It’s time to break out the guns and go on the run again with the latest GTA game from the party hard dudes at Rockstar Games. Grand Theft Auto 5 is coming just in time for the end of summer, so while it’s a dead sert that it’ll be out on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the big question is whether or not it’ll be ported to the next generation games consoles too.
Set for release on the 17th September 2013, the game has been delayed by a significant four months, which begs the question: Was it held up to wait for the release of the PS4 and Xbox ONE? If the answer is yes then it’s another clear indication that the release date for the new consoles will be the beginning of Autumn. While a PC release hasn’t officially been announced at the time of writing, the assumption, based on past experience, is that one will come eventually, but the sad news is that the same probably can’t be said for the Nintendo Wii U.
Anyway, enough speculation about next gen consoles, let’s look at what to expect from the game. The plot is set in Los Santos once again, incorporating the city, along with large chunks of its surrounding suburbs. However, the real step-up comes in terms of the landscape diversity, with city missions giving way to mountain-top vistas as well as submerged ocean scenes.
Building on Episodes of Liberty City, GTA 5 gives you the freedom to play as three different main characters, each with their own story and interweaving plot lines:
Michael – Michael is a reformed bank robber that went clean following a deal with the Federal Investigation Bureau. Though the money from the deal has kept him on the straight and narrow, his other half’s spending sprees mean that he needs to get back in on the underworld action to keep things pretty.
Franklin – Franklin is a dregs of society kind of guy whose main source of income is hustling people into buying cars on finance terms they can ill afford. When the inevitable happens, he calls in the payment and takes back the car. However, he’s also been adopted by Michael as the son he always wanted, so maybe there’s bigger fish to fry for Franklin from here on in.
Trevor – A one time military pilot, Trevor has managed to pick up a drugs dependency, which means he’ll do just about anything to scrape by enough to fuel his habit. He’s also Michael’s best friend if the trailer is anything to go by, so expect a few old favours to be called in.
As with all of the Grand Theft Auto games there’s a massive number of missions to complete before the crime lord day is won. However, in the 5th installment, you’ll find yourself switching between characters whenever you’re not already embroiled in a character specific mission. There’s also an abundance of side missions and recreational activities that you can get involved in too, including base jumping and a fully playable golf course.
The graphics are impressive, especially the landscape of Los Santos and beyond, but it would be cool to see a bit more natural skin texture, eye mechanics and body movement in characters going forwards, especially with the new next gen consoles on their way. However, the trailer only seems to feature cut scene graphics, so it’s hard to say for sure how the in-play visuals will translate on the different ports of the game.
Where this is going to really matter is when you take on the controls of the latest speedsters in the franchise and hit the pedal. Cars are just one part of the game’s vehicle range, you’ll also be able to become a BMX bandit as well as utilising Trevor’s piloting skills to take to the skies.
With a massive free roaming space to move around in, more vehicles than you’ll know what to do with and a mission count that’ll make you dizzy, it looks like Grand Theft Auto 5 is going to be another big addition to the family for Rockstar Games.
