Grand Theft Auto V. It’s crazy to think that this game is over a decade old, with how beautiful it looks and how comfortable the gameplay still feels.
Let me begin by saying how much I’ve missed the loading screen. I know Grand Theft Auto Online is still popular, but I haven’t played it in a good few years, so it was a major trip down memory lane to enter Los Santos again.
Also, I’ll be analysing the story, so if any people live under a rock and still haven’t played it yet, there will be spoilers. Twelve years is a long time, so I was sitting there thinking, I wonder how the game would feel on my PlayStation 5 today.
The Gameplay
We got off to a good start as the prologue was nowhere near as long as I remember it feeling, and oh my, the graphics. It’s easy to say that they still stand up over ten years on, but I’m talking about feelings a lot stronger than just nostalgia. Whether you’re cruising around Los Santos during the day or at night, absorbing some of the views and landscapes had me feeling euphoric.
Adding to that, the ever-expanding library of songs on the radio, Grand Theft Auto V has the power to leave you feeling very satisfied. It’s important to remember that this game was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, yet even just the intro had me feeling mesmerised.
Anyone who purchased the game on its release day will remember waiting an agonisingly long time for the game to load into different scenes. Then there was the multiplayer, which had you waiting hours before eventually putting you out of your misery by timing out. My old PlayStation 3 console was working so hard, I’m surprised it survived the trauma. Thankfully, times have finally changed due to the drastic increase in loading speeds on the latest generation of consoles and PC.
Before we get on to the all-important emotional ride of the story, there were a few gameplay changes I noticed.
Cruising through Los Santos in my Pegassi Zentorno was a lot of fun, even if the driving can still be awkward and slippery at times. I did spend a lot of time arguing with pedestrians or running them over accidentally. This was because the NPCs driving the cars were nearly as chaotic as the main protagonists, constantly manoeuvring their vehicles (and sometimes even their bodies) into my way rather than avoiding me.
The planes and helicopters (although probably realistic) were also difficult to control, and I found myself often falling to my death spectacularly. Either that or I’d blow up the vehicles because I’m useless at landing them. There is always a random pylon or tree stump that I’m unable to see until the very last second when I’ve already committed to an awkward landing. I’m sure most people would say that that’s a skill issue, and I can’t really argue with that, unfortunately.
Grand Theft Auto V offers a fully immersive experience, whether you’re following the main story or taking the time to do any of the hobbies that are littered around the map. From visiting the barber shop to buying clothes, triathlons to tennis, or riding a jet ski at the beach.
There is also a wide variety of wild side missions which can keep you busy, although admittedly, also bored sometimes. Unless you consider shooting aliens who don’t die while you’re completely off your face from drugs fun.
The Characters
We start with Michael in the epilogue’s bank heist, where he delivers his iconic line: “You forget a thousand things every day, how about you make sure this is one of them?”.
Everything is centred around Michael, whose decision to enter witness protection underpins the entire story. He’s a man who seems to be slowly falling apart inside until he meets Franklin, and he realises that he needs the violence in his life to be happy. His relationship with his family highlights the nature of his inner demons, which are a mixture of hatred and love, but mainly sheer dismay.
Franklin is a small fish in a small pond until he meets Michael, who decides to take him under his wing. This ‘son I never had’ dynamic grows through Michael’s understanding of Franklin’s situation while he also appreciates his loyalty, drive and honesty.
Lamar and Franklin have some legendary interactions, although at times their friendship is rocky to say the least. All in all, Franklin is someone who wants more for himself and will do whatever it takes to get it, which makes his story progression fun to follow.
Trevor, on the other hand, is a lunatic. He lives a trashy lifestyle full of rage, murder and guns. Who can forget his legendary opening scene where he kills Johnny Klebitz? His relationship with Mrs Modrazo brings out a human element to him, which is something he was clearly lacking for the majority of the game. Except for when he eventually starts to pour his heart out randomly, which hilariously confuses the character he’s suddenly opening up to.
Let us be completely clear, this is a man who seems lost in his own psychotic tendencies, and while this is true for most of the game, he also shows signs of possessing a master plan which will see him reunite with Michael after years of thinking he was dead.
No character evolves drastically, although Franklin’s journey up the ranks sees him shoulder more responsibility, even if he is left to wonder whether he was better off staying put in his old life rather than listening to Michael and Trevor’s constant bickering.
Trevor and Michael were trying to reinvent themselves with their new situation, but it seemed that neither could change from their old, chaotic ways. Michael did eventually grow an understanding with his family, however, so there was some personal growth at least.
Each character has their own special ability, which they use throughout the story. Franklin is an expert at driving in tight situations. Michael offers impeccable shooting skills, and Trevor erupts into an all-consuming rage, which allows him to take on a lot of enemies without losing large amounts of health.
The Heists
If the side missions are the vegetables, then the heists are the delicious meat of the game. Lester is the brains behind the operation, and he gives you all the details needed to pull off the mission. Details like which crew members to use and any equipment you’ll need. He usually gives you two choices: the loud approach or the pragmatic approach.
The option you’ll pick likely depends on what type of gamer you are. If you prefer Assassin’s Creed games, you’ll choose the stealthy approach. If you grew up playing Uncharted games, however, you’ll probably be more used to having your cover blown before having to shoot your way out of every situation. To each his own.
Preparation for the heist can feel a little long-winded, however, and I know I’ll never get back the time I spent working at Floyd’s yard to prepare for one of Trevor’s missions. This coincided with a bit of a mid-game nosedive in the story, and missions suddenly felt like a bit of a chore.
Thankfully, the rest of the heists were thoroughly enjoyable, and I particularly enjoyed sniping people out of helicopters and operating as Trevor with the Mini Gun.
Overall Feeling
From deciding what clothes to wear, what haircut you rock or how to modify your vehicle, this is a game full of dopamine hits to keep you invested. The addiction to owning the best cars, clothes and hairstyles is something which Rockstar has highlighted perfectly through their creation of the culture of Hollywood (or should I say Vinewood). The glitz and glamour are followed by undertones of sex, drugs and guns. Everyone is so materialistic in Grand Theft Auto V that it makes me feel sick, and I can’t help but feel like people have way too much money for their own good.
Over a decade later, Rockstar seems to have predicted the future by displaying the way Western society was heading. Take Yoga, vegetarianism, and cancel culture as examples of the way society has developed. Even my own development as a person has seen my choice of radio station evolve during my most recent playthrough, but so has my appreciation of Michael’s psychological predicaments. This was something I was oblivious to as a teenager. I was also made to question whether this type of escapism is necessary, and whether that says a lot about my generation that this is a game which is so loved globally.
All in all, it’s safe to say Grand Theft Auto V was ahead of its time yet so of its time at the same damn time, does that make sense? Either way, I can see how it’s remained relevant for so long and will do until Grand Theft Auto VI comes out (even if it gets delayed again).
Verdict
My Grand Theft Auto V Rating is 7.5/10.
This blog post has been altered from the original script of my video on YouTube. Visit: Jordans Media Picks (https://youtu.be/ByA-Ooc6PkM?si=vpwMzgAUqKQ_ClZw) to view the original Grand Theft Auto V review and more.
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