Grand Theft Auto

[Jaysus]

To those of you into GTA games, why do you like them? Seriously, what made you buy whichever GTA game(s) you own?

If you don't like GTA, please refrain from posting - this is for those who appreciate GTA only.

[Unlighty]

Well, I bought GTA3 because I loved the first one along with the add on London pack, and enjoyed the second one (although it didnt work as well!).

Loved the free roam nature, the general level of tongue in cheek humour and the sheer diversity of it all.

Same with Vice City, but for different reasons - roads were more compact so it felt like a completely different experience. I also really enjoyed all the 80's references, and the fact that about 50% of the dialogue of Scarface was in there!

[tronied]

For me, it would have to be the freedom. I can go anywhere and do anything I like without having to be stuck on some linear path.

[SeanR]

It's the sandbox aspects, picking and choosing missions. Oh, I know you have to do all of them eventually to get anywhere, but especially with the second one you can do your own thing, you know?

Like jumping on the roof of a car (and once you're positioned so you don't slide off) just taking in the sights as the driver does their thing.

Or grab a motorcycle and pop some wheelies and try and get those jumps done.

[suzakuseven]

I think I'm semi-qualified to post here. I really didn't get on with any GTA game until Vice City. Which I thought was brilliant. I loved it's over the top campness, I loved the music, I loved the fact that the lead character HAD character, I loved the bright neon colours and, probably most of all, I loved the comedy.

[Tequila]

'Cause it's canny fun, like.

[Number 28]

I like to kill people.

[Alex W.]

I've rarely found a game which made driving around at low speed looking out the windows quite so fun somehow. Nothing like spotting a ramp and then spending the next half hour trying to get the jump off it, or getting yourself onto the railway tracks on foot so you can chuck grenades at passing cars. It doesn't take itself too seriously, just dumps you in a big place and gives you lots of toys to play with.

[Lazychu]

Because I just love blowing shit up.

...and they've got character & humour to spare which are sadly lacking in soo many games these days.

[Jim Miles]

I like the "emergent", "sandbox" gaming in a "persistent gameworld". Har har, no seriously I like that I can tackle missions the way I want to not the way I expect it wants me to, I can do what I like unrelated to missions and it resembles a real living, breathing city. So the "emergent", "sandbox" gaming in a "persistent gameworld" then...

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

I like it because I can do the missions which are almost always fun and challenging. And can be solved in lots of ways. Or just mess around. I like it I can drive around town, find a nice car, pull the rightful owner out, drive up a multistorey carpark, jump to the roof of another building, crash down on a police car, get them to chase me, shoot them, wait for the helicopter to appear, take it down with a rocket launcher and then hurry with a 6 star wanted rating to the next pay'n'spray and boost my records.

Basically I like it you can do whatever you want.

[citation deducer]

why do people say 'sandbox'?....surely it should be sandpit? oh and i bought it on spec before the gushing started, not really thinking it would be much, and was pleasantly surprised ( my flatmate at the time worked for the peelers and video taped bits of him causing carnage with the rozzer cars, then was fired 3 weeks later..... )

[Jim Miles]

why do people say 'sandbox'?....surely it should be sandpit?

An Americanism?

[pretentious_helvetica]

I like killing Hari Krishnas. Why couldn't I do it in 3D?

BAN THIS SICK TEH FILTH.

[Van]

Because you get to drive around and kill people and it's got guns and shit.

[Ludachrist]

Has anyone noticed that actual Sandbox's are a bit boring?

[tyler]

Has anyone noticed that actual Sandbox's are a bit boring?

How so?

I like the GTA games. A bit random, I can never settle into the missions I end up going off on a how-fast-can-i-go-and-for-how-long-rampage pissing off any mates waiting for a go.

It lets me play

Only really dabbled with Three and Vice City if I'm honest. San Andreas is the first one to catch my eye prior to release. I intend to give it more time.

[choddo]

Because Edge said it was good. And it comes down to the freedom they give you to try anything.

There are aspects of them that annoy me but they are all "top fifty evar" material

[Prine]

Freedom.

And it was extremly fun.. Liberty City borrowed alot from some of my favourite films, and ofcourse, Lazlo!

[El Stevo]

You can actually explore and sight-see, especially in Vice City. There are buildings and areas and alleyways and stuff that are there just... because. I love the "no pressure" aspect as well - you can dick around without thinking "Oh my god i've got to save the whole world before its too late!".

Plus the scale of the city is almost intimidating, yet it is detailed and elaborate down to the finest detail.

There is so much to do, so much variety, that if you get bored you can find something else to do. Makes sense - you're in an enormous city after all!

