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Grand Theft Auto: Light & Shadow, commonly known simply as Light & Shadow or abbreviated as L&S, is a video game developed by Rockstar Studios The game serves as the eight main entry for Grand Theft Auto series. The single-player story sets in modern-day Vice City, based on Miami, and the Bahamas. It follows an intertwined conflict between three criminals, who utilize manipulation tactics in making their names. It was released for Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows in April 2022.
As one of the most anticipated games of 2022, Light & Shadow earned $700 million in its first day and $1 billion in its first week. The game met critical acclaim for its distinctive theme, gameplay improvements, and the return of crime-focused narrative. However, it also generated controversies for its depiction of confidence trick.
SETTINGS
Light & Shadow marks the return of Vice City, as the main setting, which has been expanded to include other locations from real-life Miami metropolitan area. Also featured in the game map is the Evergreen National Park (inspired by the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve), the Tequesta Keys (Florida Keys), and the Bahamas as a secondary setting.
The game sets in 2017, almost three decades after the city suffered from the bloody cocaine war. Vice City has grown into a perfect paradise for business opportunities, tourists destination, hedonistic high-end communities, as well as the still breathing drug empires. Conquering the city are the Cuban Reyes Crime Family and the Colombian Céntricio Cartel, both of which have survived the eighties conflicts; and Kirikov Bratva, a Russian organization that develops rapidly since early 2010s. The three groups have ties with the corrupt narco division of VCPD, which the DOA begins to dismantle during the game event.
CHARCTERS
Light & Shadow is the second game in Grand Theft Auto series to feature three multiple playable protagonists: Thomas Kingston, a conman and thief who's looking to recover his career following a horrific incident in Nassau and continuous failures that followed; Maria Vinogradova, originally a honeytrap / hitwoman working for criminals in Russia who moved to America for better life; and Cesar Álvarez, formerly a crooked VCPD narcotics detective in search for protection amidst the DOA's investigation.
Each protagonist represents particular manipulation technique and explores one scenery of modern-day Vice City: Thomas portrays negotiation and explores the shady side of VC's blooming economy; Maria portrays seduction and explores the wealthy Russian criminals; and Cesar portrays intimidation and explores the Latino drug empires.
PLOT
Spoiler Warning: Plot and/or ending details are in the text which follows.- ❝ Everyone here goes after the relaxing weather, the nightlife’s glitz, or the drugs from South America. But in this deceiving paradise, loyalty and genuineness are more valuable. No one know who will betray, lie, or trick to get all the glories. Being truthful is not enough, and defeating them with their own game is a better choice sometimes. Among the people who are mastering this satisfying route are a deceitful hustler, a distracting assassin, and a dirty ex-lawman.❞
- ―Synopsis
The main story is non-linear, formed by scattered con games with different marks. Setting up those targets won’t be easy, and thus the role of ever-expanding connections is significant. The right acquaintances provide the protagonists with quality details regarding the targets, some even give hints of certain opportunities earlier. Many paths can be taken. The protagonists can miss out certain marks and connections entirely. Some may leave the town at one point or even get arrested/killed.
The story is divided into two main parts. The first-half works like EFLC: three separate and loosely tied stories for Thomas, Maria, and Cesar. Only one perspective can be played at a time. The second-half is closer to GTA V post-Friends Reunited as the three stories intertwine into singularity. The character wheel is now unlocked to switch between protagonists, but can only be used while outside of missions and activities.
GAMEPLAY
Confidence trick is the third fundamental gameplay concept next to driving and shooting. What means by cons here are any creative and subtle strategies of showcasing your wits. You can interact with any pedestrians and scam them for money, items, or information. Police officers can be misdirected or bribed to cover your crime at lower wanted level. Interaction heavily revolves on building up lies through choices of action and dialogue. Replacing GTA V's special ability is observation mode (inspired by a scene of Hustle), an ability to capture bits and pieces of a mark to reveal better action/dialogue options you can pick. The real jewels of confidence tricks, however, are the con games. These are schemes that feature more complex interaction, with pre-planning stages of identifying a particular mark, gathering intelligence, and assuming a disguise. There are two types of scheme: a simple one-mission scenario (short-con) or an intricate multi-parts scenario (long-con).
As mentioned before, each protagonist has their own "style" of confidence trick. Thomas poses as reliant professional who negotiates the right deal at the right time at the right price; an offer too hard for the mark to refuse. Maria poses as someone with personality that the mark enjoys the most, ranging from friendly partner to sultry seductress. Cesar poses as the mark's threat, using fear and intimidation to convince the mark.
To balance the prioritization of confidence tricks over aggressive nature of GTA, all types of combat are twice more lethal than usual. If you can avoid violences, do it or face the risks of repeatedly dying.
EXTERNAL LINKS
- Light & Shadow topic in GTAForums
NAVIGATION
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