Rockstar Games put out 3 new trailers today for long-awaited sequel, Grand Theft Auto V. The game, coming September 17th for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, will feature 3 protagonists with intersecting plotlines. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor each got their own trailer today, fleshing out their characters and the narrative of the game. Rockstar’s titles have become increasingly polished and cinematic over the years, and GTA V looks like it will push the envelope even further. The voice acting and characterization is Hollywood grade and the licensed music, a GTA hallmark, really adds to the film trailer quality of the clips. Check them out below:
Michael is a wealthy, middle-aged former bank robber with a family. Franklin works for a business that repossesses cars and is mixed up in shadier business on the side. Trevor comes off as a wild card, and someone without any self control or social graces.
Grand Theft Auto 5 takes place in Los Santos, the version of Los Angeles from 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. According to Rockstar, it will be bigger than the areas from the all the former games combined. You’ll play all 3 protagonists as their intersecting narratives lead you through the missions of the games.
GTA V was delayed from its Spring 2013 release and pushed back to September 17th, so these trailers will have to tide you over for now. They show the level of polish and storytelling that we’ve come to expect from Rockstar titles, but there’s also a little something extra….
Blink and you’ll miss it, but around 3:30 it appears that Trevor (of course it’s Trevor) is hanging out with a Juggalo!
If you aren’t familiar, Juggalos are the fans and followers of horror core rappers, Insane Clown Posse. They’re known for their love of facepaint, Faygo soda and all things Psychopathic records. If you want any more background, this fascinating documentary (NSFW!!) shows them in the wild practicing their strange and confusing customs. You might want to hold off on the popcorn, though.
I have to admit, I’m a little bit obsessed with Juggalos. In recent years the Miracles video and all those strange Gathering of the Juggalos infomercials brought them back into a national consciousness that was happy to have forgotten them long ago. The inclusion of a Juggalo character in the latest GTA marks a major development in Juggalo culture. Juggalos have been down with the clown since day one, and it’s finally paying off. I really hope this character is more than just a one off joke, and he has a role in the story. Rockstar’s writers could do a lot with him!