Grand Theft Auto V

[WestofHouse]

Anyone else playing? It has been ages since I bought a GTA game. The language and violence are a major turn-off for me, but I wanted to experience the reportedly enormous world of GTA V. So far in scope and visuals it has not disappointed. I think I could play that game for months and never complete a single mission. It's amazing how alive the world seems, as if "life" goes on there even when you're not around. I've honestly never experienced anything like it.

 

If any of you are playing it look me up. My name on Rockstar's social club is JockoPablo. I'd love to try playing online with a crew but I dread to think what kind of knuckleheads I would encounter joining a random game.

[+Gemintronic]

I play GTA for the stunts. How has that aspect been? Without a motorcyle GTA 3 was lame. Vice City and ESPECIALLY the Liberty CIty mod were my favs. San Andreas has physics that coddled me a little too much. GTA 4 was the worst. Even walking felt like the character had a giant weight attached dragging him in circles.

[WestofHouse]

I don't have a lot of time on it yet, and I can't really compare it to other GTAs because it has been years since I played them. The cars I've driven so far feel like they are on bicycle tires, but that's probably because I've been playing so much Grid 2 with much more realistic physics.

[WestofHouse]

I've been driving around taking in the scenery lately. So much to see in this game, and it all looks gorgeous. Rockstar Games has a nice social website for the game, too, where your game photos are automatically uploaded for sharing. Here's a shot I took the other day:

 

[cimerians]

I wish this damn game would come out on PS4.

[+GoldenWheels]

I love it but often feel overwhelmed by it. I played every last bit of 3, VC, and SA. Just don't have the time anymore that I'd like to to just crack out on it. It's a great game.

 

So far as the stunts, I find them less obvious. In the other games in the series they were not only obvious (like hey, look at this ramp here! HERE! OVER HERE!!!!) but they were naturally lined up for speed building so that when when you saw it, you could just hit it. You found them naturally. I could easily work them into police chases on the fly. In GTA5 I feel like IF I see one, it's already when I am blazing by at 80 virtual MPHs and it is WAY too late to hit it. So I have to turn around and plan it. Now maybe I am just not as familiar with the world as much, that's true, but they just feel harder to find and use.

[WestofHouse]

I was just talking to a friend about the stunt opportunities in GTA V. I've noticed, too, that stunt opportunities are not as obvious in V. Granted I haven't set out with the sole purpose of finding them, but in the few missions I've done I've kept my eye out for ramps and haven't seen any.

 

What I've found interesting from a psychological point of view is that the world in V seems so lifelike that I'm actually hesitant to just go crazy and wreck things like I've done in previous GTA games.

 

The world does seem a bit overwhelming, but I'm learning that the missions serve as a nice tour guide. I have a feeling that eventually the story line will take you to all four corners of the map. Then again, it's fun to just get in a car and drive to see where you end up. I'm just taking my time exploring the world and enjoying the scenery rather than focusing solely on missions. That makes it less stressful.

[+GoldenWheels]

Hell I have a stunt MAP and in some areas where there are supposed to be like 5 or 6 clustered right next to each other I have a hard time finding ONE!

 

I have not had San Andreas syndrome yet, where I kind of feel like lost with no sense of direction (that "country" island and upper corner island in SA seemed kind of pointless, or at least too big). That area up north can be boring to some degree but otoh....I have at least three times taken a police chase around the entire upper coast just for the hell of it.

[Cobra Commander]

I've played through the missions and they are classic GTA with the occasional annoying menial tasks thrown in to mess with you like fixing malware and seeing your shrink. Put a beard and sunglasses on Trevor so you don't have to look at his ugly mug. You can't run on stairs for some reason so jump. I go on rampages for fun a lot throwing grenades out the window is great since you can aim them. Throwing sticky bombs out in front to clear out the road blocks is great fun. I think the ocean and all the underwater terrain is a big waste of space. I like how you can climb up on most buildings. I just wish there was more interiors instead of nearly useless ocean terrain. I feel that GTA IV is not liked very much because of the intrusive phone blowing up all the time the overcrowded cramped and gloominess of the Northeast and the barely likable main character. Where in GTA V is set in LA with wide streets and a city made for cars and speeding and is the home of the high speed chase. If you get tired of a character just switch. The smartphone is smart and not intrusive and even useful. Mission select is available though I never used it. The cars are great. This series is constantly evolving.

[ComputerSpaceFan]

I just got into the game this week and love it.

One question, is there ever anything critical in the phone emails or texts? I ask cuz I sit about nine feet away from my 42" TV and I have to lean in to read any of the info on the cell phone in the corner of the screen. It's a bit of a bother so I don't think I'm going to read any more of them. Would I miss anything important?

[WestofHouse]

I'm not that far into the game, but so far the only texts I've received are just little additions to the story line and not required to actually finish a mission. The first text I got was along the lines of "YO DAWG IM GONNA CALL YA."

 

You should put some opera glasses by your controller.

Edited January 9, 2014 by WestofHouse

[Cobra Commander]

I had fun seagull hunting last week. After completing the Vespucci beach skydive side mission where you aim to land on the moving boat. Stay on the boat and let the driver drive you around while shooting seagulls with the shotgun. Good for ten minutes of fun at least

[IntyPod Burgertime]

I picked the game up and after my system died and I had to send it in for repair, I haven't gone back to the game.

Honestly, I play the single player in my games the majority of the time. If I know some people well enough, I'll join them in some multiplayer. It just not a common occurrence for me.