The Best Grand Theft Auto Games / ITech content

Contents:

• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
• Grand Theft Auto 3
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Grand Theft Auto 5
• Grand Theft Auto 4
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

At the end of 2022, it will have been 25 years since the release of the first Grand Theft Auto game. During this time, the series has evolved from simple arcade entertainment into a true crime blockbuster. GTA's popularity has become so high that even those who aren't into video games know about it, not to mention dedicated gamers. This game has had a significant impact on the industry, setting new standards in the development of open worlds and stories. Each new part continues to attract the attention of millions of players around the world, which confirms the status of GTA as a cult phenomenon in the world of video games.

In honor of the anniversary of the famous franchise, the editorial board of Gamedev Skillbox Media has prepared a rating of the best games in the GTA series, based on the ratings of the aggregator Metacritic.

Explore additional Materials:

Key Elements of Grand Theft Auto Design

The design of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has become a foundational element in the video game industry, setting high standards for open-world games. One of the key elements is the detailed and meticulously crafted game environment. Each city in GTA is recreated with a high degree of realism, including architectural features, transportation systems, and atmosphere.

The game's characters also play a significant role in the design. They have unique styles, personalities, and stories, making them memorable and engaging for players. Additionally, attention to detail in animation and dialogue creates an immersive experience.

Music and sound effects are also important elements. Soundtracks that match the game's atmosphere enhance the emotional component and make the gameplay more immersive.

The user interface (UI) in GTA is designed to provide an intuitive experience. The controls and navigation are easy to understand, allowing players to focus on the gameplay without unnecessary distractions.

The game's visual style, including graphics and color palette, also contributes to the creation of a unique atmosphere. The use of a variety of textures and effects makes the world of GTA alive and dynamic.

Thus, the key design elements of Grand Theft Auto include detailed game environments, developed characters, high-quality music, a user-friendly interface, and an expressive visual style. All these aspects combined create a unique and unforgettable experience for players.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Year of release: 2009.

The Metacritic score is 93 points. This high rating confirms the quality of the work and the recognition of critics and audiences. Metacritic is a reputable source that compiles and analyzes reviews from various media outlets, making it an important tool for evaluating cultural products. A high score on this platform indicates that a given work attracts attention and evokes positive emotions in the audience.

This part of the series was released exclusively on portable consoles and mobile devices. Initially, the game was released on the Nintendo DS, but failed to achieve commercial success. Therefore, the developers decided to port the project to various platforms, including PC and home consoles. This decision allowed for a wider audience and improved accessibility for fans.

The game's protagonist is Huang Li, a representative of the Chinese Triad. The plot begins with Li losing a priceless sword, and his main goal is to return this relic at any cost. The action takes place in Liberty City, which adds an atmosphere of urban adventures and criminal intrigue to the game.

To date, this is the most unique part of the franchise. For the first and last time, GTA utilized cel-shaded graphics with pencil outlines. Numerous minigames, such as car theft, were adapted for touchscreen controls. The character is viewed from above, and the camera angle is constantly changing, adding dynamism to the gameplay. Crafting elements were also introduced: players could craft Molotov cocktails at gas stations. This feature introduced new mechanics and made the game even more engaging.

Chinatown Wars offers everything fans of the series have come to love: a vibrant and vibrant city, a variety of interesting missions, meticulously crafted settings, and a memorable soundtrack. In addition, the game pleases with a multiplayer with six different modes, which adds even more excitement to the gameplay.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Release year: 2005.

The Metacritic score is 88. This is a high rating, indicating a positive reception of the project by critics and users. Such a rating can significantly increase interest in the product and attract new viewers or players. Metacritic is an authoritative platform that collects reviews and ratings, which makes it an important tool for analyzing the quality of content. A high score on this platform underlines the success of the project and its meeting the audience's expectations.

An interesting game, little known among Russian gamers, is part of a well-known series. It was first released in 2005 on the PSP portable console, and in 2006 it was adapted for the PS2, which increased the viewing range. Unfortunately, the game was never released on PC, which limited its audience.

In Liberty City Stories, players witness the rise of Toni Cipriani in the criminal underworld of Liberty City. The story takes place in 1998, three years before the events of GTA 3. Rockstar, as always, paid attention to detail, demonstrating that the city was significantly different during this period. For example, the bridge between the islands has not yet been built, forcing players to use a ferry to get around. This backstory adds depth and context to familiar events, allowing players to better understand the development of Liberty City and its criminal culture.

Liberty City Stories offers players a variety of content, including 32 weapons and 82 vehicles, significantly exceeding the 54 available in GTA 3. The game also features 10 radio stations and 83 music tracks, creating a unique atmosphere. Furthermore, side missions offer exciting careers, such as working as a tour guide and a garbage collector. These elements make Liberty City Stories one of the most rich and engaging entries in the series.

