Grand Theft Auto Series Review (Xbox, PlayStation, Mobile & PC)

Grand Theft Auto opened my eyes incredibly early on, right around the time I brought it up to my grandma and she responded, almost without hesitation, “oh, that’s supposed to be quite good, isn’t it?” Social media was nonexistent, and I’m almost certain that she didn’t have a subscription to a weekly gaming rag. Somehow, she just knew about it, as did most of the world. That was Grand Theft Auto II—the chapter that came before Rockstar Games’ surge in god-like powers to pioneer the modern open-world sandbox. Imagine what grandma said when that finally graced the shelves. Full disclosure: she never played it — but she knew about it, and that’s what led me to believe that the series, whichever direction it would choose to take, was destined for brilliant things.

Say what you will, but there’s no denying the fact that Grand Theft Auto, despite having a somewhat niche attitude towards mirroring a satirical culture, is largely responsible for the monopolization of most sandbox games. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the first to spearhead the idea of meshing a mission-based system with an open-world setting, but it was, in fact, one that finessed the formula with its own unique blend of features and stories, extensive gameplay mechanics and activities. It wasn’t that the idea of having a souped-up protagonist bolting around a city thwarting gang activity was unheard of; it was that no developer had the courage to be bold and take it to an entirely different level. And that, really, is what Grand Theft Auto did: it revolutionized the gaming industry, and it blazed the trail for future generations to follow. The thing is, no other series ever came close to finding that sweet, sweet nectar.

Take a gander at just about any red-letter open-world game—Saints Row, Just Cause, Watch Dogs, True Crime, for example—and you’ll begin to understand the trajectory of the trend toward a larger-than-life open-world experience, and more importantly, how Grand Theft Auto played a huge part in its radical evolution into a modern staple among gamers. The framework was there, but it was Rockstar that helped shape it and introduce it to the mainstream. As for what came after the conquering of a major trend, well, it doesn’t take much to thread the needle; the awards and universal recognition speak volumes.

Grand Theft Auto, Home

Fast-forward a decade or two, and you will likely have a tough time finding someone who doesn’t know what Grand Theft Auto is. The world knows Claude; the fans adore Vice City; and frankly, even your neighbors probably know of Trevor, Michael, and Franklin, the golden trio of the fifth installment. Heck, my own grandmother would have happily given her time to Grand Theft Auto Online, not necessarily to enjoy the experience, but to be a small cog on the big wheel—a part of the “in” crowd during its uphill journey to capitalize on eternal life. And that, too, says all that you need to know, truly. The point is, love it or hate it, Grand Theft Auto has influence, and there’s nothing it can possibly do to sully its reputation as a franchise. Touch wood.

As I was saying, it’s a niche product, and sure enough, Grand Theft Auto does launder a lot of baggage that, frankly, a lot of people wouldn’t dare touch with a ten-foot barge pole. As it is a series that’s mostly targeted at sandbox-loving fans of violence at satire, it does fall under an umbrella that a lot of users tend to ignore. And yet, I’ve often come to find that, even though it does more or less fall into a niche category, people will still actively pursue it, not necessarily to “see what all the fuss is about,” but rather to be in the presence of a genre-defining world that dares to be different and doesn’t shy away from unconventional ideas.

The simple truth is, Grand Theft Auto has a solid core with a seemingly impenetrable infrastructure; it can maneuver around without any major kickback from its competitors or die-hard fans. Say, if it launched an abysmal heap of trash with no commendable qualities whatsoever, the brand alone would still be enough to coerce you into thinking it was a good thing. And that’s something that Rockstar Games has: an iron mouthpiece with enough influence to, well, not necessarily shift mountains like puzzle pieces, but tell you what it has and why you should buy it. This isn’t a jab against Rockstar; it’s merely acknowledging the fact that it has the power to make big things happen and continue to look good whilst doing it. Frankly, not many other developers can amount to that kind of cult-like prowess. I suppose it helps, mind you, that Rockstar Games also has a stellar portfolio with a myriad of award-winning masterpieces à la Red Dead Redemption. But, that’s a story for another time.

A Throne for a Rockstar

Grand Theft Auto has a perfectionist attitude toward its creations, that much is true. Aside from the series itself having a plethora of generously sized worlds and convincing characters, it also features an entire web of ever-evolving activities, missions, and deeply rooted qualities that make simple assets feel authentically apt to the theme and plot. Dynamic weather conditions; entrepreneurial opportunities; and a sense of freedom to explore, create, and bathe in a world that shifts to your every action. Frankly, the series has all of that — and then some.

Of course, it isn’t all that often that you get the feeling of being a permanent fixture in a virtual community, but here, you are a small part of the furniture, and it frequently shows more often than not. It’s the simple things, too, that make the subsequent games feel more immersive; the fact that you can play a round of golf and then dally on down to a bar before engaging in yoga without having to progress the plot, for example. The fact is, with so much to do, you could quite easily spend hundreds of hours bolting around San Andreas, Vice City, or even Liberty City, and still miss out on a ton of golden opportunities. Case in point, I recently discovered a ghost that appears at the apex of Mount Gordo at midnight. Heck, I never would’ve thought to go there, but a lot of paranormal research and a long thread of articles eventually coerced me to embark on a side quest to witness it for myself. And honestly, that’s just one of hundreds of instances.

Suffice it to say, Rockstar Games is a bit of a dab hand at incubating immersive experiences with incredibly long lifespans, and frankly, Grand Theft Auto sets the standard for what the genre can achieve with a similar amount of elbow grease. To that I say, well played, Rockstar.

Verdict

Grand Theft Auto has been on an upward trajectory ever since it spearheaded the sandbox trend back in 2001, with its grand-scale open-world format and plethora of activities, missions, and satirical ideas setting the new standard for a phenomenal gaming experience. In addition to its perfectionist approach to storytelling and world-building, the series also adopts several of the most compelling protagonists of all time, with figureheads and development arcs that feel both familiar and highly interactive. And that’s barely scraping the tip of the iceberg, truly.

Of course, I could spend multiple days spamming you with jargon about Rockstar Games’ beloved poster child, but the fact is, you don’t need to hear it, as you’ve more than likely already experienced it. Take it from us, though. Simply put, if you’ve been living under a rock for the best part of twenty years, then take this as an opportunity to adopt Grand Theft Auto into your portfolio. It’s bold, beautiful, and above all, a great anchor point for those who enjoy adventures that go above and beyond to keep you hooked for weeks, months, and perhaps even years. Boy, just take a look at Grand Theft Auto Online.