GTA V Review – Still One of The Greatest Open World Games In 2024

Rockstar Games’ magnum opus, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), remains an unparalleled open-world adventure, teeming with criminal escapades, cinematic storytelling, and a meticulously detailed landscape that feels alive at every corner.

It invites players to embrace a life of crime, embark on high-octane heists, and immerse themselves in a world where the line between chaos and consequence blurs. Let us revisit the sun-soaked streets of Los Santos and the sandy dunes of Blaine County in our GTA V Review.

Story And Setting

The critically acclaimed open-world action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North, takes players on a thrilling journey through the sprawling city of Los Santos and its surrounding areas.

At the heart of this game is a multi-layered narrative that weaves together the stories of three very different protagonists: Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips. Each character is distinct in personality and motivations, offering players a unique perspective on the criminal underbelly of Los Santos.

The three get embroiled in a complicated plot and are inclined to work together to settle their respective scores. The brilliance of GTA V’s storytelling lies in its ability to seamlessly switch between these three characters, allowing players to explore their lives and perspectives.

The brilliance of GTA V’s storytelling lies in its ability to seamlessly switch between these three characters, allowing players to explore their lives and perspectives.

The switching isn’t just generic, the characters can be caught in the middle of an activity. For example, Trevor always seems to find himself in eccentric situations such as running from the police in his trusty truck or lying wasted at the edge of a cliff in his underwear.

I felt like this dynamic storytelling mechanic not only keeps the narrative fresh but also provides players with a deeper connection to the characters and the city they inhabit. Los Santos, the game’s fictional representation of Los Angeles, is a sprawling metropolis teeming with life and authenticity.

The setting remains largely relevant, serving as a satirical commentary on contemporary American society, touching on themes of wealth inequality, celebrity culture, and corporate greed. This underlying social commentary adds depth to the game’s narrative, making it more than just a tale of crime and chaos.

But, the world has changed a lot in a decade and many of the jokes resonate strongly with many of the younger audience players who are not familiar with the specific events, people, or trends from the time of the game’s release.

Some of these may be downright offending as many people have generally become increasingly less tolerant of dark humor these days.

Beyond the main story missions, players can get lost in a myriad of side activities and distractions. From investing in the stock market, robbing convenience stores, high-octane police chases, and purchasing and customizing properties to more mundane tasks such as yoga and tennis, there’s no shortage of ways to immerse yourself.

Players can also experience unscripted events known as “Random Encounters,” and unlike scripted missions, these occur without warning, adding an element of unpredictability to the game. Players are usually given a choice to approach each situation. 

I wouldn’t be lying if I said that GTA V set a new standard for open-world gaming with its richly detailed setting, complex characters, and diverse range of activities when it was first released, and despite a decade since its release, only a few games come close to it in terms of its work building.

Gameplay

The multiple characters trope is not just for show, they each excel in their field. Michael excels in gunplay, Franklin boasts exceptional driving skills and precision when behind the wheel. Trevor, on the other hand, is known for his reckless combat abilities.

Each mission takes the player to different locales and has an interesting buildup. The heist missions, in particular, are the crown jewels of GTA V. These meticulously planned and executed multi-part missions provide players with a sense of agency and choice rarely seen in open-world games.

Whether it’s choosing the approach, assembling a crew, or deciding how to split the loot, these are a testament to the game’s depth and replayability.

These single-player heists still remain some of the best-structured missions I’ve played in any game. Executing this monumental task is a high-stakes endeavor, and the game’s mechanics make it an exhilarating experience. 

The aiming and shooting mechanics have been refined to offer a smoother and more accurate experience, resulting in more dynamic, responsive, and satisfying gunfights.

The developers refined the aiming and shooting mechanics over the game’s predecessors which offered a smoother and more accurate experience, resulting in more dynamic, responsive, and satisfying gunfights for its time.

The cover system was also been enhanced, allowing players to seamlessly transition between cover points and engage in shootouts more tactically. However, these, as well as the movement mechanics, can feel sluggish and infuriating when compared to modern games. Fortunately, the variety of unique weapons available is still unmatched.

The driving mechanics are also a hit-or-miss most of the time. Although they offer a more refined and enjoyable experience, it is a slight downgrade over the more realistic physics and vehicle damage modeling from GTA IV, as driving and collision mechanics here tend to favor arcade-style gameplay.

Any discussion of GTA V would be incomplete with its hugely popular online mode, GTA Online. Over the years, it has grown into a massive online sandbox, offering players the opportunity to immerse themselves in different activities.

