GTA V: Los Stantos Tuners, It’s The Fast & Furious Game
July 20, 2021Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V may be about a decade old by now, but it still feels as fresh as the day it was released. This is due in part to the perpetual improvements, updates, DLCs and features added to its online multiplayer part of the game. The release of Los Santos Tuners on July 20th, is the latest example of this practice.
However, unlike DLCs and updates that preceded it, Los Santos Tuners feels like a different kettle of fish. It’s basically a game within a game. This feels like a mishmash of sorts, because it draws inspiration from the Fast & Furious movies and Need For Speed (2015). It’s an attempt to bring the car culture scene to the virtual world.
Unlike the chaotic world of GTA V Online’s open world gameplay, Los Santos Tuners is a breath of fresh air. Once the update is installed, you should have an LS icon appear on your map somewhere within the Cypress Flats district. You’ll need to drive there and enter a garage to begin.
Once in, you are greeted by an unfamiliar scene of camaraderie between car owners as they come together to show off their vehicles. The ambience is typical of any car meet, several dozens of like minded people coming together to display their best work. The plethora of modified vehicles and characters on the scene seems surreal.
A great deal of effort was placed by the game developers to make Los Santos Tuners a reality and it’s a stark departure from what we are used to seeing from GTA. The absence of gratuitous violence, explosions or anything else of that nature, is astonishing. You’ll need to check your guns and attitude at the door. You can’t intentionally knock people down either.
The World of Los Santos Tuners
Your main contact is Mimi, who introduces you to the underground scene of Los Santos. To start you’ll need to buy a $50k membership. From there, you will gain access to many races and jobs that see you progress through the mini story. Your reputation progress brings with it new benefits that are unlocked after each level.
According to Rockstar, you earn rep by participating in (and winning) races, daily login bonuses, putting in time on the Test Track, and even just hanging out at the Car Meet. This also gets you several rewards including:
– Access to fashionable gear
– New car customization options
– Trade Prices on certain vehicles
– Access to new Race modes
– Ability to hold your own private Car Meet.
The game also gives you access to a test track where you can sample a rotating selection of test vehicles. Prize Ride Challenges offer the opportunity of winning a special prize ride and get access to a range of special shops and features. This includes the Merch Shop, Tattoo Shop and Modding Area.
There’s also a Private Takeover option. This is where you can set customizable lighting and banner colors to decorate a private car meet where you and your friends can show off your cars. On the test track you can engage in head-to-head (short format race), scramble (collect checkpoints) and Time Trials events.
Credit: Rockstar
Once you become a member, the Street Race Series and Pursuit Series becomes accessible to you. The former involves racing from start to finish on the streets of Los Santos. The latter draws inspiration from the Need For Speed games. You race your online opponents to several checkpoints in the race while being hunted by the LSPD.
The police setup stationary roadblocks, coordinated rolling blocks and exhibited tactics to slow you down. They even deploy a helicopter that pursues your entire group of street racing delinquents. Unlike NFS, the LSPD uses live ammunition to take you out, so tread carefully with them – the chopper does the same.
Sprint offers a point to point challenge in Freemode where you and three other online opponents from LS Car Meet race across multiple locations. In total there are 7 new cars to unlock, 10 of which will be available today. In addition to this, when the update launches for the PS5 and Xbox Series X I S, certain vehicles get upgradeable options.
Los Santos Tuners offers many hours of enjoyable street racing madness as the online GTA V community comes together to celebrate everything automotive. It’s like Need For Speed Underground, but in an actual open world environment where you can shoot people. Try it out for yourself now.
