History YMMV / GrandTheftAutoV

** The PC version. ''GTA IV''[='=]s PC port was not that great when it first came out, with three pieces of DRM tied-in ([=SecuROM=], Games for Windows -- Live, and the Rockstar Games Social Club) and some pretty high requirements for the time, yet it was not a stable game. Its only redeeming parts were the video editor, the usual support for custom music through Independence FM, high resolution support and 60fps gameplay, and having a ''huge'' modding community. Come the much-delayed ''GTA V'' PC version in 2015, and we have a much better-looking and (for the most part) more stable game. It comes with a large palate of custom settings, an even better video editor, less DRM (just the Rockstar Games Social Club, plus UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} if purchased from there), great graphics with 4K resolution and 60fps support, and, as always, support for custom music through Self Radio (with [[MundaneMadeAwesome the newly-added ability to show artist and song title metadata]]).

** Peter Dreyfuss (two "L"s), a legendary filmmaker of the UsefulNotes/NewHollywood era [[spoiler:who brutally murdered a young starlet named Leonora Johnson as [[MadArtist part of his "art"]]]], is a transparent parody of Creator/RomanPolanski, a legendary filmmaker of the New Hollywood era who left the US for France after he was convicted of statutory rape and has since been accused of other cases of such. In 2019, Polański wrote and directed ''Film/AnOfficerAndASpy'', a film about the Dreyfus affair (one "L") in ''fin-de siècle'' France in which a Jewish officer in the French Army was falsely accused of espionage and treason, a story that struck many critics as Polański commenting on his own legal problems and allegations.

** The popular game console in-universe is the Exsorbeo 720, a possible reference to how people thought a successor to the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 would be called the "Xbox 720". ''V'' was released the very year the 360's successor was announced, and it was called the UsefulNotes/XboxOne instead. And even if it wasn't, it still dates the game to the days when the seventh-gen consoles were the latest.

** The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360 versions push their respective consoles to their absolute limits. While there are some instances of texture loading problems and the game freezing, the fact that Rockstar gave gamers a game that can pass off as an early next-gen looking title on almost 10 year old hardware is an amazing feat nevertheless.

** Franklin is popularly paired up with Tracey, despite them never properly interacting in the story.
** Both Franklin and Trevor have the option of beginning a relationship with insane hitchhiker Ursula, however due to her "unique" personality and Franklin having another unique relationship with a potential cab customer, she and Trevor are the better fit.

** One of Franklin's other possible choices is Elisa, a woman he helps out with a {{Jerkass}} boyfriend, by beating the crap out of him, she immediately is grateful towards him and becomes an exclusive booty call for him.

* MemeticLoser: Due to the infamous roasting scene from "Franklin and Lamar", Franklin ends up being constantly roasted by not only Lamar, but just about any fictional character. It gets to the point where [[https://youtu.be/6036KGPIVtg?feature=shared Lamar mentors multiple fictional characters on how to roast Franklin]].

* AccidentalAesop: Trevor, serving as a kind of AntiRoleModel, inadvertently makes a case for legalization during his "Grass Roots" mission, complaining it would put him out of business.

** Many wish that Lamar got to join up to help with the heists. He's already friends with Franklin and Trevor, there's some setup for him to meet formally meet Michael, and while Lamar may not be the most qualified person for the job, the same can easily be said for many of the cheaper crew members. The fact that Franklin promises to let him in on the next big heist but never actually does makes it even more noticeable.

** There's clearly something off about Michael. He frequently uses extreme force when dealing with mundane tasks, (see DisproportionateRetribution below) is anti-social, and appears to suffer from a LackOfEmpathy. (If the player kills a couple [=NPCs=], and then goes to Michael's therapist, he'll acknowledge the killings, saying that he "Doesn't even care." His tone of voice even indicates that he feels guilty, about NOT feeling any guilt.) His therapist diagnoses him differently depending on how you play. Including, but not limited to: A NiceGuy with a terrible homelife, a Sociopath, a Psychopath, both a Sociopath, AND a psychopath (despite them being the same thing), and a sexual deviant.

* CompleteMonster: [[MoreHateableMinorVillain Peter Dreyfuss]] is a seemingly eccentric but egotistical [[DirtyOldMan retired]] Vinewood director, and a twisted "[[MadArtist artist]]" obsessed with [[{{Sadist}} the suffering of others]]. The culprit of Leonora Johnson's [[ColdBloodedTorture infamous murder]], Dreyfuss had tortured and raped Leonora for an extended period, mutilating her both physically and sexually while she was still alive, before decapitating her. Years after the fact, Dreyfuss torments her surviving family with taunting phone calls and messages, regularly sending them Leonora's belongings and severed body parts. In a confession letter to his "friend", Dreyfuss subtly belittles him for not understanding why he did it, comparing it to other instances of torturing hitchhikers; sleeping with young girls; and paying two prostitutes to stab each other. Confronted by Franklin, Dreyfuss cowardly tries to flee, attempting to justify himself by claiming he "immortalized" Leonora through his art.

* ApprovalOfGod: Shawn Fonteno, the former rapper and actor who played Franklin, [[https://www.instagram.com/p/CJT_2Y5nyj_/ reuploaded]] a [[MemeticMutation parody]] video of his character being roasted by Kermit the Frog, showing his approval of the meme. Lamar actor Slink Johnson also [[https://www.instagram.com/p/CJtZ7uMsf98/ voiced]] his approval in an Instagram post.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'''s missions were criticized for being repetitive in their nature, a lot of them having Niko being told to chase and assassinate someone with little variation. Rockstar addressed this with a wide plethora of missions, particularly with the heists. The assassination missions proper were reduced to being optional but with high payouts, particularly with manipulating the stock market.

** The entire subplot involving the Minute Men becomes somewhat uncomfortable and extremely controversial in the wake of the [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump Trump]] era, which came three years after the release of ''GTA V''. Given that the Trump era is prone to FlameBait.

** The entire subplot involving the Minute Men becomes somewhat uncomfortable and extremely controversial in the wake of the [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump Trump]] era, which came three years after the release of ''GTA V''. Given that the Trump era is prone to FlameBait, [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement we'll just leave it at that]].

** Michael. He is either a deeply troubled man who only wants the best for his family and to become a better person, or an unsympathetic selfish hypocrite who uses the fact that he has a family to pretend he is a better person than he actually is. While he isn't as psychotic as Trevor, Michael is implied to have cheated on Amanda first, and he screws over Franklin so he could meet his idol, but he also seems to genuinely love his family.