Grand Theft Auto V has been out for a while now, but because it's a Rockstar game, its massive open-world environment is still drawing people in. We may have traveled the streets of Los Santos before, but odds are, every time we replay the game and visit those streets again, we're going to discover something new. I'm telling you, this game is huge. I barely started exploring underwater areas the last time I picked it up. I was basically missing out on a fifth of the world because I didn't spend enough time diving.

However, just because we're returning to play Grand Theft Auto V again, doesn't mean we know everything about it. To this day, I'm still learning how to properly play the game. (It's like this with every game I play made by Rockstar Games. Took me too long to figure out how to fast travel in Red Dead Redemption 2.) GTA V has plenty of tricks up its sleeves, and it takes a person with patience and a lot of time on their hands to learn them all.

There are a few simple things you can do to make your GTA experience more palatable. And by more palatable, I mean easier to play the second (or third) time you play it. The game is already plenty enjoyable. These tips will either be mechanics you had no clue existed or they will be mechanics so simple you never thought to use them. Read on if you want to learn (or re-learn if you're a GTA master) some awesome tricks from GTA V. 

25 Citizens In Need Can Pay Off

Random events are scattered across the world of GTA V. Usually, it's some unfortunate soul who needs a favor from your character, like a ride or something like that.

It may be an inconvenience, but indulging those NPCs can be a boon to you.

Some of them may pay you for your troubles (like that one guy who Michael helped who dropped a boatload of cash on his lap). Others might turn a profit at the Altruist Cult. (For those who don't know, that's a cult of flesh-roasters chilling at the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness.)

24 Gotta Go Fast

The cheats that are available for GTA V have been around for a while, published on nearly any gaming website you can find. One of the most useful cheat codes is the one that enables Fast Run.

On the Xbox, the code is Y, Left, Right, Right, LT, LB, X. On the PlayStation, the code is Triangle, Left, Right, Right, L2, L1, Square. Honestly, the GTA running animations have always made me laugh because they make your character feel so unwieldy. Seeing those motions more quickly is a riot.

23 Chop Chop, Chop

Chop is more than just a good boy. If you take the time to get the iFruit app on your mobile device and care for Chop in the mini-games available, he will begin to bring collectibles to Franklin.

I know it's a hassle to have to pause your game of GTA V to play some mobile game. Believe me, I get that. But some of those collectibles are pretty nifty. Who doesn't want to collect all those spaceship parts? Or those submarine parts? Taking care of Chop pays dividends.

22 An Ally In Strange Places

One time, the police were on my tail (in GTA V, not the real world). I ducked into an Ammu-Nation store to hide. Imagine my complete and utter surprise when the store owner began to engage in a gunfight with the cops.

My mouth dropped open in shock. Apparently, you can count on the store owner to be an ally in times of trouble like these. Just don't pull out your own gun, or the guy will mistake you for a threat and turn his sights on you.

21 Missile Time

When danger approaches, your first instinct is usually to turn tail and run the other way. If a jet fires a missile at you, ignore that instinct and confront the projectile. Jet combat is hard enough without knowing how to dodge a missile.

As soon as you see a missile streaking toward you, move toward it and then downwards. Missiles don't have such a sharp turn radius as that. This is, of course, assuming you're in a jet as well. If you're on the ground and someone is firing missiles at you, good luck.

20 Boring But Bountiful

I never thought I would recommend buying and selling stocks as an activity to do in a video game, but GTA V has convinced me otherwise. Playing the (fake) stock market is a very lucrative side activity to engage in.

Once you have access to it in the game, make sure you know what you're doing. If you buy stocks in a specific car company, consider defacing the competition's wares out on the streets in order to increase the value of your own stocks.

19 Slow Motion Aiming

Slow Motion Aiming in GTA V is similar to how Dead Eye works in Red Dead Redemption. It gives your character time to shoot critical points on their target's body. However, unlike your cowboy in Red Dead Redemption, not all of your characters in GTA V automatically have this ability.

There are cheat codes for it instead. On the Xbox, the code is X, LT, RB, Y, Left, X, LT, Right, A. On the PlayStation, the code is Square, L2, R1, Triangle, Left, Square, L2, Right, X.

18 Calm Down And Do Yoga

Aside from hilarious story moments, there is a reason to have Michael do more yoga outside of GTA V's campaign missions. Doing yoga increases Michael's Special Ability bar. Michael's Special Ability is Bullet Time. This slows down time during a shootout, allowing Michael to have some breathing room as he lines up his shots.

If this sounds familiar, it's because we discussed this trait in the previous entry about cheat codes that can give all characters, not just Michael, some Bullet Time.

17 Taking The Canis Mesa For Yourself

The Canis Mesa is a fantastic off-road vehicle that holds up well in any adventure you can get into on the roads (and off the roads) of Los Santos. The only problem is that it is only available in the single-player story during the mission "The Wrap Up," and if you don't take the opportunity to nab the vehicle while you can, it'll be lost to you.