Despite the technical limitations of the PlayStation Portable (PSP), the console's graphics continue to impress. This is thanks to the developers' meticulous attention to detail. For example, small parking tickets can be seen on the windshields of some cars. Such nuances emphasize the quality of visual performance and immerse the player in the atmosphere of the game, which makes the PSP a unique device of its kind.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Release year: 2006.

This project received a high score of 86 on the Metacritic platform. This rating reflects positive reviews from critics and users, emphasizing the quality and appeal of the product. A high Metacritic rating serves as an indicator of success and popularity, making it worthy of attention for fans of the genre and new users.

Vice City Stories followed the path of Liberty City Stories: first the game was released on a portable console, then on PlayStation 2, but, unfortunately, it never appeared on PC.

The writers of Vice City Stories continued the integration of the games in the series into a single Grand Theft Auto universe. In this part, players take on the role of Victor Vance, the brother of Lance Vance, known from the game GTA: Vice City. Victor, discharged from the army, finds himself drawn into the world of crime to earn money for the treatment of his younger brother, who suffers from asthma. This story highlights the complex family relationships and moral dilemmas faced by characters in the criminal underworld.

The gameplay remains unchanged, which can be considered a positive aspect. However, the game has added new features. Players now have the opportunity to take over illegal businesses, which generates daily income for each captured point. The hand-to-hand combat system has also been significantly expanded: the main character, Victor, can perform a variety of grabs and even snap the necks of opponents. Changes have also affected the city itself, as the game takes place in 1984, two years before the events of GTA: Vice City. Many of the buildings that players will see in Tommy Vercetti's adventures are currently under construction.

The graphics are restrained, but the sound is high-quality. Nine radio stations offer a variety of authentic music, and the character voiceovers remain high-quality. Among the voiced characters, famous musician and actor Phil Collins stands out, voicing himself. This adds uniqueness to the game and creates an atmosphere that immerses the player in a world of sounds and musical impressions.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Year Released: 2001.

Its Metacritic score is 97. This high rating demonstrates critical and user acclaim, highlighting the quality and relevance of its content. A high Metacritic score can serve as an indicator of a project's success, making it attractive to new viewers and players.

Grand Theft Auto 3 was a true revolution in the world of video games. It introduced players to unique gameplay and an open world that had never been seen before. A vibrant city filled with dynamic events and the ability to drive any car became key elements of GTA 3's success. While some of these aspects had already been present in previous games in the series, it was in 2001 that Grand Theft Auto 3 transformed into a full-fledged 3D action game with a third-person view. This breakthrough not only changed the perception of games but also laid the foundation for future projects in the open world genre.

GTA 3 became an experimental platform for ideas that Rockstar later developed and implemented in subsequent games in the series. The protagonist remains silent, like Gordon Freeman, and the game features only one aircraft model, which flies with awkward grace. Nevertheless, this element is already present. The economic system has been implemented, but it doesn't function properly: there's nowhere to spend money yet. The soundtrack at this stage is already excellently chosen, and the voice acting leaves a positive impression. GTA 3 laid the foundations on which the franchise's future successes were built, and its influence is felt in each new installment.

The player assumes the role of a robber named Claude, who, at a crime scene, finds himself under threat of murder from his betrayed girlfriend. After escaping from a police van, Claude decides to restore justice using his usual methods. This story immerses the player in a world of crime, where every choice has consequences, and forces them to consider betrayal and revenge.

Liberty City, inspired by rainy New York City, is a dynamic virtual environment where events unfold even without the player's participation. In addition to the main story missions, players can immerse themselves in a variety of activities. The possibilities are endless: from finding hidden collectibles to performing unique car stunts or even robbing passersby. In the era of gambling clubs, many players, with pocket money, often ignored story missions and preferred to spend time running over citizens. Liberty City offers a vast world to explore, where everyone will find something to enjoy.

The combination of exciting missions with a high level of freedom in an open world made GTA 3 a real breakthrough in the gaming industry. This game not only attracted the attention of players, but also became a commercial success, setting new standards for open worlds and gameplay solutions.

Reworked text taking into account SEO:

Read also:

The Fog of Liberty City: the history of the creation of GTA 3

In the world of Grand Theft Auto video games III holds a special place thanks to its revolutionary open-ended structure and unique gameplay. Released in 2001, it was the first in the series to feature a 3D open world. Liberty City, a fictional city based on New York City, serves as the backdrop for players' exciting adventures.

