It forever changed: Open-world action, player choice and level of immersion. Rockstar's jump to 3D put their flagship headline-baiting franchise on the map like nothing else, and in a world where the internet was still finding its footing, word spread like wildfire up and down the lands. Of course this in no small part helped to conjure up an overwhelming about of chatter around what you could do in-game, alongside the very nature that somehow a full-on 'crime simulator' has actually been released on a major console. Luckily GTA III was every bit the perfected beast it was sensationalised to be, coming fully-formed with an entire other world to explore, perfected driving mechanics that meant tackling every stunt jump just right would eat away the midnight hours, and a story that featured a cavalcade of celebrity-voiced characters with more high-octane peaks and troughs than a motocross championship. The mission design itself was exemplary too, with Rockstar letting you decide how to tackle any number of open-ended scenarios. Having trouble with a target who always seems to flee in a mission? Block off the road beforehand, buy some body armour for a firefight or equip a rocket launcher and blast him to smithereens from miles away. This level of actually letting you experiment and still be able to make it through without penalty was unprecedented, and remains the main draw in all every 3D GTA title to this day. What do you think is the most influential game of all time? Let us know in the comments!
