GTA IV was all about setting the bar in terms of story, tone, character development, gameplay, and more. GTA V followed from GTA IV except it had more of a focus on fun and more shit to do, while downing the story and tone elements
I think the story and the dark tone of the game was gold for the GTA Saga, the game gives you a little taste of one side of the real american dream and sometimes the story can take it self lightly and sometimes it can take it self real deep. I played the game a lot of times when i was a teenager, but now the game take a different meaning for me. (Sorry for my English)
Honestly I think this is the best gta the sa the v gta v was actually pretty disappointing looking back now because I can still play gta iv and enjoy online or single player but gta v I cant It just isnt as much fun theres something missing from that game and its just not the same as iv or sa or 3 etc.