Grand Theft Auto V is almost here. This is going to be one of the biggest games of this console generation. Fans are jazzed, work will be skipped and Los Santos will be conquered.
But, leading up to the game’s release on Tuesday, I’ll offer a counter to all of the hype that’s surrounding this game. Don’t get me wrong here, I absolutely adore the GTA series. That said, I’ve been burned by over-hyping games before. Let’s see if we can stop the flames, if only just a little. Here are three things that should give us pause.
Potentially bad driving
Personally, I didn’t mind the driving in Grand Theft Auto IV. I felt the more realistic weight to the cars made driving segments more tense and difficult. I mastered most cars within a week or two of play, and that gave some much needed challenge to the experience.
However, tons of people complained. From both the critic and fan bases, Rockstar heard grumbles that the driving was terrible. Expect them to address it. Expect it to be different. Expect to hate it.
Unless they nail it, of course. Then hype bombs away!
Shoddy shooting
If you listened to this week’s episode of Next Gen News, then you likely already know where I’m going with this one.
In GTAIV, shooting outside, from cars and over long distances was so-so. Firing felt looser than it should have, and the guns really didn’t offer much feedback for a solid performance. Go inside, though? Woof. The camera and clunkiness of the game’s controls took over and made indoor combat obnoxious.
Red Dead Redemption’s shooting was fine. It felt much better than GTAIV’s partially because it almost entirely occurred in wide open spaces.
Rockstar says they’ve improved the shooting mechanics for GTAV, and a whole lot of industry time has passed since their last crack at the genre. Hopefully things are much, much better.
No matter what, get ready to wait
There are two things that will make you wait in Grand Theft Auto V. The first of which is a complete, 100% guarantee.
GTAV, regardless of which system you buy it for, requires an 8GB installation. That’s 8GB. You will wait while it installs. So, when you get home with your copy and rip off the plastic, grab a drink and some food, it’s gonna be a while.
The other reason we’ll likely wait is not so much guaranteed as it is expected. GTA Online launches two weeks after the main game. This multiplayer mode will be made available for everyone around the world at the exact same time. Not just day one purchasers, but everyone who bought the game within its first two weeks at retail…
…Expect server issues. Lots of them. Expect not to play. Check your frustration at the door.
Frankly, I’m hyped to the moon for Grand Theft Auto V. Making this list was a way to remind myself that it’s not all rainbows and sunshine for this series and games like it. Hopefully I’m wrong on all counts and things will be amazing from top to bottom.
Are you pumped for Tuesday?
