20 Video Games That Defined 20 Years Of PlayStation

2. Grand Theft Auto III

All sandbox games owe something to Grand Theft Auto III. Rockstar's first attempt at an open-world game did so many things right that its template is still being used today. At a time when developers were complaining about the complexity of the PS2 hardware, Rockstar stunned them into silence with GTA III. Not only had they created a living, breathing city, but large chunks of it could be explored without encountering a single loading screen. The sheer scope of the game was a massive leap forward for the medium. Most games before it focused on one mechanic like platforming or shooting, yet GTA III had almost everything. The player could run, use a wide variety of guns and melee weapons, drive any vehicle that could be stolen (including boats, cars and planes) in a massive urban playground that was just waiting to be explored. What's more shocking though is that every gameplay mechanic worked. The driving and combat both felt nice and responsive, though the lock-on shooting does feel a little bit clunky by today's standards. GTA III was so far ahead of any other game on the market it painted the PS2 in a very good light indeed. It didn't just define a generation, it defined a genre and its influence can still be felt in games today.