10 Original Instalments In Iconic Video Game Franchises You Must Play

2. Grand Theft Auto

Another game that still came on leaps and bounds after a truly earth-shaking original, 1997's GTA immediately pegged Rockstar as the industry's bad boys, as despite the game's OTT tone and basic 2D graphics, it was instantly heralded as the anti-christ.

Actually coming together as the result of a glitch during testing for the developer's cop racing game, 'Race n' Chase', a bug saw the cop car A.I. ram the player, only for Rockstar (then, DMA Design) to build a whole game around breaking the law, fleeing from police, accruing wanted levels, etc.

Considering the sheer size of the media-dominating empire that is GTA at this point, it's amazing to think it all came from a happy accident way back when, yet the game holds up marvellously too. All the main cities that would then go on to receive the 3D treatment are playable, and there are even radio stations to flick through as you go about getting your daily dose of carnage.

Oh, and the game's original theme is like some demonic, brash take on Night Rider. Check it out:

GTA was just effortlessly rebel-cool back in the late 90s, something that retrospectively and in light of everything that came after, makes it all the more impressive.