Grand Theft Auto V review

[Neon Ignition]

Given the Headlines thread has descended into this it's easily time this thread got started.

First up, what the hell are people smoking? Though I got by okay with IV on my last playthrough I've never made any bones about the fact that after the PS2 era titles the first current gen entry was for me a disappointment. Several aspects of the game were misjudged and the overall game dragged down too much. Rockstar had almost developed an arrogant air with its Hollywoodesque ambitions which made the story a trudge whilst the driving and shooting was a mix of steering a tugboat and wading through syrup.

There's a sea of content ahead so this could well fall from grace but so far I can't find one area in which GTAV isn't just better than IV, it destroys it and highlights what a flawed entry the last game was. Visually the game has stretch marks but the scale of the world going on at all times is far beyond anything else on the system and at bare minimum it trumps all other similar titles. Shooting still isn't as sharp as a dedicated third person shooter would be, but it's ten times more responsive and easier than the last game. When driving the camera can be a tad close but thank god it's central making it easy to position on the action, the cars controlling like a hybrid between a racer and the GTA3 era titles. Some cars play looser than others, you have access to performance vehicles quite easily but my garaged Impala look a like is spot on to my tastes. Collisions are infinitely less common than IV's. The variety in the world despite losing 2 cities from SA is brilliant and each quarter mile so far well pitched between breathing real city illusion ala IV and playground ala III. I spent over 10 mins scaling a huge hill to turn the camera at the peak and see the mountain in the distance, a sense of opportunity to explore and discover not felt since San Andreas came out.

As I said, it's still early doors thanks to the games size but on first few hours impressions this is promises to be everything a current gen GTA should be and everything GTAIV wasn't.

[rmoxon]

I really don't know why I keep buying these games. They bore me to tears. I spend 85% of the time staring at the mini map as I drive to my next location. I just really don't like GTA.

However, the game is clearly an improvement over its predecessors, all of which simply rode the coat tales of the "cool" factor the series has and never really had any decent gameplay. The gunplay here is solid, the driving mechanics are actually really good, and from the off there's more variety in missions than previous games had. There's also a quicker pace here, the developers have finally realised that players don't want to do 20 fetch quests before they get a gun, so taking a leaf out of Saints Row's book this has lots of shooting from the very start. The world does indeed seem big, and there is no doubt plenty to do here, including all the side missions and fluff like playing golf but for me personally how much of it will actually be worth doing is debatable.

Im still spending nearly all the time I play staring at the mini map while I drive from one location to the next, but at least it feels like there's a decent game in between all of that this time.

[JazzFunk]

Let's talk about the SUNSETS boys n' gals. Climbed to the top of this ladder pylon thang atop a mountain and just watched the sun setting with the city in the far distance. Lushorsh. Main characters are too arsey so far but the atmos is proper thick, I know this is gonna be good.

[JazzFunk]

Tangerine Dream too......though is it only me or does the pause menu music sound like 'Tales Of Kidd Funkadelic'?

[JazzFunk]

Feels lovely twatting people's caps off their heads with a running punch, just managed 27 in a row before getting shot dead by the coppers.

Oooooh, one issue, I always switch auto aim off but the reticle is very very hard to see on a 32 inch telly from about 6/7 feet away, just hope there's an option to alter it, hate locking on, ruins the fun...

[BIG EDD]

Feels lovely twatting people's caps off their heads with a running punch, just managed 27 in a row before getting shot dead by the coppers.

Oooooh, one issue, I always switch auto aim off but the reticle is very very hard to see on a 32 inch telly from about 6/7 feet away, just hope there's an option to alter it, hate locking on, ruins the fun...

Same issue here on my 42" very hard to see the white dot wish they had an option to give you different cross hairs and colours

[JazzFunk]

I hear ya...let's hope they patch it.

Only a few missions in, more been messing about exploring and stuff but this already feels a ton more organic, less 'boxy' than 4 did, the lighting is exquisite, just so much stuff in there, and a truly beautiful-looking game.

But for those who aren't fans, it's still the same ol' GTA, it really just does what it says on the tin.

[Neon Ignition]

One thing I've liked is how when driving in between missions I'm not having to use the minimap so much. IV had so many deadends and a lack of recognisable landmarks that you relied on it. Here I point the car in the direction of the symbol and just go venturing, so far having no trouble and only having to look again at it to reorientate if a long distance or I get distracted and venture off course. I agree with rmoxon where missions are concerned and sometimes a strict path is required, but I'm grateful the more more open world this time has lessened the satnavs impact.

It's been well documented too but it was none the less a moment with impact when I drove my quadbike off a ledge and ended up in the water. I was swimming back to land and accidentally moved my character to dive. It's so preprogrammed by now in my brain that water in GTA is a border to the world, only generally sometimes used for driving boats that when the lead passed under the waves it was like glimpsing a whole extra world. I now feel a compulsion to find diving gear, exploring the underwater networks and waterways is going to take hours and hours.

