Cover System: Difference between revisions

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[[File:933037_20080320_screen005.jpg|thumb|[[Niko Bellic|Niko]] from [[Grand Theft Auto IV|GTAIV]] using cover to hide from cops and have a clear vantage point.]]
[[File:933037_20080320_screen005.jpg|thumb|[[Niko Bellic|Niko]] from [[Grand Theft Auto IV|GTAIV]] using cover to hide from cops and have a clear vantage point.]]


The '''Cover System''' is a feature that has debuted in the first 3D game, [[Grand Theft Auto III]] and has been immensely expanded in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]], and it's DLC. In GTA IV the first appearance of proper cover tactics is that of the ''[[Wikipedia: Gears of War|Gears of War]]'' series.
A system to let the player '''[[wp:Cover system|cover]]''' from gun fire is a feature that has debuted with the introducing of over-the-shoulder view in [[Grand Theft Auto III]] and has been immensely expanded in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]. Games that uses the bird's eye view has very little form of cover, mainly only running behind objects to hide from gun fire.
 
[[Wikipedia:Cover|Cover]] is basically what the name suggests; it is a way to remain partially concealed and shoot if necessary from the the source of cover. Some examples of cover may be a door, under a window, a pillar, a vehicle, or a crate.
 
Some players are hoping for a better cover system, as even [[GTA IV Era|the current generation]] of [[Grand Theft Auto|the GTA Series]] has some cover flaws. For example, in GTA IV, the game will allow the player to take cover facing the enemy and could even do this by accident, wasting some [[Health|health]] that could have otherwise been banked.


== Description ==
== Description ==
;GTA III - GTA VCS
=== GTA III GTA Vice City Stories ===
[[File:CoverSystem-GTAVC-inuse.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Various forms of cover in GTA Vice City; behind cardboard boxes, a bench, and a car.]]
[[File:CoverSystem-GTAVC-inuse.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Various forms of cover in GTA Vice City; behind cardboard boxes, a bench, and a car.]]
In GTA III there could be no such use of proper cover. The player is only limited to hiding behind a car, or structure of some sort, and attacking enemies with the lower half of the protagonist's body behind the hood of the car, but not all. In GTA VC however a new feature that contributed to the system is crouching. With this the player had more advantages than what they would have had before. Ideal places for crouching would be behind a low wall, a bench, oil drums, or a car. When crouching the player didn't expose that much of their body to threats. But it is only the most useful in the PC version of the game. The reason being is that a third-person view was present instead of just the [[First person view]]. With the third-person view, the player could strategically position themselves in a way that would benefit them. With the first-person view, the player, most of the time would just aim at the object they are hiding behind, so they would have to stand up and attack others, while raising the risk of begin shot. But if on a rooftop the building can provide sufficient cover and you can attack more precisely as crouching reduces recoil of the weapon in hand.  
In GTA III, in order to cover from gun fire, the player is limited to running behind cars and structure. With the introduction of crouching in GTA Vice City, the player can run behind shorter structures that are otherwise pointless in GTA III so the player's body is less exposed to gun fire. This is especially advantageous on the PC version where the bullets travel to the crosshair and not obstructed by barriers usually experienced using the console or classic controls. Powerful weapons that can only be targeted in first-person view in the console or classic controls are extremely useful in the PC version being able to target in third person view. GTA San Andreas added the additional ability to travel while crouching and rolling over sideways while crouching.
 
==GTA San Andreas==
In GTA: San Andreas, the cover system was still not present however improvising for one is much easier than previous games. For example, with the revamped physics system, you can use gun bullets to shoot doors open and for a few seconds before it closes by itself again, you can shoot the visible enemies and back away/close the door while reloading. Some players uses cover-roll-cover system as this technique is very useful and it will be easy to kill any enemy without receiving any damage. The player could also perform stealth kills with a [[Knife|knife]]. There is also a minor feature in some missions that involve cover. This is whenever the player is in the dark, the small centered player blip will turn blue instead of white.


