When it comes to establishing a solid atmosphere for a Grand Theft Auto title, location is everything. It's not enough to simply throw players into a splotchy suburb of some anonymous metropolis - the city needs to be alive, teaming with civilians and traffic. It needs to have an identity, a social structure, some evidence of reality buried beneath the layers of cynicism and dry humour.
Through the years, Rockstar has excelled at maintaining this illusion. The missions and storylines that play out through the duration of the game tie into the cities themselves, along with the characters (and innocent bystanders) that populate it. Although the concept of "free roam" gameplay is nothing new, the Grand Theft Auto franchise, through its use of vast cityscapes that mirror and mock major American locations, push the envelope on exactly what gamers consider to be true immersion.
Los Santos, City of Saints
Los Santos Facts
Nicknames: LS; City of SaintsState: San Andreas
Inspired by: Los Angeles, CA
Climate: Mediterranean
Grand Theft Auto V heads to the city of Los Santos, the fictional equivalent of Los Angeles. The city is the second largest in the United States in terms of population, and is most famous for being home to the movie industry. It is also well known for its sandy beaches, insane highways and gang-related crime, the latter of which has earned it the unenviable title of "Gang Capital of the World".
Los Santos featured previously in the GTA series, in the 2004 installment GTA: San Andreas. It should be noted, however, that Los Santos in GTA V has been completely reconstructed and re-imagined, and bears little resemblance to its previous incarnation.
Set in the present day, GTA 5 emphasizes the contrast between the rich and poor residents of Los Santos; between those living in exclusive Vinewood neighbourhoods, and those living in the slums of south central LS.
Beyond the City
Los Santos is surrounded by mountains and countryside.
In comparison to its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto IV, the topography in GTA V is much more diverse. The map is not limited merely to the city, but includes countryside, mountain ranges, small towns and beaches - a refreshing change from Liberty City's densely packed streets and rigid layout.
The countryside environment offers a different experience from the city. Gone are the skyscrapers of Downtown Los Santos, the concrete roads, congested freeways and gangbangers, replaced instead with dirt tracks, wind farms, rivers, farmhouses, mountains and enormous redwood trees.
The rural landscape will by no means be boring; it will feature side-missions and tasks to keep players busy, as well as a whole new garage of vehicles to play with. Each of the small towns scattered throughout the state will have its own unique layout and populace, meaning there will be plenty for players to explore.
Before We Knew...
Prior to Rockstar announcing that GTA V would take place in Los Santos, there were many theories circulating around the web about where the game would be held. In the end, we took a look at a few of the most prominent (and reasonable) candidates. If you're in the mood for a bit of nostalgia (or just want to see what brilliant ideas we came up with), the old Setting section is still available for viewing. Enjoy.v
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