The mere mention of those three fabled words "Grand Theft Auto" sees the hype barometer sky-rocket. Wild theories and excitable yapping noises follow in their wake. Leave it to us, then, to sift through the static and provide the authoritative guide to GTA 5's Los Santos, its surroundings and the skies above...
Before you read on, it might interest you to know that Rockstar is currently crafting a next gen engine, as revealed by listings that hint at GTA 5's multiplayer.
#01 Meet Michael
Star of the first trailer, Michael is a former bank robber who's living in luxury after signing a witness relocation deal. Despite his elegant pad and fast cars, however, he's bored. His wife hates him, his kids are going off the rails and his money is running out. Time for a free-form crime-spree?
#02 When can you start?
The sprawling GTA V map covers an area the size of GTA: San Andreas, GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption put together - presumably so Rockstar North can cram in all manner of fighter jet hi-jinks. Returning areas include the Vinewood Hills, the muscle gyms of Vespucci Beach, Mt. Chilliad and a lot of rugged San Andrean scenery.
#03 Tune in to Weazel
As ever, you can expect a full roster of radio stations and TV channels to tune into - hopefully featuring the stirring return of Republican Space Rangers and Vinewood [Expletive Deleted]. Oh Rockstar, how we've missed you...
#04 Three is the magic number
GTA V lets you control three characters. There's Michael the (semi) retired career criminal, Trevor the psychotic military veteran, and Franklin - a fast guy trickster climbing up the ranks of the Los Santos crime ladder. You can leap into control of them at any time, taking them over while they go about their daily business elsewhere on the map.
A Google Earth-style camera zooms down onto their bodies - whether they're driving around down-town, or sitting around watching Weazel News. When the three unite for heist missions, meanwhile, you can flick between them as they carry out their criminal duties. You can take on the role you'd rather play, and rely on your fellow crims' AI to pull off their own capers. It's a three-way buddy movie, where the scenery ignites even more than usual...
#05 Slight return
GTA V is set in the same world as GTA IV in terms of characters and events, but nothing that came before - so don't expect to see San Andreas' CJ. That said - familiar brands Cluckin' Bell, Burger Shot and Ammu-Nation are here to stay.
26 comments so far...
GallifreyDog on 20 Jan '13 said:
Just one correction (sorry!) - "When Franklin first appears in the GTA V storyline, we're greeted by him doing a rather noisy poo. The more Grand Theft Auto changes, the more it stays the same..."
It's actually Trevor, not Franklin.
Drainwater on 20 Jan '13 said:
I'm ever so slightly disappointed that we can't acquire properties in this one, but everything else you said in the article has me eagerly awaiting this game.
fracturedrich on 20 Jan '13 said:
I really liked scarface,because at least you had a reason to earn money,and i liked the way you level up your guns in gta sa.
OXM ETboy on 20 Jan '13 said:
I have now ascertained the owner of the poo, and corrected the article accordingly.
Sandbwoy on 20 Jan '13 said:
Exciting stuff. GTA always lives up to the hype, and that makes me even more excited.
EdDeRs1 on 21 Jan '13 said:
i would have preferred a sequel to Red Dead Redemption....
cade360 on 21 Jan '13 said:
Really looking forward to this, still playing GTA IV fgs
derangedxzombie on 22 Jan '13 said:
In GTA 4 the driving was terrible and the shooting/moving around was awkward, plus the storyline got pointless and the game had many features streamlined from it.
GTA5 however sounds/looks brilliant, bringing back a lot of greatness and dropping the bad points whilst even adding a few things from rdr. Will be buying this.
CunningSmile on 22 Jan '13 said:
Have you played Undead Nightmare? That's practically a sequel and you get to dress as Ash from the Evil Dead which I know you'd enjoy
FishyGinger on 22 Jan '13 said:
What the dickens? Really, I didn't remember that? Can you get a chainsaw?
CunningSmile on 22 Jan '13 said:
No chainsaw alas but one of the unlockable costumes looks exactly like Ash's blue shirt/straps/shot gun holster ensemble.
FishyGinger on 22 Jan '13 said:
Well aren't I a silly toad. How did I miss that.
GHOSTY05 on 22 Jan '13 said:
Well i have been reading every ounce of information since this was first announced.
I have now read almost everything and i am salivating for more, words cannot express how much i require this game, it has now become a medical requirement that i play this game!
Rockstar pull your finger out and give me a release date so i can book the day/week/month off work in advance. Also it has been weeks now and still no information, we need new intel now!
I am also quite disappointed with the lack of no purchasable properties, i just hope the rest of the game makes up for it as for me not being able to purchase property is a major oversight.
Bezza89 on 22 Jan '13 said:
Should be end of this week ghost, they've released the last bit of MP3 dlc today so the only thing to concentrate on is... you guessed it! Nothing! lol GTA news this week will be the cover, next week or two and you'll get a release date.
