
GTA III had its share of cut content, including a buggy vehicle. The game took place in Liberty City and was the first in the series to feature a story about revenge and climbing the criminal ladder. The change in perspective alone dramatically impacted the game’s various elements, including driving and exploration. GTA III was the game that shifted it from the top-down perspective to a fully three-dimensional open-world title. The first leapfrog forward for the GTA series came with its third incarnation. They were churches with neon signs that said “Jesus Saves” and would occasionally flicker to say “U Save”. A little quirk the game had was the safe houses. GTA II was the first of the series to introduce the infamous Star system, which determined the response level of the in-game police. Missions are the most efficient way to fill your coffers, but you can also undertake other activities to make a buck. To cross from one area to the next, you need to make enough money which can be obtained, in proper GTA fashion, any way you want. For starters, the game is set in Anywhere City in the year 2013 and is comprised of three sprawling districts. Hot off the heels of the success of its predecessor, GTA II maintained the same level of freedom while introducing a slew of new features.

What truly set GTA apart from other action-adventure titles at the time, though, was its open-ended nature.

Though fictional, these urban settings were inspired by real-life locales. For one, it was a top-down 2D game that featured true open-world gameplay that spanned across three massive cities, San Andreas, Liberty City, and Vice City.

The very first GTA title was a breakaway title for various reasons.

GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (2021) GTA: Episodes from Liberty City (2009)ġ6.
