Grand Theft Auto 5 marketing has finally been let out of the box, and no one is going to be able to put it back in. Rockstar Games has given fans months to get over the excitement stirred up by their GTA 5 announcement trailer, but with the release of not one, but three different character trailers introducing gamers to Michael, Franklin and Trevor, anticipation is at an all-time high.

To make the most of their time in the spotlight Rockstar has released a brand new batch of screenshots proving that their sense of humor hasn't changed over the years, and with the new gameplay details released alongside, the technical prowess of GTA 5's game world is nothing to scoff at either.

The trio of protagonists are clearly cut from a unique cloth, and the screenshots show that their somewhat eccentric behavior will absolutely be extending into their robberies. We're not going to argue that Halloween masks aren't a useful disguise when perpetrating felonies, but there's something about the game design evident in the new screenshots that could only come from the minds behind Grand Theft Auto.

The images speak for themselves, so have a look, and then we'll get down to the new gameplay details and customization systems:

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Besides continuing the trend of assuring fans that carnage will in fact be a major feature of GTA 5's campaign, the images confirm that while players will be able to swap between Michael, Franklin and Trevor to navigate the endless roads and skies of Los Santos, a number of missions will be thrusting the three together simultaneously. How will the developers manage the balance of both granting and taking away player agency? New details help explain the method to all this madness.

As part of the Grand Theft Auto 5 preview coverage released today (courtesy of Videogamer), how mission structure will encompass all three heroes is a bit clearer. Players will be able to jump from one character to the other as a means of more easily navigating the massive expanses of Los Santos - a city Rockstar confirms is five times the size of Red Dead Redemption's game world. That description includes the California countryside, airspace and the underwater portions of the game, to be clear.

While players will be restricted to playing as one character or another in larger scripted sequences, the open world (available to players from the very start) will offer a chance to use each protagonist to their own strengths. Besides being able to increase each character's skills through training - shoot, run or jump to build up the skill over time - each lead possess a unique ability fitting their back-story. Michael is able to slow down time while shooting, Frankin can do the same while driving, and Trevor being Trevor, has a rage mode that makes him more deadly and invulnerable when seriously wounded.

And despite Grand Theft Auto 5 releasing on the current generation of consoles, the developers are doing everything they can to make the game's world as open-ended as possible, with interaction a top priority. That means buying property, businesses, homes, engaging in extreme sports during downtime, and customizing characters' hair, tattoos, and clothing. Customization doesn't end with appearance though, as even guns and cars can be upgraded and personalized, presumably carrying over from vehicle to vehicle.

Of course, it wouldn't be a GTA game without criticism of its shooting mechanics and precision, and while only the full game will tell us if lessons have been learned, Rockstar claims to be making some major adjustments. A wider camera angle during combat, the addition of a 'combat jog' and the ability to dive out of harm's way all seek to make the shooting sections less frustrating, but we'll wait to see for ourselves if it does the trick.

Expect to see and hear more insider reports in the coming days and weeks, but for now, which of these changes seems most promising? Are you most likely to stick with the game's story, or does the open world of Los Santos sound like one to get lost in? Sound off in the comments.

Grand Theft Auto 5 will be available for Xbox 360 and PS3 on September 17th.

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Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.

Source: Videogamer