Grand Theft Auto as a series is known for many things but the main element that is present is the freedom to do what you want and the sandbox that you are given to do it in.
The main story focuses on three main characters which the player has the ability to switch between at will: Trevor-a crazy redneck drug dealer, Michael-a DeNiro-like retired bank robber, and Franklin-a street gangster looking for a way out. The way that these characters play off each other in the main story line makes for a very refreshing and satisfying take on a classic formula.
The story unfolds almost as a classic movie. The way in which it progresses is unique in that you are given three different perspectives and three totally different people and how their different personalities clash is an absolute joy to watch.
Sitting down to play this game, you never know what to expect. I sat down, eager to blaze through a few missions in my few moments of precious free time and found myself constantly getting sucked into the different things that the massive fictional city of Los Santos has to offer.
For instance, I was driving down the street and a dot appeared on the radar and I became the get-away driver for a robbery.
There are also a variety of intricacies to notice in this vast and polished open world. I got into a fire-fight with the police and when I shot one of the officers one of the others came and dragged him to cover, and for a game with so much going on it is hard to imagine how they had the time to perfect these little details.
The driving, which many people thought was lacking in the previous iteration of the game, GTA IV, is very polished in this version and is very much more user friendly. The turning isn’t nearly as sharp as it was in the previous game and it is much more fluid although the element of destruction is still very much there.
The size and scope of this game is so massive that it is hard to comprehend. It would take hours to traverse the massive landscape on foot and the environments are so rich and colorful, it might be worth the trip.
The old movie references were also readily apparent but the story played off of them very well. Some of the story missions and heists were themed from classic movies. For example you pull down a house on a cliff just like in “Lethal Weapon.”
Being able to choose your own ending is also a way to keep the story fresh so the players can have unique experiences of their own.
The visuals in the game are much more vibrant, which was one of my main problems with the previous installment. The colors are more high contrast, it has more of a neon feel to it rather than the dank urban smog of Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV.
The only flaw that I have found with the game is in the shooting mechanics. Compared to a first person shooter the aiming is nowhere near as precise as in say a Call of Duty game. I found myself shaking in anger a few times when the story called for the use of a sniper rifle, which is the most precise weapon in the game.
I would say that even with the clunky shooting, this is easily in contention for my game of the year. The story strikes a perfect balance of game play and cut scenes to mentally invest you in the characters in a way that deeply resonates with players. The scope, quality and attention to detail is mesmerizing but coming from Rockstar Studios, the makers of Max Payne, The Red Dead series and Bully – that is no surprise.
This is a must have for gamers of all kinds even though it has flaws it is definitely worth the experience.