One thing that doesn't work for me is the Los Santos gangsta' crew type character and friends you play at the start. Weakest aspect of SA and still annoying and frankly a bit dated here. But I know he's just a third of the game and those aspects tend to ease off as the games progress and the 'hood' is left behind.

Mostly stuck to the Rock station so far too to add more Sam and Dean impact to driving the Impala and even the radio sounds like a big improvement on IV so far, nothing laugh out worthy yet but better songs and banter. Got most of today with the game so looking forward to exploring some more. Not even touched a motorbike yet, or jetski, or plane, or tank, or helicopter, or truck, or .... etc

[Guts]

Same issue here on my 42" very hard to see the white dot wish they had an option to give you different cross hairs and colours

Hey EDD and Jazz, there's an option to turn sights to "simple" or "complex" in the options. "simple" is the dot, "complex" is a bigger sight which varies from gun to gun. It's still white though so it's still hard to see in some places, but much easier to see than the little dot.

[hudson]

I just took a funny cigarette from a respectable looking gentleman on a street stall. The consequence was hilarious!

[PeteJ]

I've stuck about 10 hours into this so far and the stats say I'm at 19%. Have been focusing on the main plot missions and Stranger missions, the other parts I've dabbled in but seem quite weak (Tennis, racing etc) so probably won't bother with most of them, I've also done some exploring around the city and beyond, up the largest mountain and into the sea. Only thing I've found in the sea so far is how little time you have before you die. Need mask.

First thing everybody should do when starting up the game - go into options and change Aiming mode to Free Aim and Driving Camera to High. First makes combat actually playable and second makes driving easier.

So far, I have to say...it's through and through GTA. Anybody expecting a massive change from the previous games are going to be let down. This is a very good refinement but if you fundamentally disliked the others then you'll dislike this one too. The shooting is almost up to Max Payne 3, the driving is really fun, the missions are creative and varied, the characters are nicely written and the city is staggering in its scale and detail. The one really new mechanic of having

->Open Spoiler<-

multiple characters

works very well indeed, especially during certain missions (I spoilered that in case people had been living under a rock).

It looks amazing at times, Rockstar have excelled themselves here and it has to be one of the better looking games on the system (360) - framerate is solid and for the most part it looks nice and crisp. As already mentioned, the lighting is bloody incredible. One indoor mission at night I took a gun with a flashlight, and was pleased to see dynamic shadows everywhere, it looks fantastic.

I am struggling with the mobile phone though, even with my glasses on (which I never use for gaming) I can barely read the text. Maybe it's just me.

I also don't like how long it takes to bring up the map - it should be instant.

It's an immense achievement though, it feels like Rockstar have been building up to this game for years but as I said above, it's through and through GTA. There is an element of 'been there, done that' with the whole experience. I don't want to sound toonegative, I'm having a lot of fun with this and can't wait to get stuck back in.

[Guts]

Good summary, Pete. I also dislike the delay when looking at the map through the pause menu (which you have to do quite a lot). And yeah, I also agree about the text messages, I have to go few feet closer to the TV, on the floor from the couch to read them properly, lol.

New things I like are the mission checkpoints, irritation levels have dropped dramatically, and the special abilities like Franklin's bad ass driving skill, it really gives nice strategic level to races etc. when you have to think when to use it.

[gambit6613]

I have been putting some serious hours into this yesterday and it really is quite simply a breathtaking achievement for current gen consoles. It really is just so much more fun the GTA4 ever was and i actually liked that. Its the little details that keep on making me smile, the convertible cars where you can raise and lower the roofs but not all operate in the same way, i love being bale to turn the lights on and off and the damage models are brilliant.

But for me its a nighttime when this game really shines, it looks just simply amazing, the cityscape is just stunning, looks so life like. But probably the most enjoyable thing for me is the soundtrack, its just the best since Vice City, so many great songs and the DJ script is just hilarious. I actually enjoy just driving round Los Santos abiding to the traffic rules and listening to the excellent music whilst taking in the sights, never done that before.

Now its not perfect like others has said the targeting sight is just impossible to see, especially on any kind of chase mission where you need to aim. Its also frustrating just how quick the police are alerted even by a simple fist fight and can someone please explain to me how you lose the police because i cannot work it out, no matter where i go the always seem to find me, even through walls.

But overall for what i have played so far its just brilliant fun and i havent even explored outside the city yet, dont want to rush anything.

[Dogg Thang]

so much more fun the GTA4 ever was

So glad to hear that. I enjoyed GTAIV but I really missed the fun.

[PeteJ]

So how many of you - early game spoiler -

->Open Spoiler<-

completely missed the window with the car on the mission Michael meets Franklin? I completely ruined the moment!

To avoid the police I usually just drive into a carpark, underpass or alley and sit in the car waiting. If they spot me I drive off to the next one. It's very rare you can speed away from them. Managed to escape a 4-star but haven't seen a 5-star yet.

Have been doing some of Trevor's missions. Yeah...Rockstar are insane.