GTA V For millions of gamers across the world, few dates hold as much significance as September 17th, 2013. On that day, hordes of eager Grand Theft Auto fans lined up outside of Gamestops everywhere, anxious to get their hands on Rockstar Games's highly anticipated latest addition to the saga: Grand Theft Auto V. Those fans were not disappointed. It is widely hailed as one of the best games ever released for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, and is probably responsible for more than one late research paper. This is due to its nearly flawless mechanics, gripping storylines, gorgeous graphics, and enormous open world. Until a couple weeks ago, I'd never played any game in the Grand Theft Auto series. This is largely because Grand Theft Auto IV was released when I was thirteen years old, and my parents thought that was just a bit too young to be exposed to car-jackings and rampant hooker-killing. However, for the sake of research and comparison, two weeks ago I played my Steam copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which comes right before GTA IV. Now, I don't know what GTA IV's mechanics and physics are like, but San Andreas's are very buggy and wooden-looking. Murdered gangsters flop around like rag dolls and do that weird restless-leg-syndrome-type wiggling that really just shouldn't be continued postmortem. Your car or bike might spontaneously disappear, leaving you to either trudge to your destination on foot or drag some poor schmuck out of his own vehicle. These anomalies are exceedingly rare in Grand Theft Auto V. Dead people stay dead, and your car either stays where you parked it or finds its way back to your garage. Granted, there are still some things developers can't really account for, such as your newly-acquired vehicle bursting into flames upon impact with a fire hydrant at the breakneck speed of fifteen miles an hour. I've yet to have that happen again (though definitely not for lack of trying), but I tend to look at those kinds of instances as comedic relief rather than bugs. Grand Theft Auto V introduces a new gameplay mechanic that hasn't been seen in any of the earlier games: the ability to switch between three different protagonists at your leisure. All three have their own unique storylines, as well as distinct personalities and motivations. Though their backgrounds are much more in depth, in order to not give too much away, I can only reveal this: Franklin is a young man who works for a snaky car dealer and gets in over his head, Michael is in the witness protection program and has anger management issues, and Trevor took part in a bank robbery and was falsely presumed dead nine years ago. The only quality they all share is the need and desire for more cash, which they intend to fulfill by pulling off several heists with huge payoffs. If you happen to get tired of one character's questline or personality (I found Michael and his bratty kids to be rather annoying), one press of a button lets you play one of the other two protagonists. If linear gameplay isn't really your style, you'll be pleased to know that you don't need to participate in the main storyline at all. The fictional city of Los Santos is comparable to London in size, and is positively filled with short mission chains, bars, strip clubs, shooting ranges, street races, and no shortage of hookers and crack addicts. You can do virtually anything. If you see a pretty car, just run into the middle of traffic, drag the unfortunate owner out and steal it. Attract enough attention, and suddenly the cops will be on your trail. Will you play it smart and hide out in an alley until you're off their radar? Or knock over countless signs and maybe even (definitely) people in your great 120-miles-per-hour escape? Will you die in a dramatic movie-worthy shootout with a rival gang? Or will you jump from the tallest building just to see what happens? The only con to speak of is that this game is not meant for all ages. Gangs, hookers, and crackheads might be material that's just a little too heavy for anyone who can't be legally considered an adult. Blood is shed profusely and often, and there's some pretty gratuitous nudity if you “happen” to find yourself in one of the strip clubs. There is absolutely no censorship, and naughty four-letter words make up half of the dialogue. Mature gamers will find that this adds to the immersion and realism of the game and its gritty environment, but parents beware: this game is not meant for your little ones. That being said, if you're old enough to be able to vote, Grand Theft Auto V is definitely worth your money. It's virtually impossible to be bored, and you can play however you want. Its graphics and depth create a stunning world with countless possibilities and hours of entertainment, most of which will be spent doing what every game should allow its audience to do: inflict chaos in hilarious and impossible ways while running from the authorities.