The wishes I have for Grand Theft Auto 5's environment.

To begin with I feel Grand Theft Auto 5 should be an amalgamation of all the work R* has put into its games this console cycle. When they released GTA4 back in 2008 they achieved something that no developer has managed since. They created a living, breathing city that was so detailed it was almost tangible. It was populated by people who conversed, drank coffee, used umbrellas in the rain and ran in panic from gun fire.

It managed however to polarise fans of the series. With it's heavier car handling, serious tone and story and by greatly reducing the available activities it left some fans of San Andreas and Vice City disappointed. I did not find these issues to be in detriment to the game however but I was pleasently surprised with the two expansions.

The Ballad of Gay Tony in particular which bought back some of the zany antics of previous GTA games, added a colourful story but, importantly, did not compromise what R* achieved in GTA4 proper. R* were heading in the right direction.

With the release of the fantastic Red Dead Redemption R* again proved their ability to create rich and detailed environments. This time they created a gorgeous recreation of the hard country in a rapidly developing United States and despite its emptiness managed to make it rewarding to explore. Hunting animals or even just watching them was a delightful experience. The game had its very own ecosystem and it worked wonderfully. Not only that but it gave the player a wealth of activities to indulge in. I lost a lot of hours playing poker.

Now with that in mind I pose this question. Would it not make for R* to combine these elements to create GTA5?

I would like to see one large city in the centre of an expansive map (smaller than Just Cause mind) surrounded by different kinds of countryside inspired by Americas breathtaking National Parks and dotted with small American towns.

I'd love to be driving on twisting mountain roads weaving their way through forests. As I get further toward the top I put snowchains on my car. I round a tight corner and have to slam the brakes on to avoid hitting a moose standing in the middle of the road. Reaching the peak I find a lonely cabin with a Sanchez parked out front. I grab a parachute from the boot of my car, mount the Sanchez and ride it straight off the mountain with the urban sprawl in the distance.
Discarding the bike and deploying my chute I notice a shack with a small pier in an Everglades type area. As I land I notice an alligator bubbling back under the surface of the water. I board the hovercraft and set off into the horizon not knowing what i'll find next.