Developer of the original Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto 2 refined the original's clunky mechanics with saving, a health bar, and smoother driving, but its retro-futuristic setting and caricature-like vehicles create an identity crisis. The game improves technically yet lacks the charm of Liberty City or Vice City.
The original Grand Theft Auto remains a fascinating time capsule of 1997 game design, offering unprecedented player freedom that laid the foundation for the entire open-world genre. Despite clunky controls and punishing difficulty that haven't aged well, the game's varied vehicles, hilarious sound effects, and trendsetting soundtrack still deliver genuine entertainment nearly three decades later.