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From the time I've started this game till now, I have enjoyed every single second of my journey. This is easily the game of the year, if not the decade. It is stunning graphically, pushing the PS3 to it's limits, and the world is seamless. If Rockstar never made another Grand Theft Auto, this could easily be the Magnum Opus of the series.
If you want the highlights, see the condensed version at the bottom.
Beginning:
When starting on the PS3 for the first time, expect a 10 to 15 minute install; story mode takes another 5 minutes to load. Once that is through, the game thrusts you into a heist as you learn the basic controls, most of which feel similar to GTA IV. You are also shown a new gameplay mechanic -switching characters on the fly. To do this, press and hold the down d-pad button, then with the right stick select the character in the wheel that pops up you want to control. After the introduction, there are some cutscenes as the player is shown a little bit of Los Santos. Once the scene is over, the player is left with a mission for Franklin. Finish the mission, and the world is yours to explore.
Story:
Welcome to Los Santos, with all the glitz and glamor you've come to expect, but corruption and crime runs rampant under the surface. Our -ahemheroes are Michael, a retired bank robber; Franklin, a repo man trying to do right and make his way up in the world; and Trevor, an unhinged, unpredictable maniac who used to run robberies with Michael. Michael is living the rich life with his dysfunctional family. Trevor is running repo jobs with his friend for a shady car salesman. Trevor is living in trailer park and causing mayhem trying to make some money. Each character is distinct, unique and and extremely interesting. You'll want to spend time with all three. The dialogue is well written and I found myself waiting to finish a mission or move into the highlighted spot until the characters were finished talking so I didn't miss anything.
Gameplay:
There are numerous improvements and upgrades to the classic Grand Theft Auto, all of which help makes a satisfying experience:
If you fail a section of a mission 3 times, can fast forward to next checkpoint but don't have to. If there was a frustrating aspect, like having to place first in a race to advance the story, now you can skip the frustration and move the story along; you can go back and finish it later, or not at all.
Special Abilities and Character Switching:
Each character has a special ability used by pressing L3 + R3. As Michael, you can slow down time while shooting. Franklin can slow down time while driving and gain extremely improved maneuverability (my favorite!). Trevor can go into a rage reducing damage he takes, delivering more damage to enemies, and has a special melee attack. The new mechanic of switching characters on the fly adds new gameplay possibilities, and lets you experience each character's unique perspective during heists. This allows you to be flexible in approach, and when things turn sour, use quick thinking and reflexes to make it out alive utilizing each characters skills. When not actively engaged in a criminal plot, switching the character zooms out on one, and then refocuses over the other character and zooms in. The character is often just finished with something as you take control; for instance at one point Franklin was leaving a Strip Club and I switched to Trevor once to find him being thrown out of a women's clothing store, with a dress on, complaining about wanting to try it before he buys it. These little things help to make each character feel alive and like they are all engaged in their own schedules when you're not playing them.
Abilities:
Performing certain actions improves your abilities. These abilities include driving, shooting, flying, lung capacity and a few others. When improved, the character has better aim, can run longer, or better driving skills. Leveling each skill requires the player to perform specific actions, for instance, to get better at driving hit top speeds, have near misses and pop wheelies on motorcycles. To increase each character's special ability, keep using it. To get better with guns, either get head shots or head down to the firing range. The different activities around Los Santos can help increase the skills.
Shooting:
Shooting is easy to do as well, and the targeting system can be customized. A player can choose traditional GTA style shooting, assisted aim, and free aim. Enemies can be quickly switched between by flicking the R stick. I have mine set to traditional GTA, where I hit L2 to aim and it snaps to a target for a few seconds before going to free aim. Holding L1 slows down time and brings up the weapon wheel: press the R stick to select a weapon, press the right or left d-pad button to change to a different type of weapon (for instance selecting to use a knife instead of fists). Guns also can be customized once purchased and fitted with flashlights, larger magazines, and silencers. The variety of weapons is quite large.
Random missions are scattered around the map, which appear as question marks (?). These generally have story elements tied to them and help flesh out the characters and the world. There are also blue/red blips that will randomly appear and you can choose to participate by getting close. One random blip early on had me help two morons robbing a store get away and one of them told me to call them if I ever need muscle. You may encounter the same random event more than once, but there is a nice variety. Purse snatching seems to be pretty common.
