With more than 300 million copies sold, Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular series in video game history. That success didn’t happen overnight though, with the series’ formula having been meticulously refined over the course of more than two decades. Although early titles performed well, it would not be until the series made the leap to 3D back in 2001 that it really took off. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength.
Prior to Grand Theft Auto 3, the concept of open-world gaming was very much in its infancy, with only a handful of titles trying anything anywhere near as ambitious. With the rise of GTA though came a flood of imitators hoping to cash in on the emerging open world market. Although some of these titles have gone on to find success of their own, most of the GTA clones needed a lot more time in the sequencer.
10 Best: The Getaway
Heavily inspired by British cinema, The Getaway was an incredibly ambitious title. It certainly had its fair share of problems, but there was a lot to love about it too. From its intricate plot to its detailed environments, it offered an experience that was different enough from GTA to stand on its own two feet but still familiar enough to entice fans of Rockstar’s games.
The game performed well both critically and commercially and even spawned a sequel. Despite The Getaway: Black Monday‘s failure to expand upon the original formula, it still sold well enough for a third Getaway game to be greenlit. Early footage of The Getaway 3 was incredibly impressive for the era, but it was ultimately canceled a few years into development.
9 Worst: The Godfather
When it comes to crime, The Godfather is to movies what GTA is to gaming. With that in mind, merging the two together should have led to something wonderful. Instead, the 2006 title left many wondering what might have been had just a bit more thought been put into the project. In the end, it was more Godfather Part 3 than GTA 3.
Although it introduced some nice ideas like the extortion mechanic, it was let down by its floaty driving and mediocre combat. Perhaps its biggest problem though was its use of The Godfather IP itself. In a world where subtlety and inference provide much of the narrative tension, the gung-ho gameplay just didn’t feel like it belonged. As a game, it wasn’t half bad, but as a Godfather game, it really missed the mark.
8 Best: Mafia
Where The Godfather tied itself to a pre-existing IP, 2K’s Mafia instead opted for a broader take on organized crime. As a result, the violence and high-octane scenes feel more believable as they’re taking place in a world of their own rather than one that we’ve already explored. It still feels like the organized crime that we all know and love, but an interpretation of it that’s fresh and unique.
Although the console ports leave a lot to be desired, the PC version is a thing of beauty. Its stunning environments are backed up with solid gameplay and a more than serviceable narrative. Subsequent Mafia titles may have failed to reach the same lofty heights, but the original provides a masterclass in how to adapt a concept into an engaging experience.
7 Worst: Driver 3
Driver 3 made quite a few changes to what, at the time, was a very successful formula. The first two Driver games were incredibly enjoyable and each did well critically and commercially. In trying to make the series more like Grand Theft Auto, however, the developers shot themselves very squarely in the foot.
To say that the game’s graphics are its only saving grace would be a lie, as although the game can at times look beautiful, this doesn’t come close to making up for the plethora of other problems. The animations are poor, the gameplay is dull and it’s littered with technical issues from start to finish.
6 Best: The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Springfield doesn’t seem like a great setting for a GTA style game, but the two franchises meld together surprisingly well. Although it might not feature the crime and violence that are synonymous with Grand Theft Auto, the influence that the series had on The Simpsons: Hit & Run and its predecessor is clear for all to see. It’s arguably more of a parody than a clone, but, whatever it is, there’s no disputing that it is a lot of fun.
There’s a heavy emphasis placed on exploration and a plot that’s coherent enough to keep players along for the ride. Its real strength though comes in the form of its humor, which is thankfully more 90s Simpsons than modern day. It’s not at all surprising that the game performed well, but that there was never a true sequel remains perplexing to many.
5 Worst: True Crime
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Rockstar clearly feels otherwise though. Upon the release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, they made it perfectly clear how they felt about the True Crime series with an in-game billboard. It mockingly refers to the series as ‘True Grime’ and on the PC version, typing this into the console will spawn a Trashmaster garbage truck.
Although referring to the series as garbage may be a little harsh, it really doesn’t come close to challenging Grand Theft Auto when it comes to open-world experiences. Both entries in the series do a very good job of replicating the cities in which they are set and also feature some great voice acting. Unfortunately, though, the gameplay is about as bland as it gets.
4 Best: Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs went through several iterations before the finished game finally released. At one point it was to be part of the True Crime series and had the working title True Crime: Hong Kong. A few years into development though, Activision sold the publishing rights to Square Enix and a brilliant game was born.
Sleeping Dogs maintains the fantastic settings that the True Crime games had perfected but is able to back them up with some incredibly tight gameplay. Combat is great and the environmental kills make for some wonderfully cinematic moments. It’s still not quite on par with Grand Theft Auto, but really isn’t too far behind.
3 Worst: 25 To Life
25 to Life featured a lot of interesting ideas. Amongst other things, the game features multiple playable protagonists and a fairly fleshed out online multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, though, good ideas alone do not make for a good game. The execution of these ideas was a lot more gangland than it was clinical.
For a game that released in 2006, it’s incredibly ugly and it controls about as well as it looks. The story is derivative and at times can be downright offensive and the characters are about as one dimensional as they come. Thankfully, the game’s story is incredibly short, so players do not need to endure it for too long.
2 Best: Saints Row
Although much of its core gameplay remains incredibly similar to GTA, Saints Row differentiates itself in many ways. Its wacky sense of humor takes it into realms of absurdity that GTA has never dared to explore whilst its wide array of minigames and side-activities offer distractions that are far more enjoyable than the laundry list of fetch quests found in many of the earlier GTA titles.
Saints Row may have started out as a GTA clone, but it has mutated into something much much more. It still has some work to do if it ever wishes to topple its long-term rival, but given the success it has achieved throughout the years, Saints Row has nothing left to prove to anyone. The series is very much its own entity now and one that may someday spawn little clones of its very own.
1 Worst: The Sopranos: Road To Respect
The Sopranos: Road to Respect had the potential to be a fantastic game. Most of the TV show’s cast reprised their roles and series creator David Chase was also involved. Despite all of the talent attached to the project though, the game is at times an unplayable mess. To its credit though, it is at least a well-voiced unplayable mess.
Much of the game’s problems come from its awful combat engine. Players will regularly find themselves unable to act as enemies beat them to a pulp, with getting up after being knocked to the ground nigh on impossible at times. Picking up weapons in a crowded area is incredibly difficult and usually results in more endless beatings. They’re so overpowered though that it can be difficult to resist the urge to try.
![\"IT電腦補習](\"http://itteacheritfreelance.hk/test/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo2-2.png\"){kind=logo}
www.itsec.hk
www.itsec.vip
www.itseceu.uk
Leave a Reply