Title: Grand Theft Auto 5
Format: PS4(reviewed), Xbox One, PC
Release Date: September November 18, 2014, 2015(PC)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Price: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M
After over a year since the game was originally released, GTA V has made it's way onto the new systems, but is it really worth the double dip?
Story and Presentation:Grand Theft Auto 5's narrative is strong, and with three main characters this time around, the series introduces a whole new dynamic in storytelling. The game stars Michael, Trevor, and Franklin, each of them with their own seperate backgrounds. The way each protagonist is brought together works perfectly, and the interactions are even better. What makes the game's narrative so strong is that, each character could star in his own game, and I would be fine with that. Trevor ended up being my favorite out of the three, he was just so brilliantly written that I couldn't help smiling every time I controlled him. You get all of your outrageous side characters as well, that is a staple in a GTA game, and there are just as wacky and hilarious as ever. I wrote about how funny Saints Row IV was, but GTA V at times is equally hilarious. All of this is backed up with strong performances from a deep cast of characters. Michael, Franklin and Trevor are voiced perfectly, and when you first start seeing these characters start intermingling with each other, it's just magic. Visually, the game is simply a marvel to experience. Sure the huge open world is beautiful, but it's also incredibly dense with detail. I could gush about the amount of little details I noticed while driving around for hours, it's just simply astounding that this is running on a current gen system. The soundtrack is huge, and it's filled with all kinds of music. You're sure to find something you like in no time. The humorous talk shows are back, but there's only one that's a dedicated talk show, which is odd. There's always been multiple talk shows in past GTA games. But that's really the only thing I can nitpick about on the game's incredible scope and presentation.
Core Gameplay:
The differences between GTA IV and GTA V are night and day. The first big improvement I noticed was the driving. I had a pretty big problem with the driving in the last game, but GTA V feels so much tighter. Another problem I had with GTA IV was the clunky shooting mechanics. The overall cover based shooting feels a lot more fluid than before. You won't be helplessly attempting to hide behind a wall while getting shot at by gang members anymore, that's an annoyance of the past. Rockstar also brought back the full weapon wheel, which gives you access to every weapon you purchase. The mission structure hasn't changed dramatically, you still receive missions from enemies and friends alike. But this time around, the game revolves around Heists. Instead of earning big money from several missions, the heists will net you your biggest earnings. Probably the biggest addition is the implementation of character switching. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it actually makes the game that much more engaging. Each character has their own specific special ability, and depending on the situation, one specific character will fair better than the other two.
There's not as much downtime anymore during missions, seeing as how you'll be switching between characters constantly during the bigger missions. The main story isn't as long as GTA IV, but it's still a really long game. If you want to go straight through, it'll take about 25 hours to finish, but there's so many activities and hobbies to take part in. You can play tennis, golf, help strangers from robbers, and a lot more. Sure the sporting isn't perfect, it's just nice to have it included. Overall, this game is just a blast to play, pure and simple.
*PS4/Xbox One UpdateThe enhancements for Xbox One and PS4 are mostly cosmetic, and might not be enough for people to double dip. The game looked great on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but it does look a lot cleaner on the new systems. The depth of field is fantastic, as well as higher res textures and a longer draw distance. The underwater sections look incredible as well. The combination of the enhanced lighting engine and a tweaked night/daylight cycle radically improves how Los Santos looks at different times of day and night. I never though that Rockstar would be able to add even more detail into the game, but they did just that. The game also runs better as well. During the more hectic missions, the game's framerate never dipped. The other big addition the new version has is the first person mode, and the mode is nothing short of impressive. From shooting to navigating through tight areas while using cover, the first person mode feels very good. The only gripe I had with the mode is the driving suffers a bit from the first person perspective. Each car has working speedometers and various other moving nobs and whatnot, but the mirrors in the cars don't have any reflections, so you can't see what's behind you unless you manually hit R3 to see behind you. It's a small gripe, but it's a problem nonetheless. The fact that you can switch between first person and third person with the press of the touch pad is pretty convenient as well.
Final Thoughts:
GTA V is still the same fantastic game on the PS4 and Xbox One, and if you didn't play it on the last gen systems already, this is an easy must buy. Even if you already own the game, I still would recommend that you pick it up.+Enhanced Visuals
+Impressive First Person Mode
+Same Great Story and Gameplay
S&S Rating: 9.5/10 @whatsPlay