Size and Activities:
Los Santos is BIG. Open the map in your game case if you have a physical copy. One side shows the big city close up, with the other showing the whole area. Once in game, looking at that map and zooming in, it was nearly overwhelming to see just how large the world is. Better yet, there are no barriers. You want to visit the mountains after the first mission? Go ahead. There is so much to do in Los Santos too. Visit the strip club (WARNING: unlike Liberty City, Los Santos is a fully topless region), golf, tennis, movies, tv, etc. You can shop to buy each character new outfits or visit a barber to give them a new look. Suspend your disbelief as a beardless character can order up facial hair for a few bucks. Invest in the Real Estate business and buy yourself an income property. Play the stock market, and keep an ear on the fluctuations in game. Some missions may have an affect on stock prices as well. Take your dirt bike off road and explore the wilderness.
Driving:
Driving can still be a pain sometimes, but the mechanics have been vastly improved over the last Grand Theft Auto. Top speeds in some vehicles are quite impressive, while driving large trucks is often very slow, but once at max speed it's hard to stop them. Each vehicle handles differently, so you may want to experiment until you find one you like. Pressing O locks on a target for a mission and it time is slightly slowed down to make maneuvering through traffic somewhat easier. Couple that with Franklin's ability to slow down time while driving and it makes chases fun and exciting. You'll be shouting with joy as you miss close calls and easily make that turn the biker just nailed at 90 degrees. There is Cinematic Camera during some missions that allows you to actual enjoy the action that's going on without having to worry about crashing the car, dealing with traffic, look where you're going, etc. It's easier to switch between the two modes with O. When the action heats back up, switch the camera and jump straight in.
Car Customization is in-depth with 15+ different categories that can be improved or changed. Some categories have sub-categories as well, like choosing different color patterns such as metallic, matte, etc. Some are cosmetic, but many have other benefits as well, like protective armor or better handling. Car aficionados will enjoy tinkering every detail on their car.
Missions:
Missions are filled with great banter and are a lot of fun. While difficult, they are still accessible for even casual gamers. At the end of each mission there is a score based on what actions were completed, such as not receiving a single scratch on a vehicle for instance. This score can range from 0% (though I've always gotten around 50% so far) to 100% for doing each action. Missions can be replayed at any time, so don't feel the need to hit the 100% mark the first time through. In fact, I'd recommend not worrying about achieving 100% and just enjoy the atmosphere and story and come back to it later.
Heists:
Heists are extremely enjoyable and you get your first taste in the introduction. These are in-depth, multiple part missions that let you case the place you're going to rob, select a crew, and determine how you want to approach the robbery and get away with a lot of money. Each crew member has pros and cons, those with less developed skills may take more time to break into a place, but ask for a smaller cut. Likewise, the higher skilled, higher cut crew members could always break in quicker and allow for a bigger payout. During the mission, you can switch between characters as desired to see from their perspective, or to help one of the other guys out of a jam. Have Franklin run in and when he gets into a jam, switch to Michael to provide cover fire and support. After the guys retrieve their score, switch to Franklin to land the helicopter and make their get away.
Rockstar goes outside the game to have an application and website that affects the game, iFruit and LifeInvader (their version of iPhone and Facebook). You can use iFruit to train and improve Chop, a dog that Franklin ends up with. Use LifeInvader to get discounts in game by clicking on the links when logged in and associated with your Social Club account.
Online:
This is not implemented yet, but the released information is making this sound incredible. The transition will be seamless, with the "4th" character being your online persona. You can switch any time (though I'm sure not in missions). Everything you can do in single player mode can be done in the online portion. Up to 16 players are reported as being able to play at once, and you can form a "Crew" on the Social Club area of Rockstar's site to play with friends. Characters are created by selecting two parents and then seeing what the offspring look like. This means you won't see incredibly ridiculous looking characters running around... well, so far as two ridiculous looking parents can create. **Will update once this has gone live**
Audio:
Phenomenal job. Every sound breathes life and atmosphere into the game, whether you're listening to the high quality radio stations or enjoying a stroll downtown. A woman walked by on the sidewalk in high heels I could every "clack clack clack" as she strutted by. I'm playing with a basic stereo set up, so I'm sure it sounds even more vibrant and alive in a full surround mode. The voice actors do a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I have no complaints here.
