Ok, discussion is OPEN:
GTA has graduated from a series of sometimes memorable violent events strung together with spotty dialogue to a full-blown playable television show that I'd watch in a heartbeat. Great characterization, writing and the three characters idea makes actual sense.
Feel like gangbanging it up? Franklin is your man.
Feel like being a middle-aged thief who's only affirmation comes from setting-up and executing complicated heists? Michael lets you live the life and laugh at his over-privileged family.
Feel like watching an unhinged psychopath plow a trail of destruction across the valley? Trevor Time.
Seriously, I'm driving Trevor down the block and see one of the 'blue blip' random encounters. Up until this point, I'd been playing Michael and Franklin like latter-day street saints, helping out people in need. I walk Trevor up to a Scientologist proxy and the interaction begins. The guy starts going on about religion and such and Trevor just starts swearing like a street bum at the guy. The guy stands there after making his looney Hubbard-esque spiel which gives me a lame-ass link to follow on my cell phone. So I do what Trevor would do in this situation, kick the guy in the balls and continue on.
[spoiler]I was on the way to Michaels house as Trevor for their initial reunion, so I dressed Trevor up in the finest Neil Hamburger tuxedo, full-on mullet and Elvis glasses. Michael at this point has a shaved head, looks like comedian Jim Norton, and is wearing a Reservoir Dogs getup. Of course, this mission is where they both team-up to save Michael's daughter from the American Idol-ish audition, so make your own mental picture at this point[/spoiler]
Early reaction: This is what video games have been striving for. Actual plot. Characterization that's more than an afterthought, is consistent, and follows a story arc. Trevor. Easily the best open world game I've ever played, and right up there with the best due to the sheer entertainment factor of watching these disparate elements flow together like the best tv shows and movies do.
