This game is big. It’s arguably the biggest release of all time, and the impact it has left is very difficult to write about in a small text. It’s a game that has meant a lot to me, for many different reasons, and it’s probably one of the few games that can capture “gamers” and “non gamers” alike.
But before I get into the emotional and sentimental reasons I want to talk about the actual game itself.
GTA is a very popular franchise. Even your grandmother knows about it. If you don’t know what it is, there’s seriously a huge risk that you’re not actually from earth and need to go back to your family on Grag’al, The Gas Planet… they miss you..
It’s a sandbox game where you’re able to do many, many different things. Things like, stealing cars and committing vehicular manslaughter. Shooting people. Robbing people. Exploring the city. Robbing stores. Blowing stuff up. Escaping the police. Bowling. The list goes on. It’s a very “open” game with a lot of secrets and charming details to it. Obviously, it’s a game and not a life simulator, so there are restrictions. But it can’t be overstated how masterfully crafted the illusion of “freedom” is in this game. I’d spend hours as kid driving around with cars, doing stunts and making up weird objectives – like shooting everyone at the strip club.
Don’t worry, they were sinning.
Every GTA game has a campaign too, and although I can’t say that I remember much from any of the games stories, they’re always captivating enough to make you keep going. The highlight being the different characters.
In GTA V you play as Michael, Trevor and Franklin. Three dudes with different lifestyles that you’ll switch between at the whim of a button. They get pulled into the world of crimes, and, well… things happen.. You’ll explore Los Santos, an imaginary version of Los Angeles – with a plethora of environments, people and places to explore and find. V being the latest and most content packed game of them all.
But honestly, nobody plays GTA for the campaign, it’s all about the online experience!
GTA V online was a marvel to bask in during release. I was pulling all nighters. You’d make your own unique character, dress them up like little dolls and go make havoc with friends and strangers. The online experience of GTA is probably best describes as “funny chaos”. But like with everything in life, the good parts don’t last forever. GTA V online struggled with (and still does) microtransactions. It’s something that still plagues this game. Is the game still fun? Yes. Does it stab you in the eye a bit? Also, yes. They still release updates for the game, but they’re arguably pretty soulless and nowadays it simply feels like they’re milking a malnourished cow for a few squirts of that white gold. Rockstar, like many others, turned greedy. It’s a sad thing, but not surprising.
But even though I’m critical towards the MTX, and even though I don’t play it anymore – those were some of the best days of my life, and this game unintentionally changed my life. I met many of my friends through GTA V, one of which introduced me to a girl whom I now live with and have a child with.
It’s crazy how a game can bring people together to this extent. How a tiny interaction in an online game can make you move to another city, and change your life completely. How it might inspire you, or how it might “shield” you from troubles on the outside.
Fuck you Rockstar, but thank you Grand Theft Auto. 10/10!
