The latest entry in the Grand Theft Auto series has surpassed 90 million copies sold on all consoles and the PC. I can still remember playing the first incarnation of this game back on my friends computer over in Fremont, CA. I wanted to share some of my experiences with this franchise, why I think it’s not only surviving but thriving and what to expect in the next incarnation of this series.
Please note I am only covering the main games in this series so any offshoots or handheld versions will not be covered. Not that I don’t love playing Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars on my DS but, this would be a book by the time I was done.
The first game I had actually played would be the original Grand Theft Auto and my friend Brian and I had no idea there was a story involved. All we used to do was run around and steal cars as this was the most fun and if we died it made it even more enjoyable. I had not played the sequel but I heard that it was an upgrade from the first one and had more depth than its predecessor.
Grand Theft Auto 3 was groundbreaking as they steered away from the top down approach and took it to the 3rd person view. This was a revolutionary game not just because of the graphics however, it let the player take on as much as they wanted towards the main story. If you didn’t feel like tackling a mission you could go out and just explore the world. It also allowed you to approach different missions in a different way. I remember one instance where someone set up a car bomb for a mission that the target was going to use to getaway. Once he entered the car he just destroyed it and he cleared the mission with no problem.
Vice City was the next entry and they just took things further than they had done with GTA 3. Also setting it in the city of Miami and giving it an amazing 80’s soundtrack helped set the mood for this game. What was also amazing was the way that they created the world as it was not as gritty as the previous version of GTA 3. It was all neon and bright lights and definitely gave it a Miami Vice look. This version also introduced the ability to purchase property to start your own criminal empire as well. However, you needed to make sure who you do business with because if you trespass on a rival gang’s turf you will be shot on sight.
San Andreas took place in the fictional city of the same name which would be southern California. This game introduced character customization as well as the ability to train your character to be stronger and tougher. Also, this was the first GTA game with a protagonist of color by the name of CJ. You start the game coming into the San Andreas airport as you had spent time back on the east coast. As you leave the airport you are hassled by the cops as they know who you are and want to see you keep your nose clean. This doesn’t happen however as you try to survive on the streets of San Andreas.
Grand Theft Auto IV was the first in the series to have an updated game engine as the hardware could now support it. Graphically superior to its previous incarnations this title took place in Liberty City and you would be able to explore both the bad and good neighborhoods of this sprawling metropolis. Graphics were not the only upgrade to this game as the physics engine which affected the way the cars drove was altered. No longer were players hindered by floaty or stiff cars. They handled better but it was not perfect. Also, this introduced an online element to the game modes which included team death match and racing games.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is the current incarnation of the series and it gave us Grand Theft Auto online as well as a great story that is experienced by three different characters that you can switch between. I think because of both of these features as well as an improved graphics engine this shows that the fans are hungry for a sequel.
So what does the future holds for the Grand Theft Auto series? Right now it is anyone’s guess as the game has been set in iconic locations such as Liberty City and San Andreas. I would love to see the game be set somewhere in the north east like a Boston knockoff and have the ability to go ahead and watch sporting events like baseball. Granted this would be an odd thing to sit down and watch but it would add an immersive level to the game that few would be able to achieve.
What was your favorite GTA game? What do you want to see in the future GTA title? Let us know!
