The interactive stock market, the diverse, well rounded characters coupled with the intricate heist missions – which require a series of smaller research missions to establish – bestow the game with a particular personality. Sure, much can be said about the purported budget for Grand Theft Auto V, one which positions it as the most expensive game ever created, but Rockstar’s latest title is much more than the sum of its parts. The continuing hype from last week’s release qualifies the studio’s intermittent production cycle alone. After all, five years is a lifetime in the video games industry. Since GTA IV, Call of Duty has grown into a seemingly immovable juggernaut, the Saints Row series has diversified from a mere GTA clone and put its own ludicrous stamp on the genre and, crucially, the prospect of open world itself isn’t as head turning as it used to be.
A case in point is the palpable push by studios to incorporate the trope into a wide range of next-gen titles. From Destiny to The Division, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to The Crew, there’s an array of upcoming titles using the open world as their game design stencil – drawing upon the suitably huge success of Skyrim, no doubt. Open world is in vogue. As developers harness the power of the next-gen hardware, the boundaries of in-game worlds will be expanded immensely to dovetail with the social connectivity synonymous with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And though it’s arrived at the latter years of the current generation, Grand Theft Auto V mirrors a lot of these next-gen principles. Everything from the open-ended exploration to the unparalleled degree of player agency is tailored to present the best gameplay experience possible. So much so that anytime I’m not playing the game, I’m planning what I want to do in my next playthrough; from honing Franklin’s shooting skills to exploring the gargantuan outback through Trevor’s bloodshot eyes, the pursuit of the American Dream has never been so compelling.
Naturally, there were other elements of the game that left me flabbergasted – the seamless transition between characters during the story, the well-written, at times hilarious dialogue – but in the interest of retaining the plot, I’ll leave them for you to discover in your own time. One thing’s for sure, though, Rockstar have shaken the serious tone associated with Niko’s odyssey for GTA V and recaptured some of the fun gameplay that fell by the wayside following San Andreas – expansion packs for GTA IV notwithstanding – as evidenced by the hilarious Grass Roots arc within the Strangers and Freaks missions. On the topic of additional content, it’ll be interesting to see whether Rockstar roll out DLC for the game; after all, given the depth of the surrounding environment, the possibilities for further storylines are endless.
Without question, the expectations and level of investment surrounding the game were incredible. From the pre-order figures to the staggering cost of production, but with Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games haven’t just delivered their own magnum opus, the prestigious studio may have produced one of the greatest games ever made.
