Fire

Fire is a damaging component of Grand Theft Auto games, designed to inflict a constant amount of damage on anyone or anything for a period of time. Introduced in the origional game, fire has long been uttilized as a weapon in game via the flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, which were both introduced in Grand Theft Auto 1 and Grand Theft Auto 2, respectively.

Behaviour

Fire in the Grand Theft Auto series has changed over time as the game engine is improved or recreated repeatedly.

GTA 1 initially programed fire for use in its flamethrower, the only flame-based weapon in the game. The flames of the weapon were primarily effective in setting people alight in short range; even if briefly in contact with its flame, the person remain on fire for a period of time, losing a portion of or all of their health; feeding more fire to the person will result in a quicker death. Vehicles, however, are less likely to remain on fire when out of the flame's way. The player will constantly have to fire the flamethrower onto a vehicle until it explodes and is destroyed.

GTA 2 carried over GTA 1's fire mechanics, while introducing Molotov cocktails as a new fire-based weapon. The Molotov cocktail, which functions the same way as GTA 2's grenade, generates an explosion and a ball of fire, but behaves more like a small-scale explosive that does not inflict long lasting fire damage. Fire is also introduced as a clear indication of a vehicle's imminent destruction; as a vehicle is progressively damaged, a small flame will emerge from the vehicle and grow until the entire vehicle explodes when totally destroyed.

Grand Theft Auto III retools the effects of fire with devastating results. Upon impact after being tossed, a molotov cocktail generates a ring of fire in its vicinity, torching anything within it, and leaving a temporarily lingering blaze in the center. In addition, fire may now continuously burn a vehicle, and the player themselves may also be burned if in contact of a flame. The flamethrower, however, functions similar as before. The concept of severely damaged vehicles in flames was also brought over to GTA III, but is used simply to indicate the vehicle is completely damaged and is on the verge of exploding (risking killing any occupant inside).

While nothing has changed in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas modified and extended the fire's presence in game. Explosions of any form may generate fire in its surrounding, and fire has the ability to grow, spread and die out. These features, however, are not seen in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories or Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, as both games used a modified variant of the GTA Vice City game engine, resulting in GTA III/GTA Vice City-like fire mechanics.

Grand Theft Auto IV adopts more realism in the manner fire behaves. The flamethrower was dropped while Molotov cocktails are retained. Fire may still inflict injury on a person, but the fire deducts a random amount of damage as the victim may attempt put out the flames by using the "stop, drop and roll" technique instead of simply running around in previous games. Fire is still an indication of a vehicle's soon-to-be destruction as the engine may erupt in flame, but fire from the gas tank(s) of the vehicle is the game's final sign of a vehicle's imminent explosion. Fire may also destroy a vehicle's tires, burning it before it explodes and exposes the rims.

Fighting fire

Since GTA 2, various methods were invented to allow the player to overcome fire, be it on themselves or others.

The most apparent addition was a proper water cannon introduced in GTA III in the Fire Truck. When aimed correctly, fire may be put out with water as white smoke or vapors emerge; this system has remain unchanged since. Aside the Firetruck, the SWAT Tank in GTA San Andreas comes mounted with a similar water cannon that is capable of putting out fires in the same manner.

Another fire fighting tool is the Fire Extinguisher in GTA San Andreas, which allows the player to extinguish small groups of fire when aimed directly at them. Due to its use, the extinguisher may be utilized in two of the game's missions, Burning Desire and End of the Line, when the player may be required to clear paths in burning buildings.

In GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas, GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Vice City Stories, the player may also be awarded invulnerability to fire by completing specific levels in the Firefighter side missions. This allows the player to burn without losing their health.