{"id":2956,"date":"2013-10-05T14:03:18","date_gmt":"2013-10-05T14:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.controlpadblues.com\/?p=2956"},"modified":"2013-10-05T14:25:52","modified_gmt":"2013-10-05T14:25:52","slug":"my-top-10-memorable-gta-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.controlpadblues.com\/?p=2956","title":{"rendered":"My Top 10 Memorable GTA Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"2013<\/a>

2013 – Rockstar Games<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

It seems that everything in the gaming world right now is revolving around the free-roaming juggernaut that is Grand Theft Auto V<\/em>, and most would say, for good reason.\u00a0 You can pretty much do whatever the heck you want to, and the level of detail they\u2019ve managed to incorporate is unreal.<\/p>\n

For example, you know the \u201ctick tick tick\u201d your car makes when you turn it off and it starts to cool down?\u00a0 Well, if you listen closely enough, you\u2019ll hear that when getting out of a car in GTA V<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t own the game yet, but I had a chance to play it for about 30 minutes at a friend\u2019s place.\u00a0 Even in that small amount of time, I had several \u201cawww man, that is too cool\u201d moments, which the GTA<\/em> games seem to be damn good at pulling off.<\/p>\n

That being said, here are my favourite moments from the GTA<\/em> series.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t played any of the “Episodes” games, past-or-current gen, so there won\u2019t be any moments from them on here.\u00a0 Sorry!<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 Crossing the East Borough Bridge (GTA IV<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the simple act of crossing a bridge doesn\u2019t sound all that exciting on the surface, it was at that moment that I got a sense of just how amazing GTA IV<\/em> looked.<\/p>\n

Broker, the island of Liberty City that you start on, looks fantastic enough as it is.\u00a0 It\u2019s an older part of town, and it has that distinct New York-ey feel to it.\u00a0 The area and buildings are based on Brooklyn, and you definitely get that feeling from that particular island.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t recall exactly what mission it is that makes you cross the East Borough Bridge for the first time, but getting that first look at the Liberty City skyline at sunset was quite the sight to behold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Not<\/a>

Not the coolest-looking bridge, but it does give you a nice view of the main downtown area.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

I was so distracted by the view that I turned the corner way too late, slammed the concrete barrier head-on and sent poor Niko flying out the car\u2019s windshield and to his death.\u00a0 He almost made it to the river, but not quite\u2026 it was awesome, though!!!<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0 Just Business (GTA: San Andreas<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s not the most complex mission in the game, Just Business makes up for it with style.<\/p>\n

After a quick standoff with members of the Russian Mafia, CJ escapes on the back of a motorcycle driven by Big Smoke.\u00a0 Your job is to pick off the chasing Mafia members through streets, alleyways, and eventually, the Los Santos Storm Drain.<\/p>\n

Not long after you enter the \u201cbig concrete ditch\u201d that is the Storm Drain, you\u2019re treated to a short cutscene of a massive truck barreling down from an overpass.<\/p>\n

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\"JC<\/a>

JC (John Connor) and CJ (Carl Johnson)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Obviously, any fan of the Terminator<\/em> franchise would know what that was a reference to.\u00a0 It was a nice nod to a film that, in many ways, set the bar for action movies in the 90\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Also, the final stretch of the mission has you making a dramatic ramped-jump over parked cars.\u00a0 For no reason whatsoever, they all explode as you clear the mayhem.\u00a0 Over-the-top and hilarious\u2026 love it!<\/p>\n

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\"Completely<\/a>

Completely unnecessary, but awesome nonetheless.<\/p><\/div>\n

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8.\u00a0 Buying Every Property Available and Owning Vice City (GTA: Vice City<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one thing that\u2019s incredibly satisfying about the GTA<\/em> games, it\u2019s working your way up from rags to riches.\u00a0 You don\u2019t start with very much, but by the time the end credits roll around, chances are pretty good that your character is loaded.<\/p>\n

Even though you got this feeling in GTA III<\/em>, it was Vice City<\/em> that took it to another level.<\/p>\n

Instead of one home base on each island, Vice City<\/em> introduced the ability to buy whatever apartment or house you could afford.\u00a0 Not only that, but you could also purchase various businesses around town, complete every mission they offered, then show up every now and then to collect the revenue the business generated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My personal favourite asset from the game, Sunshine Autos;
win races, get cars, then drive them through the second floor window when you need one.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Claude Speed (the lame-named protagonist from GTA III<\/em>) might have owned a few condos around Liberty City, but it was Tommy Vercetti that truly became King of the city he called home.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 How about the power of flight? That do anything for you? (GTA: Vice City<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though GTA III<\/em> had the Dodo airplane, anyone who ever rode in one knew it was obviously not destined to reach great heights.\u00a0 Some persevered and managed to get it going pretty good, discovering a few cool things in their travels.<\/p>\n

