Grand Theft Auto 5 Reviews and Thoughts

Despite its latest release on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One being over a year old, Grand Theft Auto V managed to outsell nearly every game in January 2016, according to the NPD. The question on everyone's mind, including game journalists and industry veterans, is how can this game still dominate the sales charts after such a long time? It's a no-brainer: Grand Theft Auto V's online modes, including the addition of the Heist game mode, have given this game the advantage it needs to continue to stay fun long after release.

At its core, GTA V Online, the online component of GTA V, drops up to 16 players into the game's virtual world of San Andreas. Players are free to murder, loot and pillage their fellow man just like in single-player mode, but the only exception is their online friends and enemies are there to take join in on the action. As fun as it is just to cruise around and cause blind mayhem, the variety of multiplayer games to join, such as deathmatch, racing and robberies, give players a more structured experience if they want one. Thanks to the GTA V creator toolset, players can even create brand new multiplayer game types, making replayability practically endless.

However, as fun as these modes are coupled with the extra clothing, cars and weapons Rockstar adds to the game for free on a regular basis, it still wouldn't be enough to hold most gamers' attention spans for years. GTA V Online is fun, but repetition still can set in with the majority of the game's multiplayer modes after a while. However, with the Heist online multiplayer mode, Rockstar has given the game the shot in the arm it needed for it to become one of the top-selling games years after its release.

GTA V Online's Heist mode is very similar to the single-player component many claimed was their favorite part of the game. Rather than having players working together in the same location towards a singular objective, each player in a heist is given their own responsibilities and unique objectives to complete. For example, one player must pilot the helicopter as another player uses the tools necessary to break in, and a third player stays perched on a nearby building with a sniper rifle, ready to pick off anyone who might pose a threat. A combination of gaming skills and communication will let players pull off the heist of the century, but foregoing any of these skills may see your heist end with disastrous results. Very few games employ the sort of experiences you'll find in a GTA V Online heist, and it's what makes players come back to this game mode again and again. The feeling of successfully pulling off a heist by the skin of your teeth is unmatched by any other game on the market today.

If you're a fan of multiplayer gaming revolving around teamwork and cinematic experiences, GTA V Online's Heist mode is a must-play. Even if you've beaten and traded in the game, it's worth picking it up again just to give it a try. It goes without saying the game is worth it to newcomers just for its single-player mode, but veterans can still enjoy one of the best multiplayer experiences in gaming today; between Heist mode and Rockstar's continuing addition of new content, GTA V is still fresh years after release.