Engine - wise, despite being a bit glitchy, everything is consistent and predictable. If you think something is possible, chances are it can be done. I have a lot of fun being a "pirate" - I steal a boat, sail about a bit, then board another boat, kill the helmsman and sail away, doubtless going "Yarr harr harr!". I got bored of that once, so decided to steal a boat by bailing out of a helicopter and landing on it. Success! In a Mario 64 type way, if you can visualise doing something, you actually can do it.

It makes returning to "ordinary" games seem very stifling, especially FPSs that are so scripted and inflexible that it's impossible to use any imagination whatsoever.

[tiedtiger]

The freedom is good, but mostly what I like about it is the missions and the support structure surrounding it. And the excellent aesthetics since 3 onwards. The radio, the city streets, all of it. It's a game where the gameplay is good enough to let the aesthetics shine.

[dr_lha]

To those of you into GTA games, why do you like them?

I like GTA because banging hookers and then shooting them and stealing their money in real life would land me in jail.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: Actually, GTA (any of them) bores me to death within 15 minutes. Yet, the concept behind is is so strong I keep booting it up every so often just to see if it will 'click' this time.

As said some time ago; we need GTA with ninja or something like that. (Spider-Man 2 was a good half-baked attempt at that btw.)

[JohnC]

In one word: Freedom.

And a few more words; I did play GTA1 and 2, but wasn't that impressed by them. I could understand how they appealed, but they just didn't appeal to me that much. When GTA3 was coming along I was thinking "They are trying to do Driver and it will probably be shit." The static screenshots also failed to impress me. I'll be the first to say I couldn't have been more wrong. It was great, and I continued to play it regularly until Vice City came along. No screenshot or even play video could capture how it felt to actually play it and experience the freedom.

I do find it interesting how I thought GTA3 was trying to rip off Driver, but far exceeded it and then Driv3r came along and utterly failed to live up to...anything, really.

[Spacehost]

.::: Actually, GTA (any of them) bores me to death within 15 minutes. Yet, the concept behind is is so strong I keep booting it up every so often just to see if it will 'click' this time.

As said some time ago; we need GTA with ninja or something like that. (Spider-Man 2 was a good half-baked attempt at that btw.)

You can go down the dojo in San Andreas to learn martial arts moves, so it sounds promising. Just add a sword, black clothes, and a nice big afro.

[Cyhwuhx]

You can go down the dojo in San Andreas to learn martial arts moves, so it sounds promising. Just add a sword, black clothes, and a nice big afro.

.::: I already played Way of the Samurai, but thanks anyway.

[Stilly]

I bought the original PSone GTA because it had good reviews and I loved the idea of travelling round a massive city doing what I wanted when I wanted, plus playability usually goes before graphics therefore I wasn't too bothered how the game actually looked.

I was a latecomer to both GTA and GTA:Vice City simply because I started trying to complete my other games before buying new ones; quite a nice way to buy as I can largely ignore all the hype, get games cheap and read loads of reviews by everyone rather than just the (sometimes biased and dishonest) press.

[amanset]

I'll be honest, I hated the original GTA. Really, really hated it. For soem unknown reason I even own it on the PC and PS as well as having London '69 on the PS. I think why I hated them is that the possibilities were not realised. There just wasn't enough to do. You couldn't just have a mess around, if you didn't do the missions there was very little esle to do - but the game had been hyped so badly as this "sandbox" toy.

GTA3 isn't a "sandbox" toy either, but it is a hell of a lot better. The city is more immersive but it isn't there yet, but the potential is far more obvious than it was with GTA. I actually held off (despite dr_lha's protests) buying GTA3 as I was so disappointed with GTA. I only finished GTA3 about 3 months ago and am now on GTA:VC. Still the potential isn't being realised, but every itteration sees an improvement.

But the important thing is that the GTA series is far, far beyond any other games when it comes to that immersive ity experience. Well, apart from MMORPGs, but that's a different kettle of fish.

To put it simply, GTA left me disappointed for not realising its potential. GTA3 and GTA:VC have left me excited, even though they still haven't realised their potential.

[Boyatsea]

.::: Actually, GTA (any of them) bores me to death within 15 minutes. Yet, the concept behind is is so strong I keep booting it up every so often just to see if it will 'click' this time.

As said some time ago; we need GTA with ninja or something like that. (Spider-Man 2 was a good half-baked attempt at that btw.)

Indeed, it can be fun to drive about, but I've never really understood the mass hysteria about the game - there are no revolutionary concepts there. It's just a well put together and well marketed game.

[Kryptonian]

I got the first one when it came out cos it let you do naughty stuff and at the age I was then, I thought that was cool. It played supoibly though, which was a bonus.

When I played GTA3, I rarely did any missions at all and just did amazing stunts etc and basically had a good laugh. This was with a mate though and we always tried to out do each other with the stunts and that what we did.