I too am obsessed, I check R* newswire everyday
GHOSTY05 on 22 Jan '13 said:
Yeah apparently they are showing the box art this week/next to annoy us even further.
The thing about GTA games is that your not buying a game, you are buying an experience, i compare the playing of a GTA game to that of canoeing through the amazon rainforest or trekking the himalayas.
Your senses are on high alert and you simply cannot take in so much information at once, you have a living, breathing world to explore and you feel like a kid in a sweet shop. This is has been my experience with every GTA game, and GTA 5 is looking rather special indeed.
Rockstar, you better release this in march!!
SidTheSloth on 22 Jan '13 said:
I'm so sad about this - I've read the article twice now and still, not even a twitch...
What used to be my most favourite, anticipated release of the gaming calendar, ruined by GTA IV and the crushing sense of disappointment it bestowed upon me.
It's of a far lesser quality, but i can't help but feel Saints Row has overtaken it now for my own personal play preferences - i just need to think back to Bully, to Red Dead and more importantly GTA 3, Vice City & SA and remember just how awesome Rockstar can be, and maybe manage a smile... and a pre-order?
All the good bits look like they're back (property aside), plus there's no Niko so fingers crossed i love it as much as a lot of you loved IV!
Bezza89 on 22 Jan '13 said:
Have you seen the screens on the website? There's about 100 of them, absolutely awesome they are; show off the size of the world. Looks a bit too big imo. Why the hate for Nico? He's amazingly very funny. His non-chalance is unbeatable. I make up words here to encourage you.
Sounds like they're mixing RDR with San Andreas in my opinion, who'd say no to that?
SidTheSloth on 22 Jan '13 said:
I have, and they look great (no-one has confirmed that's how good it'll look on 360 but i care not so much about that anyway)... It's just past experience that worries, such as driving for miles, failing and then driving again - i know you can take taxis etc now but it's always been a bit meh. The big thing for me in IV, as we've discussed ten million times though are the controls - maybe i would have loved Nico if i'd ever got far enough into the game to see more of it, but i gave up after my last (fifth) attempt at trying to play through it - i just can't stand it!
Anyway, enough about IV, this is the optimistic looking forward to V thread, and i'm looking at it, wanting to love it, wanting it to love me, but not feeling it just yet. Hoping that by joining in the hype i'll get the old GTA buzz back again - hell, i bought two of the limited edition copies of IV so i must have been a fanboy once, right?
Bezza89 on 22 Jan '13 said:
Not only taxis this time though, three characters you can magically transport to in separate parts of the city. They'll probably add mission checkpoints and the like too going by the dlc for IV, only thing I'm worried about is how it will play on 360. Saying that Just Cause 2/far cry 3/skyrim all take less than 5gb of space... we'll see. I'm looking forward to the new controls too, I've heard they've changed driving to make it more racing sim, shooting to be more actiony etc, basically taking top in class from all genres and merging them. Though they would say that wouldn't they?
SidTheSloth on 22 Jan '13 said:
Yeah i think the article makes the point that they've said about the controls with each new version and they've still been a bit cack in all of them, only IV i ever had the problem with - but fingers crossed things are better in V.
The one bit that did intrigue me was the co-op heist type missions actually - i like the sound of being able to switch between characters in SP too, but doing that co-op would also be good fun. Imagine there'll be some MP based version too which could be good (and could equally be shit).
End of chat.
CunningSmile on 23 Jan '13 said:
Know the feeling Sid. If this was about RDR 2 or Bully 2 I'd be drooling on my keyboard and frantically combing the internet for any little detail I could find, just like I was before GTA4 launched. After GTA4 I'm interested but it's about as interested as I am in Dead Space or MGS Revengeance; I'll pick it up and play it if it gets good reviews but it's just not grabbing me.
SidTheSloth on 23 Jan '13 said:
Ah, Bully 2...
>wistfully contemplates<
GHOSTY05 on 23 Jan '13 said:
Agreed i am also looking forward to RDR 2 an Bully 2, bully 2 is the game i can get my missis to play!
Jme2k7 on 23 Jan '13 said:
I actually can't wait for this game to hit the shelves it's going to be awesome.
GHOSTY05 on 24 Jan '13 said:
Sod the shelves i am going to be there at 12pm waiting in the que on launch night!
I have also pre-ordered the game TWICE from two different places just incase a copy does not turn up, or just incase i don't manage to get a copy on launch night.
P.S- just to let everyone know tesco are doing £5 off when you spend £25, so get GTA5 for £34.99
Jme2k7 on 24 Jan '13 said:
Think I might have to shop at tesco then that week instead of asda just to get it a bit cheaper has any1 heard anything in the multiplayer side of things for GTA if not ill just have to play campaign which will also be top quality lol