Grand Theft Auto III

What is it?

DMA Design's revolutionary achievement delivered the franchise's third entry as the industry's first legitimate full-3D open-world experience. Silent protagonist Claude becomes entangled in organized crime after being betrayed during a bank robbery, subsequently navigating criminal organization politics in his quest for survival and revenge. The narrative draws from crime cinema—particularly The Godfather—translating established film grammar into interactive entertainment. Release timing (October 2001) shocked industry observers accustomed to smaller-scope games. The environment's unprecedented scale—liberty City spanning multiple neighborhoods, distinct districts, and countless explorable locations—demonstrated technological possibilities previously considered impossible for consumer platforms.

The game's controversial content received international media attention. Randomly violent gameplay, gang conflict emphasis, and uncensored crime portrayal generated discussion about gaming maturity.

How it plays

Third-person perspective gameplay enables complete open-world exploration. Claude traverses the expansive cityscape via vehicles or foot travel, attempting random side missions beyond story progression: taxi driving, ambulance emergency response, police enforcement role-playing. Combat mechanics engage multiple enemy types simultaneously through gun, grenade, and melee weapons. Police 'wanted level' escalates from patrol car pursuit through military helicopter involvement at extreme wanted levels. The sheer gameplay freedom—players choosing pursuits beyond core missions—fundamentally differed from previous action games' linear mission structures.

Graphics delivery leveraged PS2's hardware thoroughly. Multiple characters populated streets, vehicles drove autonomously through traffic, explosions created visual spectacle, and weapon sounds conveyed impact authenticity. The immersive experience proved revolutionary for 2001.

Why it sold

GTA III's 11.6 million copies sold established Rockstar's industry dominance. The September 11 terrorist attacks occurred weeks before North American release, necessitating content modification due to the game's involvement of destructible buildings. Despite this, the game's influence on subsequent gaming proved incalculable. Open-world game design became industry standard post-GTA III, with countless developers adopting similar frameworks. Windows and Xbox ports followed, extending audience reach beyond PS2.

The game demonstrated conclusively that 3D open-world games represented gaming's immediate future. Publishers allocated increased resources toward open-world development inspired by GTA III's revolutionary design. Sequels and spiritual successors launched across multiple platforms, establishing GTA's franchise dominance lasting decades.