Grand Theft Auto V Really WAS That Good - 10 Years Later (Retrospective)

[@LazerzZ]

My reaction/thoughts on the GTA VI trailer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZTTgZx3hL2WbtE

[@quintonconoly]

ok

[@jordanread5829]

I like how Jimmy and Tracy have different reactions to seeing Trevor. Jimmy acts scared meanwhile Tracy runs up to him and gives him a hug. That moment is one of the few moments where we see Trevor genuinely smile. He ultimately loves Michaels kids.

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

Imagine if he found out about devin sending mercs to his house. He would have killed him straight up and there

[@mikemck4796]

It didn’t stand out to me because it’s representative of my life growing up. My dads family is full of Trevor types. Funny enough, they live in the real life area the game represents for Trevor. For the boys growing up, they’re scary and tough on us, but treat the girls like princesses. Both are done with love. They just believe it’s important for boys to be tough.

[@DolphinOfFire]

​@@mikemck4796because it is important for boys to be tough, and Jimmy NEEDED it. You can't be a man if you aren't tough. And a father figure has to teach boys how to treat women when they're men, too.

[@redrex8564]

It's probably because jimmy knows trevor only grapes boys

[@mediumsuspect]

describing Niko as "a serious man in a ridiculous world" is absolutely bang on. Damn good writing man :)

[@LazerzZ]

🙏🏻

[@PatrickisStupid]

It makes sense in the GTA world from the looks of things. When Europe is mentioned they always use real names like Switzerland or Bucharest, meaning that Europe isn't a parody in the GTA universe which would make Niko more serious.

[@Y2JFanboy]

@@PatrickisStupidbro Switzerland is a country

[@taysenna8025]

@@Y2JFanboyand?

[@kapnkrunch6833]

Niko was so sarcastic it's incredible calling him serious is not accurate at all

[@SP3CTRE9416]

Should do GTA IV next, also Trevor tripping over the fence is pure gaming art

[@deepbluebeer]

everyone who hasn't watched the trevor tripping over cutsene bug should watch it urgently it's frigging hilarious

[@mattbaillargeon]

@@deepbluebeerit’s not a bug

[@Konashu]

That happened by accident. Franklin's reaction was genuine.

[@shariqhasan6220]

Its not a gameplay bug you are correct. It is actually an accident that happened when Rockstar was doing the motion capture for the cutscenes in real life using the VAs. Franklin's laugh in the scene was actually genuine instead of acting.@@mattbaillargeon

[@RealG23__]

@@deepbluebeerit’s a bug it was accidental

[@tomlee80]

Apart from making me feel very old (I'm 43 and was playing GTA 1 around the same age as you were playing 5 for the first time), you're fondness of GTA V reminded me of GTA IV and the hype train that preceded it. I was 26 when IV came out and my life was very different back then. Replaying it for the first time in 14 years a few months ago really took me back to a more carefree time.

[@LazerzZ]

Love comments like this. I never had hype for GTA 4, one of my friends told me about it at school and then I begged my mum to let me get it 😂 and while I prefer 4 to 5, the hype for 5 was truly something else.

[@Minimal_M]

Wait 43 9 months ago? So you must still be 43 almost 44 or already 44 rn. 1979/1980 birthday would have made you either 28-29 when GTA IV released in 2008

[@tomlee80]

@@Minimal_M You're quite correct. I blurred the PS3 launch in 2006 with the release of GTA IV 2008. I was 28 when IV came out. 1980 Birthday by the way. Am 44 in July.

[@reecenotryhs]

Yeah this was REALLY good, the Trevor section in particular gave me an entirely new perspective on this character that I initially viewed as, like you say, just the 'funny and crazy man.' Should be proud of yourself, absolutely fantastic stuff.

[@LazerzZ]

Huge thanks Reece, means the world!

[@ianeons9278]

My Dad lived in California for most of his childhood and early adulthood and he said that GTA V has a very accurate depiction of the region. I’ve never been to California myself but I’d like to visit someday. However I have been to Florida to visit my Uncle near Disneyworld so I can’t wait to see GTA VI’s take on that region!

[@Rude_Boi]

I'm from California, and your dad is right. GTA V captures it. I've been to NYC and GTA IV captures that very well also.

[@Longshanks1690]

What I find the most fascinating thing about GTA V, especially looking back with hindsight, is that it’s story was one of the most heavily marketed aspects of it prior to its release - or, to be more specific, the fact that you were able to play as one of three protagonists for the first time in any GTA game. So it’s kind of odd that the story arguably ended up one of the weaker aspects of the game, especially compared to it’s predecessors. It wasn’t bad by any means. The characters are well established, their motivations are set up, their backstories are believable, their dynamics are funny and interesting and the conflict that ensues keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering how things are going to play out… but it failed to reach the emotional high points of IV, and even San Andreas. IV was a very personal journey for Niko as we saw the world of New York through the eyes of an immigrant who just arrived as we discover what his actual mission is. There’s no doubt that all the V protagonists are more dynamic and interesting characters than Niko, who is something of a blank slate, but what IV did was keep you invested in him and his life as he was on the run from Dimitri for most of the game. V, meanwhile, feels more like a wacky power fantasy. Even when Michael and Trevor are on the run with Madrazo’s wife, you don’t feel the same terror that Niko did returning to find Roman’s apartment on fire. You never feel that these characters are on the brink of death in a city where all the powerful are arrayed against them, you feel like they can take on the world and win. And while that’s not inherently bad, it is significantly less intriguing or compelling as a story. CJ in San Andreas was a nice middle road between all of them, being a fun and entertaining character to play as while also part of a story that was dramatic, powerful and compelling. While CJ was never in as much direct danger as Niko, his situation also felt a lot more perilous than Michael and Trevor’s as he tried to get away from Tenpenny’s influence and get Sweet out of jail. Even the social commentary and satire of contemporary America feels more absurdly over the top than in IV. Yes, IV had those aspects too but they were mostly contained to TV and radio, while the tone and aesthetic of the world chose to present an America where Niko felt powerless and only through struggle could he make a name for himself. The American Dream features very heavily, but subtly, in this story as it’s what drove Niko there in the first place. It’s a very serious story with serious characters. But in V, they seem to go all out on the wackiness that is just a part of the world. The pot salesman who lets you trip balls and fight aliens or monkeys with a machine gun is a good example of this, as are the other strangers and freaks in V who seem much more over the top as satire compared to the way in which their IV counterparts were also obvious satire but also very believable and grounded too. I suppose this is to be expected when IV is based in New York, historically a more dreary and bleak city compared with the sunny skylines of Los Angeles, which is why San Andreas also had a lot of wacky side characters in its game. I guess it just comes down to preference. I enjoy V, and I always have fun replaying it as it is a good story that keeps you invested and engaged with these characters from beginning to end. But I so much prefer the dreary realism of IV and the raw, guttural nature of that world’s story compared to the intentionally over the top nature of the story as presented in V. With luck, VI will be a perfect balance with likeable characters in a gritty and well grounded world but something tells me that V’s success means they’re going to lean MUCH more heavily into the wacky and over the top aspects in the future than downplaying them as they believe that’s what people want to see, if their current writing for Online’s story packs is anything to go by.

