Grand Theft Auto V

When talking about Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5), one cannot help but bring up the enormous impact and popularity this game has garnered. It's not really about the world size, the weapon inventory, or the number of NPCs, but the colossal sales data. Since its 2013 release, GTA 5 has sold approximately 165 million copies worldwide across all platforms. To put this into perspective, the population of Bangladesh roughly equals the number of GTA 5 copies sold. It's mind-boggling to imagine the scope of this game's reach.

This gigantic figure is likely to keep ticking upward as Grand Theft Auto 5 has only just landed on the latest gaming platforms. Meanwhile, recent details about GTA 6 have started to leak, adding to the anticipation.

A Blast from the Past

There's little doubt that the Grand Theft Auto franchise is, in many ways, a time capsule. Each release presents themes and elements from different times in pop culture, from Vice City's glorification of the 1980s party scene to GTA 4's immigrant narrative in a culture teeming with swindlers and opportunists.

GTA 5, as it stands now, presents an interesting paradox rooted in the game's perennial popularity: How do you continue to defy mainstream culture when you've become the benchmark that every other open-world action game is measured against?

Evergreen Game Mechanics Complement Free-Wheeling Exploration

One of the solutions to this paradox, which also explains GTA 5's enduring popularity, is its gameplay structure. It offers a robust pairing of driving and shooting that remains at the game's heart while letting players explore a host of bizarre and unrelated paths, missions, and mini-games. Regardless of whether you're online or following the story, GTA 5's unpredictability is anchored by this dependable, engaging core.

While the world of GTA 5 continues to impress, it's amusing to note how the commentary it makes about the world of 2013 might be seen as out-of-touch in 2023.

GTA 5 Now: Fun, But Historically Distant

Michael, Franklin, and Trevor — the main characters — deal with concerns from the early 2000s. Think of the meth epidemic, the Great Recession, and the unending struggle to get one's foot in the door. It seems unreal to see a parody of American Idol, a mocking critique of liberal governments that rely on the War on Terror, and a social media sphere that isn't all-consuming.

The game's exploration of capitalism, corruption, and the pursuit of success already seemed like a far cry from modern times when it was released in 2013. The fact that the game now seems even more out of touch and yearning for the good old days might not sit well with some.

The real game-changer, arguably, was GTA Online. It essentially feels like an entirely new game bundled with GTA 5. For new players, however, navigating this game can be intimidating due to its vast universe of activities and relatively confusing intro.

Performance and Immersion Still Top-Notch

Despite its age, GTA 5 remains top-notch in gameplay. The frame rates and graphical fidelity, particularly on Xbox Series X, give the game a renewed sense of life. Whether you're fighting enemies or exploring the environment, it's impressive just how well the game has aged.

Compared to other modern games like Cyberpunk 2077, GTA 5 still feels like a fully realized, lived-in world. The depth and variety of the game's neighborhoods and characters continue to set the bar for creating a convincing sense of place and space.

In summary, despite its age and the arguably out-of-touch narrative, Grand Theft Auto 5 continues to hold its own in terms of gameplay, immersion, and world-building even after all these years.