, again, it's just surprising Grove Street Games didn't go all out on revamping the gunplay across these games for this supposed "Definitive Edition" collection.

Vice City also introduced motorcycles, helicopters, and functional planes into the mix, which added a nice variety to the vehicles and traversal. Boats, most notably, were thrown into the mix as well, and there's plenty of missions that utilize them. So, you'd think another decent quality-of-life improvement would be the ability to swim now, but sadly, you'll still get wasted the moment you hit deeper water in both GTA III and Vice City.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Definitive Edition

Out of three games in this collection, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas feels like it was the one that was the most rushed out the door and it has tons of technical issues as a result. ??Character models are broken and can be incredibly buggy at times. Side characters such as CJ's various dating options can look downright hideous. The massive draw distance does the exact ?opposite of making this open-world feel bigger. It's a mess all around.

San Andreas was one of the most impressive open-world games of its time, and although not my favorite game from the PS2 trilogy, I can't deny its sheer variety and scope. However, the Definitive Edition just straight-up jeopardizes that legacy. Whenever I'm starting to enjoy the Boyz n the Hood-inspir??ed antics of the story and characters, suddenly CJ's face b??ecomes a pixelated horror, and it just pulls me right out of the experience.

For context, I spent four hours with each game on launch day, and by the time I got to San Andreas and experienced how broken it was, I felt like an egg was thrown at my face. Not to mention this whole collection suffers from frame rate and crashing issues.? If you're on PS5 and play the PS4 versions, I hear the frame rate is much smoother, but the resolution is now sub-1080p as a result. Why modern consoles can't run games that look like this at a stable frame rate is beyond me.

As for San Andreas itself, this game's mission variety, customization options, and scope are impressive. Many of the missions in San Andreas also further ramp up the complexity, spectacle, and set pieces �making some of them a lot longer as a result. Thankfully, a new checkpoint system was implemented in the Definitive Edition, making it so missions can be restarted at specific moments (as opposed to entirely from the beginning). Outside of that, though, many of the new quality-of-life updates are not as noticeable when contrasted with how they affect GTA III and Vice City.

However, no amount of checkpoints can help my frustration with the RC toy missions across this trilogy. Notably, they did add additional time to some of these to make them more manageable, but these tiny vehicle horrors control just as poorly as I remember. The toy helicopter is easy enough to keep afloat, but getting it to turn can be a bit of a pain, while the toy planes are still an absolute nightmare to control all around. The Top Fun van and Zero's missions in San Andreas and Vice City will forever haunt my memories and spoil the thought of replaying ?these games.

It's safe to say this collection has already accomplished spoiling things for a lot of people. Outside of some decent quality-of-life stuff, there are just too many technical problems to consider these versions "definitive," and I can't wholeheartedly recommend anyone play or purchase Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition at the moment.

So, to recap my advice at the beginning: stick to your original?? copies if you still have them. If you need to see this mess in action for yourself, either wait until developer Grove Street Games heavily patches this collection or wait for a deeply discounted sale.

_{[This review is based on retail builds of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition appeared first on Destructoid.

Busted

[Update: Rockstar's PC release Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has now returned to the Rockstar Launcher, several days following the title's original launch. It is believed the game was removed following the reveal of numerous files �such? as excluded music tracks and the infamous "Hot Coffee" mo??d �that ??were found within the game's code. Rockstar Games has noted that it will work to fur?ther improve the title's stability & performance on all platforms.]

Yesterday's launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition certainly raised many an eyebrow for a myriad of reasons, but perhaps none more so than on PC. As of this writing, the remastered GTA trilogy cannot be purchased on the platform, where it is �or at least was �available via developer Rockstar's custom dashboard: Rocksta?r Launcher.

The trilogy, which is comprised of remastered editions of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was available and playable for a short while before the Rockstar Launcher was taken offline, essentially cutting off players' access to purchasing, or even playing, the anti?cipated new release.

"Services for the Rockstar Games Launcher and supported titles are temporarily offline for maintenance," read a tweet from the studio. "Services will return as soon as maintenance is completed." Rockstar offered an update earlier today in the form of a secondary tweet that reads "We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work on restoring servic??es for the Rockstar Games Launcher and supported titles."

Unlike the PC version on the Rockstar Launcher, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition remains purchasable and playable on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Response to the trilogy has been mixed, with a lot of players posting images to Twitter, drawing attention to some of the titles' comical in-game models.

While dated visuals and mechanics should naturally be expected by all players, (these are essentially rezzed-up versions of decades-old releases), some players are of the opinion that The Definitive Edition's $60 asking price warrants?? a remast??er with a higher level of quality.