[@georgebarrett8065]

My thoughts exactly

[@Audreyana]

This why I’m glad gta 6 is shortening it down to 2 protagonists..

[@TheAffectation8724]

I love Grand Theft Auto V, but yes, it's rather melodramatic in its depiction of characters, and satire. I'm looking forward to the next installment having a more sincere narrative direction. I feel GTA Online's "story" is more indicative of the lack of attention and care it receives, than what the next game could bring.

[@iggythakid6997]

I think the problem with v in a gist is that it ends before you’d think it would, like their stories don’t feel like they’re over but in the back of your mind you know gta protagonists are usually a one time deal. Lamar deserved more missions. Trevor deserved more missions. Ron and wade (especially wade) deserved more missions. Jimmy and Tracy deserved more missions. I could honestly go on forever when it comes to gta v characters.

[@well1012]

The story isn’t actually weak. It just was of a different tone. There’s still loads of background character stuff happening. You’re just meant to play the shit out of it

[@SuperDoctor9]

It seems wild to think GTA 5 was 10 years ago. San Andreas was my first proper introduction to GTA, having played GTA 1 & 2 when I was probably too young. They always make me think of my dad who absolutely loved these games, he's not much of a gamer but always makes sure to play the new GTA. Loved this video, and looking forward to that RDR2 one

[@LazerzZ]

thanks for the kind words, really appreciate it!

[@bluscout1857]

It also shows that rockstar are some greedy mfs and like to milk a lot of stuff lol

[@rockyfps9487]

I can still remember the day gta 5 came out, I was 11 years old and it was a half day at school. I’m ngl I ran home that day after getting a message from my mum telling me she got the game and I had never been so excited in my life.

[@LazerzZ]

The hype for GTA V was so incredibly memorable, I remember it like it was yesterday

[@coatedtrout4833]

I felt that. I was 15 years old, went to the midnight release, and skipped school the following day to play the game. I haven’t had an all nighter like that in FOREVER

[@rockyfps9487]

@@coatedtrout4833 I think I done like half of the game in the first day and I remember my dad was shocked by how much I completed already and I don’t think I ate all day either cos I couldn’t stop playing 😂😂

[@goatlps]

@@rockyfps9487 what did they think to all the radio dialogue about women pissing on men? It's mentioned at least twice.

[@goatlps]

You should've seen the truly ground-breaking GTAIII. Easily the best game ever made then (2001). My mate got it, and neither of us knew anything about it - till we played it! Definitely avoid all spoilers for VI - so much better to discover GTA features yourself. Although, other than co-op, if they have that, I think it's going to be mostly a 'GTAV/O part 2'.

[@Exiled7]

What I love about this is that you are also focusing on the way that the game made you feel along with the time in your life that it came about. I find a lot of people will attack and criticise a game purely based of all the normal ways such as the gameplay, graphics or story but most leave out the key thing that any form of media is trying to provoke which is a feeling when playing the game. The time in your life that it comes around is also a big one as you find that some songs can transfer you to a time in your life along side a game you might have been playing at some point. Both are severely underrated when it comes to the gaming experience as typically the word nostalgia will be used as criticism when it shouldn't always be the case. like I said I would give it a watch!

[@LazerzZ]

Totally agree, I love tapping into the feeling aspect of critique, because art is made to evoke feelings, to approach criticism or analysis from a purely clinical point of view seems unnecessarily narrow minded. Thanks for the comment!

[@VersusArdua]

I recently fell back into playing GTA V consistently because I found out that the Duke O Death was a thing. If you pair that car with Franklin's ability you can literally launch other cars about a mile. Actually inspired me to start saving clips and posting them to KZbin, which is something I never thought I'd do. Genuinely makes me excited for the next game beyond my fears for what the online will be like and how it will take center stage over the single player experience

[@Rocka7038]

Where can you find it in story mode

[@VersusArdua]

@@Rocka7038 It's part of a random encounter which activates on the road near the mechanic closest to Sandy Shores. It's parked outside a little motel type place if I remember right. Have fun :)

[@adamharris3212]

I cannot wait for the RDR2 video. It is one of my favorite stories ever written. I think it stands as a modern epic, and I can’t wait to see what you think of it.

[@LazerzZ]

Can’t wait to get to work on it, revisiting it is going to be a treat 👌🏻

[@mstirlz]

​@LazerzZ but you will have to deal with the heartbreak of Arthur again 😭

[@Longshanks1690]

