In every way, " GTA V " on next-gen is the definitive experience. I'm not usually a massive fan of HD re-releases, but to lump GTA V 2014 in with the rest of those offerings is to do it a great disservice.

Back when Grand Theft Auto V was originally released, it seemed as if it was milking the very last drops of power out of the PS3 and Xbox 360. Los Santos made the dingy, depressing world of Grand Theft Auto IV feel obsolete by comparison; it was a return to the overstuffed and uninhibited game...

It's a solid game, but some features that weren't added last time still aren't present.

I called Grand Theft Auto V "fast, vast, and vile" in my original summation, and over a year later, that holds just as true today. The graphical upgrades, content additions, and new modes, including an impressive and initially disorienting first-person view, add a lot to the experience.

I have just spent a half-hour planning the perfect heist. I'm going in smart, knocking out the guards and the staff behind the delicate jewellery counters of the store with a carefully placed smoke bomb, and smashing into each cabinet with the butt of a semi-automatic rifle before making my escape...

Stunning visuals; The excellent first-person mode makes for a very different experience; The best writing and voice acting you'll see in a video game; Los Santos is the ideal virtual playground for anarchy; Thrilling heist missions

Some frame rate drops during busier moments; First-person doesn't work so well for vehicles

Last year was an interesting year for me. It was the first year I transitioned from doing industry-specific news to doing all of the features, previews, and reviews that come with writing for USgamer.

Set in the sprawling city of Los Santos and the surrounding area, Grand Theft Auto V delivers a world of unprecedented scale and detail bursting with life, from mountaintops to the depths of the ocean.

As always Grand Theft Auto's narrative is an expansive satirical look at American culture, and involve it's characters chasing the American dream, in the most ridiculous way possible.

Great Story; Well-developed open world; Great amount of content

First-person controls don't really work for certain gameplay elements; Faulty matchmaking; Missing features online from the campaign

Now, before I start talking about what new toys and features this release has, it needs to be said that a great deal of the content found on the PS4 version of GTAV is exactly the same as it was on the PS3 version .

First-Person mode changes the gameplay; High resolution textures; Same great game - a must play; Lots of new content

First-Person view limits visibility; Only a year away from original release; Mild pop-in

I played GTA5 on 360 for quite a good bit. Had multiple crews going across my friends list, doing jobs and the lot. Now I'm pretty much taking that to my PS4 Even though I had played this a year ago, I still find myself going back to it even though I have about two other titles I could play (FarCry...

Transfer character data across platforms (for me 360 to PS4) Includes all previous updates from last gen consoles Allows for larger free roam and activity lobbies Now offers First Person mode

Takes a bit of time for initial install Takes about five minutes to load into story or online when starting Has micro-transactions (personal dislike