Fans of the Grand Theft Auto franchise are in for an exciting September, as the massive new installment – GTA V – is set to come out on the 17th. This marks the first full release since 2008’s GTA IV (not counting smaller interim games like “Chinatown Wars”), and should of course be the biggest, most impressive game in the series thus far. The game will be available for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
So what can we actually expect to see in GTA V other than the familiar, but still wildly entertaining basic format? Here are a few perks and features we’re hearing about, coupled with the most recently released screenshots.
Multiple Protagonists
This version of GTA centers on 3 separate protagonists – Michael, a successful former bank robber; Trevor, a drug addict and Michael’s former partner; and Franklin, a “Vespucci Beach” repo man. The three are pulled into interlocking criminal missions in Los Santos, and players will control each protagonist through different missions.
Improved Driving
If you’re a fan of racing games, or even just like driving around in GTA games, you’ll love the new feel of driving in GTA V. Rumor has it that this game will involve more realistic controls, with the cars feeling low and firm on the road, rather than feeling like hovercrafts or boats as they have in the past.
Casinos (?)
Gamers love casino environments. Just take a look at Betfair’s Arcade section and all the traffic and activity to get an idea. Well, it seems like GTA has gotten that idea, and may well be bringing casinos back into the franchise. This hasn’t been announced, but screenshots of the new game appear to show casinos, which means players can enjoy all the old vices again.
Advanced Flight
Past games have featured limited aerial involvement (through helicopters), but as noted by What Culture, past game maps haven’t been large enough to support true flight. With the GTA V map apparently breaking boundaries (literally) with its sheer size and world-like feel, flight will supposedly expand to include planes, which should be awesome.
Ocean Involvement
Certain games let players swim a bit. Assassin’s Creed games will do it some, and even some older, sillier games like Super Mario 64 involve exploring underwater. GTA V is taking this concept to a new level, allowing a fully explorable underwater ecosystem with shipwrecks, sharks, scuba suits and submarines. This might be the most impressive of the new features.
More Hobbies
Finally, players will be able to control a wider variety of hobbies the never before through their characters. Into real life yoga or workouts at the closest Gold’s Gym? Take your character to get a workout. Enjoy golf and tennis, or more adventurous hobbies like scuba diving or base jumping? Just about anything you might want to do in real life is accessible to your characters, creating a true sense of reality in the game.