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\"The<\/a>

The “Ghost Town” behind Shoreside Vale is actually where the game’s introductory heist scene takes place.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Vice City<\/em> however, you were finally given your first taste of proper flight.\u00a0 When the helicopter became readily available on top of Diaz\u2019s mansion, you could have a bird\u2019s eye view of things whenever you wanted.<\/p>\n

You could steal an Apache-like chopper with lots of firepower later on in the game, but being able to fly and enjoy the sights was good enough for me.\u00a0 San Andreas<\/em> (and probably GTA V<\/em>) upped the freedom level a bit with planes and the ability to skydive, but I\u2019ll never forget that first time in the skies over Vice City.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 Free-fallin\u2019 in Arco del Oeste (GTA: San Andreas<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unique (or Stunt) Jumps were always super fun to pull off whenever you found one.\u00a0 There was always money to be made by doing them, and that slow-motion camera was pretty slick.\u00a0 Still, it was those non-designated (i.e. way less obvious) jumps that were even more fun to do.<\/p>\n

Case in point, San Andreas<\/em>\u2019 Arco del Oeste.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The ramp to nowhere in the middle of nowhere.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I don\u2019t quite remember if it was one of Mike Torino\u2019s missions or what, but for some reason, I recall making it to the top of a mountain with (what else) a mountain bike.\u00a0 By pedaling to the peak, you see an abandoned old shack with a ridiculously long wooden ramp to nowhere.<\/p>\n

When the mission eventually wrapped up, naturally, I went back to try flying off that ramp.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s really nothing to gain from doing it, since it\u2019s just a long drop into the river below.\u00a0 It was just so damn liberating, though!\u00a0 I could\u2019ve used the parachute supplied nearby, but it wasn\u2019t necessary.\u00a0 I was having a blast just falling from such a great height without getting hurt.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Bomb da Base (GTA III<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again, this isn\u2019t the most complex mission in the world, but I found it pretty badass the first time I played through it.<\/p>\n

Armed with a sniper rifle, it\u2019s your job to protect your buddy 8-Ball from members of the Columbian Cartel from the roof of a warehouse nearby.\u00a0 As he sneaks aboard the massive cargo ship to plant explosives and blow it up, you\u2019re dropping gang members left and right, shooting barrels of gasoline to make them explode\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Run<\/a>

Run 8-Ball, run!!! Eeeeeee!!!<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

You just tag-teamed the Cartel and sank a friggin\u2019 cargo ship\u2026 amazing.<\/p>\n

4. The Jetpack (GTA: San Andreas<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though the helicopter in Vice City<\/em> was fun, it did feel a bit big and cumbersome.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t have a wide-range of attacks, but that was alright\u2026 we were just happy to be flying.<\/p>\n

In San Andreas<\/em>, the jetpack took things to a whole new level.\u00a0 No longer were we confined to a cockpit at the mercy of whatever that physics made the thing airborne in the first place.\u00a0 With this, we could explore every nook and cranny of the gaming world, attack with whatever weapon we wanted to in mid-air, and get around about as quickly and easily as we could ever have dreamed of.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Aside<\/a>

Aside from having a great view, the top of this bridge holds a little secret.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. G-Spotlight (GTA: Vice City<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another great thing about Vice City<\/em> was the inclusion of motorcycles.\u00a0 The good ol\u2019 PCJ-900 was perfect for jumps, and it made slipping through traffic hassle-free a possibility.\u00a0 That was, of course, until a car turned at an intersection right in front of you and sent you flying\u2026 other than that, it was fantastic.<\/p>\n

One of the missions that adult movie mogul Steve Scott sends you on starts off by having you casually ride a motorcycle into a skyscraper elevator.\u00a0 In the office area several stories up, you have to break through the window and jump to the adjacent building.<\/p>\n

The idea is to keep jumping from building to building, eventually re-arranging a spotlight to promote Scott\u2019s new film.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t the easiest mission, since every jump had to be perfect, but it was oh-so satisfying to get it all done.<\/p>\n

*Warning: The following video contains crappy-looking partial nudity.*<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n