ASST. A & E EDITOR

“Ludendorff, North Yankton, Nine Years Ago.” With this fictitious title card, gamers are thrust into the experience of Michael Townley, an aging bank robber whose exploits, along with those of his friends and enemies, compose the incredibly rich world of Grand Theft Auto V.

During this opening flashback, we learn that Michael and his associates once tried to rob a bank in the fictional midwestern state of North Yankton (which bears a striking similarity to the actual North Dakota), but were cut down during their escape. Michael and his partner Brad are shot by government agents, while their third accomplice, Trevor, manages to escape the Fargo-esque police force of Ludendorff, disappearing into the snow. Aside from this, the player is not given much information.

Flash forward nine years to Los Santos, San Andreas (ostensibly Los Angeles). Leaving Michael’s point of view for a short time, players meet Franklin, a well-meaning but misguided repo man who yearns to make something of himself — a pursuit tied more to money than legitimacy. By chance, he meets Michael while trying to repossess his son’s car and the two quickly form a mentor-protege relationship. Adding to this dynamic is the fact that the player can switch between the two characters at will, further enriching the plot. Through a series of misadventures, the two end up owing money to powerful mob figures, which requires Michael to come out of retirement and turn once again to elaborate thievery, this time with Franklin by his side.

The plot twist comes when Trevor, living just an hour away from Los Santos, hears of someone “pulling jobs” in a style identical to that of his former best friend. Trevor is the wild card of GTA V, a character marked by insanity and unflinchingly violent tendencies. Perhaps not so surprisingly, his missions (he is also a playable character, like Michael and Franklin) are the most bizarre yet wildly entertaining of the entire game. Trevor eventually discovers that Brad died nine years ago and was buried in Michael’s place. He becomes enraged and vows to kill Michael, a threat with a resolution I will not spoil. The game culminates in the grand robbery of a United States depository, the so-called “greatest score ever,” an appellation which does not disappoint.

GTA V is truly a modern epic, a high point in video gaming history and a game that has deservedly broken all sales records. Its style, a combination of hilarious yet morbid action and dialogue, is distinctly Grand Theft Auto, so fans of the series will certainly not be disappointed. Its biting satire of the glitz and glamour that often obscures the emotional turmoil typical of Los Angeles and its inhabitants is both well thought-out and executed. Although it is “just” a video game, Grand Theft Auto V is certainly one of the greatest experiences available in modern media. Its endless replayability and capacity to entertain make it a must-play, even if you are not a gamer. Long live GTA.