GTA V is kind of a strange game in hindsight as while you’d be crazy to say it was a bad or even below average game in any way, it also isn’t anything that exceptional or groundbreaking either. The basic gameplay is decent, the gunplay is a lot of fun but hardly revolutionary and the driving is a lot more fluid than IV but still a pretty standard experience. What V had going for it were the graphics, which were absolutely phenomenal for the 360/PS3 it was released on even if you did have to install two discs, and the sheer scale of the map, larger than anything Rockstar had done to date, even with only one city in comparison to San Andreas’ three. So when you take all these pieces together, you should end up with an enjoyable, above average experience that some people have fond memories of but not many people remember well, right? Nah. GTA V is one of the most successful things in the history of media, not just games. I don’t even think it’s possible to oversell just how popular and successful this game was in 2013, and still is today. But why? Why, when you break it down, does it not seem that impressive but created one of the biggest earthquakes in pop culture of the last 20 years? I think because it’s not about the game itself, it’s about the _experience_ of it. The graphics play a huge part in this, as everyone who played this game for the first time was just immediately drawn to one of the most beautiful and breathtaking looking cities you’d ever seen in a game before. The colours, the lighting, the atmosphere and aesthetic of Los Santos recreates it’s irl LA counterpart well while still managing to make it feel like it’s own unique place to run and drive around in. It just captivates you in a way that few other games can, and especially in 2013 when so few games were even capable of looking this good, it’s not hard to see why it left an impact. Even if there were less activities to do than in IV, you wanted to explore this city more. You wanted to cruise down the highway in a fast car at 3AM (in game… but probably out too lol) because it just captured the feeling of a real, immersive, lived in world so well. So when that is the driving force that sucks you in, you can look past the fact that the gameplay is technically mediocre when it feels fun as hell. The experience of GTA V transforms what could have been just an above average game into one of the most memorable experiences you’ve ever had playing a video game. And then, of course, there’s Online. The base, story game is what drove attention to this game in the first place but there’s absolutely no doubt that Online kept them there. With RP servers galore, new updates for this mode still being released while GTA VI is being worked on and one of the biggest player bases in the world, it’s not hard to see why this is what propelled this game into absolute infamy. That’s not to say it was all a good thing. The cancelled story DLC and abandoning story mode to focus only on online instead of bringing the empire building mechanics to Story too is an absolute travesty fuelled only by greed and the knowledge they would get more from focusing only on Online. As someone who personally has had miserable experiences every time I’ve tried to play Online, I never want to touch it again but I’d be a fool to deny the market it offered or that it’s the reason why this game keeps being one of the most popular games ever ten years after it’s initial release. So while V had a lot of technical improvements as a game over its predecessors, it still fell short in a lot of ways too, but as an experience and a moment in gaming? V is unparalleled in that, even surpassing Skyrim in the number of people playing and talking about it. It accomplished something phenomenal for itself and set the bar very, very high for all games of its scale coming after it. Time will tell whether GTA VI is capable of living up to this legacy.

[@tandy9631]

Your retrospective videos are always such high quality, awesome work as usual man

[@LazerzZ]

Huge thank you 🙏🏻

[@lincoln2991]

I was only in Fifth Grade when this game came, and I was one of those kids at the beginning of their teen years that dealt with many random people destroying and killing players. Now I'm in my twenties and going to college. Looking at this now and how this game has changed everything with Rockstar, it has become their One Ring of Power.

[@arjundulam6354]

Really enjoyed this slightly different format of alternating b/w video game footage and you speaking with the game on a monitor in the background. Switching it every now and then helped me engage with the video better :)

[@LazerzZ]

Glad to hear it! I really liked doing it this way, although it was a bitch to set up 😂

[@rayraysomething4686]

Hey bud. I don't comment on any videos at all, but your end speach really moved me to just tell you to work at your own pace. Your videos are amazing to watch and listen to. You're doing amazing work and keep it up. Writing this with all the love and respect.

[@LazerzZ]

Thank you so much, I really honestly appreciate that a lot. 💚

[@thirdhandlv4231]

Think V has some of the best writing of protagonists i have seen in a game because they aren't made out to be good people, they are literal pieces of trash who do horrible things for selfish gains and yet we still root for them, and even when we realise who they really are, i dont think we care. Its so impressive how Rockstar managed to make these 3 so likeable when they are the characters that would be a villain in other games. THe dialogue is fantastic in general, its unbelievable how sharp each conversation feels, there are some less interesting chats but those still outdo most other video game conversations. Rockstar is just in a league of their own when it comes to dialogue and their characters. The video game equalivant of Tarantino.

[@LazerzZ]

Very with you, on a surface level people can just dislike the game, but if you dig deeper I think there’s plenty to appreciate

[@jolopolo4761]

Dude that's not something new a lot of stories do this and better like breaking bad or even gta 4

[@eldragon57]

@@jolopolo4761 RDR1 as well, depending on your perspective.

[@Comicbroe405]

Despite how much it's been milked since it's comes out, this is still one of the greatest & most hype games I've played. Gonna be a banger video. Also can't wait to see what Rockstar's been cooking with Gta VI.

[@Comicbroe405]

Yup.. Was a great video. Also great ad.

[@beefstrokinoff]

James, I'm only watching the intro here but I have to tell you your videos have improved so much since you started and branched out away from AC. Great job brother.

[@LazerzZ]

Hugely appreciated, I've always loved doing KZbin, but I have the most passion I've ever had making the stuff I make now. Comments like this mean a lot to me

[@beefstrokinoff]

@@LazerzZ No problem man I mean it from the bottom of my heart! Look forward to watching the whole thing here.

[@jakestammers]

I feel that the story would have been great if they had about 10 - 15 more missions. Franklin, for example needed a few more missions to show the conflict between him, Lamar, Stretch and the hood lifestyle he wants out of( the only conflict is seen on lifeinvader or phone calls, whilst cool, not everyone is going to look for it, on a first playthrough I certainly didn't), as a result I forgot Stretch was still a person by the end of the game and he didn't really feel like a threat to Franklin (he just robbed a massive bank) only to Lamar. Then Michael probably could have had a couple more FIB missions showing how his decision to sell out Trevor backfired and he starts to turn on T&F and pushing his family further away as a result of a bunch of near death encounters he finds himself in. Then may be a couple more missions to flesh out plot points such as Trevor's feud with the Triads/LMC, the movie and car hijackings and Michael family. I know that making the story longer might annoy some, but when you take out heist set ups, then there's around 50/53 actual missions which leads to a slightly anti-climatic ending (IMO, on my third playthrough the ending came quick after the chemical raid). Whilst 65 - 70 isn't as long as SA or IV (not including set ups, assassinations or alternate endings) it would lead to the story being more coherent and make the story and plot great, not just good (again, IMO). Agree that social commentary is all over the place in this game.

[@LazerzZ]

I can definitely agree with you, I think that could've helped a great deal.

[@Y2JFanboy]

Considering the missions are split up between 3 characters, there needed to be about 100. There’s nowhere near enough in the game. The story coukd have been much better

[@shariqhasan6220]

Yeah I felt the same way, the game feels shorter mission-wise compared to the previous ones.

[@oliverbaksvensson1919]

Agreed

[@zackeryparkerson]

I always loved Rockstar’s linear missions as a nice counterbalance to the insane freedom of their open-worlds. You get the best of all things, in my opinion.

[@runarvollan]

I finally bought IV on sale 5 years ago for my old Ps3. Never thought I'd find my favorite game after I turned 30. One of my first was Rockstar's 3D open world 'Body Harvest' for N64. IV takes the details inwards instead of outwards like SanAn, instead of littering the map with new toys and jetpacks, you get insane physics, action and immersion. I say it's even a better adventure game than pure adventure games, great settings, atmospheres, characters, writing, acting etc.

