Categories
Games

The Top Tier of Grand Theft Auto Villainy: The Most Evil Characters in the Iconic Series

Although the legendary Grand Theft Auto game series is mostly about illegal acts such as stealing cars and killing people, we can safely say that some characters are more evil than others. GTA started its legacy way back in 1997, and since then, it has evolved tremendously when it comes to both the graphics and the gameplay itself.

GTA 6 is on its way, and it will finally make its long-awaiting debut in 2025. While there is still a lot more to learn about the upcoming game, which is also the most anticipated game in history, if we look at the insane number of views for its official trailer, we still have to learn a thing or two about the history of the series.

Let’s speak a bit about some of the most evil characters in the history of GTA, shall we?

S-Tier:

Catalina (GTA III, GTA San Andreas)
Trevor Philips (GTA V)
Sonny Forelli (GTA Vice City)
Devin Weston (GTA V)
Dmitri Rascalov (GTA IV)

Catalina is a woman who falls in love with CJ from GTA San Andreas and proves to be the embodiment of evil. She is always willing to run into trouble and break the law in order to have her own way. She dumps CJ at some point and gets Claude from GTA III as her new lover.

Trevor Philips is easily one of the most evil characters in GTA history. He is the kind of guy who would kill someone in their sleep or eat him alive just for fun.

Devin Weston from GTA V represents the epitome of corporate greed and manipulation. He is a billionaire businessman who has a vast network of influence and resources, and thus he is one of the most powerful men in Los Santos.

Dmitri Rascalov from GTA IV has a cunning and duplicitous nature. He is the primary antagonist in the 2008 game, and his betrayal and manipulation set off a chain of events that culminate in terrible trouble for Niko Bellic and his comrades.

A-Tier:

Big Smoke (GTA San Andreas)
Frank Tenpenny (GTA San Andreas)
Billy Grey (GTA IV: The Lost and Damned)
Steve Haines (GTA V)
Michael DeSanta (GTA V)

GTA San Andreas has been the source of some of the most interesting characters in the whole series. Big Smoke was a close friend of Carl Johnson, the main protagonist of the game. Big Smoke later betrayed him because he started to be tempted by money, fortune, and fame. In the last mission, CJ has to confront Big Smoke in an epic boss battle.

Frank Tenpenny, also from GTA SA, a character who was voiced by the famous actor Samuel L. Jackson, is a corrupt police officer. He is the epitome of abuse of power and authority, and he is also the puppet master who pulls the strings behind the scenes with his manipulative tactics and disregard for the law.

Michael DeSanta is one of the three protagonist characters in GTA V. He is a retired bank robber who tries to have a normal life, but the sins of his past won’t leave him alone. He doesn’t hesitate to kill and destroy if he has to. Furthermore, his difficult character makes him a horrible husband and father.

B-Tier:

Ryder (GTA San Andreas)
Ricardo Diaz (GTA Vice City)
Vladimir Glebov (GTA IV)
Jimmy Pegorino (GTA IV)

Ryder from GTA SA was also one of CJ’s close friends in the hood, but he later betrayed by going into the team of the Ballas. CJ even has to kill Ryder during one of the game’s missions.

Jimmy Pegorino, one of the characters of GTA IV, plays a major role as one of the antagonists. He is the boss of the Pegorino crime family, which is a relatively small-time mafia organization that operates in Liberty City.

C-Tier:

Salvatore Leone (GTA Liberty City Stories, GTA III)
Stretch (GTA V)
Franklin (GTA V)
Elizabeta Torres (GTA IV, GTA Chinatown Wars)

Franklin, one of the three protagonists of GTA V, is more like the kind of guy who kills when he considers absolutely necessary. Otherwise, he is not actually the kind of fellow who enjoys mayhem and killing, although he still wants to climb through the ranks of the gangsta lifestyle.