Graphics:
It looks like Grand Theft Auto, but better. The structure design and layout is what you'd expect from a GTA, but the textures have been vastly improved. Little details have been added to the world to make it feel more alive, I was noticing drains in the street and small potted plants. These small additions might not seem much, but added up together really enhance the world. I found myself looking at distant building with lights on during the night, or admiring the foliage as I drove down towards the beach. Random NPCs walking around are a bit less detailed than main characters, but have a great variety of different models/looks. The vehicles look better than ever too. Random weather (slow down time with Franklin's special ability during a thunderstorm, it's pretty awesome), night and day cycles, lights with the right amount of bloom to look believe it all helps to pull you into Los Santos. Some of the textures are noticeably low resolution when close up, but thankfully the action is often to frantic and fast paced you won't have time to stare. Also, I have not noticed any lag or hiccups while traversing the world.
**Review Overview**
Graphics: 5/5 The game looks gorgeous. Rockstar truly captured the feel of Southern California and made each location look unique and believable. Cars, characters, waves, the city; it's truly amazing.
Audio: 5/5 Every sound helps make the city feel alive. From the sound of foot steps to the hum of an engine, the acting and the audio is top notch.
Gameplay: 5/5 The improvements are immediately noticeable. Any issues with previous iterations of Grand Theft Auto should be satisfied; the controls are tight and everything feels fluid and seamless. It's a joy to drive, run, shoot, and travel around Los Santos. Those with gripes about GTA IV: this plays and feels much better, cars handle much better. You will not be disappointed.
Story: 5/5 One word incredible. Since the moment I turned the game on I was engrossed with each character and wanting to find out what happens next to our intrepid anti-heroes/criminal upstarts. This is a crime saga that will not disappoint and the characters help to give the story depth and meaning.
Online: N/A I will re-evaluate when it has been released. From all the press releases so far, it is going to be amazing and what everyone has wanted in an online experience from the beginning.
Overall: 5/5 This is the game to own, regardless of what system you have. With limitless replayability, a vast, realistic world to explore, so many things to do, and a AAA story, this belongs in the library of every gamer who does not mind an adult story and content. If you enjoyed the other GTA titles, or you enjoy the action and gripping story of games like Uncharted, Assassin's Creed and/or Red Dead Redemption then get this game.
**PARENTS PLEASE NOTE THIS IS -NOTA GAME FOR KIDS. THERE IS EXCESSIVE CURSING, VIOLENCE, NUDITY, AND ADULT THEMES! PLEASE READ THE LABEL AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A MATURE GAME MEANT FOR THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 17. PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN HELPING TO SELECT A GAME FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN.**
If you have any questions, or feel that I've left anything out, please leave a comment! Enjoy!
Updated: 9/22/2013 for clarity, wording, and structure.
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Picked this game up at midnight. Granted I have a young child and I'm married I wasn't up all night but I have put about 8 hours(maybe 9) into this game so far. After that many hours I've only made 9.8% progress so far(9 hours may not seem like a lot but any given CoD game I would've beat by then and then some). The world is massive. I mean take GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, combine them and then add a forest. Then you will have GTA V. My time was spent exploring the changing world, taking in sights, getting wanted levels, dying randomly, playing sports and doing misc. civilian missions. I've only seen maybe 7% of the North part of the map(the wooded areas). I can't wait to go hunting either.
With a game of this scale I can already tell I'll be playing it for months without getting bored and don't even get me started on how many times I'll probably replay it. That's saying a lot too, with all the games out there that only last 6-8 hours to get through and after you're done...you've done everything there is to do.
I would say the only downside to this masterpiece is that it's a bit easier to die than it was in previous GTA titles. Which isn't even a downside really, more of a nitpick. They also added the "save anytime' feature except when you're in a mission, which is very convenient. Switching between characters is fun, something that will def. keep the game constantly fresh.
Don't listen to the hipsters who just don't like being part of a crowd, who say this game is a letdown. It really doesn't get any better than this. Coming from someone who loves action, open world and shooter games...this game does not disappoint in any way.
They haven't even introduced multiplayer yet!!
Buy Grand Theft Auto V Now
If you have ever enjoyed a GTA in the past you will enjoy this one. ( review edited/updated 9/24)
If you have ever stopped playing GTA due to some frustrating flaws then you may be pleasantly surprised by the changes this time around.
After playing part four there were a few things that turned me off and reduced my playtime. I am so excited to share that two of my main frustrations have been fixed.
If you have been following the media and the leaks on this game than you know it's beautiful and you have a good ideas as to wether or not its something you want to play.
Things I didn't know before:
Probably the single most impressive thing to me that wasn't bragged about is that when you start this game up it will load up your new session. After this you most likely won't see a loading screen again without restarting the game. The world is huge and I have no idea how they have accomplished this.
You will no longer have to drive from your house to the starting point if a mission over and over again each time you fail it. This will save you a large amount of frustration. There is a lot of content here so there is no need for you to waste time with repetition.
