20 PS2 Games That Still Hold Up
8. Grand Theft Auto III
Although Grand Theft Auto 1 + 2 were solid, the top-down actioners weren't exactly revolutionary.
With that in mind, nobody expected Grand Theft Auto III to shake up the industry the way it did. The acclaimed sequel allowed players to explore a fully realised 3D world with unprecedented interactivity.
Unlike previous titles that relied on linear gameplay, GTA III took place in a sandbox environment where players could choose to explore any way they wanted. Even if you didn't follow the main campaign, you could spend endless hours navigating through Liberty City. The sheer scale and depth of the environment, combined with its meticulous attention to detail, entrenched players in a palpable landscape that felt jaw-droppingly real.
Rather than leaving it at that, GTA III also excelled in storytelling and character development. Players took control of a silent protagonist, whose journey unfolded in a way that felt cinematic, but player-driven.
Though it didn't seem possible for the GTA series to top itself after this, every entry seems to surpass the last one. Nevertheless, it doesn't diminish Grand Theft Auto III's legacy in any shape or form.