Update #1: While the GTA Trilogy has been massively upgraded on the PS5, restoring its original art direction, the patch is not currently available on the PS4. It's unclear why the update hasn't been made available on Sony's last-gen system – these are originally PS2 titles, after all – but we'll check in with Rockstar and try and get some kind of update.
The good news is that all three games are massively improved on the PS5 at least. In addition to the art direction enhancements, skeletons have been reworked so that characters don't look so strange in specific poses, like when crouching or riding bicycles. The weather effects, like rain, also look vastly superior with the added fog and haze effects restored.
One other thing we should point out is that original developer Grove Games' name has been removed entirely from this project. It's not massively surprising given the quality of its original work, but worth pointing out all the same.
Original Article: The trilogy of 3D GTA games first released on the PS2 are among some of the greatest titles ever made, but Rockstar's dismal Definitive Edition really disappointed earlier in the generation.
While they added some contemporary conveniences, like checkpoints, they practically ruined the art direction of the originals, and were panned by fans. We gave the collection a 5/10 in our review: "Rockstar built its reputation on attention to detail, and while all three of these games still come highly recommended, this disappointing compilation will go down as a stain on the label's record."
Image: Push SquareBut the developer has been quietly updating the games in collaboration with an unexpected partner: Netflix. For those who don't know, you can play titles like GTA: San Andreas on your mobile phone as part of your subscription to the streaming service.
Now a new patch has implemented improvements from that mobile version into the PS5 remaster. A toggle, named Classic Lighting, maintains the original PS2 era art direction. Character models have also been improved, while fog effects have returned to give the games that hazy look they're known for.
On the left we see GTA: San Andreas Definitive Edition with its remastered lighting, and to the right its original art direction has been restored — Images: Push Square
We'll need to spend more time with the remasters to properly appraise whether they're worth playing now, but based on our first impressions of San Andreas, it undoubtedly looks a lot better three years removed from its original release.
Of course, Rockstar deserves no real credit here: these classics shouldn't have been butchered in the first place. But for the purposes of preservation, we're glad it's committed to continuing to improve these remasters – especially as the PS2 versions were unceremoniously pulled from the PS Store to make way for them.
[source rockstarintel.com, via sportskeeda.com]
GTA Trilogy Massively Upgraded on PS5, Patch Out on PS4 Now Too
Grove Games' name removed from project
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