Game Review: Grand Theft Auto V

Photo: Courtesy of Rockstar Games

[easyreview cat1title = “Grand Theft Auto V” cat1rating = 5]

Rockstar Games

PS3, Xbox 360

Rs. 2999

It’s been five years since the last Grand Theft Auto game (not counting add-ons and expansions such as Ballad of Gay Tony and Lost and the Damned). A lot has changed since then what with series such as Saint’s Row and Sleeping Dogs and Rockstar’s own Red Dead Redemption setting the tone on what we should expect in an open-world game. How does Grand Theft Auto V fare? Quite admirably if not more so.

The game has you in control of three criminal degenerates each with their own unique set of abilities. Michael is a retired thief who can slow down time in a gunfight, Franklin is an up and coming criminal who sports exceptional driving skills and Trevor is well… crazy, the first twenty minutes of playing as him is insane to say the least, and can be immune to damage in battle.

Each of them have their own set of problems that sets up the crux of GTA V’s fantastic narrative. Without spoiling much, this is the darkest, most satirical piece of interactive fiction you’ll have the pleasure of experiencing. Oh and that 18+ rating on the box isn’t just to prevent kids from getting their grubby mitts on it. Certain scenes will leave you red with embarrassment in front of pleasant company so you’re best off playing this in solitude.

And play you shall. The driving is heavily improved over the last game. Cars are actually a pleasure to use. Ditto with jetskis and motorcycles. Wish we could say the same for planes and helicopters, they’re painful to drive and you’ll find yourself wishing you didn’t have to use them. On the bright side, it’s easy to skip missions that you might find too annoying. Fail a mission three times and you have the option to simply move on to the next. Great for those who want to experience the story with minimal fuss.

Combat is enhanced as well. Pulling off headshots and running from cover to cover is brilliantly done. The controls are responsive and the movement is pretty good given the series’ penchant for clunky combat. While the scenarios aren’t as over the top as say, Saint’s Row 4, there’s a healthy mix of gritty reality and bombastic situations that make GTA V’s missions a blast to play.

If you were to plough through the game’s meaty single-player campaign you’d find yourself done in around 25 to 30 hours tops. But that’s not how one plays Grand Theft Auto what with a slew of side missions ranging from filming sex tapes to killing aliens there’s a lot to do that the main story doesn’t encapsulate. And this isn’t even counting the online multiplayer either.

So if you had to buy one game this year, look no further. GTA V is the biggest, baddest, enjoyable title you can get and quite possibly the best game this year.