 "Where crime & passion rule")
Let me confess. As a GTA (Grand Theft Auto) fan, I was worried. I had followed the franchise all these years on a PC, but for Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA V), I was forced to switch to console - the PC version is still some time off. GTA IV on consoles, with a 98 per cent score, achieved the highest-ever all time ranking on review aggregator Metacritic. Soon it has been matched by the Xbox 360 version of GTA V, with the PS3 version (Rs 2,999), which we reviewed, coming a close second with 97 per cent.
On the game, there are the carefully planned heists; the life of crime; the chases, drives and flying stuff; the mayhem one can unleash; the stunning open world; the multi-layered missions; and the sex, violence and sarcasm. In short, it's an alternate lifestyle - doing things one has always wanted to do in life, and stuff one wouldn't dream about doing in real life. And you run the risk of being shunned by family as you immerse yourself in the game over endless hours.
GTA V follows the lives of three protagonists - Michael, a retired criminal dissatisfied with his present life of privilege (whose marriage is failing and who finds no connection with his starry-eyed daughter and his lazy and foul-mouthed son; Trevor, a former associate of Michael who is now a maniacal junkie living in a trailer; and Franklin, a talented young driver who comes from a humble background (but who Michael feels an instant connection to after meeting and takes him under his wing).
Switching between the characters is fun. You could be, as Michael, at one point racing with his good for nothing son across the city; the very next moment you could be out hunting as Trevor in the forest near his trailer; and in a matter o f seconds you could be Franklin arguing with his ex-girlfriend.
This change in perspective is unique and stays with you through the game. GTA V uses a Google Earth-like zoom in, zoom out function to switch.
But it's not just fun - the detailed missions need a whole lot of preparedness. For example, if you were planning a heist, you had to actually pick a proper team, set up a plan down to arranging for a getaway car at a particular point, and also have a plan B in case plan A fails.
GTA V is reflective of the society we live in: So, we have cellphones as the centre of our existence. We take selfies, complete deals, trade stocks and even indulge in insider trading on the stock market. It all seemed so real.
The game also has a clone of Facebook that the protagonists can use and parodies of actual TV shows. The radio stations also dish out tracks from across eras, along with a fair amount of trash talk. The background score during missions is taut, with some good voice acting adding to the atmosphere.
And, there's the violence, with one particular disturbing sequence when one has to torture a character to extract information. Among all, this one has Franklin philosophising and taking the moral high ground while having no qualms in going on a criminal mission the next moment. The most disturbing and well-fleshed out character is possibly Trevor. His maniacal tendencies at mayhem are so strong that they stay with you even after you've exited the game.
Cruising along Los Santos, I found the city has a life of its own and there were gunfights and skirmishes even if none of the protagonists were around to create a ruckus. There is the crudity and nudity, and my word of advice is to not play the game on the family TV and definitely not in front of children. The game objectifies women but then again that is what has always been the case with the franchise.
That's not all. Grand Theft Auto Online goes live on October 1, the perpetually interconnected world that is free for GTA V owners. GTA V actually peels the veneer off the Great American Dream to tell it as it is, warts and all. If you have a violent streak or would like to let off some steam and live in a make-believe world with absolutely no limits, this is it. Enough said, go out and play!
On the game, there are the carefully planned heists; the life of crime; the chases, drives and flying stuff; the mayhem one can unleash; the stunning open world; the multi-layered missions; and the sex, violence and sarcasm. In short, it's an alternate lifestyle - doing things one has always wanted to do in life, and stuff one wouldn't dream about doing in real life. And you run the risk of being shunned by family as you immerse yourself in the game over endless hours.
GTA V follows the lives of three protagonists - Michael, a retired criminal dissatisfied with his present life of privilege (whose marriage is failing and who finds no connection with his starry-eyed daughter and his lazy and foul-mouthed son; Trevor, a former associate of Michael who is now a maniacal junkie living in a trailer; and Franklin, a talented young driver who comes from a humble background (but who Michael feels an instant connection to after meeting and takes him under his wing).
Also Read
The action takes place in and around Los Santos, which sets a new bar in the open world experience - not just technically, but also with its detail. In fact, the city is the star of the game and one can spend hours just by exploring the nooks and crannies in and around the city. All the three protagonists - one can play as and switch between any of them - are trying everything during this economic slump, to, as the game says, "set them up in life".
Switching between the characters is fun. You could be, as Michael, at one point racing with his good for nothing son across the city; the very next moment you could be out hunting as Trevor in the forest near his trailer; and in a matter o f seconds you could be Franklin arguing with his ex-girlfriend.
This change in perspective is unique and stays with you through the game. GTA V uses a Google Earth-like zoom in, zoom out function to switch.
But it's not just fun - the detailed missions need a whole lot of preparedness. For example, if you were planning a heist, you had to actually pick a proper team, set up a plan down to arranging for a getaway car at a particular point, and also have a plan B in case plan A fails.
GTA V is reflective of the society we live in: So, we have cellphones as the centre of our existence. We take selfies, complete deals, trade stocks and even indulge in insider trading on the stock market. It all seemed so real.
The game also has a clone of Facebook that the protagonists can use and parodies of actual TV shows. The radio stations also dish out tracks from across eras, along with a fair amount of trash talk. The background score during missions is taut, with some good voice acting adding to the atmosphere.
And, there's the violence, with one particular disturbing sequence when one has to torture a character to extract information. Among all, this one has Franklin philosophising and taking the moral high ground while having no qualms in going on a criminal mission the next moment. The most disturbing and well-fleshed out character is possibly Trevor. His maniacal tendencies at mayhem are so strong that they stay with you even after you've exited the game.
Cruising along Los Santos, I found the city has a life of its own and there were gunfights and skirmishes even if none of the protagonists were around to create a ruckus. There is the crudity and nudity, and my word of advice is to not play the game on the family TV and definitely not in front of children. The game objectifies women but then again that is what has always been the case with the franchise.
That's not all. Grand Theft Auto Online goes live on October 1, the perpetually interconnected world that is free for GTA V owners. GTA V actually peels the veneer off the Great American Dream to tell it as it is, warts and all. If you have a violent streak or would like to let off some steam and live in a make-believe world with absolutely no limits, this is it. Enough said, go out and play!