As one of the most controversial games ever, Grand Theft Auto III ushered in a new era of open-world gaming that basically saw players crashing cars, running down pedestrians, and destroying their environment with whatever weapons they could get their hands on (there were missions, too, but they played second fiddle). If you were there from the beginning, it was - quite frankly - a thrilling time to be alive. A sprawling, cinematic crime epic taking its influence from the likes of Scarface, Heat and The Godfather, it was perhaps - at the time of its release, anyway - the most liberating video game experience to date. Grand Theft Auto III has spawned a number of - arguably - better sequels, but this was where it all began; the point at which the series made a huge jump and ensured its legacy as one of the greatest gaming franchises.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
