GTA 5 Preview - Why You Should Be Excited

You might want to cancel any plans you’ve got for the rest of September (and October, November and December…) because Rockstar Games are about to take away any free time you have with the next installment of the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ series, GTA V. After several years in development, a world record budget of $256 million and multiple delays, it promises to be one of most ambitious and absorbing games ever made.
The fact that it’s generated significantly more media excitement than both the upcoming Xbox One and PS4 consoles tells you all you need to know. Here are the reasons that GTA V is going to have you completely hooked:

The Map Is Absolutely Massive

Rockstar have claimed that the map used for GTA V is the size of GTA: San Andreas, GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption combined. Just let that sink in for a second. Set in an upgraded version of the Los Santos we saw in San Andreas, we can expect a very different area to roam than the slightly one-note Liberty City of GTA IV. With the combination of busy city streets and sprawling areas of countryside and mountains making for a diverse experience, players could easily play the game for a year and not seeing everything on the map. Get exploring!

Reddit user fakeitlikeyoumakeit has scaled down real life cities, using Google Maps to give you a perspective to how big the map really is compared to real life. 

Planes Are Back

 Admit it, everybody who played GTA IV’s heart sank a little when they discovered that planes were off limits. Thankfully, they’ve returned for GTA V, allowing players to take to the skies without all the awkward controls that made the helicopters in the previous game such a pain to use. Judging from the screenshots that we’ve seen so far, the gorgeous mountains in particular are just begging to be soared over with one of the many aircrafts that will be scattered around Los Santos.

Bank Heists

 GTA IV’s best mission was easily ‘Four Leaf Clover’, where Niko conducts a bank robbery in thrilling fashion. Clearly looking to build on this, Rockstar have made this an important part of GTA V. Heists are now an key element of both the single player campaign and online, where up to 4 players can take part in heists together. You can control almost every aspect of the heist, from the members of your crew, to how ‘loud’ or ‘quiet’ your robbery will be (we’re guessing ‘loud’ might end up being the more popular option here). However you choose to approach them, online bank heists may prove to be the most you’ve had on a games console in a while.

Grand Theft Auto Online

 If GTA IV’s online modes were a fun way of causing chaos, GTA V’s will be physically impossible to put down. Though it doesn’t go live till October 1^st, Rockstar have been putting a huge amount of effort to make sure the game’s online experience is as gigantic as possible. A staggering 500 missions are available to complete, as players look to gain as much money as possible to spend on customizing every aspect of their character, from their shoes to their houses. With all the traditional online modes also all there, you’d struggle to find a more comprehensive online experience on any console at the moment.

Shooting Has Been Fixed

 Despite the series being near perfect in all other areas, the shooting sections of Grand Theft Auto games have always felt a little bit fiddly, with your playable character struggling to shoot straight at times and frequently locking on to the correct target. After a massive overhaul of their game engine in the development of GTA V, these problems are now a thing of a past. Rockstar have promised a much more streamlined weapons system and, while we’ll have to wait till the game’s release to see if this is the real deal and just empty marketing lies, we’re confident that the developers have finally fixed this long standing issue.

Three Is The Magic Number

 With all the hype surrounding the online mode, you’d be forgiven for completely forgetting about GTA V’s single player mode altogether. The biggest change here is being in control of three main characters; Michael, a retired bank robber in the midst of a mid-life crisis, Trevor, his psychopathic former partner, and Franklin, a ex-gangster struggling to make a living. Throughout the campaign, you’ll switch between the three character’s storylines and even get to change character mid-mission. This interesting new feature should offer more variety to a game that certainly isn’t afraid with playing around with its tried and tested formula.

Mini Games Are Actually Fun

 Almost no one who played GTA IV actually enjoyed any of the mini games you could play (“No, Roman, I don’t want to go bowling again…). It’s a relief that GTA V is filled with much more entertaining distractions from the main storyline. Fancy a game of golf? They’ve got it here. Want a spontaneous bit of skydiving? Go for it. Want to drive down to the forest and shoot a few defenseless animals? You might have a few underlying issues that need sorting out, but go on then.

Release The Hounds

 Conspicuously absent from all previous Grand Theft Auto games, along with other various wildlife, dogs will make their debut in GTA V. Keeping with the gleefully violent nature of the series, the Rottweiler seems to be the breed of choice with the playable characters. They even appear to be a key part of the some of the missions, with their ability to create diversions and even attack enemies.

Radio Stations

 The soundtracks of GTA games have always been stellar and this edition is no exception. GTA V will have over 240 songs, spread out amongst 17 diverse radio stations, ranging from techno to classic soul, via indie rock, country music and Mexican hip-hop. Factor in a massive cinematic score and you’ve got one fantastic sounding game.

 There you have it; the reasons why GTA V will take hold of you from start to finish. With Rockstar Games having a habit of holding back key elements of their games, who knows what secrets they’ve got in store? Come September 17^th, be prepared to lose yourself in Los Santos.

If your still yet to pre-order your GTA copy, I'd hurry up, this game will be a nightmare trying to find out in the shops come its release. To guarantee the game, pre-order from Amazon (the cheapest we found) for £35 on Xbox and Playstation. 

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