[@pendentz8617]

This was a great video James. I’ve never thought about this game in much depth, but I agree with everything you said and I appreciate you taking the time to make these videos for us.

[@pendentz8617]

Also I’m pretty sure when Trevor tripped over the fence it was an accident and they improvised the scene, but I’m not 100% sure

[@BGLNZ]

I’ve never played this game, which is pretty crazy. I was younger and mum wouldn’t let me get it and I just never ended up getting it.

[@LazerzZ]

I’d say it’s still well worth it!

[@mohammedalsane66]

This is the first time I turn on notifications for a KZbin video. I had to turn on notifications on KZbin entirely just to be reminded for this. Hype is unreal

[@nextgenjah]

When did people start hating on the story? This is literally one of the best games ever made. I can't even count how many times i replayed it. Yeah some missions are boring but thats only like 2 and they're back to back (Scouting the port and did somebody say yoga). This game will always hold a special place in my heart even tho i've played all of the other mainline games. Trevor alone makes this game worth playing

[@shadowknight9145]

The story is lackluster to me. The antagonists were pretty boring, it doesn't really feel like any of the story is progressing towards a main goal like the protagonists have in GTA4, and RDR2. Too much humor and not enough tension for me to really care to replay the game that much.

[@nextgenjah]

@@shadowknight9145 i get how u can see its flaws when comparing it to masterpieces like rdr2 and gta 4 but its still up there w the best games of all time

[@grimey_grover7142]

Nowhere near a good game…it’s unfinished, full of bugs and glitches, the story is literally a joke. It’s nothing but horribly lazy writing, plot holes and terrible characters…they scripted everything in this trash game, the missions, the traffic and the entire plot hole packed storyline is all scripted, cars we’re literally programmed to drive into u. The physics engine they used is, to put it nicely…it’s an illogical joke. gta iv had realistic physics….now we can’t even drive a car in this saints row version of gta because it slides all over the place 💀🤦🏼‍♂️ everything about this game is SAD, they even dumbed down the gta humour by A LOT, this franchise is toasted. They only care about money now, everyone that worked on the old gta games is now gone from the company. They left for very good reasons. Stop supporting this company.

[@nextgenjah]

W bait@@grimey_grover7142

[@Unknowndarksoul]

@@shadowknight9145ur face is pretty boring

[@nonaborhan7269]

Yet another fantastic video. I've always felt that GTAV had a great basis for it's narrative, with 3 lead characters that are quite fun to watch, a great setup for the story, etc. But it simply NEEDED more time imo. We could've had additional missions early on that highlight Franklin's struggles in Strawberry & being a part of that gang life, which makes his story of rages to riches feel more earned. And in terms of themes/ideas it really feels like Dan Houser and the writing team tried to throw as many ideas at the wall with the finite amount of main missions they were working with, especially since a good number of them are dedicated to big set-peices, which are great and introduce a wide variety of mission types & new mechanics made specifically for whatever objective the game requires. On an unrelated note, one thing you didn't touch on that deeply is the overall gameplay, which imo feels like the most refined and simplified Rockstar has been, which works for both it's advantage & disadvantage, for instance the new weapon/radio wheels help simplify the process of picking out different weapons or stations, but on the other hand, the gunplay itself feels watered down in comparison, which doesn't feel "punchy", lacks diversity with weapon types, suffers from poor sound design for the majority of guns, etc.

[@Tarragon_]

You have confirmed what I've been saying about Gta 5 for the longest time lack of interiors and lack of things to interact with or things to do outside of missions thank you!

[@z-herb8006]

To me GTA V main theme is legacy, Franklin for young and inspiring for that, Michael for remembering it and trying to capture it and Trevor whole motivation is built on the lies of Micheals legacy

[@MistahJay7]

Trevor the GOAT. The most entertaining and complex GTA character. Maybe other then Niko

[@zedgenius9347]

This game adds quite a few things with character hangouts in terms of the story. Michael offers Trevor his cut from the big score as he has no need for it, but Trevor politely declines. Trevor also admits that Brad was a bit of an asshole and he would have potentially killed him himself. And who can forget Amanda's iconic " I remember Brad, I liked him" or something of the sorts, when Jimmy looks a lot like Brad

[@ogbudda3854]

Never even realized this lol

[@oliverbaksvensson1919]

Amanda does tell Michael that she liked his friend, Michael then asks if it's Trevor, but Amanda declines and says the "other friend". Could it perhaps be Lester The Molester himself? Did Amanda even know Brad, I mean wasn't he a fairly resent member of the crew? In Bury The Hatchet, didn't Trevor describe Brad as their "gay friend"?

[@degariuslozak2169]

San Andreas was my GTA,have to say I would love to see it recreated in the GTA V version of San Andreas/Los Santos

[@Jsjxjzisje772]

Amazing channel. I discovered it last week and your videos are top, even though I don’t understand English perfectly. Love from Spain!

[@LazerzZ]

Muchas gracias! No soy bueno hablando español pero lo estudié durante algunos años. espero que esto sea comprensible 😂 Thank you though, truly appreciate the kind words 💚

[@Jsjxjzisje772]

@@LazerzZ❤️❤️

[@journeytree]

I remember staying up all night watching KZbin videos on my Kindle Fire and then immediately going to GameStop after school to get my preorder. How times have changed.

[@StrafraumPrediger]

I tried some GTA 5 retrospective/Analysis videos but I just never sticked around for more than 10-15 minutes. Some were too convoluted or just simply too boring. I watched your video in one go. The whole one hour plus. Very straightforward and to the point. Thank you very much for all the work you did with this video. It brought some fine memories back. And I hope we can can enjoy GTA 6 the same way someday. Oh and just one minor thing: Shouldn't there be a RDR 2 retrospective? ;)

[@CxerRy96]

it's one of the goats...the gameplay and graphics hold up well today, but the narrative has aged like wine that was left for a 1000 years, the social commentary and parody they were able to create is 10x more applicable today than it was when this game was developed in the early 2010s

[@alarrim29574]

Agree but even with it being more applicable today I still don’t find it that funny for some reason even tho I enjoy stuff like saints row except that shitty reboot from this past year. Idk why I just don’t find it that funny and it lowers the game for me because it takes away from a lot of the serious stuff but for it to work the parody and stuff has to hit which it just doesn’t atleast for me anyway

[@Zeroshiki]

The absurdity of the guy audibly spitting in the middle of the video and leaving it in had me in tears. 💀

[@LazerzZ]

I remember sitting in my office and just pausing the video and rewinding it to make sure I hadn’t imagined it 😂

[@Kira_Official_]

I talked a little bit about my experience with GTA 5 on your community post. I remember being extremely excited for it's release. Like yourself, I played GTA 4 a ton when I was a kid. I couldn't stop playing it, so it was obvious I was gonna play 5. Played through the story and enjoyed, but spent most of my time playing the online once it was available. Still play on and off today. However, I didn't really think about the story like I did with GTA 4. In recent years though, I hold it in higher regard than I did previously, mostly because I love the three playable protagonist. I love this game. It practically helped shape my teenage years. But damn do we need a new fucking game. I'm burnt out on this game and want to move on to a new GTA game for it's single player content and it's multiplayer content.