When the mission is over and all enemies have been dealt with at the Kortz Center, before meeting with Trevor, drive the Mesa to Michael's home garage and park it there.

16 Best Way To Disable Car Alarms

This may take the danger out of stealing cars, but just in case you want a little less hassle, here's a way to disable the alarms on cars as you steal them. If you press the Start button and pause the game, when you return to it, the car alarm will be stopped.

Honking the horn has also been known to fix that blaring car alarm, too. Of course, honking the horn makes its own loud noise, but it's still better than an ongoing car alarm. Happy trails as you take those cars for your own.

15 The Military Jet Of Your Dreams

Entering the military base in GTA V is a good way to raise your Wanted Level immediately. It's also a good way to end your life. Those military guys do not want you messing with their stuff. However, if you really want that jet, here's the way to do it.

Get a helicopter and fly over the base. Make sure you're high up because the military are prickly about their airspace. Once you're over the base, spot the open hangar near the runway. With the appropriate tools, skydive to that hangar, pop in the jet, and fly it away.

14 Save Cinematics For The Right Time

It's interesting to mess around with perspectives and viewpoints while you're playing a video game, and GTA V is no exception. A huge recommendation that we have for you is to not do this while you're driving.

Do not spend your time during a police chase checking out that fancy rear-viewing angle. You'll get a good look at the cops on your tail, that's for sure. But you won't be watching the road. And watching the road while you're driving can make the difference between living and becoming "Wasted."

13 Invest In A Hangar

It may seem like a huge drain on money and resources to get yourself a hangar, but trust me, it's worth the effort to have your own personal hangar. If you have your own hangar, you don't have to needlessly steal aircraft from the airport. Your Wanted Level won't increase every time you want to take a chopper out.

Plus, it's not a risk to your character's life when he wants to go flying. Go to the airport like a respectable citizen and buy yourself a hangar.

12 Take Cover

Too many times have I seen GTA players shooting enemy NPCs while standing out in the open. For the love of all that is holy, take cover! It sounds like common sense, but I just have to reiterate this because people rarely seem to do this.

If you don't take cover, your body will get riddled with bullets.

Taking cover provides you with a modicum of protection. And, amazing as it sounds, you might actually survive the gunfight on the first try.

11 "Free" Carbines

Even though the typical GTA V player ends up with a lot of money in his wallet, buying a gun just isn't practical, i.e. fun. Sometimes, the theft of a gun is the better route to go.

At the Los Santos International Airport, there are some police officers with carbine rifles guarding the passenger terminal. If you fancy taking their carbines for a spin, you can always rely on them being there. However, causing a ruckus there is sure to raise your Wanted Level.

10 Exploring The Ocean Bottom

Don't make the same mistakes I did when I played GTA V. Don't ignore what lies beneath the waves. I thought that the ocean surrounding Los Santos was just for show, but there are actually nifty surprises there.

Not only are there a variety of vehicles to take on the water, there are sharks that can spawn in the deep blue sea as well. Plus, once you get the submersible, you can explore the sea floor to a greater extent. Just be wary of the crush depth.

9 A Plane Of Your Very Own

If buying or stealing a plane just doesn't cut it for you, those infamous GTA cheat codes have got you covered. With the simple pressing of some buttons, you can spawn your very own stunt plane.

The Spawn Stunt Plane code for the Xbox is B, Right, LB, LT, Left, RB, LB, LB, Left, Left, A, Y. The PlayStation's cheat code is Circle, Right, L1, L2, Left, R1, L1, L1, Left, Left, X, Triangle. Once you have a stunt plane at your immediate disposal, the sky is quite literally the limit.

8 Do Not Neglect Your Weapons

While GTA V is not as much of a stickler when it comes to maintaining the condition of your weapons as Red Dead Redemption 2, you should still give your guns some love. You can increase your skills with firearms by aiming precisely every time you use them.

You and your characters can also spend some time on the Shooting Range in order to complete some challenges that will benefit your firing ability. Rockstar Games has always excelled at allowing players to determine what skills will be boosted merely by modifying their play-style.

7 I'll Be Taking That

It can be a hassle trying to rob an armored truck for the loot inside. If you have your sights set on stealing the goodies from security trucks, why not try beating the trucks to the punch.

When these trucks are parked and getting loaded, you can see a man with a suitcase getting into the back. Nudge the guy hard enough to make him drop the case, then pick it up and run away. This method of robbing security trucks requires little preparation and makes only the smallest of ripples in the direction of local law enforcement.

6 Waypoints For The Lazy

Los Santos is such a large city, it can be a daunting task moving your character from one side of the map to the other. If, let's say, you're playing as Trevor, and you want him to move from north to south, set a waypoint for him. Then switch to either Michael or Franklin.

When you return to Trevor, he will be at the waypoint you set. In my eagerness to play GTA V, I never really paid any mind to the waypoint system. I just drove around like a maniac.