Rockstar has teased Grand Theft Auto fans with various images and videos for the upcoming fifth entry in the franchise, but now gamers everywhere can get their first look at actual gameplay.
The Grand Theft Auto V gameplay trailer stresses some of the important changes coming to the series, namely the inclusion of three main characters. Michael, Trevor and Franklin all play important roles in the narrative, but they also tie directly into the game’s mechanics.
Players will be able to swap around between the three characters with just the click of a button, which gives unique insight into each of their lives. When the player doesn’t directly control Michael, Trevor, or Franklin, the three protagonists still go about their daily business.
The switching mechanic also applies to Grand Theft Auto V‘s main heist missions, in which the three characters all serve different purposes. One example in the video shows Michael rappeling down the side of a building while Franklin provides sniper support and Trevor controls a helicopter. It’s up to the player to decide which role they want to play at any given time.
The gameplay video also highlighted a lot of side activities, a trademark of the Grand Theft Auto series. But this time it seems like actually taking part in those mini-games will be a lot more fun, whether it’s scuba diving, base-jumping, or any other thrill-seeking activity. Tennis in particular looked impressive since the mechanics seem to mimic titles like Top Spin and Virtua Tennis.
The end of the video teases Grand Theft Auto V‘s online multiplayer component, which looks crazy and chaotic in all the right ways. More details on that will come in the near future.
The entire gameplay video can be viewed below. Grand Theft Auto V is scheduled to come out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on September 17.
