Grand Theft Auto
Year: 1997 - Present
Created by: DMA Design/Rockstar Games
Games: 14
Created by: DMA Design/Rockstar Games
Games: 14
"Grand Theft Auto IV is the gravest assault upon children in this country since polio." - Jack Thompson
Born from a simple cops & robbers style game designed by David Jones and Mike Dailly in Scottish based developer DMA Design, Grand Theft Auto caused a stir when it was released in 1997 when it became the target of media outlets for supposedly being a crime simulator. Since earning this infamous reputation the Grand Theft Auto series has grown from strength to strength, becoming one of the most critically and commercially successful franchises in gaming history. With each entry pushing console hardware to the limits, as well as delivering ever more complex and satirical stories of organised crime, Grand Theft Auto is a true juggernaut of the medium.
Collected here are my reviews for every mainline Grand Theft Auto game, categorised by era and listed in release order.
Collected here are my reviews for every mainline Grand Theft Auto game, categorised by era and listed in release order.
2D Era:
This is where it all started. Top-down vehicular mayhem at its finest. Whilst the first two Grand Theft Auto games and the London expansion pack for GTA2 would never receive critical acclaim, they were massive commercial successes due to the notoriety attached to them by mainstream news outlets.
Designed around simple and fun gameplay loops, the first Grand Theft Auto titles may not be anything particularly special, but they did launch a franchise that would go on to change videogames forever.
Designed around simple and fun gameplay loops, the first Grand Theft Auto titles may not be anything particularly special, but they did launch a franchise that would go on to change videogames forever.
3D Era:
The sixth console generation is where Grand Theft Auto redefined the open world genre. With the release of Grand Theft Auto III in 2001, players were able to freely explore a 3D recreation of New York (dubbed Liberty City), take on a variety of missions for important crime figureheads, and cause total mayhem. Expanding on the formula in its sequels, Vice City and San Andreas, each new entry pushed hardware to the limits and expanded on the formula exponentially with increasing critical and commercial acclaim.
Not content with just conquering the home console market, Rockstar ventured onto the handheld market with two spin-off titles, Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, that shrunk the experience into a pocket size package without sacrificing very much at all. These games weren't just ahead of their time, they revolutionised the time they existed in.
Not content with just conquering the home console market, Rockstar ventured onto the handheld market with two spin-off titles, Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, that shrunk the experience into a pocket size package without sacrificing very much at all. These games weren't just ahead of their time, they revolutionised the time they existed in.
HD Era:
The release of the seventh console generation brought with it more power and more possibilities. Continuing the impressive legacy left by the 3D era games, Grand Theft Auto leapt into the HD era with gusto and the results were more than impressive. With a greater focus on storytelling, refining gameplay mechanics, and the introduction of online multiplayer to the franchise, the Grand Theft Auto franchise has never been more popular, with Grand Theft Auto V having dominated sales charts for an entire decade.
Whilst Chinatown Wars may be the bastard runt of the litter in the franchise, often overlooked, it too delivered a fresh and highly rewarding spin on the franchise in another handheld outing.
Whilst Chinatown Wars may be the bastard runt of the litter in the franchise, often overlooked, it too delivered a fresh and highly rewarding spin on the franchise in another handheld outing.