Just under a month ago, the gaming world was finally blessed with the addition of Heists to Grand Theft Auto V's online mode. Within them came a variety of challenges (called set-ups) which would all play a part in ensuring the main heist would go as smoothly as possible - but with five heists in total to complete, are we happy with the content available? The answer's a mixed one.
Heist number one - The Fleeca Job - acts as a two-player tutorial, where you and a friend or random member of the online universe have to infiltrate a small bank and retrieve a safety deposit box. One member of your team will be keeping the customers and staff in the bank quiet on Crowd Control as the driver, whilst the other will be the driller, someone who must hack into the bank's security system and then drill the correct box out of the wall, before driving away.
Two set-up missions for this heist are relatively easy. First you have to scope out the bank building and find a way to infiltrate the security. Secondly, you have to acquire an armoured Kuruma rally car from a local gang. (Note: Don't use explosives. The car's not THAT armoured. I found out the hard way...)
A brilliant ending ensures that players are on their toes and excited to get moving on with their next big heist - The Prison Break.
Set-up missions here include acquiring a getaway plane and prison bus so that a Russian scientist can be rescued from prison for the IAA. Of course, when you get into the compound in the main heist mode, things don't exactly go to plan and you're left fighting your way through scores of officers who are intent on bringing you down. It's a thrilling scenario.
Heist number three is titled The Humane Labs Raid, and included one of my favourite set-up missions where players - for once - had to quietly infiltrate a zone and take out those in their way silently so as not to allow the alarms to be set off. A total of five set-up missions have to be completed before the finale, which sees two members of your crew up in a helicopter ensuring that the other two members of your crew inside Humane Labs have as easy an experience as possible.
Penultimate heist Series-A Funding brings back a GTA 5 favourite in Trevor, who will have you and your friends attempting to steal a large quantity of drugs from The Lost. It's fantastic to see Trevor back - especially if you killed him in story mode - and he's just as wild as ever, wittering away down your ear as you do your best to concentrate on the task at hand.
A win here will see you get your final heist call from Lester this update, and the ability to take home a maximum score of $1,000,000 through The Pacific Standard Job.
This one is tough. You need patient, understanding players who will be OK with a smaller sum of money than first promised. It's likely impossible you will get away with the full amount during this heist, but it certainly makes for compelling gaming trying to do just that. Once your million dollars is bagged, there's a treacherous bike ride ahead before a big parachute jump and escape in a dinghy, all with the authorities hot on your tail.
It's clear that Rockstar have here put a lot of thought and effort into this portion of gameplay. Unfortunately because of such a long wait, when all five heists are over and done with, gamers are of course going to immediately demand more. Perhaps with just a few more heists - a total of eight would be fantastic - I'd be more appeased. But completing everything they have to offer within a month of release and just casual gameplay, I can't help but feel a little disappointed.