Grand Theft Auto 5 Review (Xbox One)

excellent
key review info
  • Game: Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Platform: Xbox One
  • Show system requirements
  • Reviewed on:
GTA 5 review on Xbox One

Grand Theft Auto 5 broke sales and popularity records when it appeared last year for the PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms, acting effectively as the last major game to appear on the old consoles and ending their long cycle on a high mark, thanks to great gameplay and some pretty decent visuals.

However, many were wondering at that time whether Rockstar Games, its developer, was going to bring the title onto more platforms, such as the PC, PS4, or Xbox One. After a lengthy period of radio silence, the developer confirmed that the title would, in fact, appear on the powerful platforms, and promised quite a lot of improvements.

From a better resolution to higher quality visuals, enhanced gameplay, and even an all-new first-person view mode, GTA 5 on the new platforms is looking set to be a worthy investment even for those who already have it on PS3 or Xbox 360.

Does GTA 5 manage to make a stellar comeback or should it be locked away on the older platforms? Let's find out.

Story

In terms of story, Grand Theft Auto 5 doesn't bring any new elements, largely because Rockstar still hasn't decided to make any single-player downloadable content for the game, despite promising such a thing earlier in the year.

Even so, this doesn't mean that the title disappoints. You still get to go through the mighty impressive adventures of the game's three wildly different protagonists – Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.

Michael is a retired bank robber living the rich yet dysfunctional life in Los Santos (GTA's equivalent of Los Angeles), while Franklin is an up-and-coming thug with higher aspirations than just becoming a low-level gang member in the city's impoverished neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Trevor is a psychotic yet intelligent criminal who manipulates and terrorizes his way through the neighboring Blaine County region.

Their paths cross in different ways and their adventures range from humorous to tragic and much more. Sure, some of those moments don't really work with what's being shown by the characters, but you'll still go through a great ride with the three characters, as well as their allies and enemies.

Drive cars in first-person
Drive cars in first-person

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay, GTA 5 on the new platforms brings quite a few improvements, starting, of course, with the first-person view mode. After featuring a top down view in GTA 1, 2, and the forgotten Chinatown Wars and then switching to third-person in all major subsequent installments, this is a new and really exciting territory for the series.

While Rockstar could have easily moved the camera lower and call it a day, the studio went the extra mile to overhaul the weapon models, vehicle interiors, and tweak the array of other mechanics governing the open world title. These include the movement system, as you move slightly faster when in first-person, the camera, which can be customized in a variety of ways, the cover, which behaves in a different manner, and other such things. The aiming system, together with the different control schemes for this mode, caters more to first-person shooter veterans, so you shouldn't be worried about wonky controls.

Playing GTA 5 in first-person certainly makes the experience feel fresh and really puts you in the action, for better or worse. You can shoot and explore the environment a bit more easily but driving various vehicles, with the exception of bikes, feels a bit weird.

Besides adding the new view mode, GTA 5 also brings a higher draw distance, which should help when traveling at a high speed through the world's streets, but also adds more pedestrians and cars to simulate the busy Los Santos environment.

There are also quite a lot of new items, from weapons like the rail gun to new vehicles, not to mention extra activities involving the overhauled wildlife that's present across Blaine county. Returning fans, who have already played GTA 5 on PS3 or Xbox 360, are also going to receive some exclusive goodies, such as special stock car races, as a reward for their loyalty.

While Rockstar certainly did a great job with adding new things to GTA 5, it didn't really attempt to fix some of the lingering issues, particularly those relating to the design of some missions or activities, so you can still expect some frustrating moments during the story campaign.

Vehicles still feel too "floaty" for their own good, especially if you favor fast sportscars and you still get quite a lot of clipping. Some scripting problems can also be seen in certain missions, but they don't result in any major problems.

Multiplayer

Unlike the original GTA 5 for PS3 and Xbox 360, the new versions of the game include the Grand Theft Auto Online multiplayer as standard, instead of receiving it as an update. What's more, it incorporates the many different patches made to the mode since its debut last October, which means you get a lot of activities, jobs, features, items, and gear.

Combine these things with the new 30-player limit to the online activities, not to mention the full-fledged Creator tool or the enhanced customization options, and you can have a really good time with the multiplayer experience.

Veterans from PS3 or Xbox 360 can import their character and progression data in order to pick up from where they left off, so they shouldn't worry about starting back from scratch. Unlike the single-player mode, earning money and making a name for yourself is much tougher in GTA Online, so those starting from the beginning will have to dedicate some time before they can get a home and some fancy gear or vehicles.

You can also play GTA Online from the first-person perspective, but considering how hectic things get during its different game types, you'll have a slightly harder time keeping up with everything that's going on around you.

Visuals and Sound

In terms of visuals, GTA 5 boasts the biggest improvement, as it features better-looking everything, more or less. From sharper textures to improved character models, smoother animations, and way, way more detailed environments, your eyes will thank you for playing this game. At night, especially in the neon-lit Los Santos downtown area, you can enjoy some great lighting effects and plenty of impressive moments.

The framerate is locked at 30fps on the PS4 and Xbox One, but at least on the Microsoft console, I noticed a few drops during particularly hectic firefights, so it doesn't always remain at that value. There's also some noticeable aliasing when it comes to wires, the edges of thinner objects, and other such things, so expect jagged elements, and in some cut scenes the textures tend to pop into view. Facial hair is also an issue when it comes to humans, but the fur on animals looks much better.

In terms of sound, the already massive soundtrack of the game has been augmented with new songs, a lot of radio content, and many other things, so you won't get tired while roaming around the huge open world. The voice acting is once again top-notch, so you'll still have a great time in the story campaign.

Fight the cops
Fight the cops

The Good

  • Gorgeous visuals
  • First-person view is interesting
  • Detailed world
  • Hectic multiplayer

The Bad

  • Still a few gameplay problems
  • Aliasing is an issue
  • First-person driving isn't that great

Conclusion

Grand Theft Auto 5 on the new platforms is a great comeback for the already impressive game. The first-person view mode, the enhanced visuals, and the many different smaller alterations transform the game into an even better experience. However, lingering problems with the gameplay and a few visual issues keep it from achieving perfection.
story 9
gameplay 9
concept 9
graphics 9
audio 10
multiplayer 9
final rating 9.5
Editor's review
excellent
 
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Grand Theft Auto 5 Xbox One Screenshots (15 Images)

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