Just as the open-world crime series was becoming a bland affair with its repetitive shoot-and-drive gameplay, Grand Theft Auto V offered us a beacon of hope with some of the most exhilarating action-packed moments to ever appear in the franchise. Combined with its beautiful, vast and photo-realistic environments, GTA V is an example of how the industry’s traditional and sometimes cynical model of spending big bucks and making things go BANG can still work. Despite the sometimes frustrating story arcs of its three protagonists, the game took us to new heights and new depths — sometimes quite literally.
From chasing a crashing airplane through the countryside on a dirt bike, to detonating C4 explosives on a cargo ship to extract a top-secret weapon, the game had more than its fair share of awe-inducing, jaw-unhinging moments. It was certainly enough to leave me asking for more.
Even if Franklin, Trevor and Michael yelled at each other a little too much to allow for any actual character development, Rockstar’s notoriously sharp and witty writing still shined through in some moments of dialog, the routine satirical jabs at society, and the programming on many of GTA V’s radio stations. It would have helped if the game looked upon women more favorably, even if they all turned out to be deranged and crazy in their own ways.
But let’s not forget to gush over the game’s biggest star. San Andreas, the sunny, California-inspired island-state is, by far, the most impressive, painstakingly-detailed world we have ever seen or inhabited. Not only does it look gorgeous; it also feels real. And what really makes it work is the crazy combination of recreational activities available in the game, whether it’s landing a helicopter on Mount Chiliad and dirt-biking down the most dangerous path, or abandoning a commercial jet at the highest possible altitude and skydiving into Los Santos. If anything, San Andreas is the reason players will continue to revisit this game for the years to come. It’s a perfect paradise just asking to be destroyed.
No Comments