Salvatore Leone, who is a pivotal character in the Grand Theft Auto series, has been prominently featured in games such as GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA III. He is the Don of the Leone crime family, and he exudes power and authority whenever he gets the chance, commanding respect and fear throughout Liberty City. However, he is an intelligent guy and one who prefers to act cunningly and strategically in difficult situations.

Stretch, who is also known as Harold Joseph, is a member of the Ballas gang in GTA V. He is one of the high-ranking members of the gang, and he is known for his ruthless demeanor and willingness to resort to violence to maintain control over his turf in Los Santos.

Making such a top-tier list and also being objective may be impossible, as each and every character in the GTA series has their own personality and level of “evilness.” Therefore, feel free to leave your own opinion in the comment section!

Categories
Games

Valorant vs. Counter-Strike 2: A Battle for Tactical Dominance

Playing first-person shooters can be an extremely fun activity, especially if you bring your buddies along to compete against one another. Two of the most popular shooter games out there are Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant, and for good reasons. Both of them offer realistic graphics and challenging gameplay that has the potential to keep players glued to their consoles and PCs for hours.

Saying for sure if Counter-Strike 2 is better than Valorant or vice-versa might be impossible, as both of these two games have their own charm. Both of them are unique in their own way, and let’s also not forget the fact that people are unique and have different tastes.

Valorant: the new kid in town

Valorant is a game developed by the guys from Riot Games, and it came out at a time when many of us had to stay at home because of the COVID pandemic: in 2020. The devs promised to revolutionize the genre of tactical shooters. Valorant is known for combining unique character abilities with precise gunplay. Each of the agents in the game offers a different set of skills to the battlefield, allowing for various strategies as well as team compositions.

There are numerous ingenious ways of outplaying opponents in Valorant. You can opt for deploying smokes and flashes or summoning walls and turrets, for instance.

One of the best features that Valorant has to offer is represented by its focus on teamwork and coordination.If you want to be successful in this game, it’s crucial to focus on effective communication and synergy with the rest of the teammates. It’s like in football: no matter how good you are individually, it doesn’t matter if the rest of the team doesn’t help you.

Counter-Strike 2: A Huge Legacy

Counter-Strike 2, even though it was released in September 2023, it carries the huge legacy left behind by Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. That’s because CS 2 is practically everything that CS 1.6 and CS: GO did best but on steroids. The developers from Valve took everything to a whole new level.

CS 2 has better graphics, as well as new weapons and more elaborated maps. To be successful in this game, your precision and reflexes need to be at top level. Split-second decisions can make the difference between victory and defeat, especially if you play the game online against others. A good CS 2 player also has a good knowledge of the maps, as that can make him win a battle.

Simplicity is perhaps the main aspect of CS 2. That’s because there are no character abilities or special powers. It’s just you and your weapon. This simple approach fosters an authentic and competitive experience for the numerous players of the game, where in order to succeed, you have to rely only on skill and strategy.

Conclusion: it’s a matter of preference

The answer of which game is better, Valorant or Counter-Strike 2, depends on what each player values most when it comes to tactical shooter games. If you want dynamic character abilities and team-based tactics, Valorant is the game for you. If, on the other hand, you want the purity of skill-based gameplay and the thrill of classic gunfights, it means that you should definitely go for Counter-Strike 2.

What’s for sure is that either you’re a fan of Valorant or you prefer playing Counter-Strike 2 more, there’s always a great chance to find other people interested in any of these games, and you can play with them at all times. Playing the story mode is something that anyone can do; it’s the online multiplayer mode of a game that truly counts if you want to prove that you are good at playing that game.

Categories
Games Tech

Master the Road: Top Apps and Video Games to Learn Driving Skills

Learning how to drive a car can be one of the most pleasant experiences a man can have in life. While we should do it only under the guidance of a professional, there are plenty of apps and games out there that can help us practice driving a car even more in a virtual environment and from the comfort of our own house.

