The Grand Theft Auto series has been a staple of the gaming industry for over two decades, with each release since Grand Theft Auto 3 bringing something new to the table. While the gameplay and open-world structure has been a huge draw for many, the narrative and characters within each game are just as important to cementing their legacies. Now, players new and old may have an opportunity to revisit great storylines with a Grand Theft Auto Remastered Trilogy, a rumored overhaul of classic PS2-era titles that will bring them up to speed for the modern era.
However, as enticing as replaying the most exciting moments from these games may be, there are also a handful of sequences that are difficult to watch and play. The Grand Theft Auto series is, after all, about crime and doing dirty deeds to achieve a higher status. Sometimes, that life can bear unfortunate repercussions, and the characters whom players come to admire may suffer consequences. A handful of gut-wrenching moments from the classic titles may be tough to stomach again in a possible Grand Theft Auto Remastered Trilogy.
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Killing Big Smoke (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Before Grand Theft Auto 5 stole the show, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was arguably the most robust and grand adventure in the series. Missions were action-packed and varied, while the story hit a solid number of emotional beats. None hit harder than the death scene for Big Smoke, lifelong friend of main character Carl Johnson. Big Smoke wanted to make it big and was determined to do so by any means necessary. This meant he was even prepared to turn his back on Grove Street, the gang he called home for so many years.
Big Smoke struck a deal with a rival gang in order to open his own drug factory. His thirst for money and power caused a downward spiral, eventually resulting in a violent confrontation between Carl and Big Smoke. Toward the end of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the player engages in a shootout, with the two exchanging tough dialogue, driving home the painful realization of all those years of friendship tossed aside. The real kicker is Big Smoke's final words, revealing that all he wants is for everyone to remember his name.
Lance Betrays Tommy (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
Speaking of betrayals, Big Smoke isn't the only friend turned enemy in the Grand Theft Auto series. In the prior game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, players control Tommy Vercetti in his rise to power – much of which he does alongside longtime ally Lance Vance. While Lance isn't the brightest or most reliable, Tommy still considers him a good friend, even sticking his neck into dangerous situations for the guy on more than one occasion.
Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual, as Lance reveals he feels patronized and left out of Tommy's dealings. This sentiment reaches a head in a pivotal mission toward the end of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. During an exchange, Lance turns on Tommy, revealing the money being used is fake. In the resulting shootout that clearly draws inspiration from Scarface, Lance is killed. While Lance's death was brought on himself, the sting of his betrayal is a sharp one, as Tommy's care for the character is something echoed by many players leading up to that moment.
Stealing a Hearse (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
Tough moments to revisit don't always mean something sad. Sometimes, Grand Theft Auto missions are tough to watch or shockingly vile, like the infamous torture scene in Grand Theft Auto 5. In one sequence from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Tommy Vercetti is tasked with crashing a funeral disguised as a member of a rival gang in order to stir up conflict between the two factions. The implications and subject matter of this sequence are downright disturbing.
Tommy guns down a bunch of gang members guarding a hearse that is carrying the corpse of a fallen Haitian crime lord. He then steals said hearse and drives off with the body in the back of the vehicle. The world of crime is defintiely a dark place, but an act like this is shocking to have to perform. Tommy Vercetti does it all without batting an eye, however, which means that so too does the player, providing an extra feeling of sliminess upon completing the mission.
Rigged To Blow (Grand Theft Auto 3)
Finally, Grand Theft Auto 3 has its own fair share of difficult moments. While not as upsetting or reprehensible as those above, the "Rigged to Blow" mission makes it for it with pure uncomfortable tension. Grand Theft Auto 3's protagonist Claude receives a phone call instructing him to drive a car armed with a live explosive to a specific garage in order to disarm it. As the player enters the vehicle, a clock begins ticking down.
Time is precious and careful driving is key, because any damage to the car increases a meter that leads to the bomb going off sooner. Successfully delivering the car yields a big cash reward, but the drive there is nail-biting. This requires the most active attention from players, and the improvements Grand Theft Auto games have made to driving physics over the years should only add to the realism and tension in a potential remaster.
Grand Theft Auto Remastered Trilogy is rumored to be in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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