The post (Update) Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition currently down on Rockstar Launcher appeared first on Destructoid.

"Ah shit, here we go again."

Before I jump into each individual game, let's discuss the high-res textured elephant in the room that is this collection's visuals. If, by some miracle, you aren't aware yet, basically, the graphical fidelity of the Definitive Edition for? these three games is all over the plac??e in terms of quality.

At their worst, developer Grove Street Games either re-used original textures or attempted to recreate the asset entirely to very mixed results. We're talking utterly botched character models for certain characters (that arguably look worse now than their original models), bizarre spelling errors in various signs, and downright distracting rain effects across all three games.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition (PS5 [reviewed] PS4, Xbox Series X/S Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Developer: Grove Street Games, Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Released: November 11, 2021
MSRP: $59.99

At their best, many of the updated environments look pretty solid (at least from what I've seen so far). The bright neon signs in Vice City look stunning in 4K HDR, and they've also added some cool effects like parallax interiors f?or a lot of the windows and storefronts across a??ll three games.

For the most part, the updated visuals make revisiting these iconic locations an absolute trip. Once I actually got knee-deep into playing each of these games again, I beg??an to realize that �outside?? of the visuals �the all-around gameplay enhancements are pretty trivial for the most part. So, with the graphical talk (mostly) out of the way, let me recap my experiences with each of these games so far.

Grand Theft Auto III

I adore Grand Theft Auto III. I have so many fond memories of spawning a tank, going on a rampage, making the gun on it fire backward to propel even faster (or even literally fly off ramps while doing so). However, outside of the rampages and cheat codes, following the basic mission structure and story alongside the other games in this collection, it really becomes evident just how basic Grand Theft Auto III feels by comparison.

I love Tommy Vercetti and CJ, but I've always viewed Claude Speed as just some mute dude who took Catalina off CJ's hands and ultimately paid the price for it. Admittedly, even the supporting cast of characters range from somew??hat interesting (like Toni Cipriani and his mom constantly yelling at him in the background during cutscene??s) to downright trope-filled - like a lot of the other mission givers you encounter.

I'd also consider Grand Theft Auto III the most challenging game in t??he collection in terms of missions because so many of them involve timers, and the controls �for the most part?? �are still very rigid and janky all around. If you were expecting some crazy overhaul to the combat, then you're going to be disappointed. Combat is still pretty much the same run-around-and-lock-on affair that it was in the original, and it can be incredibly rough and unforgiving at times.

In terms of improvements, the updated weapon wheel now slows down time when switching weapons, which is an absolute godsend, but you should still fully expect the Triad to blow up your car the moment you enter Chinatown. Thankfully, the inclusion of a proper in-game map (waypoint markers and all) can help you avoid that. It'll also make finding those pesky bridges during later time-based missions that have you going across them far less stressful, thanks to GPS routes like in Grand Theft Auto IV and V.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Vice City is easily my favorite GTA game from the original PS2 trilogy. This game was pretty much my introduction to the '80s growing up (a decade I wasn't even born in). Despite that, though, I still fell in love with the radio mix. Hall & Oates, Megadeth, A Flock of Seagulls, Vice City was my introduction to nearly all of this music.

So, if you're like me, the first question that was on your mind when this collection was announced was whether or not Rockstar renewed the license to bring back the complete soundtrack for these games. Sadly, they didn't (and possibly couldn't, no matter how much money they tossed at them). This is purely speculation, but it wouldn't surprise me if some of these artists just don't want their music associated with Grand Theft Auto anymore. So that means no "Billie ??Jean" �which is absolutely criminal (and not in a smooth way).

Do you know what's even more criminal, though? Tommy Vercetti (and I don't even mean literally). I'm specifically referring to how he looks now. It's one thing to botch random NPCs or side characters, but it's a whole other thing to mess up the look of the actual protagonist. Obviously, this is a subjective take, and some folks may not care at all, but I j??ust can't? get over the updated model for Tommy. He looks weirdly younger and more like a bloated Ken doll now.

Outside of the visual and audio hiccups, Vice City remains a more action-packed GTA III in terms of missions. It has bigger set pieces (and thus more people shooting at you), and a fair bit of them are set within interior areas now, which - when combined with the still clunky lock-on shooting system - makes for some downright frustrating moments. Thankfully, the Definitive Edition iterations of these games also introduced the ability to restart failed missions without the need to drive all the way back to the miss?ion marker. I'd argue that this new feature is probably the best quality-of-life update across the entire collection.

However, when this collection was initially announced, outside?? of the soundtrack stuff, I had one other question on my mind...