While there’s nothing like the real deal of actually driving a car in the real world, games and apps can grant you that level of comfort resulting from the fact that there’s no risk involved. Let’s check out a few of the best games and apps that simulate the driving experience:

Driving Academy – Car School Driver Simulator 2020

Available for Android and iOS devices, Driving Academy – Car School Driver Simulator 2020 has a comprehensive driving simulation experience to offer, as it allows users to practice various road signs, driving maneuvers, and plenty of traffic rules in a realistic virtual environment. There are multiple levels and challenges to consider, as this simulator can be a great choice for both beginners and experienced drivers alike.

City Car Driving

City Car Driving is a realistic driving simulator, and it was built for PC users. This simulator offers a wide range of vehicles and environments to explore. While using City Car Driving, players have the freedom to hone their skills in various driving conditions, as the simulator offers advanced driving physics and customizable settings. There are lots of types of streets to explore, from rural highways to urban streets.

Forza Horizon 4

Even though it is primarily known as a racing game, Forza Horizon 4, which is exclusive to Xbox One consoles and PCs, can offer a realistic driving experience due to its open-world environment and dynamic weather system. As a player, you can explore the virtual countryside of Britain, obey the traffic laws, and also participate in numerous driving challenges and events.

iRacing

iRacing, a game that is available exclusively for PC, is usually aimed at those who are racing enthusiasts. However, this game offers high-fidelity driving simulation with cars and tracks from the real world. iRacing has a strong focus on realism and competitive multiplayer racing, and it provides an immersive experience for those who want to improve their driving skills and racecraft.

Car Parking Multiplayer

Car Parking Multiplayer is a multiplayer mobile game that focuses on parking skills, exactly as its name suggests. Therefore, this simulator offers realistic car physics and a wide variety of parking challenges. As a player, you can choose to either practice alone in a free-roam mode or bring your buddies along and compete against one another.

Dr. Driving

Available for Android and iOS devices, Dr. Driving has been downloaded more than 100 million times, and there’s no wonder why. This is a popular driving simulation game that adds a focus on realistic driving physics and traffic scenarios. Players have the chance to practice city driving, parking, and highway cruising while they complete missions and earn rewards.

Surely, the best way to simulate driving a car is to also grab a gamepad steering wheel and use it for one of the games/apps mentioned above! However, nothing beats the real deal of actually driving a car in the real world!

Categories
Games

Exploring the End: Top Video Games Depicting the Apocalypse

Both science and religion teach us that the world will end at some point. While some of the world’s faiths view the apocalypse as the outcome of humanity’s moral decay, science teaches us that the end of the world is first the result of natural progression. The Sun will stop generating heat in five billion years as a result of consuming all of its hydrogen that fuses into helium.

While perhaps we’ve all seen sci-fi movies presenting the apocalypse in various ways, it was only a matter of time before video games started to follow suit as well. There are numerous video games out there that explore apocalyptic themes, so let’s remind of some of them:

Fallout

The Fallout series was developed by Bethesda, and it has become synonymous with post-apocalyptic RPGs. The story of the game is set in a retro-futuristic world that has been devastated by nuclear war, and players need to emerge from vaults into a wasteland that’s teeming with mutated creatures, factions vying for power, and lots of moral dilemmas. Fallout proposes vast open-world environments and numerous exploration possibilities.

Dying Light

Dying Light is a game that combines intense survival horror with parkour traversal while it also puts the players in the shoes of a survivor who needs to find his way through hordes of zombies. In day time, players have to scavenge for supplies and complete various missions while they will have to buckle up and deal with hordes of monsters at night. The game adds a focus on intense combat and fluid movements.

Mad Max

Mad Max is a game that has been inspired by the famous film series with the same moniker, and it transports players to a sun-scorched wasteland where they need to find ways to survive at every moment. As a player, you will be in charge of Road Warrior, and he needs to navigate treacherous terrain, get involved in vehicular combat, and build alliances with fellow survivors as they get involved in a quest for vengeance.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us series has been developed by Naughty Dog, and the emotional depth and exciting narrative are perhaps the main strongholds of the game series. The game is located in a world that has been ravaged by a fungal pandemic, while as a player, you will step in the shoes of Joel and Ellie as they navigate through lots of dangerous situations. The gameplay of The Last of Us is very addictive, while the visuals look beautiful.

