Grand Theft Auto V is V for Vinewood -- the car-stealin' whore-beatin' crime-em 'up is heading back to the West Coast, and appears to be set in the same universe as the earlier Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Revealed today on Rockstar Games' website, the trailer for the hotly anticipated game introduces a new main character, an unnamed retired con who just can't resist one last job. Just when he thought he was out, they pulled him back in...
After GTA 4's New York-based Liberty City adventure, the latest entry in the blockbusting game series eschews previous haunt Vice City (based on Miami) for San Andreas (a whole state based on southern California and Nevada). The trailer is clearly set in a very LA-like city and towards the end reveals the Vinewood sign, previously featured in the sprawling GTA: San Andreas.
The trailer is heavy on movie-like imagery, with a jet (hinting at controllable aircraft) flying over the sign, and an oil derrick pumping away as the sun sets behind skyscrapers. The elegiac tone of the voiceover is straight outta GoodFellas too -- and the gentleman who is presumably the main character bears a striking resemblance to Ray Liotta. There's also a flash of the series' trademark social satire, with itinerant fruit-pickers doused by a crop-spraying aircraft.
The game looks to lean heavily on social injustice and perhaps the recession -- scenes of homeless folks and homes being put up for sale are contrasted with vistas of luxuriant wealth and golfing. We spotted an ad in the trailer for new high-rise buildings constructed by a firm called STD Contractors (hyuk) -- could those guys turn out to be antagonists?
We're excited at the prospect of returning to the countryside -- the trailer shows hiking trails and mountains, and we spotted a beachside gym, so we're hoping for a return of San Andreas' fitness-level mechanic. We're also slavering at the prospect of getting some sunshine on our pasty virtual faces, ditching the gloomy smog of Liberty City for sun-drenched San Andreas.
There's no more new info at the moment, but we'd certainly expect a launch before Christmas 2012, on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
What do you think of it? Hyped? Pumped to be returning to old stomping grounds? Or disappointed that it's not a brand-new city? Carve your thoughts in the forehead of our comments section below, or spell them out in bullets on our Facebook page.
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Comments 14
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anonymous 2 November, 2011 16:52
it's san andreas, they have all the other places of the map on the trailer but they added on buildings and some other stuff.
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:03
Looks epic. I noticed a BMX outside the house that's for sale. Hopefully see the return of them. I saw Los Santos printed loads of times during the trailer but not once did i see San Fierro or Las Venturas... I hope that doesnt mean they wont be present. Also the planes look sweeeeet
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:03
please be tommy vercetti.,PLEASE!!!
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:05
The house going up for sell was Ryder's from San Andreas wasn't it? And under the overpass was just outside of Cj's neighborhood too.
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:14
There's also a blimp shown twice in there :D
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:25
You can have a dog! (early beach scene)
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:25
there was a dog in it too... RSPCA cases aplenty it seems
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:49
that isnt ryders house
anonymous 2 November, 2011 17:55
Hopefully this time round they will use all the space available on a bluray and make the game that most of us expected IV to be, which seemed to be hindered by the XBOX360 and its small disc capacity. Hopefully Rockstar will be forced to make the XBOX version span over 2 possibly 3 discs. IV was so small. Bring back car modding, planes and overeating at burger shops leading to an onset of morbid obesity.
anonymous 2 November, 2011 18:01
awesome. beautiful. EPIC!!!!
and i say a dog in there :o animals in GTA? this is pretty amazing, plus tattoos are back ^_^
anonymous 2 November, 2011 19:42
It will NOT be released on the PC at the same time as the console versions.
You know nothing about Rockstar if you don't realise this.
anonymous 2 November, 2011 22:05
I agree with the commentator above, you clearly know nothing about rockstar, which is probably the most disgusting form of ignorance i've ever encountered. How do you live with yourself? My guess is that your stupidity is so profound that you're not even aware of it. Sir, you disgust me.
Frederick J Muntersnatch
sdcoulson 2 November, 2011 23:00
I hope this is a full return to San Andreas i.e. San Fierro (San Francisco) and Las Venturas (Las Vegas) as well as Los Santos (Los Angeles). The trailer only really hints at Los Santos. I found IV difficult to get into because it was just one massive sprawling cityscape with very little variation.
anonymous 3 November, 2011 19:20
Realy Realy great, but.... christmas next year don't wanna wait that long :(