Dan's DEFINITIVE Bigfoot Hunting Escapades in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Outside of the possibility of a restored soundtrack, I only had one other question on my mind when this collection was announced: What if they added Bigfoot!? Unfortunately, before I could even access the areas required for my investigation, I nearly forgot these earlier GTA games gated off the other parts of the game behind story progression. So, I had to spend a whole evening doing nothing but story missions in Los Santos before I got access to the ??entire countryside required for this investigation.

Hell, I even followed the damn train on my first attempt without any issues. I'm not sure whether that was pure luck, skill, or maybe Grove Street Games legitimately tweaked some missions across this collection to make them more manageable. Thankfully, with the help of save abusing and horse betting, I secured myself a small fortune as well. More than enough to purchase as much firepower and body armor I needed to pretty much breeze thro??ugh most missions, and witness CJ's face become a horrifying pixel monstrosity during a cutscene.

There were three rumored areas Bigfoot would supposedly appear: Back O' Beyond, Mount Chiliad, or the Shady Cabin. So, after putting on The X-Files theme to set the mood just right, I began my search in the deep woods of the Back O'Beyond to truly see if some bored developers decided to make one of the most iconic San Andreas myths a reality (I don't count the one in GTA V because that was just a dude in a costume).

As the sun was setting in the Back O'Beyond, I stumbled on the Shady Cabin. Just like in the original, it was abandoned. Not entirely surprising, but it was worth at least checking out. The Back O'Beyond had some interesting oddities in the original game outside of empty cabins and Bigfoot myths; it also had ghost cars!

That's right, creepy abandoned cars that randomly rolled down hills in the middle of nowhere. People theorize this was purposely implemented by the developers to freak people out that were exploring around here. Sadly, in the Definitive Edition, these horrors spawn, but they don't? actually move or do much of anythin??g now.

Shortly after checking on the cars, I noticed something a?? little odd in the form of a nearby bridge just clipping in and out of existence. I thought this was strange given the now-massive draw distance featured in this col??lection, so I immediately made my way there only to discover something supernatural... A ghost bridge!

That's right, the moment I drove onto the bridge, it vanished beneath m??e! (I was still? able to drive on it, thankfully). I've come back here multiple times now, and this happens every time. I kind of doubt it's intentional and likely just another bizarre graphical bug, but I found it very amusing. From there, I only have one last place to check out: Mount Chiliad.

Once I arrived, I took out my camera and panned around f?or?? a few minutes, but much like my attempts at looking for Bigfoot in the original game, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Once at the very top of the mountain, I took in the beautiful sights... and the draw distance of San Andreas.

It's pretty jarring (especially when flying around in a plane or jet), and I do wonder if Gro?ve Street Games will possibly address this in future patches with some sort of fog implementation as was used in the original.

So far, my all-around experience with the Definitive Edition trilogy is very mixed. On one hand, I'm still having fun just revisiting these games. On the other hand, I can't help but feel like this collection needed more time in the oven. Going forward, I have a full review (and video review) planned, and I'm morbidly curious what other graphical oddities I'll encounter once I begin playing and exploring the later acts of these games. I'm also dreading the RC vehicle missions, but perhaps they've tweaked them, or at the very least, improved the controls on the tiny vehicles ??themselves.

Stay tuned for my full review to find out!

_{[This review in progress is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review in Progress: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition appeared first on Destructoid.

Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas come together in one definitive package

Rockstar Games has officially revealed the long-rumored Grand Theft Auto trilogy remasters. Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas are getting released on modern platforms, all in a single package called Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition.

The collection is?? coming to PC via the Rockstar Games Launcher, as well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and the Nintendo Switch, sometime later this year. It will also hit iOS and Android sometime in the first half of 2022.

No price or exact release date has been set yet. Rockstar isn't sharing exactly what technical improvements are coming to this trio of PlayStation 2 games yet, either. It does say that the trio of Grand Theft Auto games will have "across-the-board upgrades," including graphical improvements and modern gameplay enhancements for all three Grand Theft Auto games.

//twitter.com/Rockstar?Games/status/1446490576896073728

They will still, however, maintain the look and feel of the original games. More info is on the way in the coming weeks. But as part of the GTA remaster rollout, Rockstar will also start removing exist??ing versions of its classic games from digital retailer??s next week.

This confirms a long-running series of rumors and hints at an upcoming trilogy collection of the three classic Grand Theft Auto PS2 games. While I'm sure fans of those older games are interested to know how soon "coming soon" will be, it sounds like we won't be waiting too long until we hear more about the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition.

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