GTA 3 was the result of years of work by the Rockstar Games team, who strived to create a realistic and rich world. The developers paid attention to every detail, from the architecture of the buildings to the behavior of NPCs, allowing players to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the city. The fog of Liberty City adds a sense of mystery to the game and creates a unique feeling that is impossible to describe in words.

During development, special attention was paid not only to graphics but also to sound. Music and sound effects help players feel the spirit of the city and immerse themselves in its life. The fogs that envelop Liberty City became the game's symbol, emphasizing its atmosphere and style.

GTA 3 influenced the development of game design and became a model for many subsequent projects. The fogs of Liberty City not only serve as a visual element but also remind players how important every detail is in creating a complete game world. As a result, GTA 3 remains a cult game that inspires new generations of gamers and developers.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Release year: 2004.

The Metacritic score is 95. This high rating confirms the quality and recognition of the project among critics and players. Metacritic is an important platform for evaluating games, films, and other media, as it aggregates reviews and forms an average rating. A high score on this platform can significantly impact audience interest and the success of a product in the market.

The plot of the game San Andreas centers on a young African-American gangster, Carl Johnson, known as CJ. Returning to his hometown of Los Santos, he is faced with the disintegration of his gang and realizes the need to restore its former strength. Although the main plot is not original, detailed missions and a variety of memorable characters make the game unique. Players will find an exciting experience filled with intriguing tasks and unexpected twists, which contribute to an engaging gameplay. San Andreas offers a rich world in which each mission reveals new aspects of the characters' lives and their interactions within the criminal underworld.

Rockstar demonstrated remarkable development of its franchise with the release of San Andreas. This project introduced new gameplay mechanics and significantly expanded the content. While GTA 3 took place on three islands, in San Andreas, players explore three cities inspired by real-life locations—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Furthermore, the game offers an entire state with a diverse countryside, an unprecedented feat for the series. Even the simple function of choosing clothes and accessories has reached a new level: players can spend hours customizing their characters' appearance. This adds depth and variety to the game, making San Andreas one of the most significant projects in video game history.

The introduction of RPG elements into the game made it possible to level up various character stats. For example, to increase stamina and the ability to sprint for long periods, regular gym visits are required. The game features a faction warfare system, allowing CJ and his team to seize territory from rival gangs. Players can also develop romantic relationships with numerous characters. New agricultural vehicles, such as the tractor, and an easy-to-control jetpack, expand gameplay options and make the experience more engaging. Despite its PlayStation 2 release late in the platform's lifespan, the game became an expensive blockbuster. The project features voice talent from renowned actors James Woods, known for his roles in "The Specialist" and "The Hard Way," and Samuel L. Jackson, best known for his role in "Star Wars." The project also features the voices of musicians such as Ice-T and Axl Rose, as well as other celebrities.

The soundtracks perfectly capture the atmosphere of the nineties, with hits by Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and other famous artists of the time blasting from the speakers. The developers initially planned to introduce the ability to select multiple characters, but due to the abundance of content and mechanics, this idea was postponed until the release of GTA 5. As a result, we got a unique experience that combines elements of nostalgia and modernity, creating a unique gaming atmosphere.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Release year: 2013.

The Metacritic score is 97 points. This is a high indicator, which indicates recognition and positive reviews from critics and users. A high Metacritic score can serve as an indicator of the quality of a product, be it a game, film, or music album, and attracts the attention of the audience.

The latest game in the GTA series is the most ambitious in the history of the franchise. It offers many game options and mechanics, which makes it unique. Instead of a long list of all the features, we will focus on the key features that make this project outstanding.

The elaboration of details in this game has reached an outstanding level. During the rain, puddles form on the asphalt, and the main character's hair gradually grows back. After running, sweat stains appear on clothes, which adds to the realism. The wet clothing effect was already present in the Tomb Raider series with Lara Croft, but in GTA 5 it's taken to a new level: clothing only gets wet up to the point where the character is submerged in water. The artificial intelligence is also surprising. For example, if you're driving a tuned car, you might notice passersby occasionally taking photos of your car on their smartphones. Similar examples are abundant in the game, making the gameplay even more engaging and realistic.

The main change in the new game is the addition of three playable characters, between whom players can freely switch. Each character has their own unique story and motivation, making the plot more multilayered and engaging. The game follows this unconventional team as they carry out the most daring crimes. Each character has their own unique ability: Franklin can slow down time while driving, Michael uses a similar slowdown in combat situations, and Trevor goes into a berserker rage, adding a strategic element to the gameplay.

