Summary
With the official trailer forGrand Theft Auto 6recently dropping, and the subsequent hype it inevitably generated, Rockstar’s upcoming entry in its crime action series is more in the limelight than ever, which is saying a lot.Grand Theft Auto 6is one of the most anticipated games of the last decade. Though its announcement and reveal was slightly marred by being leaked early, that only generated more buzz, as any news aboutGTA 6will be always be heartily embraced by its legions of fans.
Although seen in previous leaks, perhaps the most notable item shown off more inGTA 6’s traileris that it will feature a Bonnie and Clyde-styled couple as protagonists. A number of recent games have had a dual protagonist design, and it seems to be a rising trend. With this shift, fans are speculating on how it will play out in terms of story and gameplay. In 2018,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyalso had two main characters, and the unique way it integrated them could informGTA 6.
GTA 6 Should Take A Cue From AC Odyssey’s Dual Protagonist Structure
Alexios and Kassandra in AC Odyssey
Along with being one of the manygames inspired by ancient Greece, one ofAssassin’s Creed Odyssey’smost interesting aspects is how it gives players a choice of two possible protagonists at the start of the adventure. The element that stands out, though, is whichever character they don’t choose then becomes a direct foil in the main plot. Picking between siblings, Kassandra or Alexios, players then follow one’s journey as they weave through events, and encounter the other at key points. As the story unfolds, tension mounts at every meeting of the two, creating an evolving dynamic informed by player decisions that eventually comes to a head.
Depending upon a branching series of choices players can make throughout its story,Odysseymolds therelationship of Alexios and Kassandraaccordingly, reflecting their agency in presenting and shaping their chosen character’s personality. This leads to a final confrontation, where players have to decide between reconciliation and revenge, and determine the fate of the other. It’s an effective device, and adds a weight to the narrative that elevates its impact and resolution.
Fan community consensus, informed by official related material, considers Kassandra asOdyssey’s canon player protagonist.
How Jason and Lucia Could Mirror Alexios and Kassandra in GTA 6
Rockstar’s reputationfor pushing the envelope in its titles is well-established, especially regarding story and characters.GTA 6has a chance to useOdyssey’s model as a stepping stone with Lucia and Jason. Allowing players to choose which of the two they wish to control, while keeping the other integral in interesting and surprising ways, would be a great way of shaking up the structure and giving fans something new. Their partner would still be a core part of the plot, but depending again on certain interactions, the outcomes of subsequent story events and their relationship could change significantly, while being directly influenced by player agency.
In a series known for complex and nuanced storylines, providing diverging narratives dependent upon choice of protagonist and plot decisions would also add great replay value toGTA 6.GivenRockstar andGTA’s penchant for stunning detail, it would be entirely possible thatGTA 6contains two completely different storylines based on the above, which would be an incredible feat. At this point though, fans will simply have to wait and see if, and how, Rockstar takes the opportunity to one-up itself with the sixth entry.
Grand Theft Auto 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
