So, the GTA V trailer was announced today and, well, it was awesome! Rumours and speculation had all been saying a return to San Andreas was on the cards, and now we know!
So, what have we got? Well, as you can tell straight off from the trailer, Los Santos is definitely in the game. Many have been speculating that both San Fierro and Las Venturas will feature as they did in GTA San Andreas, but for the time being we don’t know. All we do know is that the Los Angeles based Los Santos is in!
However, as you can see from above, it’s not just Los Santos that’s all but confirmed to be in the game. Mount Chiliad is set to return in the sprawling rural areas on the outskirts of Los Santos, and it has never looked better. Another screen (below) appears to show Flint County, so we know we’re getting a good amount of the San Andreas countryside.
Now the rural areas of San Andreas were both the defining feature and the biggest complaint about San Andreas. Though they added real depth and helped to immerse the player into the environment, they often felt underwhelming and unpopulated, a real case of wasted space. Read Dead Redemption has shown what Rockstar can do with open spaces so we’ve got a good feeling that this asset is finally going to be utilised to its full potential!
As for the protagonist (above), well not much is known about who he is or his back story. Some sources are reporting that it may be an older version of Tommy Vercetti from Vice City, however he would be well into his 60s. Until we know more anything else is just speculation, but for now he seems to be of Hispanic or possibly Italian decent judging by his accent, and appears older than previous protagonists.
What about plot? Well again this is all speculation but based on the trailer we can assume that the current global financial crisis is going to play a heavy part in the story. Los Santos is the perfect place for this to be played out. With Los Santos’ version of Hollywood, Vinewood, towering over the deprived communities of Ganton, never has one city had the potential to play on the conflict associated with major economic disparity then Los Santos! So expect major movie stars and beggars rubbing shoulders on the streets of Vinewood.
What new features can we expect from GTA V? Well again this is all speculation or presumption based on what we’ve seen in the trailer but it looks like (finally) we’ve got convertible cars that actually covert (below)! This might seem like the most trivial thing of all, but it’s a little feature we’ve been hoping for ever since GTA III!
The very first scene also hints that we might at last have dogs in GTA (below). It’s been said that police dogs were originally to feature in GTA IV and we can assume that this may now be something that is finally going to be added to the series. If they are to feature, these will be the first land based animals to feature in the game, other than the flying rats of GTA IV. If there are pet dogs then expect Police K-9 units too, which should add a new dimension to lower-starred police chases.
What returning features can we expect? Well clips from the trailer appear to show that many of the forms of transport from GTA San Andreas are due to return. These include bikes (as seen below up against the house wall).
Also seen and suggesting a return are the Shamal (the Learjet type private planes as seen at the very end of the trailer) and a single engine fighter jet seen flying through the towers of Downtown Los Santos (below). The return of planes, not seen in since GTA: Vice City Stories, might suggest a bigger map, again hinting at the return of the full state of San Andreas. The return of the fighter jet might also hint at the military making a come-back, hopefully at a full star rating! If Las Venturas is back along with the fighter jets, it might also suggest the return of the Verdant Meadows airfield. The Shamal might also hint at the return of useable public transport. Usable buses were supposed to be featured in GTA IV but were ultimately cut, so maybe public transport is back for GTA V.
All in all, the trailer showed us lots but hinted at even more, and will leave us guessing until we finally get our hands on the game. Needless to say, it looks stunning, the graphics look great and light effects are truly amazing. The RAGE 2.0 engine is a big step up from its predecessor and is set to do justice to the wonderful expanses of rural San Andreas. No matter what happens between now and then, GTA V is going to be our most anticipated game of next year. We can’t wait!
What do you think? Excited about the return of San Andreas or hoping for a new location? Sound off in the comments below.
