videogames are supposed to be fun, you know? i don't have any issue with the setting (except the piss filter oh how common in 7th gen games) but the missions are just so overly repetitive and linear, and the story getting practically nowhere doesn't help the gameplay any bit, the message is there but it isn't really solidified.
but it's really the best attempt in the series' history to make gta more like a crime movie rather than a meaty open-world crime sandbox, it's insanely polished compared to san andreas wastelands and rpg mechanics, the characters are memorable, the story doesn't feature area 51 raiding, even if not as good as people say it is, etc etc.