[@LazerzZ]

Nice to hear your experience and I think I’m very with you for sure on gta difference between 4 and 5 and we certainly need 6 soon enough, it’s getting crazy 😂

[@karithema9ician657]

“Burnt out” is the only thing I can agree on 🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️ this games bad from Day 1. It’s sad that people couldn’t see it and all these Gen z kids buying this trash game actually contributed to them milking this bs. It’s the worst of the series. I’d rather play the first 2D games.

[@42LGK]

I was 17 and I actually cried when I didnt get a copy of GTAV on release. sold out everywhere...I will remember this day forever. Never was I hyped so much for a game. can you imagine how hyped I am for gta vi? holy shit. thank god we have downloads today so i will be playing gta vi the second it drops. if not im going to literally die

[@lasthopelost9090]

Getting a konami sponsorship is crazy way to go lazzer

[@narcosis929]

V is incredible. The problem is we never got VI IMO and it’s over stayed it’s welcome

[@GhostyCJ]

I think most of the problem that exist in the GTA V is because it is tied so heavily into GTA Online. Some stuff you do and buy in GTAV makes no sense but when you take those same thing and put it into the context of GTA Online it does. I genuinely believe that GTAV is an after thought and the online mode was Rockstar main focus. And seeing how GTAV have no DLC while the online constantly gets update i believe this to be true. I know the online gets a lot of flack because of the community but playing this game on private session with friends is the most fun i have playing a video game and i hope you give it another chance. Anyway good videos as always.

[@EternalNightingale]

the dlc for story was scrapped to be online content but I wouldn’t go that far saying it was an afterthought that’s just silly. Dan houser, lazlow and the old team that are no longer there had a major impact making this story but T2 push for Rockstar to make a monetized online mode especially from the online mode in GTA4 they had the skeleton there and they succeeded making so much money off of online, and now hearing GTA6 costing a billion is not surprising that’s where all the online money is going lol that was the plan all along, and yes also to make the next generation of gta online no doubt we won’t be seeing another gta game after 6 for 20 years lol

[@GTAVictor9128]

54:00 - Fun fact: Trevor failing to jump over and tripping was actually not part of the original script. It was a genuinely unplanned moment where Steve Ogg made an honest mistake, so Franklin's laugh was the VA reacting to a genuinely unexpected moment. But instead of scrapping it and doing another take, Rockstar decided to roll with it anyway.

[@tillermarkets2063]

I know I'm late to the party, by my God do I love that you brought up how every city exists on an island in the middle of the ocean, and yet is somehow still connected to the USA. GTA isn't the only franchise that does this, but still. "The United States of GTA" map had me cry laughing because it's nuts to imagine how North America must actually look in this universe.

[@asee818]

GTA 5 changed gaming forever when It came out

[@paulheap1982]

How? Go on...

[@XenonTV7]

@@paulheap1982How not? Go on…

[@ACE-no4tw]

@@paulheap1982 the level of detail in graphics and story line is unbelievable i remember when i first play it i was surprised how well it was presented like (if you have played it) the scene in which micheal's yacht gets stolen and franklin fighting on board with the thug and jimmy falling that amazed me secondly the open world the detailing the steadyness the sceneries the independence in choosing your way to do it in a GTA type heist and murdering game thats just so next level if you just think back 11 yrs ago when rockstar did it thats just forgotten and the level of free roam and side missions you can just do for fun the cheat codes the 1st person perspective the weapons the slow motion the cars and the triple character choosing and mostly a fun phyco maniac who tends to be like Vass from the fry cry 3 but just a funny man and the level of comedy in the game man its just so well presented and just really setted the bar for the next open world game like assasin's creed to level up there free roam graphics and all and all the other games the graphics matric is really the most influentaial its just so much fun you have to just realise that games came with some ideas before this but none of them really just shot out the entire world with a feeling of actually having that fun in a big game with a big play time that you can enjoy and nothing feels boring thats why gta 5 is really the most basic game for an open world introduction to anyone but for the people who know they know that this basic game is also the base of everything that they call quality now

[@jacobmcguire106]

GTA 5 is definitely one of the top 5 greatest games of all time. Just look at all the different content genres and communities that the game has spawned purely from it’s existence. The ONLY other times a game really spawned that level of community and content creation was Minecraft, Halo 3, Left 4 Dead 2, Counter Strike GO, Gary’s Mod, and Fallout 3.

[@Linus_B]

I think the main problem with V for me is/was the multiple protagonists getting in the way of getting any real attachments to them due to a limited time being spent on each. Nico became so much more believable as a character as you never left his point of view throughout the whole game and as you saw his struggles and goals play out before you. Being able to play several characters “at once” was a cool concept, but IV did it better where the multiple characters were divided into separate stories where you could experience each character separately. Same with RDR2 where you only switched characters once the other one was out of the picture, creating closure and letting the player fully immerse themselves in the next character.

[@MartWithanM]

The entire TV show idea is something I've thought for years and years I never thought anybody saw it the same way

[@reecenotryhs]

Love the trailer, super excited for this!

