Cover System

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

Niko Bellic utilising the cover system to hide from cops and have a clear vantage point in GTA IV.

The ability to take cover in Grand Theft Auto, known henceforth as the "cover system", has long been a feature since the first game, primarily intended to protect the player from gunfire and injury. Development of the feature was initially slow as functionality of the cover system had only been improved gradually in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Grand Theft Auto IV, however, features a significantly overhauled cover system, serving as a crucial gameplay element.

Description

Pre-GTA IV

In GTA games prior to GTA Vice City, including top-down games, the player is limited to running behind cars and structure in order to cover from gunfire.

With the introduction of crouching in GTA Vice City, the player can take cover behind shorter objects (eg. cars, boxes, garbage, desks and benches) that are otherwise useless in GTA III so the player's body is less exposed to gunfire. This is especially advantageous on the PC version where the bullets travel straight to the crosshair and not obstructed by barriers usually experienced when 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 move, roll and dodge while crouching.

GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Vice City Stories and GTA Chinatown Wars follow GTA III's cover system, as the player cannot crouch. Similarly, GTA Advance follows the even older cover system employed in early top-down games.

GTA IV

Grand Theft Auto IV and its respective episodes dramatically improved the cover system by allowing the player to hide behind nearly any sufficiently large solid object in a single command and attack while behind cover. Because players will receive more severe injuries from gunfire, and gunfights are made more realistic than previous games, cover is far more necessary when in firefights in GTA IV than in prior games.

When the command to take cover is issued, the player will automatically seek the nearest solid surface for cover, running, rolling, sliding, diving and going from cover to cover; depending on the height of the object, the player will either take cover standing or crouching. 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 fire around, either emerging in plain sight of hostiles to open fire (allowing the player to zoom in on their target) before automatically hiding behind cover, or blind fire (by blindly shooting around or over the source of cover); the former tends to be risky if the player poorly times their attack, as most of their body will be exposed to gunfire; likewise, accuracy is significantly reduced when the player chooses to blind fire, unless they player is able to effectively target weak spots on hostiles (as it is still possible to perform headshots using single blind shots).Players can also throw or fire projectile weapons and explosives (including the Rocket Launcher and Grenade Launcher) while in cover, protecting the player from splash damage.

GTA IV differs from previous GTA games when it comes to using first person aiming weapons in cover. In previous GTA games, the player has to stand away from cover to fire one of these weapons in order to prevent being killed by their own weapon (eg. the Rocket Launcher) or to increase accuracy (eg. the sniper rifle). However, in the GTA IV Era, if the player is in cover, the player can fire them in third person mode or blindfire them using the crosshair provided. This is a very useful feature, as it can kill targets at a very far distance while staying safe behind cover and maintaining a clear view of the player's surrounds, therefore spotting potential targets to hide from or eliminate first.

However, players will have little in the way of abilities while taking cover When unarmed or wielding a melee weapon, players will only be able to move around cover, peek out of cover, or center their camera at a close target.

It is still possible to resort to the traditional crouch-and-shoot tactic effective in GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas. Similar to GTA San Andreas, the ability to roll dodge is possible in GTA IV when the player simply crouches in the open.

At the simple press of a button, the player can pull themself behind a form of cover, like this wall, to protect themselves from gunfire and flying bullets. At the simple press of a button, the player can pull themself behind a form of cover, like this wall, to protect themselves from gunfire and flying bullets. The cover system allows the player to observe their surroundings and enemies on equal ground without the risk of getting repeatedly hit by bullets and eventually getting Wasted. Unlike previous games, the cover system is a necessity to survive high wanted levels,as shown in this image, as the police have better weaponry and are more smarter, dangerous and trigger happy. The cover system allows the player to observe their surroundings and enemies on equal ground without the risk of getting repeatedly hit by bullets and eventually getting Wasted. Unlike previous games, the cover system is a necessity to survive high wanted levels,as shown in this image, as the police have better weaponry and are more smarter, dangerous and trigger happy. When the player is in cover, they can strafe left or right if there is room, hugging close to the cover. When the player is in cover, they can strafe left or right if there is room, hugging close to the cover. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The cover system in GTA IV allows the player to cling behind nearly any solid object, minimizing the player's injuries from gunfire. The player can then emerge from cover, aim and shoot, and take cover again. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Players can blind fire while at the edge of their cover, providing suppressing fire. However, accuracy is significantly rediced in this method. There are two different methods of blindfiring in GTA IV and its episodes: blindfiring from the side of over and blindfiring over the top of cover. Here, Luis Lopez is shown blindfiring with both methods in The Ballad of Gay Tony. There are two different methods of blindfiring in GTA IV and its episodes: blindfiring from the side of over and blindfiring over the top of cover. Here, Luis Lopez is shown blindfiring with both methods in The Ballad of Gay Tony. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Thrown weapons can also be tossed from cover, as seen here with the player throwing a Molotov cocktail at two homeless people around the entrance to a dilapidated apartment. Thrown weapons are always thrown underarm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing However, players will have little in the way of abilities while taking cover wielding a melee weapon (such as the pictured knife) or being unarmed; players will only be able to move around cover, peek out of cover, or center their camera at a close target. Note also the tree the player takes cover has no corners (acting more like a cylinder column).