Feature: The GTA V Debut Trailer Under The Microscope

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Dan Webb

By now everyone should have already gushed over the brand new Grand Theft Auto V trailer long enough and be already picking it apart at the seams... we’re way ahead of you.

After much toing and froing between Rich and myself as to which trailer was better – GTA IV versus GTA V (Rich incidentally said V and I didn’t think it had the same impact and style that IV had) – we eventually got around to picking apart the trailer and breaking it down for you – with screens galore – from the main character and the music choice, to the setting and observations we made.

Join us then as we get our magnifying glasses out and speculate like crazy!

The main character:

The lead character, presumably seen at 0:40, talks about moving to Los Santos and buying a big house to be a “good guy” for once and to be a father. Whether he is one yet, it doesn’t really insinuate, but it does go on to say that basically, the shit hit the fan and things never turn out the way you plan. Go figure!

Is it Tommy Vercetti? Isn’t it? The internet seems split on this, but we’re not convinced. For one, Rockstar aren’t known to bring back old characters to take centre stage in their new games, especially Grand Theft Auto! And for two, it may look like an older version of him, but it doesn’t sound like him... bringing back Vercetti without Liotta would be criminal! It could be, but we’re not convinced yet.

The music:

Rockstar love their music in their trailers and this latest one is no different. Thanks to the wonderful Shazam we can tell you that the trailer’s song is a 1968 song from the British band, Small Faces and is in fact the title track from their Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake album.

Does that mean it’s set in the 60s? Not necessarily, it could be a song from one of the classic rock stations they usually have in the game and everything in the trailer suggests it’s more current day than anything else.

The setting:

There’s a lot of speculation around the internet that the next game is set in San Andreas, but that, going by this trailer alone, is purely speculation and nothing more. Nothing in the trailer suggests that it goes outside the confines of the fictional LA and its surrounding areas, and other than a few number plates with San Andreas on them (Los Santos is still in San Andreas, after all) that’s all we have to go on. Whether that was Rockstar’s intention, who knows, and for all we know they could show off Las Venturas and San Fierro in the second and third trailer, but until we see definitive proof or hear it from the horse’s mouth, we’re not committing. It wouldn’t surprise us, but to assume is to make an ass out of you and me.

The trailer (the breakdown):

So that’s the nitty gritty out the way, let’s focus on the trailer itself and all the stuff that you could miss if you blinked... you know, in typical Rockstar fashion!

Awwww, such a pretty sunset on the beach. We hope there's red Baywatch swimming costumes in there... What's that? A dog? Yes, it is.

People running? Big whoop, right? But what about the other women running the other way, turning around to check out the bods of the male runners? Very cool... does that mean we can expect more reactive pedestrian AI?

Two things: they're playing golf and there's a big ass blimp in the sky. Can we fly it? Can we crash into it? Let's hope so.

Jet skis are in. Great. Dudes wearing blue shorts, yellow life jackets and yellow shades. Not so great.

Fancy a hike up into the surrounding hills... well, mountains, then it looks like that's an option. Or, you could just go into the hills and pick off other hikers with a sniper rifle. We'll take the second option.

It looks like GTA V welcomes convertible cars that can switch from open-top to closed-top with the click of a button. You know, because you don't want our virtual protagonist to get rain pixels on his lovely hair.

"E Cola - Deliciously Infectious" - Ahhh, Rockstar, good to see the humour's still there!

Nothing particularly noteworthy here, expect those cool looking wind turbines and dirt roads.

People exercising on the balcony? It looks like the attention to detail is as much a part of the franchise than ever before.

Two things: Little Seoul and the Los Puerta Freeway. A couple of locations that will feature in the game then.

Ladies and gents, let us present Venice Beach, or as Rockstar call it, Muscle Sands. Notice that it confirms that the city is indeed called Los Santos on the same sign.

A quick snapshot of who we assume will be our main protagonist and downtown Los Santos.

What do we have here then? Some dude with terrible dress sense, a dilapidated neighbourhood and some street baller giving him the eyes. I sense danger for one person here...

Anyone fancy a visit to the Mile High Club?

A biplane, cherry pickers and crop dusting... just another day in the surrounding areas of LS!

