GTA 6 Extended Look Review: Did Rockstar Deliver On Years Of Hype?

Two charming protagonists with easy chemistry and relationship banter. Brutal gunfights with what seems like a version of the Dead Eye mechanic. Two-timing criminals. Brutal cops. Ominous warehouses. Opulent rooftops bars. Dogs that you can pet!

The "Grand Theft Auto VI" extended look on Netflix doesn't show a whole lot about the game's plot, and it very much doesn't bother with boring producer presentations. Instead of telling you everything you need to know about "GTA VI," it focuses on a series of interesting and captivating moments from the game and its setting — as well as taking a glimpse at the colorful characters surrounding the central couple. The deceptively slow opening takes us to a drug den pick-up mission that quickly turns into a gunfight with the police. 

From that point on, we see a fair few other scenes in the game, interspersed with slice-of-life NPC moments from various locations in Leonida. Supporting characters like the chaotic bank robber Raul Bautista — who somewhat resembles a more suave and slightly saner Trevor Philips — get their moments in the spotlight. The many side activities of Vice City and surrounding areas are also in the mix. We see store robberies, parachuting, dirt racing, various watersports, and a side quest featuring a wonderfully annoying streamer. There may be hints of the major change "GTA VI" makes to how NPCs react to your crimes. There's even a mission that features Jason and Lucia battling some sort of invading criminal gang at a corporate HQ in a manner that resembles "Die Hard."

All of this is a mood, and let's be honest — it's a very, very good one. If Rockstar Games intended to make an impact with their "GTA VI" extended look, it certainly succeeded.

The "GTA VI" extended look is obviously designed as a "best of" reel showcasing the gameplay and atmosphere, and as such, it's not indicative of the entire game. However, it does do a great job when it comes to explaining the vibe of the game, which is pure Grand Theft Auto — only taken to unforeseen levels. Lucia and Jason come across as worthy additions in the lofty halls of GTA protagonists. From the elderly but crafty Brian Heder to Megamundo CEO Petra Navarro, the cast of supporting characters seems to be on point. What we glimpse of Vice City and other locations in Leonida feels extremely immersive.

The numerous gameplay tweaks look to be improvements across the board, and there are hints at some impressive character customization options — we even see Lucia lifting weights to highlight the return of the fitness mechanic from "GTA: San Andreas." What's more, driving seems more realistic and fun than it's ever been before, which is a good thing considering its importance to the franchise.

The bits and bobs that we see of the actual story, on the other hand, don't give away much. We know that Jason and Lucia are in over their heads, working for criminals and high-powered executives who are way above their social level — but honestly, that's how pretty much every GTA protagonist begins their journey. Until more details of the couple's Bonnie and Clyde-style journey come to light, it'll be impossible to say just how good the game's writing is. Still, the extended look does everything it can possibly do to hype up the game ahead of its release on November 19, which means it fulfills its task perfectly. Score: 10 out of 10.