Rockstar Games has consistently supported GTA Online with an astonishing amount of content. Regular updates introduce new missions, vehicles, properties, and cosmetics. This ongoing infusion of content keeps players coming back for more.

The game’s content creator tools empower players to design their own custom races, deathmatches, and capture missions. This feature fosters creativity and community engagement, allowing players to share their creations with others. 

The game’s content creator tools empower players to design their own custom races, deathmatches, and capture missions.

Many of the properties in GTA Online have businesses associated with them, and each type presents its own challenges and opportunities, requiring investments and strategic management for profitability. However, they also come with risks such as raids and competitive pressures.

GTA Online also features a variety of complex heist missions. The fun factor entirely depends on the heist members so it’s hop onto it with a bunch of friends, otherwise, these will be some of the most frustrating experiences you’ll ever have.

One of the most prominent issues with the game is the prevalence of excessive Microtransactions. The game’s economy has been criticized for being unbalanced, with certain vehicles and weapons being prohibitively expensive, leading to a grind-heavy experience for those seeking to acquire them without spending real money.

The recent addition of a monthly subscription, GTA +, hasn’t boosted Rockstar’s diminishing image either.

Rampant cheaters, griefers, and modders, and a lack of consistent updates have marred the overall experience in GTA Online.

Rampant cheaters, griefers, and modders, and a lack of consistent updates to address these problems have also marred the overall experience in GTA Online. While the game offers an expansive open world and numerous activities, these negative aspects have, at times, overshadowed the fun and enjoyment that players can have in Los Santos.

Rockstar Games has implemented various measures to combat these issues, including reporting systems and server-side anti-cheat measures. However, the persistence of hackers and griefers has led to many players avoiding public lobbies altogether and seeking refuge in solo sessions or private crews, impacting the intended multiplayer experience.

Visuals And Performance

The attention to detail in the game world is awe-inspiring, with bustling streets filled with pedestrians, realistic traffic, and dynamic weather patterns. The combination of stunning sunsets, neon-soaked nights, and diverse urban and natural environments creates a captivating visual spectacle.

Explosions, gunfire, and vehicular collisions are accompanied by stunning particle effects and realistic physics.

The game features impressive visual effects and lighting that elevate the overall presentation. Explosions, gunfire, and vehicular collisions are accompanied by stunning particle effects and realistic physics. Fire and smoke billow convincingly, adding to the chaos of intense action sequences.

One of GTA V’s notable achievements is its consistent performance across a wide range of gaming platforms. Initially released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and despite the technical challenges, it managed to maintain a stable frame rate and impressive visuals.

The game has recently been ported yet again to next-gen consoles with all new enhancements including 4K resolution, 60 fps, ray tracing, HDR, faster loading, increased vegetation, wildlife, and traffic density, and improved audio.

Many new features such as the First Person Camera Mode were also added through a later port to the PS4 and Xbox One consoles. Platform-specific features like Haptic Feedback on PS5 also enhance immersion, making it a must-play for new and returning players.

Verdict

GTA V offers an immersive and dynamic open-world experience with a compelling narrative, memorable characters, and engaging gameplay. Its single-player mode is a masterclass in storytelling and open-world game design, while GTA Online provides an extensive multiplayer platform with a wide range of activities.

Its gameplay can feel sluggish by modern standards but it becomes bearable after spending a few hours in its beautifully crafted world.

However, the online mode has faced issues with microtransactions and server stability, impacting the overall experience. Despite these concerns, GTA V remains a landmark title that has left an indelible mark on the gaming world, offering a rich and entertaining playground for single-player and online adventures.

This has been our GTA V Review. While you’re here, consider checking out some of our other articles. 

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• Assassins Creed Mirage Review
• Payday 3 Review
• Resident Evil 4 – Separate Ways Review.
• Mario Strikers: Battle League Review
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Review

Why You Should Play This Game

You should play this game for its landmark open world, creative mission design, and three unique protagonists. It’s also worth trying for its online component which features one of the first truly seamless open-world experiences where players can engage in countless activities together.

Why You Shouldn’t Play This Game

You shouldn’t play this game because the narrative is a step down from the last entry in the series, and the online component and its microtransactions actively make the whole package worse.

Who Is This Game For?

GTA V is aimed at fans of Rockstar Games, and those who enjoy true open worlds with a near-infinite amount of freedom. This is also the game for you if you enjoy bombastic story missions and increasingly over-the-top gunfights.