Grand Theft Auto V: First Impressions

Hello again Tech fans! As the days go by we’re getting closer and closer to the always crazy holiday season, which this year offers not only a number of AAA titles, but also two new consoles. Kicking this season off today, is one of the most anticipated games of this year: Grand Theft Auto V.

The very beginning immediately feels like the GTA we’re used to, but as you get through the opening bits the game begins to open more and more revealing a whole new level of interaction than previously seen. Core gameplay immediately feels different, and while driving can still get a little out of control at times, overall things feel a lot tighter.

The world itself is massive, and it’s immediately clear to anyone who’s been to the Los Angeles area how much work was put into creating a place very much like it. Within the world are not just the usual missions and free roam shenanigans, but also a number of optional side activities that grow as you play, including things like going to the movies, playing tennis, or practicing your shooting skills at the gun range.

The side events not only serve as a fun little mini games, but also as a way to improve the three lead character’s skills, making them better with various abilities required for smooth missions like driving skill, strength, and stamina. While none of the characters are as customizable as CJ from GTA San Andreas, each of them does have a number of different clothing and hairstyle options to choose from.

Now of course one of the biggest changes in V is the ability to control three different lead characters, each of which have their own lives, strengths, and personalities. You can choose who you play during normal gameplay to carouse around town, and each has their own unique missions to pursue. At the same time, missions that require multiple characters allow for you to on the fly switch between who you actively control, with the game also giving you a smart switch option to quickly take control of whichever character is most relevant to the situation. It’s a fun idea, and really changes how you view the setting as each character comes with their own background, attachments, and views on the world they all mutually share. Now all of this is just a result of the first couple hours of the game, and I’ve really only begun to scratch the surface of what it has to offer, so keep an eye open for when we post the full written review.