[@retro_gamer7071]

GTA 4. 100% Red Dead 2. 96% San Andres 94% Red Dead 1 93% LA Noire 89% GTA V 88% Compared to 4 it was way off but easy to forget that V was still a great game in many ways and enjoyed it, with right budget & writing GTA 6 could be incredible , the hype. rockstar need to make a comeback - 10 years …

[@-PVL93-]

After so many key people departured Rockstar I'm not sure 6 will be as tightly written and structured. V was already showing cracks in characters, story and dialogue

[@ringtail99]

@@-PVL93- i agree

[@SummerDylan]

Loved this video what you had to say, also don't be afraid to change it up more like the way you used the TV in the background for gameplay, set dress a bit, experiment with ur editing style and stuff like that, change is always good brother keep up the cool work

[@ashhabimran239]

I've always been of the opinion the V's story is deeper than most people give it credit for. At this point, V honestly feels underrated and overhated, especially by GTA 4 fanboys who attack this game literally every chance they get (not even RDR2 fans are as toxic and elitist as this). I think both 4 and 5 are awesome games, but that's just me. I'm also aware the milking and Online has left a bad taste in people's mouths, but I prefer to separate GTA 5 and Online as much as possible as I'd rather not let Online taint my view of the incredible single-player. GTA 5 was a game that I finished within 4 days because it was that addictive, fun, and entertaining What you said about Trevor is pretty much spot on and definitely provides great perspective on his character. You were also right about Franklin, his arc is all about escaping the small-time hood and doing bigger and better things, and understanding the gangster culture is a thing of the past (San Andreas). As for Michael, I actually consider him the most complex and interesting of the three, and he has an arc of understanding the mistakes he made. The story feels like it revolves around him more than any of the other characters. It's about Michael's past and actions in North Yankton catching up to him. That is like a theme in the story specifically for him: "The truth always comes out eventually and your past will catch up with you". Michael's betrayal to me is the most fascinating betrayal in the series compared to betrayals in the other games, because he did it for an understandable and justifiable reason, to look after his family. The De Santa family is exactly the family I'd imagine a GTA protagonist would have, and it feels like Michael's always miserable that his family doesn't appreciate what he did for them, combined with this internal, overwhelming sense of guilt for what he did, exemplified when Trevor comes back, and him being roped in the FIB's dirty work is essentially him paying for what he did. The multiple different commentaries in this game feel like the game doing more of a jack of all trades, and I don't see anything inherently wrong with touching on different themes despite a more spread out focus, and sometimes, a story's just a story to watch unfold and be immersed in. I recommend checking out this video called 'I was wrong about from GTA V' from Real Pixels, great watch and gives more appreciation for the game. PS: This is so true 52:59

[@petermj1098]

GTA 5 had the worst villians. Dave Norton should have been the main villian instead of Devin Weston. Dave Norton is literally the reason why Micheal and Trevor broken up, he allows Franklin to kill one of them in the end, and he forces them to do FIB missions. Stretch was the only villain who was actually interesting but barely even in the game.

[@nfnjun3105]

@@petermj1098 gta v villains are great bro. They have the best villains in gta games other than San Andreas probably. They’re just different from the other gta games because they’re not as “badass.” What makes V villains so great though is that they’re extremely annoying, which is how a villain should be. And saying that dave should be the main villain doesn’t make sense because Michael agreed as well to betray his friends

[@petermj1098]

@@nfnjun3105 Devin Weston is barely in the game for anyone to really care about what he thinks or to feel intimidated by him. Every villian in GTA 5 has the same exact prideful personality. Dave Norton literally blackmailed Micheal to give him money over the years in exchange of protecting Micheal and his family a new identity in Los Santos or give him over the FIB. And Dave pretended to be Brad over the years lying to Trevor in letters and literally killed Brad. It would be better if Micheal and Trevor actually confronted Dave using both of them throughout the years. They should have cut out Devin Weston and Steve Haines and replaced their roles with Dave Norton became a rich FBI reality crime TV show host after North Yankton. It would make sense because Micheal is a producer and could have produced the show for him.

[@nfnjun3105]

@@petermj1098 so you complain about Devin not getting enough screen time but did you not see Dimitri from IV? Dimitri literally gets no screen time and mostly only appears on phone calls. He’s the worst in terms of main protagonist in any gta game. Devin gets a decent amount of screen time so idk wtf you’re talking about. He scams the protagonists on stealing the cars, and sends out the merryweather to kill the Michael’s family. “barely in the game for anyone to really care about.” Lmao Devin is literally known for having one of the most satisfying deaths in video games so no clue wtf you’re talking about once again. Dave is simply not dangerous enough to be the main antagonist. Michael said it himself to Trevor that “you’re not in the position to get our only friend from the bureau to get killed.” Dave was the only person from FIB that was trying to help Michael. He prevented Steve and Agent Sanchez from arresting Michael. Dave was mostly trying to play both sides, by trying to help out the FIB and Michael at the same time. But Michael and Trevor is making it harder for him by continuously attacking merryweather. Michael also had no problem with Dave sending Trevor fake letters cuz Michael would also be in trouble if Trevor found out. Michael also became a movie producer because of Devin, so saying that Devin should be out is just absolutely stupid. It seems like you haven’t understood GTA V’s story fully.

[@petermj1098]

@@nfnjun3105 Dimitri literally appears to you as an ally very friendly assistant and accompanied with Niko on missions at first, so him being the main villian in GTA 4 actually is why he ends up being a great manipulative villain. And Dimitri being a big villian is foreshadowed when Faustin says to him “I see through you” in an early mission when you play the game. Again Dave literally blackmailed Micheal to betray Trevor and Brad in exchange of giving him a new identity off and leeching off of Micheal’s fame and fortune for the FIB. Dave only did it to get more influence in the FIB. That’s the problem, Devin is just a stereotypical rich guy. He has no other real depth in his character other than that for a main villian. Officer Tennpenny in San Andreas and Edgar Ross in RDR1 are corrupt prideful lawmen as well but they still had some depth behind their corrupt side. Tennpenny was trying to control and divide and conquer gang activity for the department in his twisted way, and Ross was trying to end the gunslinger Old West gangs for good when civilization was rising. Steve Haines is just corrupt prideful lawman just cause and there is not enough other justification for him being a dick. Dave Norton had good reasons to be a main villian being paranoid Trevor and Micheal are about to turn on him when they re-unite so he makes be tricks them into becoming fall guys for the FIB’s own criminal activity. And no Micheal literally met Devin Weston the first time in the mission By the Book. Micheal became a producer because Dave and his corrupt FIB allies helped secure a new identity as a movie producer. The entire reason Dave allowed Micheal to complete the North Yankton heist is because that money was bribe money for Dave to make Micheal’s new identity and Dave wanted to take down both Brad and Trevor in the act. Dave wanted to be seen as the hero who took down their bank robbery gang to the public. It would be interesting if Dave was seen as a big FIB hero and becomes a paranoid Crime reality show host with his own security company. Franklin was trying to have legit career. It would have better if Dave promised him the legit career he wants by telling him to kill Micheal or Trevor for him. If Franklin chose C Dave will sell out Franklin to both the Stretch, the CGF and the FIB but he fights back with Trevor and Micheal. GTA 5 had good ideas in the story but the execution of them was not as good as it could have been. Like Steve Haines is the only villian they focused on the most and was killed off very simply like he was nothing. Like they don’t even take the villains seriously in the game why should the player? Even if a villian is comedic as a person they should still be taken seriously as a character.

