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Grand Theft Auto V By Blake-BBY

The world was forever changed on 9/17/13 when Grand Theft Auto V was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The main campaign is only as unbelievable as the masterful Grand Theft Auto Online experience that has continued to host events to this day. I played the entire campaign and jumped into the online experience the day it was released to the public. In my 20+ years of gaming, few games have captivated an audience with its sheer size and incredible detail like the Grand Theft Auto series.

Background My journey started with Grand Theft Auto 3 on PlayStation 2. I was impressed by the graphics, the level design, and the expansive nature of the game. It was an incredible feeling to be able to explore an entire city end-to-end. Then Grand Theft Auto Vice City was released to rave reviews and had an art style that gave new meaning to 80's-themed video games. I'm a huge fan of GTA Vice City because of its nostalgia, music, outfits and beautiful setting. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas brought realism to video games unlike anything I'd ever seen. I spent hours at the gym working on my fitness and watching my burger intake while biking from location to location. Grand Theft Auto IV was a consistent entry into the franchise, but it was its shooting mechanics and online features that were the base for what would become Grand Theft Auto Online.

Campaign The campaign focus of Grand Theft Auto V follows three points of view. Not only are you able to explore the largest map in the franchise, but you can do so with a completely new perspective each time. Franklin, Michael, and Trevor each have their own unique perspective on a completely fleshed out world. You can take a ride with Franklin in the hottest cars, bring Michael to old movies, and run wild with Trevor in the desert. This was easily the crown jewel of everything Grand Theft Auto had created in its previous iterations. Sometimes I would just sit in a car and listen to talk radio and watch the sunset on the beach. The world was my oyster. I finished the campaign and was excited for GTA Online to be released.

Online When I originally joined GTA Online, I was one of the lucky individuals to get an additional $500,000. This allowed me to live a lavish lifestyle with my user-generated character. I bought the cheapest apartment that was able to do heists and had a garage. I began filling out my garage with two expensive cars and a motorcycle. I jumped into all the different offerings from street races to shootouts, and just robbing local convenience stores. There's a great linear story using characters from the main campaign to guide you. If you prefer to make your own form of chaos, then you'll be on cloud nine with GTA Online. Some of the best moments in the game were the unscripted moments driving my car through a wild police chase that led to a car explosion and a shootout in the middle of the street.