Again, the supposed lead character busts out of a "Bugstars" van to pull a heist on a jewellery shop. Bugstars, according to the side of the van, are looking to put the "FU in fumigate." Love it!

The number plate says San Andreas, in case you wondered... well, we think it does.

Another number plate, another San Andreas reference. What is our obsession with number plates!?

Homeless people in LA!? Sorry, I mean, LS! Whodathunk it!?

A nice little snapshot of the side of a mail truck. This is definitely a blink and you'll miss it shot... and another subtle (or not so subtle) Rockstar jab at American culture.

A for sale sign being knocked into the lawn? Recycling cans? Trash on the floor? The house number on the curb? Again, the attention to detail is astonishing!

Halo has Spartans. Uncharted has Nathan Drake. GTA has hookers... lots of hookers!

If the homeless are all going to be this funny, we may run out of money quick! In case you can't read it, it says "Need money for beer, drugs and hookers. At least I'm not bullshitting u!"

Yes, more homeless people, this time with tents made out of tarpaulin and other junk.

Jets. Are. Back. Hells. Yes!

Outside of a club called Tequi-La-La and under an advert for Enema (ha!), we see a man being thrown out of a club. We get the feeling he's a tad drunk!

Welcome to Los Santos, the city of epic sunsets and smog.

Police chases? In GTA? With cars trading paint? Check, check and double check!

Helicopters, check. Police foot chases, check. You know, the usual GTA stuff.

The iconic Vinewood sign on Vinewood hill which rose to fame in San Andreas in Rockstar's take on Hollywood. Yes, this is still classed as Los Santos.

Jets... Did we mention jets were back? Yes, well let us say it again... there's jets in GTA V!!

