5 Worst Features Added to Grand Theft Auto Sequels

Developer Rockstar has seemingly perfected the core Grand Theft Auto formula. The series has only gotten bigger since the move to 3D, and the basic gameplay loop does a great job of moving players from one story mission to the next. However, one of the reasons GTA is so successful is that Rockstar doesn’t rest on its laurels. Instead, the developers continue to experiment with new features, mini-games, and mission types. Many of these are hits. For example, heists were introduced in GTA IV before becoming an integral part of GTA V and GTA Online. That said, some of the new additions have unfortunately become duds.

Here is a list of the five worst features Rockstar added to Grand Theft Auto, going from least to most frustrating.

5) Triathlons

In general, triathlons in GTA V aren’t terrible. It’s a good way to increase your stamina, see the city, and earn some money. Plus, you’ll need to complete them all to earn 100% completion.

However, the final triathlon feels like a middle finger from Rockstar. The Coyote Cross Country Triathlon will take you nearly 30 minutes of real-world time. If you don’t have unlimited stamina unlocked before starting this one, good luck.

4) Friendships

Friendships were one of GTA IV’s major new side missions. On paper, they don’t sound too bad. You’ll get a call from one of your five friends and go take part in one of GTA IV’s many activities. Plus, after building up their “like” percentage, you’ll unlock various favors.

These range from Cousin Roman sending you a car that takes you around the city to Little Jacbo bringing you guns to buy at a discount price to Dwayne Forge lending you a few goons for backup. All five favors are nifty additions that almost make it worth befriending everyone.

The issue is that your friends are annoying. They’ll call you day and night asking to hang out. If you decline, your meter with them goes down. You can get around this by cancelling your plans, but your friends will quickly ruin any attempts to quietly explore Liberty City.

3) Pilot School

Flying planes and helicopters in Grand Theft Auto has always been a chore. They’re difficult to control, especially on a controller, because they’re so touchy. One wrong move can throw you off course, making completing Pilot School in GTA: San Andreas (and Flight School in GTA V) incredibly annoying.

The kicker is that Pilot School is part of the main quest progression in San Andreas. It would be bad enough if it were simply required for 100% completion, but adding it to the main story is demoralizing. While there is a way around it if you know what you’re doing, most players will have to go through the first few missions to earn their pilot’s license.

Going for full completion earns you a Hunter, a high-powered military attack helicopter. There are certainly worse rewards, but this one is almost not worth the trouble.

2) Submarine Pieces

Since GTA III, every Grand Theft Auto game has asked players who want to earn 100% completion to collect various items from around the open world. It started with Hidden Packages, but by GTA V, players are collecting Spacehip Parts and Letter Scraps, both of which end with fun cutscenes.

What’s strange about GTA V is that it adds another collectible, Submarine Pieces, that isn’t required for 100% Completion. In fact, the Strangers and Freaks mission you’re given from Abigail doesn’t seem to have any point at all other than wasting your time.

After collecting all 30 Sub Pieces for Abigail, you’ll get a short cutscene where she gives you $10 and a signed photo of her dead husband, which Michael immediately chucks into the ocean. In the original version of GTA V, you can kill Abigail to claim her Asea, which was one of the rarest cars in the game. However, the enhanced version makes that a much more common vehicle, which makes an already pointless quest feel even worse.

1) RC Missions

GTA: San Andreas’ RC missions are the bane of every player’s existence. For whatever reason, Zero (voiced by David Cross) seems to have it out for GTA fans, giving them the worst questline in series history.

None of these missions are fun, but Supply Lines is the one that many players break their controller over. If you thought the planes in Pilot School were tough to control, you haven’t seen anything yet, as the Red Baron is one of the finickiest things you’ll ever put your hands on.

On top of the control issues, the Red Baron will blow up at the slightest bit of damage. You need to take out five targets with the gun mounted on your RC plane under a strict time limit.

And while Supply Lines is the worst of the bunch, the other two aren’t any good either. You also have to complete these missions if you want to earn 100% completion. Thankfully, we haven’t seen radio-controlled vehicles make a comeback since. Hopefully, it stays that way.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

3 Reasons GTA 6 is Bound to Disappoint