==GTA IV==
=== GTA IV ===
[[File:Cover-GTAIV.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Luis Lopez]] blindfiring in two of GTA IV's cover positions.]]
[[File:Cover-GTAIV.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Luis Lopez]] blindfiring in two of GTA IV's cover positions.]]
By pressing a button, the [[Protagonist]] will hide behind the nearest available cover, with a great number of animations for each way he enters cover (such as crouching behind a car, rolling to reach a cover faster, and even sliding on his knees).
Grand Theft Auto IV dramatically expanded this idea into a system with a simple press of a button. The cover button can let the player automatically find a nearby object to hide behind. The character great number of animations are available just to approach the cover, including running into cover, rolling into cover, sliding into cover, and going from cover to cover.
 
Behind cover, the player can do several things depending on what the cover is. Behind a vehicle, the player can strafe left and right in cover and shoot once he is taking cover behind a part of the car that is not much higher than he is (e.g. trunk, hood...). If you are taking cover behind a vehicle stopped by a red light in [[Star Junction]]-esque traffic, the vehicle can start moving and any body parts that were under the car or holding onto the car will get squished and/or hurt.
 
===Different types of cover===
 
;Blind Aim
Blind aim is when the player is hiding behind something (either crouching or standing) and they fire their weapon while at the edge of that cover. While it is more effective with protecting one-selves blind aim is less accurate as the reticule increases in size faster than with standard aim. With blind aim enemies mainly can only shoot at the player's arm. The only weapons that maintain effectiveness is explosives (e.g. molotovs, grenades, and the rocket launcher). Shooting accurately can be ''sometimes'' annoying, though. If you are at the middle of a row of boxes and are trying to shoot, sometimes the game forces you to shoot from the edges of the boxes.
 
;Strafing
Strafing is a method that allows the player to move behind objects while remaining in cover. While strafing the player is limited to a small amount of space. The player is also limited to strafing either left or right.  


In [[Multiplayer in GTA IV|multiplayer]], using cover can save your life in many occasions. Since the players are real, the opponent will try to sneak up on you and shoot you from all directions if possible. Using cover, you can counteract that motion.  
Once behind cover, the player can strafe left or right if there is room, hugging close to the cover. At the edge of a cover, the player can blind fire without exposing the major parts of the body to receive minimal damage. A major disadvantage to this is that accuracy is dramatically reduced. The new system allows the player to throw projectiles and explosives without damaging oneself in the process. The player can shoot out of cover instead and after the player stops shooting, the character will automatically hide behind cover.


{{Weapons}}
{{Weapons}}
[[Category:Features in GTA IV]]
[[Category:Features in GTA IV]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Revision as of 09:45, 14 August 2010

File:933037 20080320 screen005.jpg
Niko from GTAIV using cover to hide from cops and have a clear vantage point.

A system to let the player cover from gun fire is a feature that has debuted with the introducing of over-the-shoulder view in Grand Theft Auto III and has been immensely expanded in Grand Theft Auto IV. Games that uses the bird's eye view has very little form of cover, mainly only running behind objects to hide from gun fire.

Description

GTA III — GTA Vice City Stories

Various forms of cover in GTA Vice City; behind cardboard boxes, a bench, and a car.

In GTA III, in order to cover from gun fire, the player is limited to running behind cars and structure. With the introduction of crouching in GTA Vice City, the player can run behind shorter structures that are otherwise pointless in GTA III so the player's body is less exposed to gun fire. This is especially advantageous on the PC version where the bullets travel to the crosshair and not obstructed by barriers usually experienced using the console or classic controls. Powerful weapons that can only be targeted in first-person view in the console or classic controls are extremely useful in the PC version being able to target in third person view. GTA San Andreas added the additional ability to travel while crouching and rolling over sideways while crouching.

GTA IV

File:Cover-GTAIV.jpg
Luis Lopez blindfiring in two of GTA IV's cover positions.

Grand Theft Auto IV dramatically expanded this idea into a system with a simple press of a button. The cover button can let the player automatically find a nearby object to hide behind. The character great number of animations are available just to approach the cover, including running into cover, rolling into cover, sliding into cover, and going from cover to cover.

Once behind cover, the player can strafe left or right if there is room, hugging close to the cover. At the edge of a cover, the player can blind fire without exposing the major parts of the body to receive minimal damage. A major disadvantage to this is that accuracy is dramatically reduced. The new system allows the player to throw projectiles and explosives without damaging oneself in the process. The player can shoot out of cover instead and after the player stops shooting, the character will automatically hide behind cover.