Something Worth Adding to Your Bucket List: GTA V
After receiving countless awards, including the Game of the Year award for 2013, one of the most important awards in the gaming industry, it is no surprise that Grand Theft Auto, also known as GTA V, is a contender for one of the best video games of the modern era. It is an action-packed, non-linear game where the player is free to do almost anything without creating any detrimental effect on their lives. Ever dreamed of robbing an island owned by a drug lord? Owning a yacht? Starting a business? Flying a fighter jet? Robbing a casino? Going on a shopping spree without putting a dent in one’s wallet? All these dreams turn into reality within the world of GTA V, and is why it deserves to be called the best video game of all time.
GTA V separates itself from other video games because it represents life without its worries and repercussions. While there are a number of games that also provide an escape from laws and limitations, GTA V is superior to these games because it allows the player to connect to their own daily life while not enforcing any rules or laws through its groundbreaking realism and graphics. For example, players will instantly recognize iconic landmarks from Los Angeles within the game. Because Los Angeles and the world inside GTA V are created so similarly and realistically, players feel as if they are transported to the city while playing. The subtle details are nearly endless: honking at a pedestrian will cause them to grow enraged at you, braking at a high speed will jerk players’ heads forward, and ocean waves create realistic patterns when splashing along the coast. Though these tiny details reveal how closely tied the game is to real life, the realistic nature of the game should not be mistaken for seriousness. Especially when playing with friends, GTA V elicits laughter and a light-hearted mood, which is refreshing compared to other popular video games such as The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, and many others that deal with more depressing topics. Overall, the strengths that GTA V holds heavily outweigh the strengths of other video game titles.
However, it is important to recognize that GTA V does have its weaknesses. For players who are predominantly focused on making money within the game, replaying the missions that reap the most amount of money can be repetitive and even tiring. Additionally, GTA V, a game that focuses on criminal life, may encourage misconduct and lawbreaking within the real world. While these are valid arguments, the nature of repetitiveness is seen in all games, and questions surrounding the influence that violent games have on players do not only apply to GTA V. These general weaknesses should not take away from GTA V’s numerous strengths that separate it from other games within the gaming industry.
