Playing A Game Grand Theft Auto V PC

I recently plugged in a new graphics card (no, not this one) and needed some way to try out a few extra GBs of VRAM. A little ironic that the 2015 version of a 2013 game was the best I could do to exercise some 2019 hardware; but what started as a simple benchmark led me to a more-or-less full replay of Grand Theft Auto V.

Unlike my recent re-attempt at GTA IV - and more like The Ballad of Gay Tony - GTA V remains engaging, enjoyable, and not inconvenient. Only one or two missions felt like tedious bullshit, and this game's tow-truck and stevedore diversions were much less aggravating than IV's bowling or Red Dead Redemption's cattle-herding nonsense.

While a few awkward story moments (like Trevor and Michael's abrupt reunion) and ultimately unsatisfying character arcs keep GTA V from narrative greatness, its storytelling is still "good," and its snide silliness is still genuinely entertaining.

And while Los Santos isn't as dense with activities as some more modern sandbox games - nor are its side-objectives as easy to find - there's still no shortage of stuff to do, and the driving gameplay (and occasional random or emergent action) between points A and B is just fun.

I don't know if it'll last another five years; as with my old favorites Red Faction: Guerrilla and The Saboteur, I expect the industry will eventually make this game feel pretty obsolete. But for now, it's still one of the best open worlds we've got.

Better than: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony
Not as good as: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Ehh, let's say, on-balance equitable to: Batman: Arkham Knight

Progress: Picked option "C," did most of the map-icon missions.

Rating: Awesome