Explore an expansive open-world adventure filled with thrilling heists, stunning graphics, and an engaging storyline
Explore an expansive open-world adventure filled with thrilling heists, stunning graphics, and an engaging storyline
Pros
- Spectacularly rich and beautiful gameworld
- Countless customization options
- Competitive, co-op, and single-player gameplay
Cons
- Connectivity issues with online sessions
- Large download
- Only for mature players
Explore the expansive and bustling city of Los Santos and its criminal underbelly in Grand Theft Auto V.
Even though Grand Theft Auto V was originally released on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2013, this continues to be one of the most popular games in the world. The PC release has attracted a huge wave of new fans, and it is one of the most ambitious titles in the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise. If you enjoyed previous GTA games, then Grand Theft Auto V is sure to provide you with countless hours of entertainment.
As soon as you start this game up for the first time, you are quickly going to realize that it is unlike any of the other GTA titles. While the mechanics and overall gameplay are very similar, you are actually going to take control of three separate protagonists. Throughout the game, all of those protagonists must be used at key moments if you want to continue building a criminal empire that is going to survive in Los Santos.
Michael, who happens to be an experienced criminal, is in a loveless relationship, and he is on the verge of a breakdown that could send him spiraling out of control. The next character that you are going to take control of is Franklin, and he is a driven young man who is out to increase his wealth while making a name for himself. The last protagonist in the storyline is a meth dealer named Trevor. When it comes time to jump in Trevor’s shoes, you are going to see that he is a violent man with no morals.
In addition to the three primary protagonists, you are also going to run into a wide array of quirky characters throughout Los Santos and the surrounding communities. From small-time crooks who want you to help them make a quick buck to dirty cops that will do anything to keep their names clean, Los Santos is filled to the brim with unforgettable people. Even though some of those individuals are going to become important allies, you must make sure that you keep a close eye on everyone.
Just like some of the previous GTA titles, this game will have you travel throughout the city to pick up various missions. The primary mission path is extremely interesting and filled with some amazing twists and turns, but the side quests can be very entertaining as well. If it feels as if the primary storyline has become stagnant, then you can easily switch over to the side quests and spend dozens of hours building up your wealth and collecting new vehicles and weapons.
In the primary storyline, the first set of missions are relatively dull, and their primary goal is to teach you all of the basic mechanics while letting you explore the city. As the game progresses, however, you are going to be presented with some intricate and engaging missions that will take a bit of skill to overcome. You must also become a master at seamlessly switching between all of the protagonists in order to take advantage of their unique skills, items, and contacts.
Even though some of those missions might get repetitive, you are going to be brought right back into the game in certain scenes. As you travel down the coastline at sunset listening to a variety of catchy songs, it will be tough to think of any other game that has as much detail as GTA V. The development team has gone to unimaginable lengths to create a vibrant and beautiful world that is very easy to get lost in.
There are also many other areas of the game that you can sink your teeth into if the storyline and quests have become stale. Everything from functional golf courses to a stock market that you can actually invest in can be found in the city of Los Santos. You can even build a career as a professional race car driver and spend countless hours going up against other AI drivers until you are ready to jump back into the primary storyline.
As diverse as the single-player game is, that is just a small fraction of what most players spend their time on. GTA V includes an entertaining online gameplay option that greatly boosts this game’s replayability. When you get into an online server, you are going to be taken to a huge sandbox world with a variety of other players. Some players might want to team up and carry out small missions together while others are going to fight it out in intense PVP matches.
The fanbase has also used that sandbox world to create countless game types and matches. You can quickly jump into a server that is exclusively filled with air-to-air combat or race against opponents in your favorite supercars. There is even a defense and siege mode that allows one team to secure a huge mansion while the other team bombards it with combat jets, helicopters, rockets, and more. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, then you might want to set up your own online matches or servers and create custom scenarios from the ground up.
All of these features are still just the tip of the iceberg, and that goes to show just how complex this game is. The amount of detail that the development team has included in GTA V is staggering, and the in-depth gameworld is just one of the reasons why this game is sure to remain popular for many years to come. If you want to take a closer look at gaming history, then Grand Theft Auto V is one game that you must have in your library.
Pros
- Spectacularly rich and beautiful gameworld
- Countless customization options
- Competitive, co-op, and single-player gameplay
Cons
- Connectivity issues with online sessions
- Large download
- Only for mature players
Pros
- One of the largest and most detailed worlds Rockstar has ever created
- A character swapping system that's truly innovative
- Tons of side missions and activities to accomplish
Cons
- Combat is improved over past entries but still looser than other shooters
- Violent and caustic style won't be to everyone's tastes
As the latest entry in the smash Grand Theft Auto series, GTA 5 brings the trademark humor and open world violence that fans love to a satirical interpretation of Los Angeles. The Grand Theft Auto series has been a giant of the industry for decades, and the amount of time and energy that Rockstar Games puts into their flagship series ensures that each new release is an industry event. While Grand Theft Auto 5 builds off the standard third person action game play that the series has been long known for, they bring a number of different bells and whistles to the formula that should leave fans feeling satisfied.
