
A little over a year ago I provided a review for the single player portion of Grand Theft Auto V for the Xbox 360. In it, not a detail was spared as I shared my praises and complaints about the game. Here we are, one year later and I'm back at it. It's not often that I get to offer up a second review for a game, let alone one that has been re-released on a new platform and given significant number of improvements since its initial release.
Yet here we are in late 2014 playing the PlayStation 4 version of Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online. I'll spare you the detailed analysis of the game. For that, you can simply read the original review for the simple fact that things like the less than exceptional writing and third-person gameplay experience remain largely unchanged. Instead, a focus on the new features and gameplay mechanics are in order, along with a look at GTA Online to see if it's managed to tackle the issues that landed it on our biggest disappointment list for 2013.
The first and most obvious change to the game is the fact that it now runs at a near rock solid 30 frames per second at 1080p resolution on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Without a doubt, a solid 60fps experience would be preferable but let's examine what we're coming from here. The old generation of consoles had massive framerate drops and only pushed a resolution of 720p. Here we are pushing a 1080p resolution and a near solid 30fps at all times. It's not ideal but that is a tremendous improvement compared to what the old consoles managed.

Another major improvement over the previous generation is the addition of more flora and fauna to the game. There is now a wider variety of animals in the game both on land and in the water. Unfortunately, these animals only show up in the single player portion of the game for some inexplicable reason. Still though, it was great running around and seeing some cats hanging out in an alley. It was amazing watching someone out jogging with his or her dog right behind. Just be prepared to have the dog attack you if you hurt their owner. I found that little detail out the hard way. The PlayStation 4 version also boasts an increased amount of tall grass and vegetation throughout the game. It even has a far greater amount of grass when compared to the Xbox One version as some people have come to notice. The trees have also been given a visual overhaul, featuring more dense leaf coverage and better texture work.

You experience all of this just roaming around town and you already think it's amazing. Then you switch over to first-person mode.
Now, Rockstar could have just brought over the old version of the game, upped the resolution, added some nicer textures, and stopped for the day. Instead, they went the extra 20 miles and added in a first-person view to the entire game. The first-person mode offers up full body awareness. Rockstar has added new first-person animations to every single action and reaction that will happen to the player during the course of the game. Jumping, shooting, hijacking cars, skydiving, swimming, viewing your phone, taking cover, rolling, and tons more are all a completely fresh experience in first-person. If you can do something in third person, you can do it in first-person and what an incredible difference it makes.

Without a doubt, the addition of the first-person mode is an absolute game changer not only for the game but for the series that has been nothing but third person or overhead views since its creation. Rockstar allows for the player to transition between both view modes simply by clicking in the touchpad on the PlayStation 4 controller. If you prefer to run around in first-person but drive in third person, you can set that option up easily and the game will automatically swap between the two based on the parameters you define. Rockstar was even so kind as to include different sensitivities based on the two modes and also included an FOV slider for first-person, even if the FOV is still just a bit too narrow for my liking even when maxed out. Even minor touches like putting on tinted sunglasses or a helmet are reflected properly in first-person. Do you have a pair of red tinted shades? Put them on and your first-person view will be slightly tinted red until you take them off. It's a small thing but my God, it goes a long way to adding to the immersive experience of the game.

Even better is the fact that this first-person view can be used while playing GTA Online. Yes, GTA Online is back and it's made a significant number of improvements since I panned it as one of the Biggest Disappointments of 2013. New content has been added by the truckload to the online component over the past year, including new cars, new weapons, new missions, and new activities. They also sorted out the issues I had with many of the jobs not paying out enough or giving enough of a reward for completing them.

Just looking at the laundry list of changes and improvements made to the game, it's safe to say that there is no better "remaster" or "re-release" that has come out this year. The argument could be made for Halo: The Master Chief Collection but unlike Halo, the online component for Grand Theft Auto V actually seems to work without too many issues. Then you tack on the addition of over 150 new songs to the radio, new radio DJ commentary, the visual improvements, the added first-person mode, the lighting improvements, the weather improvements, and even some added single player content and you would be hard pressed to find a better offering in 2014 for a game initially released in 2013.

Positives |
+ An almost rock solid 30fps experience |
+ Enhanced resolution (1080p), higher resolution textures, increased level of detail, increased draw distance, increased plant density and animal numbers, and much more |
+ First-person mode includes full body awareness |
+ Hundreds of new or improved animations, mainly for the first-person view |
+ Incredibly detailed world that actually feels like a real place |
+ Small details like the tinting of the player view when wearing tinted sunglasses or helmets in first-person add to the immersion |
+ Plenty of options to fine tune your gameplay experience: FOV slider, sensitivity options, auto-enable first-person or third person based on your situation, etc. |
+ GTA Online has improved significantly: 30 person free roam lobbies, higher character detail, vastly improved character creator, many more jobs and activities when compared to its initial launch in 2013 with more sensible rewards, more properties to purchase |
+ A few new side quests to try in single player |
+ Over 150 new songs added to the radio plus added DJ lines on some stations |
+ Improved AA and AF though a slight "shimmering" effect can still be seen at times |
+ Better lighting and weather effects |
+ Increased traffic and pedestrian density, most noticed in single player though also moderately improved in GTA Online as well |
+ Fully modeled vehicle interiors with working dials and radio display create a more immersive first-person experience |
+ The features exclusive to the DualShock 4 are quite useful: Quick grenade toss by swiping up on the touchpad, changing radio stations, changing weapons, and seeing the DS4 light bar change colors based on what character you're playing as or seeing it flash red and blue if you're being chased by the police |
+ Subtle, natural use of depth of field looks great |
+ Load times when switching between characters, even your online character, are vastly improved compared to the previous release on 360 and PS3 |
Negatives |
- Some of the writing is still a little lackluster though this shouldn't be too surprising since this is merely an updated version of the same game from 2013 |
- Aiming and shooting while driving is still troublesome and even more difficult while in first-person |
- Still no female main characters outside of GTA Online though this shouldn't be too surprising since this is merely an updated version of the same game from 2013 |
- Even after all these months there are still no heists in GTA Online though they are still said to be coming |
- Curiously, there are still no animals in GTA Online |
- Distant shadows sometimes look a bit glitchy though this has been rare in my experience |
- Police are still insanely psychic and can tell a crime has been committed even when nobody was around. It does, however, feel very slightly toned back compared to the game's initial release but it may just be a placebo effect |
Related Information
Title: Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online
Platforms: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (PC version coming January 2015; PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version were out in 2013) (Reviewed on PlayStation 4)
Website: http://www.rockstargames.com/V/
ESRB Rating: M for Mature 17+ for blood, gore, intense violence, mature humor, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs, and use of alcohol.
Grand Theft Auto V was provided to Total Gaming Network for review purposes from Rockstar Games.
