Hold on, just one more round of golf.
It’s moments like these that remove the player from “Grand Theft Auto V” and make the game an experience. “GTA V” closes out this generation of consoles with an exclamation point. Rockstar has outdone themselves with the best game of this generation.
“GTA V” is the most recent in a controversial but ever-evolving series. This time around, it follows the story of the three characters, Franklin, Michael and Trevor. This is a departure from the norm, but a welcome one. The three lead characters invigorate the game, but generally lead to players gravitating toward one over the other. All of the characters bring something to the table: Franklin as the gangster, Michael as the middle-age crisis and Trevor as the murdering maniac.
“Grand Theft Auto” games suffer from travel, but the ability to switch characters on the fly addresses the problem with an emphatic stamp. The characters continue to live on while the player isn’t playing as them, leading to humorous moments, such as Trevor being completely nude during a drunken binge.
The story focuses on “the one more heist” plot line. The heists offer up exhilarating moments for up to an 30-hour campaign. Some of the missions include robbing a bank, stealing some jewels from a high-end store or riding a dirt bike on a train.
There is so much to make gamers fall in love with the newest installment.
The story is enticing and will make the player want more. The characters become likable and empathetic. Trevor, my least favorite of the three, still led to many laughs, and in general “what just happened” moments.
The story does have a few lows, though. For example, there is an interactive torture scene that felt unnecessary and almost grotesque. Other than a few minor gripes, this is the best story in a “GTA” game so far.
Another beauty of the game comes from the sheer amount of things to do other than the main missions.
Some activities included are a game of 18-hole golf, a tennis match, holding up a convenience store, stealing a plane, receiving a lap dance and a trip to the gun range. There is an absurd amount of things to do in this game after the campaign is over.
The gameplay also has improved vastly.
Mid-level checkpoints alleviate one of the biggest problems from the predecessor. Driving is no longer a loose affair, but it’s easy to maintain cruise. Aiming is no longer relegated to a slight finger squeeze and features responsive autolock. Also, Rockstar has added a weapon wheel to make it easier to switch. These improvements make the game more accessible and a lot more fun to play.
This game is a technical marvel.
The sight lines are far ranging, which allows the world to feel real. From the bustling city streets of Los Santos to the deserts up north, everything about this world screams personality.
Walking down the streets, players can be treated to a litany of dialogue that ranges from funny to downright bizarre. It also is the largest world that Rockstar has ever created. Stepping back and taking a moment to look at the world that Rockstar so artfully created left me in awe more often than not.
“GTA V” is a sum of all its fantastic parts.
It takes inspiration from other Rockstar games between the last release, but improves in every facet over its predecessor. This game will be what players look back to in this generation. The one that shows off everything that is possible in video games.
In ways only “Grand Theft Auto” can achieve, this game sends this past generation of consoles out with the biggest bang yet.
