Why Dimitri Rascalov of GTA 4 was so underwhelming as a villain

GTA 4, particularly its storyline, is regarded by many as the best of all Grand Theft Auto games. It features Niko Bellic as the protagonist, who goes to Liberty City for a new beginning. The villain, Dimitri Rascalov, initially poses as a friend but is soon found to be a foe and proceeds to turn Niko's life into a living hell, succeeding to a good extent.

The overall narrative is quite riveting, but things could have been even more interesting if the antagonist had more screentime. In this article, we will take a closer look at why Dimitri Rascalov from GTA 4 was an underwhelming villain.

Note - This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions and analysis.

Here's why GTA 4's Dimitri Rascalov seems underwhelming as a villain

The first time we meet Dimitri Rascalov is when Niko and Roman (Niko's cousin) get kidnapped by Russian mob boss Mikhail Faustin. Dimitri appears as a calm and composed, level-headed figure amid Faustin's chaos. This leads to Niko trusting him as he runs errands for the Russian mob.

Not too long afterwards, Dimitri persuades him into killing Mikhail, replacing his "friend" atop the Russian mob food chain in Liberty City. However, this is where things take a turn for the worse.

Dimitri betrays Niko despite the favor, delivering him into the hands of Ray Bulgarin, a man the protagonist was on the run from. He does manage to escape, but only to find his and Roman's apartment on fire, and is forced to leave Broker.

Check out: 5 secret things in GTA 4 that Rockstar didn't explicitly showcase

These events seemed to set the stage for an exciting back-and-forth between hero and villain, and while Dimitri remains a thorn in Niko's side, he does that from a distance.

Dimitri isn't present physically for most of the game's events. He does try to keep messing with the protagonist, for instance, by having Roman kidnapped and also via a few intimidating phone calls here and there, but players are likely to forget this as they meet other characters in GTA 4.

That certainly isn't a good look for the primary antagonist. Yes, his actions are evil, but his lack of a on-screen presence for a big chunk of the story is probably why he seems underwhelming.

Also check: 5 reasons to play Grand Theft Auto 4 in 2025

By the end of GTA 4's main story, players get to kill Dimitri Rascalov on the ship on which Niko came to Liberty City if they choose the Revenge Ending. If they go with the Deal Ending, Dimitri's failed assassination attempt on Niko takes Roman's life instead, after which the protagonist will kill the antagonist in the game's final story mission.

It's not like there isn't a sense of payoff with things standing as they are, but that could have been much better.

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About the author

Suyash is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who specializes in Rockstar Games' GTA franchise. Suyash uses in-depth research and knowledge of his immense experience with the game series to ensure readers have access to the most reliable information. His insightful content pieces have raked in more than 5 million views in just a little over a year's time.

Suyash holds a B.Tech degree and ventured into the world of gaming at a young age through the Prince of Persia Sands of Time trilogy. However, upon encountering GTA Vice City’s 1980s aesthetic, music, and vintage cars, he became enamored with the game, leading him to explore the rest of the franchise.

Suyash prefers solo titles to multiplayer, especially ones with a well-crafted story and character arcs. He admires journalist Jason Schreier for the respect he commands in the industry and the reliability of his news pieces. To ensure the accuracy of his own pieces, he checks multiple reputable sources and insiders.

If he were to recommend a game to a skeptic, it would be Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. When he’s not roaming the streets of Los Santos in GTA V, you can find him playing football, watching movies, or working out.

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Edited by Adarsh J Kumar