[@grahamlaw2571]

I really liked this style of video James, you spoke in the Horsey and Fox Podcast about condensing your script and admittedly I was ever so slightly worried this would change your content however, the concise script really benefited this video. You could've done a 10 hour story retrospective but for a game that is more iconic than it is special to you this style really works. Also enjoyed the overall analysis. I'm not the biggest fan of GTA in general and I've basically said since day one that V is overrated however, I must admit I can appreciate this game a little more now.

[@LazerzZ]

huge thank you!

[@davidroberts8760]

I enjoyed re-living that with you! Great job!;) Bravo...Dave Roberts Inverness Florida 👍🎉

[@r0ssi666]

Great video mate, first I‘ve seen of yours and after I finished my own 10th anniversary replay today.

[@Angel_Lover_Blehh]

Personally I believe the message of GTA V is "how does a life of crime affect people" Franklin being born into crime Michael bringing himself into crime And Trevor being manipulated into crime Franklin is a regular guy trying to make it big with the ways he knows and trying to learn Michael is a narcissistic psychopath who doesn't care about what happens as long as life goes in his desired way Trevor is a sociopathic mess due to manipulation and now sees crime as a lifestyle and his only way of living Franklin knows how to quit crime but doesn't feel the need to so he continues as it also involves two older people of crime who can teach him something Michael doesn't want to quit because he finds the risk exciting and couldn't care about what happens as long as he gets out (he literally says "If we get caught, it was all Trevor" in the Big Score Obvious Route while in the getaway vehicle) Trevor doesn't know he can quit because he physically sees it as his lifestyle, he just trys to be as loyal and human as he can when he can't do such due to his past Well that's what I take from the story, the game literally was so good that I bought IV, SA, VC and III

[@koopanique]

What an excellent retrospective! It really puts words on what I think a lot of people are feeling about the game -- the good and the less good.

[@bj0urne]

GTA V literally has the best story of any GTA game. Having multiple protagonists slowely intertwining makes the story very exciting and dynamic.

[@futseb]

Another time, back then there was only two years between the first trailer and the actual launch... another time.

[@rob.ale90]

I don't understand why there's a need for the best gta or best rockstar game...we should appreciate all games as they are. I think that all gta games were and are masterpieces, started myself with 2. Also i think singleplayer and online complement each other very well. There wasn't a focus on singleplayer because everyone was on online, you played the story and next write your own story in online, it worked very well.

[@rob.ale90]

Also there's one more thing...after san andreas...4 didn't feel that great :)) I enjoyed it, liked the physics, the graphics, didn't like the greyness/sadness, the story necessary and the lack of customizations...it felt completely different than 3(all parts). 5 came back as a successor of san andreas for me which was extremely good

[@OkByeNw]

GTA Vice City was the one with the biggest impact on me growing up, but GTA V is so special. I can't believe it came out on the 360 originally. It had such good bones to build off of for the future next-gen consoles and next-next-gen consoles. That lighting, character models, physics, it was so ahead of it's time. I think GTA V was the game that made other publishers stop pursuing making GTA clones. It's just so unattainable for the rest of the industry. After Red Dead Redemption 2 came out I really noticed that the rest of the industry has stopped trying to chase or surpass Rockstar. I hope thay can live up to their own reputation when GTA VI comes out. So many high ranking creatives have left, and you have to wonder how many members of the team that published GTA V on the PS3 and Xbox 360 are left a decade later. I can't imagine it feeling exactly the same.

[@Burkery373]

he got that johnny harris yellow bar

[@LazerzZ]

I love the yellow bar!

[@Sterzix]

This video is a true masterpiece!

[@LazerzZ]

I really appreciate that! I loved working on, and although I don’t necessarily consider it one of my very very best it certainly means a lot to hear it resonated with you 🙏🏻

[@martindeleon9863]

short answer. YES. This game is still amazing all these years later. on my 600th play through

[@Geekezf]

In RDR2 i just spent my time camping in the wilderness. "Surviving" there. It was just..perfect. But in GTA ; i rarely go into a rampage, i just drive around. Just spending time in some night club (I spent most of my time in the Malibu club in VC), imagine my own stories. I sincerly think the R* aren't promoting violence outside of their mission, quite the opposite actually

[@flashparodox7612]

consider your signal boosted 📈

[@LazerzZ]

🙏🏻

[@ianeons9278]

Imagine if they remake RDRII to include Mexico and more of Guarma as well as have Sadie and Charles as playable characters (3 playable protagonists just like in GTA V, technically 4 because of both Arthur and John in RDRII) as well as have the entire story of RDRI in RDRII’s world in its postgame after the Epilogue (1899 to 1907 to 1911 to 1914). That would be epic but obviously won’t happen until after GTA VI comes out.

[@dillydraws]

I honestly love Trevor and Lamar. Lamar is the only person who can call Trevor a bitch and get away with it.

[@gatsbysgarage8389]

The fact that I instantly got the bolt reference before you even said what it was from

[@LazerzZ]

You're a legend

[@ShazenVideos]

Oh wow, I just wasted 16 minutes of my life listening to some guy talking about nostalgia and modding and there's still 54 minutes left? I guess I'm good

[@robthagod4870]

Dude hates on one of the greatest games of all time, because his first GTA was 4. He didn't think GTA had any humor before 5. But he's also never played San Andres where big loc is nothing but a joke.