For fans who were disappointed in the darker, more serious, and (relatively) grounded approach of Grand Theft Auto 4, this latest entry will be a return to form. This is a game that doesn't take itself seriously, and the setting draws deep from its West Coast setting to create a tongue in cheek world that lampoons practically everything about California culture. This is a series that has always been about letting players create a playground of destruction, but it's also been a series that's about character, and GTA 5 has that in spades. For the first time in the series, players play the game using a whole trio of characters. Between an aging retired mobster, a lunatic with a chip on his shoulder, and an up and coming gangster, there are plenty of perspectives to draw from, but the multiple characters also lend a new layer to how the game plays.
Players can swap between each of the characters on a whim, and they each come with their own strengths and weaknesses as well as offering a special power that's unique to their style of play. The level of immersion here is superb. Swapping between characters causes the camera to peel back before closing in on the other character in their day to day life, and there's a lot of personality instilled into these little moments. While this is largely an opportunity for players to take on character specific missions and get behind the eyes of the characters that most intrigue them, the characters switches play a critical role in the new heist system. While heists may resemble traditional GTA missions on the surface, they're actually far more elaborate. Each character has their own role to play in the heist's execution, and success means deftly swapping between roles on the fly. This might involve swapping between the character infiltrating a facility, the sniper providing him cover, and the helicopter pilot setting up their escape.
GTA 5 is a bloody good time, and one that combines a tightly woven story with the ability for players to create their own blood-drenched narratives. While it won't be suitable for everyone, it's a seminal release in the open world genre.
Pros
- One of the largest and most detailed worlds Rockstar has ever created
- A character swapping system that's truly innovative
- Tons of side missions and activities to accomplish
Cons
- Combat is improved over past entries but still looser than other shooters
- Violent and caustic style won't be to everyone's tastes
Pros
- All the fun and thrills of the Xbox One and PS 4 versions
- Awesome graphics
- Intense gameplay
- Play with and against online friends
Cons
- Requires 65 GB of space of disk space
- May not function as well on older PC's and laptops
The iconic "Grand Theft Auto" franchise continues its success with GTA V.
GTA V follows the successful pattern laid down by its iconic predecessors, as it charts the high octane urban Los Santos driving adventures of Franklin, Micheal and Trevor in the bizarre and violent criminal underworld so carefully crafted by the narrative of the game.
The quality of the game is in no way diminished by its release on PC platform. All features of the Xbox One and PS4 version released in November 2013 version are imported to the Windows compatible format, with additional extras like "Rockstar Editor", an editing and recording suite, which enables the user to unleash their creative side by recording and editing real time footage. The PC version also features a "Director Mode" which permits the player to further augment their immersion in the GTA world by directing their own short movies set inside the "in game" world.
Team players will be impressed by the online multiplayer called "GTA Online". This feature enables players to create their own avatar, who collaborates with other online players in high risk, high stakes heist missions and death match racing.
Visually, the upgraded visuals make the graphics slightly more defined than its PS 4 and Xbox One counterparts, while the audio experience offered is enhanced by the in- game "Lab FM", offering players a choice of new music or an upload from music files already stored on the PC or laptop, enabling the user to create their own bespoke radio stations.
Game players who wish to customise their experience can add a view management tool to the game, enabling modifiers to add and remove features, (although this function is not supported in the GTA online section).
Some critics may argue that there has been too much of a delay between the release of GTA V on the X Box and PS 4 consoles and its PC iteration, but the end product has definitely proved to be worth the wait.
As with all games set in the criminal Los Santos underworld of "Grand Theft Auto", this version is not suitable for children or teenagers!
Pros
- All the fun and thrills of the Xbox One and PS 4 versions
- Awesome graphics
- Intense gameplay
- Play with and against online friends
Cons
- Requires 65 GB of space of disk space
- May not function as well on older PC's and laptops
Pros
- Fun story line that is easy to follow
- New upgrades for vehicles and characters
- More challenges to complete
Cons
- Play gets boring after a few hours as the scene is repetitive
- Takes up a large amount of space on the computer
GTA V is a game that gives a glimpse into the world of street racing while completing various challenges.
There are three people you can choose from when selecting your player. Michael is sometimes the best at running away from crime scenes while Trevor is one who can drive a car better than the others. Each character can be customized from head to toe. You can select the clothing as well as the vehicle that the person drives.
The stories of each character intertwine in the game. You will see a bit of comedy and a lot of action and adventure while playing GTA V. One of the features is that there are numerous side challenges to play. You can take part in street racing against gang members or finding those who have jumped bail. You get money from each challenge that you complete depending on how well it's completed and how fast you get the job done.
The missions that you complete will be based on the character you're playing with as each one has different skills that can be used. Some of the extra characters get involved as well, bringing this game to life. While playing online, you can talk to some of the other players. When you complete missions, you can use the money to buy an apartment, make improvements to your car or play at the casinos to make more money.
One of the new features of the game is an editing tool that allows you to record the races and other events that take place in the game. There are various camera options and angles to choose from, allowing you to create a movie of your time on the streets.
When playing the game, you will notice that the rate each frame advances and the details on the screen will depend on your computer's capabilities. The controls are easy to use, and menu options are easily navigated. There is an option to play your own music in the background while driving in your car, which makes the game customized for your taste.
Pros
- Fun story line that is easy to follow
- New upgrades for vehicles and characters
- More challenges to complete
Cons
- Play gets boring after a few hours as the scene is repetitive
- Takes up a large amount of space on the computer
