GTA V 📽 Through the Lens

📢 GTA VI TRAILER DROPPED LAST WEEK! 📢

Only one game left on our GTA retrospective! 🥳

The final GTA retrospective... I can't believe we're here already. Going through this series it is staggering the amount of upgrades this franchise has gotten. And now we have arrived at its magnum opus (for now). The GTA that is still played over a decade later. And still going strong. A culmination of over 20 years of game dev experience - GTA V.

And so❗️ In this edition of Through the Lens 🎞, we'll be taking a look at Rockstar Games' open-world, action adventure from 2013: GTA V. ◀️

(I am thinking about making another article just for GTA: Online, since that has become a beast of itself)

Roll it! 📽

🔷 UP TOP 🔶

This time around I am linking the actual score of the game. For one thing, it is available on YouTube so I can link it. 😇 For another, this is the most involved and immersive OST Rockstar has ever given a GTA game. Doesn't mean it's the best, mind you. But that's a matter of taste.

And also I am only talking about the actual thematic score here, not the radio stations. Which are as superb as always, of course.

_{Composed and compiled by Tangerine Dream, The Alchemist, Woody Jackson and Oh No}

I still can't believe this game came out more than 10 years ago. Other than Skyrim, there is no other product with such longevity. Gaming product of course. That is mostly and largely due to the success that is GTA Online. But GTA Online would've never taken off if not for the stellar groundwork set by GTA V. 💯

Frankly, there's not much ingenuity to talk about here. Past entries have all made significant improvements in terms of design. But that has all been set in stone. There are no major new design features in GTA V. But the polish is unbelievable. I cannot believe we went from the buggy mess that was GTA III to a near-spotless GTA V. Granted, we're talking 3 to 4 console generations here, but it's the same creative leads on both projects.

So let's start there. ⏭️

🔷 THE POLISH 🔶

The Polish what? Sausage? 🌭 Ba-dum-tis 🥁

I know, I know. I'm a master of comedy but save your flattery. That rhymed, I know. Let's get to the real meat and potatoes here. 🥩 & 🥔. Ok, I'll stop. 😁

First of all, this is the least buggy GTA from a country mile. Not that it doesn't have bugs, there isn't a game with no bugs. But the level of polish here is hands down the best out of any GHTA game. Not that a buggy game cannot have longevity if it's buggy - but this can also compound its long-lasting effect.

From a pure gameplay side, everything is more snappy. The combat in particular feels much more responsive, with a much better cover system. It just feels better to play. And again, this is due to all those years of making essentially the same game.

Finally, the world itself. GTA VI will no doubt take things to a different level. But for the time, GTA V's world was unmatched. Granted, this is mostly achieved through the advance of technology, and not specifically polishing a certain system. But the design and aesthetic of San Andreas are really cool to see. Especially coming from GTA: San Andreas.

Think the popularity of this world and setting emphasizes just how loved San Andreas was. 💯

🔷 CHARACTERIZATION 🔶

The fact that this is the first GTA game where you can switch between your protagonists at any time sets it apart from the rest. And let me tell you something. If one of those protagonists was wack the entire tower would fall apart around him. Luckily, all three of GTA V's protagonists are great.

Now, they're not great people, I didn't say that. 😁 But their characterization is so well done that you know precisely who you are playing. All three represent something about GTA: the gangster who wants to get out of the hood, a retired conman living in a mansion, a deranged psychopath. You have it all!

The vision here is to bring the GTA experience to life. This is what I think will happen with the release of GTA VI, where the online integration will be most likely linked with the offline experience. Whereas in GTA V it was clear that they wanted to introduce an online element, but still lacked the technology to go full hog. // I'll talk more on this in the GTA: Online article

A strong vision can lead a project to the stratosphere. Years of polish, a dedicated team, and a vision. Powerpuff Girls weren't created in a day (well, they were... but I wonder how many people will get that joke). A culmination project is done right is always special.

Wait until the final culmination in 2 years. 🥵

🔷 LEGACY 🔶

GTA V's legacy is right up there with Minecraft, Skyrim, Fortnite (?). Wonder if it's too early to put Fortnite up there. Regardless, we're talking about games that have extended their prime into absurd standards.

It's hard to talk about GTA V's legacy without mentioning GTA: Online. Since technically that's what people are really playing. So both go hand in hand for sure.

The best GTA game hands down, and the frightening warning on what's happening next. If the previous leaps in quality throughout each new release are anything to go by - the next installment will be nuts. 🥜

Thank you for reading, you rock! (and maybe roll) 👏👏👏

🖼️ Image Sources: 01, 02, 03, 04 🖼️

Shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙

We are reaching the finale of our GTA series of articles! I got about two more in me: a GTA: Online piece, and a Thoughts piece on the GTA VI trailer. Hope you fine folk join me!

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I hope you are having an amazing start to your week! 🙌