It has been a long five years since the last Grand Theft Auto release, but finally, GTA V came out Sept. 17. This game is such a euphoric adventure that I had to bring my friend, junior Alina Sargsian, along for the ride.

GTA V hits some nostalgic moments when the game makes references to GTA IV characters and includes Grove Street from San Andreas where the main character, Carl “CJ” Johnson, lives. I talked to Sargsian about this part of the game and many more aspects of GTA V in general.

Baboomian: I loved seeing Grove Street again in this new GTA and playing on the famous cul de Sac of Grove Street in San Andreas, even if the characters were called there under false pretenses. I love that part in the game because that part of the game was where Trevor showed his true worth to Franklin and Lamar.

Sargsian: When I saw Grove Street, I was reminded of my childhood when I would play San Andreas with my older brother. I used to play San Andreas on Sony PlayStation 2 when it came out in 2004 so just to see that that little part Grove Street and the cul de sac in high quality graphics really warmed my heart. The one thing I really miss about the old GTA’s, though, is the police. The police in GTA V are so much more difficult to get away from.

Baboomian: That’s what makes it more realistic. Real police don’t wait ten seconds then stop a search and they don’t only come from one direction. Everything about this new GTA is much more realistic than all the older ones.

Sargsian: The sky, to me, is the most authentic part of the game. You can see the sunrise and sunset. When you drive in the city, you can’t see any stars, only skyscrapers; but when you’re in the country, the sky is full of stars and the clouds are clearer to see.

Baboomian: The most authentic looking aspect of the game, to me, is the beach. Everything is so exact, from the shore to the waves. Another cool thing about the beach is that there is always a jet ski whenever you approach the shore. Racing the jet skis at night is so fun because the stars shine so bright and the waves sparkle as they crash, but you can’t use Franklin’s special ability to slow down time while racing.

Sargsian: Franklin is my favorite character because of that ability to slow down time while driving. The ability makes it so much easier to make sharp turns. Also, he is the most relatable to you and me. He is the youngest of the three characters and is the one that is trying to get his adult life started.

Baboomian: One interesting thing that was put into this GTA that hasn’t been seen in previous GTA games is the torture scene. I call this a scene because all you need to do is click a few buttons to torture the man in the chair. While I was going through it, I felt a little uncomfortable torturing this man and thought others would feel the same.

Sargsian: I know, I felt the same way, especially when I the controller vibrated his the tortured man’s heartbeat; but I don’t think the scene is a problem because the game allows you to skip it if you want.

Baboomian: Overall, I think everyone can relate to this game and to all three of the characters, because even though they have completely different personalities from each other, they all have the same goal: to make something of themselves and to make a life for themselves, which is what we’re all trying to do.