Risk Assessment, a mission where Franklin races an adrenaline junkie by skydiving onto a mountain and then cycling to the finish line was one of the few exceptions I really enjoyed. Each typically goes for humour instead of a 'wow factor' compared to story missions, acting as more of a fetch quest or excuses to traverse Los Santos. Undoubtedly, the high points of the game, there are only five with the first two coming in quick succession and the others far too spread out.Īdditionally, you can find 'Strangers and Freaks' scattered across the ginormous map, offering different side-missions specific to the three leads. The first has Michael and Franklin casing and robbing a jewellery store before escaping on motorbikes in a thrilling chase through the sewers. The biggest spectacles are 'Heists', a number of interconnected missions that are typically larger in scale than regular ones. This carries through the main levels that go from a drug-induced trip where you are kidnapped by aliens to a coordinated FBI kidnapping on the side of a skyscraper. The story is wonderfully cinematic, from the second you walk up and initiate a mission. The structure of GTA allows you to control either Michael, Franklin or Trevor at basically any point, allowing them to progress the main campaign or roam the open world. It makes perfect sense for today's audience, as a lot of these characters/moments now come over as eye-rolling rather than funny. Rockstar is clearly aware of its influence, seemingly removing a number of transphobic jokes and stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ community (as spotted via Twitter (opens in new tab)) that not even the king of controversy felt comfortable leaving in. It's also worth addressing the controversial topics that come hand-in-hand with GTA, whether that be the violence, depiction of women or general portrayal of stereotypes across all sexualities. I can't think of another video game that commits this hard for something so few will discover. No joke: GTA V has multiple full TV series hidden within, like the talent show spoof Fame or Shame and the satirical cartoon series Kung Fun Rainbow Lazerforce.

The level of detail is pretty much unrivalled still (we'll come onto the graphics shortly). It's an extensive set of activities that are still great by today's standards. The city of Los Santos is free to explore as an open world area, either to run amuck by getting into fights with the public or local law enforcement, take part in sports – golf, tennis, darts, triathlon and an 18-hole golf course – invest in the stock market or even become a real estate mogul.

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