[@ComradePaolo]

Transition period doesn't do it justice! United to Liverpool?! Bwoah! Lovely video buddy, cheers haha

[@LazerzZ]

😂 that was actually my brother’s room. He was Liverpool, I was United. I’ve never been a big fan of football, but when I was a kid I tried my best

[@nathanmitchell7961]

Im addicted to LCPDFR a free mod that has a great modding community creating the most authentic police experience Quick note 55:12 scene was improvised

[@s_for_short2400]

I remember being soo hyped about GTA5. I watched every rumor and leak video. I watched the 2nd trailer 100 times when it released. I waited in anticipation for every screenshot rockstar released on their page. Then the game came out, i was 13, and started saving up every penny i could to buy a gaming PC (even though it wasnt announced for PC yet) to play it. By 2015 i finally had about 700$ saved up and got a decent rig. I pirated GTA5 as i had no money left after buying a PC. And...i got bored. Rather quickly. I guess my expectations were a bit too high, but after spending hundreds of hours in GTA4, and having that game completely blow my mind after playing San Andreas, GTA5 just felt...underwhelming. There just wasnt much to it. I felt like i experienced most of this in 4. Some things even felt like they went backwards and devolved... I stopped playing the story early on, at the point where franklin gets a nicer house and couldnt bring myself to continue as i felt the writing wasnt engaging at all. I spent some time exploring around, but the world just felt pointless. It really gave you no reason to explore and that sense of wonder GTA4 and SA gave me just wasnt there anymore, probably because i was older. I kept coming back to GTA5 over the years to play the online mode. Would usually hop on, play for ~50h in a span of a couple of weeks with friends and then not touch the game for ~2 years. I dont really have any fond memories of GTA5s singleplayer. It was very much a "its not about the destination, its about the journey" kind of feeling, as my fondest memories of GTA5 were the anticipation of it coming out, and my imagination overflowing with the possibilities. I dont think its a bad game, even though even 10 years later i never finished it. But it very much left me underwhelmed and kind of started the beginning of the end for my enthusiasm towards gaming as a whole.

[@Matilda127]

I don’t understand why there are so many One News clips at the start of this. But as a New Zealander I’m loving it

[@LazerzZ]

It was like the only news footage of GTA i could find 😂

[@mixedmattaphors]

One thing you CAN really do, and one thing I want desperately in GTAVI, is drive around and do insane stunts in the world. I've spent maybe more than a hundred hours just driving around, but specifically in first-person mode, and flipping the car.

[@dottyorb]

Damn I want to see LazerzZ do retrospectives on the Metal Gear games - they're great!

[@LazerzZ]

Maybe one day

[@nikifalcon]

Fun fact: That scene with Trevor falling wasn't in the script Steve just tripped But because he stayed in character they kept it

[@madsolar480]

20:02 - ooooo that was deeep lol good shit my dude

[@Mzakt71]

About the Hang Out feature and how it compares in GTA 5 and 4. I think a major part of why I enjoyed it in 4 was because you actually had rewards for engaging with these mechanics (i.e. car bomb from Packey, lose wanted level from Francis, etc.). In GTA 5 its just extra dialog and thats it. Theres little incentive to do them, especially when replaying the game.

[@confused.cat.]

I felt exactly the same about the interactive world. Gta san Andreas felt very interactive, like I would just RP in my mind, I loved getting a bobcat and roaming in the desert, stopping sometimes to eat, visit cool structures, visit and look at the little probe in(a restaurant near area 69) and after a while, you end up in San fierro. It felt real, it felt like a journey, man I need to replay it again(i completed it like 1.5 years ago)

[@Terpslurped]

I've always thought that GTA 5 was about moral corruptability because every single named character does something morally corrupt

[@mike04574]

Crazy it’s been 10 years

[@jackbrassil5318]

this game was unbelievably hyped back in the day. GTAVI could be even bigger

[@TheTrentkent]

Great video as always mate 💯

[@venomherlet2825]

I loved GTA5 when it first came out on PS3. Then, as time went on, I saw just how much it feels like an interactive movie. Which can be fine, of course, but it doesn't work for me with GTA. It does with Asura, but not GTA...

[@theguyinthere]

I've always felt like the dynamic of Michael and his son was plagiarizing my life a bit cause of some very similar circumstances and we have opposite names in the game but the character that I'm supposed to be kinda on the nose. brother and sister in separate rooms always talking shit to each other. two story house. i was able to vent some frustrations i had with my father with 1 of the endings. this game has touched a lot of people's lives like that. GTA 5 has put itself in the history books the last 10 years. Hope GTA6 makes the same level of impact but better ya know??

[@angelchang5194]

can't wait for GTA V 10 Year Anniversary Edition 👏🏽

[@vault6242]

56:40 I just wanted to say that its so refreshing having someone else in these type of videos actually point out the complexities in Trevor's character, so many people doing their restrospectives on the game seem to just write Trevor off as a psycho and THE bad guy of the 3 and how Michael is the good guy suffering from Trevor's unjustified spite when that couldn't be farther away from the truth.

[@tanveermalik7582]

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THE BIT ABOUT GTA CITIES BEING ISLANDS. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE FIXATING ON IT AND WONDERING HOW THE US LOOKS LIKE

[@LazerzZ]

😂

[@SaintAno]

Young Lazerzz came in clutch with all that b-roll

[@tyzilla358]

Too many of you kids these days are confusing having an opinion, with being correct. As if they are allergic to logic, reason, and the objective truth.

[@saturnino01]

From minute 23:00 and so on you really put into words all what I have been feeling after playing and revisiting GTA V this years. Great video.

[@LazerzZ]

Thank you so much!

[@EnderPlayerTV]

58:55 they do actually have a talk about it after the end of the game if you choose to hang out with Trevor as Michaela (and vice versa)

[@LazerzZ]

Ah, see, that's interesting but also, I still think it's wild it happens in optional dialogue rather being a solid part of the actual story they were telling.

[@MuscleCarLover]

I can't be the only one to spot the 1337 joke, right? On another note, I don't think Trevor killed Floyd, he even offered him a cut in the Merryweather heist. I think Debra killed Floyd and Trevor killed Debra. Floyd may have made the first move as he was effectively backed into a corner and just cracked. That's my hypothesis on that scene

[@fcmarok2138]

Lester said it best the west coast sun is melting everybodys brain

[@JelliThePilot]

i feel like people hating on the story are just trying to be smarter than gta v is and frequently point out gta 4 as the peak of storytelling. and this is where plot and story needs to be separated, because 4 has a great plot (niko's motivations and everything that happens, as well as luis and johnny and how they fit into the plot). but while 5's plot(s) can feel hard to follow, the way it services the characters and world makes for so much of a more poignant commentary on the pursuit of wealth, and what it does to people.

[@MistahJay7]

My favorite thing to do with Trevors truck is to run over Bikers as I'm driving to my next objectives. It's like I have to do for every single one I see So therapeutic. Sometimes they even get stuck on my hood and just stay there the whole ride lmao

[@z-herb8006]

I did, and still and always will love GTA V