Grand Theft Auto III

[Becky's Butt]

As someoen else on another forum said:

Always remember that this was the game that changed everything. It introduced a new genre to games and it was such a blast to play with it's non-linear approach and sandbox gameplay that there was nothing else like it and it was FUN!

Everyone remembers where they were when they first saw or played it. That's how much of an impact it had. Everyone remembers skipping school or work and spending hour after hour shooting and driving and running over hopeless pedestrians.

I certainly remember. I borrowed it from a friend in 8th grade. I was glued to the console for a few weeks and he had to pry the game out of my deathgrip.

GTA3 is often overlooked these days because Vice City and San Andreas and now GTAIV added so many new features. But GTA3 is just as revolutionary and important to gaming history as Super Mario Bros. 3 or whichever Sonic game was supposed to be important.

It was pure fun and will always be so.

Also who can forget the ending? I personally subscribe to the idea Claude shot her in the face because he's just that awesome.

[BrionIrons]

GTA III started everything.

[Mr_Zombie]

I've got to ask, how did GTA3 "introduced a new genre to games and it was such a blast to play with it's non-linear approach and sandbox gameplay that there was nothing else like it" when it was a sequel to GTA1 and GTA2 which had exactly the same gameplay but instead of 3D they had a bird's eye view?

[Branden_Lucero]

no. Super Mario 64 started everything. it was the first game to define a true 3D experience.

[A-J]

in before someone says halo is the best FPS ever -_-

[Becky's Butt]

in before someone says halo is the best FPS ever -_-

Who would say such a stupid thing?

I've got to ask, how did GTA3 "introduced a new genre to games and it was such a blast to play with it's non-linear approach and sandbox gameplay that there was nothing else like it" when it was a sequel to GTA1 and GTA2 which had exactly the same gameplay but instead of 3D they had a bird's eye view?

Wel the 3D feature alone made it better for addictive aandbox gameplay. It sucked you in more than a top down view ever could.
Plus you could do quie a bit more with 3 than the previous games..

[Rombie]

Actually you could do less in GTA3 than you could in the two titles before it. GTA2 in particular has several features that didn't even return in later titles.

I was a big fan of the original top down title and used to play it for hours on end. I was actually skeptical at first that the game may even translate well to 3D given the test models they showed off on sites very early in it's development. I was pleasantly surprised, and GTA3 (and the prospect of playing MGS2 after that glorious demo with ZOE) made me pick up my PS2 in 2001. I still don't deny the impact GTA3 as a title had on the industry (and hell, so many games are sandbox titles these days) but it's called GTA3 for a reason.

[kevstah2004]

Miami Vice on the C64 probably started it all if not an earlier game.

[Stu]

it was the first game to define a true 3D experience.

How did a game HOW MANY YEARS AGO "define a true 3D experience" when 3D still isn't being fully rolled out yet?

[Branden_Lucero]

How did a game HOW MANY YEARS AGO "define a true 3D experience" when 3D still isn't being fully rolled out yet?

open your mind.

[Stu]

If you mean "pretend Mario 64 is something it's not", then no.

[Carnivol]

Analog controls, open platforming filled areas, and a camera that could both be manipulated easily while not sucking major arse... Mario 64 had a good thing going there.



Anyway, GTAIII is indeed what I like to consider the best entry in the series. Sure, it did all the open world jizz jazz in a non-top view 3D way and all that, but I think the major thing that makes me still love that game over Vice City, San Andreas (+the PSP abominations) and GTAIV (+its two stinkin' expansions) is that it perfectly well pulled off the silent protagonist thing.

If there is one thing I absolutely hate in the later games it's the absurd focus on giving the main character a personality and talking role. Every single talking GTA main char has been a completely useless idiot, who's got the worst written dialog and train of thought ever made, and thanks to their well defined moron personalities... depending on how you play, there's always this absurd disconnect between cutscenes and gameplay. Like I've said before on this subject; It's like you're switching between two movies/games. One being the one with all the annoying cutscenes and poorly written dialog, the other being the one where you run around doing shit "your way."

I love the fact that Saints Row 2 at least didn't try to put a whole lot of "emotion" into your character (other than whatever behavior came with your voice/personality of choice). It also did a perfectly good job at rubbing it in your face that the main character was a sociopath (as video game characters, especially in sandbox games, often are... thanks to the player.)

[Branden_Lucero]

If you mean "pretend Mario 64 is something it's not", then no.

without Mario, we wouldn't have the basis of what a game with a 3D engine would look like for consoles. it showed the innovation of a free-to-rotate cemera, the very thing that was needed.

[Stu]

Yeeeah but no. That's a completely different point from what originally said. There's nothing in Mario 64 even remotely close to a "true 3D experience", that's all i'm saying.

Regardless of that, we'd have still gotten to the point of Mario 64-esque titles eventually even without it. To think otherwise is just supreme naivety.

[Branden_Lucero]

well i guess we have different opinions on how we see things. but i won't discredit Mario, just like how i won't discredit Wallenstein or doom for their own innovations.