You can now completely skip a portion of the mission. If you fail three times then you will be given the option to jump past a portion of the mission and move forward. There is a point penalty but I can be worth it if it saves you from pulling out all of your hair.
Most noticeable improvement.
the cars drive excellently. GTAIV had the cars feeling as if they have four wheel drive while on ice. The cars this time around have a really nice weight to them. It's hard not to feel like you are in a solid racing game while driving around the beautiful city.
Bugs/issues
So far I have not experienced any of the bugs that other people have mentioned on here. The game has not frozen at all for me. In previous games I feel like I used to get trapped when trying to enter cars but so far I have had no issues.
Graphics
This game is absolutely stunning. There is so much detail and you really feel that the city is alive. Ever area seems detailed and important. One thing to note is that if you live or have lived in LA you will feel that you are right at home. They have been able to perfectly condense the city in order for you to recognize your surroundings.
One thing to note is that it is hard to feel sometimes that the game is running completely smoothly. At times the system seems to chug a bit. There are odd little pauses and sometimes textures load a little but blurry for a moment. I want to say that this is not a Viking but rather more of a symptom of this game being designed for more advanced hardware . The hope here is that they are planning for ps4/Xbox one versions but so far there isn't a formal plan announced.
One area where the graphics are behind the earlier games is with the car destruction. It is far less realistic looking but with all of the other advancements that are found here you won't miss it.
More to come
This game has a multiplayer portion that isn't available yet. Rockstar has stated that it should be working in early October. There are a lot of promises for the online portion and when that comes out it should be the icing on the cake.
Read Best Reviews of Grand Theft Auto V Here
Having played games for many years, I have come across some good ones, I have found some great ones, and I have those that flop. GTA 4 was a flop to me (though I did enjoy the Lost and the Damned DLC). However after finally getting my hands on this one I would happily rate this one a 5 out of 5.
Performance: When discussing performance along with many other points, I will continually be bringing up the aging consoles. The game runs smoothly, but not always perfect. Rarely but with the right factors, you will notice a slow up of frames. Loading times are hidden with the only one I experienced seeing being when I chose to skip a taxi ride and go straight to the destination. This creates a very seamless feel in trying to keep you in the world as much as possible.
Graphics: Graphically speaking, one must first look at the hardware that is being utilized. With that being said, Rockstar has taken huge leaps and clearly put alot of time into polishing their graphics. The textures are clean and the world is very bright.
Sound: The sound takes some messing with to get everything just how you want it. The sound from my vehicle was at first so loud that I couldnt hear the radio or commentary from pedestrians I passed by. However as always the radio is a staple of humor to an already amazing game. Other sounds that are noticeable go towards making the world seem full. All of the background audio really goes to breathe life into an already visually full city.
Gameplay: This I will break down into subsections to best address each characteristic of GTA.
--The world: Simply put, this world feels vibrant and just overall beautiful. You feel like your in a true city with traffic and pedestrians. The detail given into making this so nicely built leaves me questioning just how much chaos I want to cause while roaming the map.
--Driving: Driving, as stated in many reviews before mine, feels much more refined. While not a complete driving simulation, of which I am thankful for, it does offer a better feeling of weight in your vehicle. This is not to say you wont find yourself fishtailing in certain vehicles but the overall dimensions of driving feels much better. This also goes while riding on a motorcycle. For the first time I truly feel like there is weight to the motorcycle creating a better sense of how you are weaving in and out of traffic.
--Shooting: The Shooting mechanics have been given a decent overhaul as well. You are able to turn on/off aim assist depending on your preferences. The only negative I have found too weapons in the game is that the shotgun is unrealistically accurate even at long ranges and usually will result in a one shot kill.
--Character stats: While very basically put in I have found that I really enjoy progressing my characters stats. Each character has a unique set of skills that make them better in given situations but the ability to progress your characters stats by utilizing the stats makes this a very enjoyable experience.
--The Trio: Rockstars decision to create three versus the usual one protagonist creates a truly different experience. While I have found no character story that I love, I do love having the option of moving away from a character for a time to get lost in anothers story. It also creates interest in just finding out what your other protagonists have been doing with their time while you are away.
--The Story: This part I have not advanced much on but I have overall enjoyed each mission that I have been apart of. I will avoid any details on this though to avoid any spoilers. Still for a GTA game, I find this is the most interesting story they have ever delivered.