State of Decay

The State of Decay series, which belongs to Undead Labs, focuses on the challenges of building and managing a community of survivors in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. As a player, your job will be to scavenge for resources, fortify the base, and make tough decisions that can affect the fate of your entire group. State of Decay mostly focuses on resource management, which is perhaps why it has a lot of fans.

Days Gone

Days Gone is a game developed by the guys from Bend Studio, and it puts players into a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest overrun by Freakers, meaning zombie-like creatures. As a player, you will step in the shoes of Deacon St. John, who is a former outlaw turned bounty hunter. He has to navigate the dangers of the wilderness and find the truth behind the apocalypse.

Feel free to tell us if you have a favorite video game that depicts the apocalypse!

Categories
Games

Top Classic Beat ’em Up Games That You Need to Try

The series of posts regarding classic retro games continues, as the world of such games has been very generous to us! Even though a lot of young gamers nowadays wouldn’t conceive of playing retro games that were originally released for NES, SNES, or Sega Genesis consoles, those “ancient” games will remain forever in the hearts of older gamers.

Retro games such as those from the Double Dragon, Battle Toads, or MightyFinal Fight series have written history. The world of gaming nowadays would have probably been different if such games didn’t have the major impact they had back in the ’80s and ’90s.

Personally, I prefer long sessions of retro games from time to time, even though I mostly play what we now know as “modern games.” One of the reasons is that I grew up playing NES games such as Tank 1990, Super Mario Bros, Excite Bike, Battle Toads, and a lot more.

Streets of Rage

“Streets of Rage” is a beat ’em up game series developed by Sega and released for the Sega Genesis console. These games follow the exploits of three former cops: Axel Stone, Adam Hunter, and Blaze Fielding. Their mission is to clean up the crime-ridden streets of the city where they live.

Streets of Rage is a game series known for vibrant graphics for its time, tight controls, and immersive soundtracks.

Battletoads & Double Dragon

Battletoads & Double Dragon has easily been one of the best beat ’em up games for the legendary 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) console. This was a crossover beat ’em up game in which you get to choose between five protagonist characters. You can be either a Double Dragon or a Battletoad member, and those characters come with their own fighting moves. The animations and gameplay mechanics particularly stand out for this game, as they were at a completely different level than what we knew so far in the gaming world of the NES console.

As you progress through the game, your job is to defeat hordes of enemies in all sorts of creative ways. There are even bosses waiting for you at the end of each level, while the final boss is the Dark Queen, who specializes in playing with fire.

Battletoads

Battletoads is another exciting beat ’em up game for NES that has delighted our childhood. However, this game is particularly hard to play, as the bosses and enemies will frequently give you a hard time. However, you’ll always have some aces up your sleeve as you play with Zack, Pimple, or Rash. Each of these Battletoads has powerful fighting techniques.

With each level in Battletoads, the game gets significantly harder, and your job will be to do your best to achieve victory. This game has also been highly praised and for good reasons. The action is great, the animation looks smooth and very alive to the point that the game doesn’t look like one created for the NES console, and the examples could continue.

Mighty Final Fight

Mighty Final Fight is another beat ’em up game that has a cartoonish and anime vibe. There are three protagonist characters that look as if they were taken straight out of anime. However, they possess exceptional fighting skills, and they won’t hesitate to teach some manners to various enemies who attack them in hordes. The boss battles are also present in Mighty Final Fight, giving an extra level of excitement to the game.

Depending on which character you choose to be, you will have the chance to perform different special moves on your opponents. Punches kicks, throws, and even energy waves exist in this game that can keep you glued to your console for hours.

Which one of the games mentioned above attracts you the most and why? Feel free to tell us in the comment section!

Exit mobile version