The worst missions in the Grand Theft Auto series have a common denominator, and I fear the GTA 6 version

Throughout gaming history has Grand Theft Auto series has been at the forefront of innovative open-world gameplay, and this is largely why the franchise has grown to the popularity it has today. Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely continue to push the boundaries with its gameplay and open world mechanics, but not all new features may be for the better. There is a recurring gameplay mechanic that always frustrates me in the game GTA posts it appears in, and I really hope so GTA 6 does not follow this serial trend.

As the name suggests, vehicles are a central part of Grand Theft Auto series, and the different types of vehicles available for players to steal have evolved alongside the franchise. Helicopters have been in the series ever since GTA 3but didn't become playable until GTA: Vice City. As iconic as helicopters have become as a mode of air transportation, I've always found the missions that require helicopters to be some of the most annoying of all Grand Theft Autoand GTA 6 could just as easily fix my problems with them as it can make them much more boring.

Family

Recurring GTA 6 feature leaves players divided

Rumors of a returning Grand Theft Auto 6 feature have fans divided as to why Rockstar Games left it out of both GTA 4 and GTA 5.

Helicopter missions are always the worst missions in Grand Theft Auto

GTA: Vice City — Demolition man
GTA: San Andreas — To learn to fly
GTA: San Andreas – Up, up and away!
GTA 4 — Paper trail

One of the earliest examples of a helicopter mission in a GTA the game comes in the form of Grand Theft Auto: Vice Citys Demolition Man mission, where players must use an RC helicopter to plant explosives on a construction site. While this isn't a full-sized helicopter, it functions very similarly in terms of control, allowing players to dip their toes into the series' early helicopter mechanics.

Helicopter missions didn't really become a mainstay of the franchise until GTA: San Andreaswhere players must complete a series of flight tutorials in the Learning to Fly mission, which is considered one of the most difficult missions in GTA series. This mission includes tutorials for both airplanes and helicopters, but the helicopter segments are the most frustrating, with players having to fire rockets from the helicopter and hit ground targets. Later in San Andreasplayers can complete optional Up, Up and Away! mission as part of the casino robbery mission in Las Venturas. The mission also requires precise helicopter flying, as players must use a giant magnet dangling from the helicopter to steal a van.

GTA 4s helicopter missions are much more prominent than in the series' past, with several missions requiring players to navigate Liberty City by air. By far the worst helicopter mission in GTA 4 is Paper Trail, where players must follow and shoot down Eduard Borodin's helicopter in a helicopter of their own. Even if it's Little Jacob who actually takes the shot, keeping the helicopter stable enough for him to get a shot can be a headache in itself. This mission is especially difficult on the PC version of GTA 4as mouse and keyboard controls for the helicopter are definitely not optimal.

Why I always get stuck on helicopter missions

My grip with helicopter missions in Grand Theft Auto is really twofold: the quirky controls and the helicopter's health. For the most part, GTAs helicopter physics are really unintuitive and make maneuvering the vehicle I want feel like I'm fighting the controls. I understand that this is an attempt to make it as accurate to reality as possible, but I'd almost rather sacrifice realism in a series that Grand Theft Auto for a simplified helicopter control scheme and flight mechanics.

Balance the critics' averages

Light (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)

What makes the frustrating controls of helicopters in GTA even more annoying is the fact that the vehicle has such low health and can easily crash. For example, the quest Paper Trail i GTA 4 is all the more challenging as I have to weave between the skyscrapers of Algonquin in Liberty City as I desperately try to keep up with Borodin's chopper. With how difficult it is to correct course in a helicopter, I would also end up hitting buildings and crashing because of how quickly a helicopter can be destroyed.

GTA 4 has one of the more tanky helicopters too. Compared to GTA 4s helicopter, GTA 5 makes them feel like they are made of glass.

GTA 6 is at a crossroads with helicopter missions

Although helicopters are much more fragile, GTA 5 also greatly improved the vehicle controls. Now, GTA 6 has the chance to improve helicopters even more, but could make them worse if not carefully balanced. If GTA 6 holds the controls for GTA 5 while making the helicopter's health more similar GTA 4then it can result in the ideal version of the vehicle. The variety of helicopters available in GTA 5 should also be transferred to GTA 6 to make it the most robust version of the vehicle to date.

The helicopters confirmed for GTA 6 so far includes Buzzard Attack Chopper, Maverick, Police Maverick, Sea Sparrow and SuperVolito.

However, GTA 6 will walk a fine line with their helicopter mechanics that may end up making them more awkward to use than GTA 5s version if their controls are not properly implemented. With access to the PS5's DualSense controller and its touchpad, Rockstar can cook up some unique controls for GTA 6s vehicles that require players to use the touchpad. However, this could be a mistake for the game's helicopter controls, as it could already overcomplicate one of the franchise's most finicky control systems. GTA 6 will likely include at least some helicopter missions, but trying to get too creative with the vehicle's controls can only add to the trend of GTAs most frustrating assignment.