Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2013

When Grand Theft Auto IV was released in 2008, it immersed players in Liberty City (modeled after New York), one of the most believable and interactive open world environments ever created for a game. Players could go out on dates, call up friends and go bowling with them, surf a fully functioning in-game internet and of course steal cars. GTA IV sold an estimated 25 million units worldwide and sealed Rockstar Games’ reputation for making each new game world bigger and more immersive than the last.

They have lived true to that reputation with Grand Theft Auto V, the fifth installment in the game-changing franchise. This time around, Rockstar’s goal was to create the ultimate open world game, building upon everything they’ve learned from creating the previous volumes. This is the company’s biggest budget production to date and is also the largest, most immersive, believable, and lively world they have ever created. Their efforts have paid off—the game netted $1 billion in the first three days of its global launch.

GTA V brings the series back to the fictional state of San Andreas, modeled after Southern California. Los Santos (Rockstar’s take on L.A.) is a sun-soaked metropolis that was once the envy of the western world but is now struggling to survive in the face of economic uncertainty. It’s the largest GTA city ever created, complete with a 24-hour day and night cycle, weather changes, wildlife and inhabitants unique to each area. All areas can be accessed from the very start of the game, and players can travel to the countryside of Blaine County to explore mountains, oceans, and military bases.

The scale of Los Santos is staggering. The playable area, which includes underwater exploration, is five times that of Red Dead Redemption. The game also boasts a larger selection of vehicles and weapons than any previous installment in the series. Improvements to the gameplay also make interacting much easier. Characters can fluidly run and gun as well as strategically combat roll to evade incoming fire. The transitions are much smoother when moving in and out of cover. When aiming and firing with the reticule, it is now easier to identify targets and switch between them.

But where would GTA be without the protagonist? How about a trio of them? GTA V takes a new approach to storytelling by featuring three different main characters. Players inhabit the lives of all three, with the ability to shift between them. This allows one player multiple perspectives on the overall story, as they plan and execute a series of various heists across the metropolis. Players are in control of the young and ambitious Franklin, sociopath army vet Trevor and bank robber turned family man Michael.

Missions can involve just one protagonist, a pair, or the whole team. Character switching during a mission can happen a few different ways: during a cinematic cut scene, automatically during gameplay, or manually by the player. The circumstances change from mission to mission. Heists play an important part of the core story major ones are spread out, providing action-packed sequences that weave the story together. Instead of a linear narrative, players can plan and execute heists how they choose. A player can jump right to the bigger missions early on, then use the cash they score to open up new opportunities around the city.

When it comes to planning heists, various elements need to be in place to pull the job off smoothly. First, players have to acquire the appropriate weapons, vehicles and necessary equipment. Next, a crew needs to be carefully assembled and it is sometimes necessary to bring in outside help in the form of gunmen, drivers and skilled technicians. All of these elements will affect the total cash haul for surviving members and how the money will be split amongst them. It’s important to plan carefully. If a player picks a getaway driver with poor skills, he may crash during the escape and his portion of the money is lost. Players can also choose how to approach each heist. Some may choose to carefully infiltrate a building without being noticed or use ventilation ducts to put security guards to sleep. Or a player can go for a more Hollywood-style: busting in with guns a blazin’. It is completely up to the player, but the choice with highest chance of survival and a greatest cash reward is always best.

The world of Grand Theft Auto V is completely open to the player. A non-linear approach to the main story with various heist missions and the ability to switch between all three different main protagonists makes for a completely new kind of gameplay. All of the choices available to the player within the story plus the active online multiplayer capabilities will surely please both old and new players of the franchise. Get ready to plan the biggest heists ever seen as Michael, Travis, and Franklin make Los Santos their playground. Get ready for Grand Theft Auto V.

Los Santos

Things to see and do:

It wouldn’t be Grand Theft Auto without an open world full of things to do. Itineraries are practically endless, here are a few suggestions:

• Shop for a new outfit, haircut or tattoo
• Customize your vehicle with paint jobs, wheels, window tints, brakes, performance and handling upgrades
• Upgrade your weapons with silencers, scopes, extended mags, laser sights and more
• Try BASE jumping, off-road racing, hunting, yoga, golf, tennis, scuba diving
• Hijack an armored van or rob and ATM—just for fun
• Pickup hitchhikers
• Buy (or sell) a new house, garages,
• businesses and other properties
• Trade online stocks