5 Key Aspects that Made GTA 3 a Revolutionary Title

Grand Theft Auto 3 (GTA 3) is the first installment in the Grand Theft Auto series to be released in a 3D universe. This game paved the way for future releases and was an experiment by Rockstar Games to test several new features they had never attempted before. However, it resulted in the introduction of certain features that were considered revolutionary at the time. Not only did this game change the approach to Grand Theft Auto, but it also inspired many other games.

GTA 3 was released in 2001, when video game graphics were mostly 2D and stylized in an arcade-like manner. Rockstar Games took a big risk with this game, but it turned out to be beneficial. In this article, we will highlight five aspects of the game that contributed to the series’ advancement.

1) Vast and Interactive Open World

There are only a few other games that can create open worlds as well as Grand Theft Auto. GTA 3 was the first step towards what we now know the series to be, as players had access to a relatively large map filled with independent characters they could interact with. This was a significant achievement at the time, resulting in larger maps and more things to do and discover in newer titles. While the GTA 3 map is not the biggest or most detailed in the series, it was the first to give players the freedom to navigate the world without getting stuck in missions.

2) Introduction of Senseless Violence

Violence has always been present in video games. Titles like Mortal Kombat and many others have introduced it for a long time, but GTA 3 decided to take it a step further. Players had the opportunity to engage in senseless violence against independent characters, whom they could shoot, beat up, or knock off balance anywhere and anytime. This was a significant achievement that sparked controversy, but the game’s sales and community support made this feature a regular element in the Grand Theft Auto series.

3) Radio Stations

Driving around the map in complete silence can quickly become boring. That’s why Rockstar Games decided to add several radio stations that players could switch between and listen to popular hits from that time. While this was not the first appearance of such a feature in a game, GTA 3 played a major role in popularizing it among the masses. Since then, it has become natural to have good music playing during journeys to mission markers or simply while exploring the map for entertainment. Popular tracks like “Change” by Connors & Jaya or “I’m the King” by Royce Da 5’9 provided entertainment to players during their trips. Subsequent titles further improved this feature by adding more radio channels categorized by music genre, allowing everyone to find something they liked, regardless of their preferred genre.

4) Third-Person Perspective View

Apart from graphical advancements and other amazing features, the use of a third-person perspective view is what made the game so revolutionary and paved the way for future titles in the series. All previous Rockstar Games titles had a top-down view, but GTA 3 changed that. Fans were amazed by this breakthrough as they could now see Claude (the main protagonist) from various perspectives. It was truly mind-blowing for both players and creators. The use of the third-person perspective allowed for experimentation and understanding of how the camera angle changes the game’s perspective and helps in certain situations.

5) Cinematic Cutscenes

In today’s gaming landscape, cinematic cutscenes are an integral part of most video games. GTA 3 introduced this feature to the Grand Theft Auto series in a way that felt natural and necessary. Cutscenes conveyed parts of the story, while the rest was delivered through dialogues. This gave players the sensation of watching a movie and the ability to interact with the characters. It was revolutionary for Rockstar Games and highly successful. Subsequent installments in the series have greatly improved these cutscenes, and players cannot imagine a Grand Theft Auto title without them. The studio has also made significant progress in terms of graphics, making the in-game reality look more cinematic. However, it was thanks to GTA 3 and the effort put into it by Rockstar Games that this achievement was reached.

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