In summary, I feel that this is an amazing game. Sure there are some flaws, but the overall game more then makes up for the issue here or there. Rockstar has created a game that, in my opinion, will easily withstand time. This is going to be a benchmark as to how to build a game right. With easy replayability and a multiplayer portion that has not been released yet I expect to put alot of time in this world. I am still early on in the game so I am sure I have missed things, but I hope that this provides a bit of perspective on the game.
--PROs--
+Multiple Protagonists providing different skills and mindsets
+Great Driving Mechanics
+Beautiful living city
+Sophisticated AI: Cops are no longer a joke.
--CONs--
-Occasional framerate drop
Want Grand Theft Auto V Discount?
GTA V is set in the city of Los Santos based on real-world Los Angeles and its nearby hills and beaches. You can do a yoga lesson or you can rob banks or you can fly a plane or you can play tennis or you can do what I sometimes do which is just cruise round the world in a really amazing car and listen to some of the hilarious radio stations, so there really is everything for you to explore. The game will also let people play with or against one another online, Grand Theft Auto Online, which allows up to 16 players to freely roam a recreation of the single-player setting. From races to bank heists, you can set the stage here. This will definitely become the highlight of the game from customizing your own death-matches and the like. This open-world is indeed huge with most of it being varied between the coast,countryside, and the cities to the hoods of Los Santos. When compared to Grand Theft Auto 4, this game feels more alive and more dedicated that you can't help, but noticed.
Another one of the things they change was ability to skip missions. You can now completely skip a portion of the mission. If you mess more than three times, then you will be given the option to skip a portion of the mission and move forward. It makes it less frustrating to reach certain places after overcoming long scenarios. Unlike GTA 4, you can take your car to the very bottom of the water and you can swim there. Also, if you fly a plane to a military base you will shot down.
The player can set up Michael at a high vantage point with a sniper rifle to provide covering fire for Trevor, who provides a frontal assault on the enemy position, which allows Franklin to manipulate flank points. Rockstar felt that the character switching would eliminate a problem the team felt San Andreas had where the player would be exploring the open countryside and then have to drive a long distance back to a mission start point. In Grand Theft Auto V, the interplay of free roaming and mission game-play is more organic because the player can switch between characters, eliminating the problem. Furthermore, Rockstar introduced a timer that breaks the player's lock on a target after a period of time, in an effort to combat the big problem they felt Grand Theft Auto IV had where the player could "just rely on holding and shooting until a target is dead."
It should be noted that six star system is replaced with a five star system, but the police AI is scary smart sometimes. Don't think you can pull off the same old tricks in Grand Theft Auto 4 because you will be dead. It should also be noted that grey game over screen from Grand Theft Auto 4 is gone and replaced with the wasted screen from San Andreas... Oh... The nostalgia! I could sit and watch the pedestrians talk about random funny as hell lines or I go embark a rampage. There is a endless amount of choices here. Also, wild animals can attack you on the countryside.
The handling of cars in this game is another major blast to Mars from Grand Theft Auto IV. Cops and NPCs can now be flung out of there own cars with a head-on crash and the like. From having the cars feeling like they're moving on a racetrack made of butter(GTA 4)to the weighted, heavy feeling it gives in Grand Theft Auto V. They definitely made an effort to rework the driving mechanics for cars and motorcycles as well. Rockstar mentioned that the cars would handle better than they did in Grand Theft Auto IV, as he felt that they were "big and boat-like in GTA IV" whereas in Grand Theft Auto V the cars handle similarly to those in racing games. I have been waiting to see this change in game play, but something off about the vehicle explosions catching my eye every time.
It is almost like real life, and the amount of things that be done is another step up for Rockstar.
Rockstar makes it known that their set out to perfect a world to the finest touch and be successful at it in the process. Grand Theft Auto V is a perfect example of what can be achieved when you devote the time and effort to truly make something special and not see it as just another lifeless Video Game that attempts to entertain and make time pass. Heists in this game are of a grand scale and well done, but sometimes doesn't not play to your liking. Let's be honest, you're getting 100+ dollars worth of content in this game, and you will be reminded of that as you play along.
Pros:
-Driving long miles in missions are improved.
-Newly added vehicles like the submarines, and some crazy military helicopters.
-Graphics are looking great.
-Gameplay and missions feels fresh with the switch between three main characters.
-A killer story from start to finish.
-Rockstar never goes soft on the humor.
-Content that keeps on giving.(tattoos, haircuts, stock market, races,and etc...)
Cons:
-A few bugs after extensive playtime.
-Some missions may not play out to your liking.
