Grand Theft Auto V Gameplay Preview
If you’ve been living under a rock the last twenty four hours (or if you just don’t have the level of obsession for GTA as we do), then you might have missed Rockstar’s huge unveiling of a massive five minute trailer. Â Done completely with in-game footage, there’s enough content to have you watering at the mouth for months, desperately waiting for its launch on September 17. Â If there’s anything you missed, we’ve got you covered in our trailer breakdown below.
Lovely Locales
One of the most beloved traits of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (which some consider the pinnacle of the series) was its diverse locations packed with little caveats and nuances of love. Â Between hicktown trailer parks, sprawling mountains that are prime for jumping from, and open waters with lively tourists, GTA V is bringing back this feature with a vengeance.
Beaches
Make sure to bring a dune buggy for a bloody good time…
Mountains
Grab your parachutes; we can’t wait to ramp a bike off this bad boy.
Trailer Parks
Cue the stereotypical redneck jokes.
Open Water & Dams
You’ll probably spend just as much time in the water as you do on land.
Wilderness
ANIMALS! Can’t imagine this is going to end well.
Big City Lights
Cruising down the strip in Liberty City was always a good time. This will not differ.
Things to Do In…
In an attempt to compete with other open world games, Grand Theft Auto V has an unbelievable amount of content crammed into the game.  There’s sports to play, real estate to invest in, property to buy, animals to hunt, random encounters… The list goes on.
Yoga
Well, maybe we’re not that into Yoga… but hey, it’s still there. That’s… something.
Tennis
Does this make GTA V the spiritual successor to Rockstar Table Tennis?
Shooting Range
Pew pew pew!
Scuba Diving
Rockstar has already confirmed there will be a vast underwater expanse for us all to discover.
Base Jumping
Because who doesn’t love jumping off tall stuff?
Hunting
Seemingly taking a cue from the many distractions of Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto will finally have the ability to hunt wild animals.
Golfing
For those of you that want a little Tiger Woods with your inner OJ Simpson.
Clothes Shopping
OMG. Luv shopping!
Car Customization
Finally, we have a way to spend our money in a Grand Theft Auto game!
Biking
Cardio’s never looked so enjoyable.
Gameplay, Refined
A big issue with the Grand Theft Auto series has always been its imprecise shooting mechanics, and a general focus on mayhem rather than responsive controls. Â Grand Theft Auto IV’s combat relied heavily on cover-based shooting, and all the vehicles in the game handled like a bag of dog feces. Â Finally, though, it seems like Rockstar has made a heavier focus on gameplay mechanics.
The Three Best Friends Anyone Could Have
Although we’ve already learned about the protagonists from previous trailers, here they are (left to right); Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. The player will be able to swap between them at any time they desire.
Unleash the Payne
Rockstar has showed an increased focus on the normally-wonky shooting of Grand Theft Auto. The combat looks extremely similar to the fluid, loose shooting of Max Payne 3, which is a really good thing.
Wheel of Weaponry
In a throwback to Red Dead Redemption, the intuitive weapon wheel has apparently returned to combat. No longer will you be a bullet sponge while you try to find your rifle.
Stats Are Back!
A fan favorite from San Andreas, it appears that upgradeable statistics have finally made a return. Things like ‘Lung Capacity’ are pretty straightforward, but ‘Special’ is a little different; each of the protagonists have their own unique ability.
Driving Looks… FUN?!?
Even though there was only a brief glimpse at driving vehicles, the whole ordeal looked frantic, arcadey, and entertaining. It’s about freakin’ time.
Destructible Environments?
Perhaps this mid-mission rollover of an armored truck may be a scripted event – or is Rockstar teasing the ability to tear down certain environments?
Care Not Required
GTA V is built around pulling off dangerous heists. You set these up on your own, acquiring tools and other necessities in prior missions. You can select different approaches to the heists, whether it’s loud and reckless or quiet and with tact.
Crew Up
Besides planning out your approach, you’ll also have access to unique crew members to help you succeed. Some are more talented than others, but take a bigger cut of the payout.
Online… No Words Can Express
In just a few seconds of online gameplay, I’m already sold. Expect another page taken out of RDR’s book: Free roam can nearly be guaranteed, with lobbies for special competitive and cooperative modes in abundance.
In under five minutes, Rockstar managed to blow us all away to an unexpected degree. Â Grand Theft Auto V looks like an amalgamation of all the greatest feats of the publisher’s previous titles: The painstaking detail of LA Noire; the fluid and flawless shooting mechanics of Max Payne 3; the brilliant writing and open world of Red Dead Redemption; the driving mechanics of Midnight Club; and, obviously, the pure fun that has come with every single GTA to date.
