Fire

Fire is a damaging component of GTA games, designed to inflict a constant amount of damage on anyone or anything for a period of time. Introduced in the first GTA, 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 GTA series has changed over time as the game engine is improved or recreated repeatedly.

GTA1 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.

GTA2 carried over GTA1's fire mechanics, while introducing Molotov cocktails as a new fire-based weapon. The Molotov cocktail, which functions the same way as GTA2's grenade, generates an explosion and a ball of fire, but behaves more like a small-scale explosive and 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 went totally destroyed.

GTA 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 flame 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 severe damaged vehicles in flames was also brought over to GTA III, but is used to simply indicate the vehicle is completely damaged and is on the verge of exploding (killing any occupant inside).

While nothing has changed in GTA Vice City. GTA 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 GTA Liberty City Stories or GTA 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.

GTA IV adopted more realism in the way fire behaves. The flamethrower was dropped while Molotov cocktails are retained. Fire may still inflict injury on a person is unchanged, 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 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, bruning it before it explodes and exposes the rims.

Overcoming fire

Since GTA2, 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 in the GTA III rendition of 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 play 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 mission, Burning Desire and End of the Line, when the player is required to escape burning buildings.

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