21-27 November 2014 #733

The grand theft

The new Grand Theft Auto (GTA V) is noticeably a cut above its last-gen versions and may turn you into a gaming zombie
Yantrick

The title that the next-generation gaming console owners have been waiting for has finally arrived. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) is here and if you own a PS4 or an Xbox One or have a friend who has one, you can kiss the sunshine goodbye, well for at least a couple of days, because that’s just how good the game is.

While GTA V was already available on the PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms, all that enhanced computing and processing power on the PS4 and the Xbox One gives the title a truly next generation look and feel.

Make your way through the fictional city of Los Santos to realise just what I am talking about. Boasting production values and budget that would put even Hollywood blockbusters to shame, Los Santos City was one of the most stunning and convincing open-world environments to have ever graced a video game. And, in its new higher-resolution avatar, it is even more spectacular.

Compared to the last-gen versions, the new GTA V is noticeably sharper; textures resolutions have been bumped, surfaces appear bumpier, and there are a raft of new particle, light, and lens effects. The attention to details is amazing. Cruise down to the beach in your stolen convertible and you can see the tiny sands whoosh by. Amazing! Drive around in the rain for hours on end, marveling at the beautifully rendered raindrops and puddles on the ground. Bicycles, motorcycles, cars, motorboats, helicopters, planes- whatever tickles your fancy- GTA V has got them all, and when you do finally stop admiring the scenery to cause some GTA-style destruction, the sheer amount of guns and explosives at your disposal will only result in more fascination with the game.

For the first time in the GTA series, gamers have the option of playing from the perspective of the character they are controlling and that is a good thing. Rather than the third-person view that the previous GTA iterations have followed, playing the game in first person mode breathes new life into the game. If multiplayer online play is your thing, then GTA V has got that covered too. You can now wage war with real-life counterparts from around the globe. GTA V is available for Rs 7,000.

Yantrick’s Verdict:  Call in sick, cancel all your plans, warn your missus because GTA V will  turn you into a gaming zombie.