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Grand Theft Auto Online

Developed by Rockstar North

Published by Rockstar Games

Rated R18 PS3 and 360



HEX

Now that Grand Theft Auto V's multiplayer issues have mostly settled down, I think the best way to demonstrate how much fun you can have, is by having an office session, what do you think Bajo?



BAJO

Sounds good Hex!



BAJO

GTAV online is a completely separate experience to single player, it's a blending of free roam fun and set up multiplayer modes. After making a character, you're thrown into Los Santos and the mayhem beings.



HEX

Yes you do have quite a maniacal and somewhat piercing laugh Bajo. There are few games that bring such a cross section of gamers together like GTA.



BAJO

Yeah, there's just something about a giant sandbox full of toys which inspires fun times and it's because each time you sit down, different stuff happens. Whether it's trolling in free roam, or competing in jet races, there's always something to do and someone to harass! I've quite rightfully received complaints from my neighbours this week from laughing very loudly in the wee hours of the morning.



HEX

Much like any big online game, there is a bit to get your head around. Initially, menus seem fiddly and confusing, trying to get everyone in a free roam can be tricky. And it does take around 10 hours of car stealing and drug running before you start getting the more interesting missions. Coupled with the launch issues and character losses our initial impressions were fuelled with frustration. But things run pretty smooth now. And you quickly realise online really is about doing what you want, when you feel like it, with whoever wants to come along.



BAJO

And enjoying the emergent gameplay that emerges when things go wrong. It's emergent. Shenanigans, are around every corner



HEX

In the timeline, this is set before the single player story campaign, but the world is pretty much open to you from the get go. As you level up, you'll start to be introduced to various characters with missions, earning cash, unlocking weapons, and eventually buying a house and cars to go with it. But you can also just jump into random events. You can even invite your friends to come and chill in your pad. Which is a cool idea in theory, but you'll probably only do it once. There's an interesting variety of emotes, but the only one that anyone EVER uses is the "jerk". It's so gross, and yet, I can't help but laugh every time I see people doing it.



BAJO

Yes, it's so juvenile but my face hurt from laughing. It's especially funny in the racing lobby menus. But back to the game. I like the sense of ownership you have over your first car. It does cost you money if it gets damaged or destroyed and that annoyed me at first, especially as the cops often engage you in free roam if you steal any other type of car. But I grew to like this idea and the thought of buying a garage, building up a collection. And I liked blowing up friends cars even if it meant I had to pay their insurance costs. When you get a job, that's when it's time to pull in your friends and the invite system shines.



BAJO

It's worth putting matchmaking on 'closed' by default though, or you'll get randoms.



HEX

Yeah randoms cannot be trusted, but then neither can we. There's quite a lot of griefing in general. I think our favourite so far of the modes is motorbikes vs. Jets. The feeling of a jet breathing down your neck as you race along the streets is so thrilling.



BAJO

That mode alone pretty much sold the online experience on its own I think! I also was a fan of dirt bike and Jet Ski races. The vehicles all just handle so well. I actually quite liked it when I ran out of lives because you go into spectator mode, and it's just so good, you can do all the different angles and it's got filters.



HEX

Spectatorgram.



BAJO

Yeah. I also loved the missions where teams need to hunt down an objective such as a suitcase or truck somewhere in the city. It's tug of war chaos as each team tries to steal it back.



HEX

I can't think of another game that lets you go from jet races to golf in just a few button presses. GTA online is all about variety. The game doesn't encourage free roam mayhem as much as I'd like though, because deaths are very costly, and that can make things grindy.



BAJO

Yeah. Co-op fights against AI feel balanced enough, but I think the weakest mode is actually deathmatch. I just didn't find it very fun, there's no strategy or skill to it. It's really just whoever sees the other player first and that's a real shame.



HEX

But Rockstar has admitted they are still very much developing online as we play. There's things like new clothes, and vehicles coming, but most exciting is the content creator which will allow you to publish your own deathmatch, races, and capture the flag.



BAJO

There'll also be a heist planning board for your apartment, along with more complex heists to go with it. I'm excited to see where they can go from here Hex.



HEX

Me too. They also say that the incoming cash microtransactions won't be 'pay to win' but we're inclined to hold our judgement on that until we see it in action. Bajo the more I played this, the more I was impressed by the ambitious task Rockstar has set for themselves with GTA Online and it's all mostly hitting the mark. I think there's a lot of potential for this to really deliver some very memorable experiences over the long term. We don't need to really score this, because we've already cast our double 10 verdict on GTA V as a whole, and online is just icing on the cake.



BAJO

And Hex, every time I log into this game I snob out for a bit at the lack of anti-aliasing and the jaggies. And then, after about 10 minutes I forget because it's just so beautiful.