Comments
43
  • Can't stop salivating...
  • Mmmm... Can you smell it? it smells like total awesomenes!
  • Oh man, I can tell this is going to be a big improvement over GTA 4.
  • Is "tarpooling" the same as "tarpaulin"?
  • I think we might be looking at at least 3 protags; the one who`s narrating, but also two others. The guys busting out of the pest removal van look ever so slightly familar to the guy running away from the helicopter, and the guy in the convertible.
  • Ahhh... is good to go back to Los Santos, was my favourite city in San Andreas, San Fierro was boring and with a lot of fog and Las Venturas had a lot of Highway (with a lot of problems about the cars velocity) and also had a lot of casinos. Well glad to see Los Santos again!, with their beachs, mountains, countryside areas and of course their "bad-spanish-translations" names like "El corona" and now "Los puerta" (seriously?)
  • one word: SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTT
  • @4 - Ha! Yes it is! =P Cheers, fixed. That'll teach me to rush =)
  • This looks so cool. Hype hype hype...
  • Looks alright. It's gonna be so over hyped though :/
  • "Halo has Spartans. Uncharted has Nathan Drake. GTA has hookers... lots of hookers!" - Brilliant. :D
  • Need moar.. GTA is like a drug o.o
  • I liked how the motto on the side of the police cruisers is "Obey and Survive", LOL! Can't wait, this really looks good.
  • the turbines are on the way to LA everyone. so sick, I am so gettin this and saint row 3, not one
  • Let the countdown begin for the Pre-order date!!!
  • I just pray they get online right, or just not include it at all, I would rather have them but all attention into making a great Single player experience, then to have some of the development time shifted to making a very subpar and tedious online mode.
  • Infinitely Yours, Little Seoul
  • Believe me when i say this, i dont know if its true, but a guy on a rockstar forum said, the character you play as is a Columbian man named Xavier. He also said something about a tsunami :S and a new world order???!!??? Also there will be gangs and also riots, i hope this is true, i dont wanna make myself look an idiot, again this is pure rumours!!!
  • when is it out as i want it now now now i tell u lol i love gta
  • I think I spotted a cat between the 2nd pic jogger's legs! AND most importantly: there's a Futo parked at the for sale house - Best. Ride. Ever.
  • Personally i Hope San Fiero and Las venturas are also available, but Los Santos alone is good as well. Cant wait for a next trailer and ik want to play it right knowww.
  • @21 I totally agree with you.
  • There will be Bikes to ! You can see one in the trailer, when a men is setting his house for sale. Bike is leaning against the house.
  • if you can ride bikes again,, its going to just be a remastered ver. of GTA San Adreas just with a new character, not complaining,, but if online,, NO ONLINE TROPHIES stick em to just be story only.
  • I'm all about the PLANES.
  • Un. Real. Just this morning I was listening to old Cypress Hill on the way to work and actually mentioned San Andreas and its cool soundtrack. Pumped.
  • Jets ? Awesome. Jetpacks would make it just PERFECT.
  • Dogs? Bikes? Blimps? Jets? BRING IT ON
  • kl hope its as gd as san andreas and vice city , and please keep it offline only
  • If you freeze the video around 1:05-1:06, you can see the Los Santos city's seal, which has Bigfoot in the lower right section.
  • I cannot wait for this to come out. It's nice that we get to revisit Los Santos (hopefully all of San Andreas). Definitely keeping this on my radar and pre-ordering my copy as soon as I can.
  • This has the got to be the game I've been most excited for EVER. Seriously, it looks amazing. Bright colours (unlike GTAIV), varied environments, astonishing attention to detail. I'm gonna go change my pants now...
  • umm, the one photo of the dude hitting the home for sale sign, thats my real address. lol, i feel special.
  • whats the chances of the pic with the for sale sign meaning the release date,like the game will be on sale the 24th may? lol
  • actually forget what i said as it would have to be 0524 seein as america has a different date format than the uk.
  • Oh. Hell. Yes.
  • All of my hopes and dreams have come true. No signs of bicycles, but it's not that big of a deal. I'm just looking forward to that massive scale that Rockstar said GTAV would have. It sucks that there's still no release date announced, but I'm sure we'll find out by E3.
  • ok guys, as i said earlier, you apparently play as Xavier, here are a list of things about the game, and again they might not be real!!! 1. The protagonist is not named "Adrian" or whatever- he is hispanic though (Columbian) and his name is "Xavier". The name Xavier was chosen for the "X" initial. 2. The game takes place in San Andreas in 2012. There will be a timeline with days of the week, a calender, and dates. WW 3 breaks out on the date 12-12-12 in the game and changes the story drastically, and there will be a tsunami. Xavier goes from seeking revenge, and being a big time drug dealer, to saving many people, and being a real hero (Xavier means Savior in English). 3. The map is about twice as big as GTA 4, and much more detailed. The map will be very similar to the old San Andreas, although there will be major changes to the environment. 4. Xavier is young, and the game starts out on his graduation day from High School- everything is going great- until a drive-by kills his brother at the graduation ceremony. 5. Xavier will be buying a lot of properties like GTA San Andreas- but looses most of his properties from the tsunami at the outbreak of WW 3. 6. There will be gang wars- but everyone comes together to fight a common enemy. You will go from killing cops- to being a vigilante and helping the cops. 7. There will be military, but you will go from fighting against them when you have 6 stars, to working with them in a big way. 8. There will be a huge battleship that you will pilot that has big artillery, missiles, and guns that will be manned by other players in multiplayer. 9. There will be jet fighters, helicopters, drones, tanks, a submarine, wingsuits, jetpacks, and parachuting. There will be much higher altitudes, and dogfighting will be back- it will be in multiplayer mode. 10. There will be a few cars that are set up for drifting. You can mod cars, bikes, and trucks in mod shops. There will be * lowriders, Monster trucks, and a car like the one in James Bond's
  • Take a look to that image with trash cans There's a plate with "For Sale" And on the floor "2405".... Could 24/05 be the realese date ???
  • @38 Some of those facts about the game are pretty crazy! I wonder if any will be true
  • I thought the guy might be Claude from GTA III whose name wasn't revealed until GTA San Andreas and although they don't bring characters back, they always make mention of previous characters and have some sort of connection. @38 You could have just as well said that there will be zombies and you can fly to the moon, but it is just speculation until we can get more confirmed details about this game. Either way, I can't wait.
  • Give some hardcore gamers a stupid trailer and it will keep them busy for days ;-). Although I love what some people find out about the trailer, I think the most people are guessing way wrong. I really don't care where it is or who I am. I just hope the game missions will be cruel and the map will be big. Ps: nice cars and lots of hookers will also be great :p
  • this is just great :) cant wait
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