The most influential sandbox title in gaming is back. In the five years since Grand Theft Auto IV. There have been a lot of quality sandbox titles (Batman: Arkham City, Saints Row, inFamous, Assassin's Creed, to name a few). Is Rockstar still that much better at the sandbox genre? The short answer?...Yes.
Here's the long version: Grand Theft Auto V isthe epitome of the sandbox genre. It's not just a refinement of past iterations of the series, there are also elements of Rockstar's other projects (Red Dead Redemption, Midnight Club, Max Payne, etc.) It feels like Rockstar's thesis statement for this generation.
We return to Los Santos and we are following the story of not one, not two, but three characters. Michael DeSanta, a retired thief-turned-struggling family man with an affinity for old Vinewood films and afternoon drinking. Franklin Clinton, a young, disenchanted gang banger who strives for more than just senseless killing and claiming territories...and then there's Trevor Philips, an unpredictable loose cannon with zero restraint.
Playing as these three characters opens another avenue for GTA. Instead of going the safe route of a sole character's storyline. We have three storylines that are woven together. It feels like an episodic TV series. We can drop in on them at any time, wondering what they are up to next.
It's been a long time since I've been in Los Santos. I must say it has never looked this good. Rockstar's borderline-obsessive attention to detail, in comparison to GTA IV, is staggering. The game's visuals push the current-gen consoles (PS3 or 360) to it's very limits and you'll be left wondering "Is this next-gen?" Los Santos feels like a world beneath worlds just like Los Angeles. The parallels between those two cities are apparent. From the beaches to the ghettos to the suburbs and Hollywood/Vinewood.
Not only do they nail the big things. They also get the little things too, For example, Trevor would make a remark on the radio station the player selected and turns to another station.
The gameplay is also fantastic, too. All three characters plays very different from one another. What's new this time is that Michael, Trevor and Franklin have a "Special" ability. Michael can slow down time to line up headshots during gunfights (Bullet time from Max Payne). Franklin is the wheelman of the trio, he can slow down time to weave in and out of traffic in LS (a la Midnight Club) and Trevor has a rage mode where can deal double damage and he takes little damage himself. The shooting has been tightened up from GTA IV's clunky combat. You can also customize weapons now. From scopes to flashlights to silencers. It really opens the door for experimentation.
Remember that "Three Leaf Clover" mission from GTA IV? The mission design is inspired by that very mission. The three main characters come together for those missions and they feel epic in scope. You can hire members on heists and you can plan how to approach each heist by either going in guns-blazing or by taking a subtle approach. The checkpoint system is way more forgiving here so you can't have to start all over when you fail a mission.
The amount of activities are ridiculously robust and you can purchase properties in town to increase your income in-between missions. You can moonlight as a cab driver or you can help out around bars and clubs. You can also invest in the stock market, too.
The tone of the story is much more lighthearted and it's a callback to the balls-out insanity of previous games while still staying grounded. The voice acting is acerbic and hilarious. Trevor, in particular, is a standout. He doesn't seem to have an endgame. He doesn't care about what happens to him or anyone else. He's loyal to his friends, but do him wrong, and you'll wish that you haven't. He's a ticking time bomb just itching to go off. Which makes him that much more fun to play. He's the physical manifestation of what the series represents.
As far as multiplayer goes. You can create your own character and you can form crews with friends and interact with characters from the main story and take jobs and you can run wild across Los Santos with your friends.
As this generation of consoles comes to an end. Rockstar has put an exclamation point and issued a challenge to the rest of the industry who's been preoccupied with the PS4 and Xbox One now finally in the mix.: Try to follow this.
Grand Theft Auto V is the best GTA game ever. And one of the best games ever made, too.