The game's expansive world features numerous points of interest, including optional missions with unique objectives. For example, players can try a new strain of cannabis and then use a machine gun to fight aliens, bringing back elements of madness and humor not found in GTA 4. The game also features random events, such as returning a purse to a mugging victim. GTA 5 also offers a variety of mini-games, including tennis, and provides the ability to dive deep into the in-game internet, which significantly expands the gaming experience.

Grand Theft Auto 4

Release Year: 2008.

The Metacritic score is 98, highlighting the high quality and positive reception of this product. This high rating indicates that the project has received acclaim from both critics and users, making it one of the best in its category.

Rockstar introduced the protagonist, immigrant Niko Bellic, who arrives in Liberty City from an unspecified Eastern European country. Many fans of the game assume Niko is Serbian. Niko's story reveals the difficulties of integration and finding one's place in a new society, making his character particularly memorable and relatable for players.

The game has a serious and sometimes dark tone, which makes it particularly realistic. The in-game physics contribute to this effect: the graphics are impressive in their spectacular and believable quality. GTA 4 was the first game in the series to be released for seventh-generation consoles, and this technical advancement is immediately noticeable.

Rockstar finally addressed the main shortcoming of previous games in the series and significantly improved the shooting mechanics in GTA 4. The game introduced a convenient and spectacular cover-based combat system, which was a major step forward. The mechanics associated with police chases have also been updated: the player now sees a virtual circle on the map, the radius of which increases depending on the severity of Niko's crimes. A friend relationship system has been introduced, allowing players to earn various bonuses throughout the game. Active use of the protagonist, Bellic's, mobile phone adds interactivity and expands the player's ability to interact with the world. All these innovations have significantly enriched the gameplay in GTA 4 and made it more exciting.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Year of release: 2002.

The game has a Metacritic score of 95. This is a high rating, reflecting positive reviews from critics and users. This rating indicates the high quality of the product and its positive reception by the audience, making it attractive to new users and potential buyers. A high Metacritic score can play a key role in the decision to purchase or use this product.

The main source of inspiration for the creation of Vice City was the film "Scarface," in which the main character, played by Al Pacino, builds his illegal empire in Miami in the 1980s. Some scenes in the game can be seen directly borrowed from the Brian De Palma film. Another important source of ideas and imagery for Vice City is the cult TV series Miami Vice, which also takes place in a similar temporal and geographical context. These works formed the basis for the creation of a unique atmosphere and style of the game, reflecting the spirit of the time and culture of Miami.

Vice City is set in 1986, and the developers perfectly recreated the atmosphere of the sunny coastal city of that time. The sunset over Vice City alone can leave a lasting impression, not to mention the girls in bikinis and roller skates or the local hipsters dressed in bright suits. The music in the game, in particular Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, sounds as if it was created specifically for this time and place. Vice City immerses the player in a world filled with nostalgia, bright colors and unforgettable melodies, creating a unique gaming atmosphere of the 80s.

The plot centers on the story of Tommy Vercetti, who returns to the city after a long prison sentence. His first attempt at an illegal deal fails, and the hero finds himself in debt. Now he must build his own criminal empire on the ocean coast, facing various challenges and enemies. This is a story about the struggle for power and survival in a criminal underworld, where every move can be decisive.

The long-awaited ability to purchase real estate in the game has been added. The number of available vehicles has exceeded one hundred, including cars, boats, and motorcycles. Instead of a single plane like in GTA 3, Vice City now features seven different aircraft. Players can take advantage of new opportunities such as driving a taxi, performing risky car stunts, and finding valuable items scattered throughout the city. However, the real highlight of Vice City is the story missions, which are distinguished by their creativity and unexpected twists. Particularly noteworthy is the mission involving a ride in a booby-trapped limo, where a rock band panics. If the car slows down, an explosion occurs. This creates an atmosphere of adrenaline and memorable dialogue inside the limousine.

Explore additional materials:

Diablo 4 is the highly anticipated game from Blizzard, which continues the legendary action-RPG series. In this project, players are once again immersed in the dark world of Sanctuary, where they encounter demons, monsters, and other players. Diablo 4 offers an open world, a variety of character classes, and improved graphics, making the gameplay more immersive and engaging.

The main features of Diablo 4 include the ability to explore vast locations, engage in PvP battles, and co-op missions. Players can customize their characters by choosing unique skills and abilities. A variety of quests and events in the game provide many hours of gameplay and the opportunity to interact with other players.

Diablo 4 also brings back elements familiar to fans of the series, such as a dark atmosphere, a gripping story, and epic boss battles. The loot system has been redesigned, allowing you to find more valuable items and improve your gear.

Get ready for a new adventure in Diablo 4, where every decision you make affects the outcome of the game. Expect updates and events that will keep the game interesting for a long time.