Hey there, fellow gamers! Ever wondered how our favorite chaos simulator, Grand Theft Auto, went from a top-down pixel fest to the jaw-dropping open worlds we roam today? Buckle up, ’cause we’re taking a trip down memory lane!
It all kicked off back in the year 1997 when DMA Design (now Rockstar North) dropped the first GTA. To be absolutely honest those were the days – bird’s-eye view, simple graphics, but pure, unadulterated mayhem. We didn’t have a named protagonist then, just a bunch of selectable characters causing havoc.
Then BAM! GTA III hit in 2001, and for the love of the lord, did it change the game. Rockstar had chosen to go 3D! Liberty City felt alive, and suddenly we were all Claude, the silent but deadly protagonist. Remember trying to get that guy to talk? Good luck with that!
Vice City and San Andreas followed, each one upping the ante. Tommy Vercetti, voiced by Ray Liotta, brought the 80s Miami vibes in Vice City. Then came CJ (Carl Johnson) in San Andreas, giving us a massive map with three cities. People still catch themselves humming “Billie Jean” sometimes, thanks to Vice City’s killer soundtrack.
There were also interplays with games like GTA Liberty City Stories and Vice city Stories, two games which acted as the prequel to GTA 3 And GTA Vice City respectively and gave the players context regarding the storyline of the GTA 3D universe.
But hold onto your controllers, ’cause GTA IV decided to get all serious on us in 2008. Niko Bellic’s gritty tale in a hyper-realistic Liberty City was a far cry from the wacky adventures of CJ. Some fans loved it, others missed the old-school chaos. Can’t please everyone, right? This game however, was the first of its kind, as it made a switch from the world of3D models to a high definition game model which had euphoria physics.
And then… GTA V 2013 brought to us not one, but three protagonists in the biggest, and most exciting Los Santos yet again Michael, Franklin, and Trevor – each one crazier than the last. Plus, GTA Online? RIP social life. We have lost count of how many hours we as players have sunk into heists with our crew. Th e game also brought to the table many other elements such as murder mysteries and even ghosts into the virtual world.
Now we’re all sitting here, twiddling our thumbs, waiting for GTA VI. The rumors are flying faster than a Hydra jet, but who knows what Rockstar’s cooking up? Looking back, it’s crazy how far we’ve come. From nameless criminals to complex characters like Niko and the trio from GTA V. The series has grown up with us, pushing boundaries and buttons along the way. And when it does come out, have the best accessories for gaming from Meckeys to enjoy it to the fullest on your PC. Until then-
Happy Gaming!
Team Meckeys