There are few video game companies that have been as influential Rockstar GamesSeeing as how every single game it's developed and/or published has had some sort of impact on the industry. And it's not even recent, as Rockstar has been churning out countless high-quality games (most of which are in the open-world genre) from the late 90s to the early 2020s.
The company is now back in the spotlight, with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 Slowly shaping up to be the biggest and most exciting video game launch of all time. But, before that day arrives, it's important to look back at everything that came before it, including the following five games that defined Rockstar and its lasting legacy.
Grand Theft Auto
The launch of Rockstar's most famous and iconic franchise
Rockstar is synonymous with massive open-world games with 3D graphics and realistic art styles, but this wasn't always the case. Back when the studio was known as DMA Design, it created a wide variety of unique and colorful titles, e.g Lemmings or body harvest However, everything changed in 1998, when the DMA design was first released Grand Theft Auto the game
Set in Liberty City, the original GTA was a 2D action-adventure game with a top-down perspective. Despite its primitive graphics and simple gameplay, it still laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the open-world “sandbox” genre, as players were allowed to do whatever they wanted to score points, including committing crimes.
interestingly, Grand Theft Auto Originally started life as a racing game about cops and robbers Race 'n' ChaseBut since the developers had more fun committing crimes and running from the police, they decided to retool the entire project. GTA It had a warm reception and was met with some mild controversy, but it's safe to say that neither Rockstar nor the open-world genre would exist today if it weren't for this ambitious little game.
Grand Theft Auto 3
A game that single-handedly redefines the 3D sandbox genre
DMA Design made some 3D games with open-world elements in the 90s, e.g body harvest or Space Station Silicon ValleySo its developers finally took everything they learned to bring Grand Theft Auto A series of fascinating worlds of 3D gaming, at the turn of the millennium.
Needless to say, Grand Theft Auto 3 It was incredibly ambitious and impressive for its time. Like the first entry in the series, players can explore Liberty City to their heart's content by driving cars, committing crimes, and even completing special story missions. The only difference is that this game was completely in 3D, and its open world was surprisingly vast, which fully demonstrated what the PlayStation 2 was capable of.
GTA 3 It was a huge critical and commercial success, and it created the modern “sandbox” genre, seeing as it directly inspired the creation of many other similar titles. saint row or the mafia. As far as Rockstar's popularity and influence GTA 3 redefined and reshaped the company's identity, and it would go on to develop several sequels in the following years (most of which were excellent in every way), e.g. the suburbs and San Andreas.
manhunt
The most controversial video game ever made by Rockstar
Rockstar's games have always been highly controversial, mainly for their adult themes, their sense of humor, and their gameplay that allows players to commit heinous crimes in an open-roaming open world. However, the company's troubled reputation reached a whole new level in 2003, when it released a stealth-action game titled. manhunt.
In the early 2000s, video game graphics gradually became more and more realistic, and, naturally, public discussion about their graphic violence also increased. So, time to manhuntThe release of could not be more unfortunate, as the game sees players take control of a death row inmate who is forced to participate in snuff films by murdering and torturing other criminals. And yes, the violence in it is too gratuitous and gruesome even for PS2.
manhunt was extremely controversial, to the point that it was banned in many countries, but its existence redefined Rockstar's legacy as a whole. In the early days, the company was seen as bold and fearless, not to mention that it was one of the few publishers willing to release experimental mainstream games that were designed for adults rather than children, which greatly contributed to the demise of the old stereotype that video games are for children around the mid-2000s.
Grand Theft Auto 5
A GTA game so successful, Rockstar didn't need to release another for another 13 years
The Grand Theft Auto The franchise flourished during the 2000s, not just with the release of PS2 classics. the suburbs and San AndreasBut with the series' first entry into the HD generation, Grand Theft Auto 4. But, as fun and impressive as all those entries were, none of them could compare to Behemoth. Grand Theft Auto 5.
Originally released in 2013, this open-world game was huge for its time, as it boasted a huge map full of things to do, three playable characters that can be selected at any time, a deep and complex story, and impressive, vibrant graphics. GTA 5 It was the most expensive video game ever made at the time, and Rockstar's investment certainly paid off, as it also became the second best-selling game of all time.
Like its predecessors, Grand Theft Auto 5 Open-world “sandbox” games redefined what they should and could be, when one saw Rockstar and GTA IP, this game will immediately pop up in their minds, as it has become synonymous with the company's identity. Also, GTA 5 So wildly successful that Rockstar re-released it several times and even used it as a base. GTA OnlineThat allowed its developers to take the time they needed to make a live follow-up.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A beautiful story-driven adventure that shows what the studio is really capable of
It's important to remember that Rockstar is more than just games Grand Theft AutoAnd that company has created a variety of other iconic open-world franchises, such as threat or Red Dead Redemption. This is exactly why it is a long awaited release Red Dead Redemption 2 2018 was such a monumental moment for Rockstar, as it was the first true new game to be developed since then. GTA 5. Needless to say, expectations were very high, and the final product did not disappoint; In fact, it surpassed them.
As expected from this company, this legendary western adventure boasts a huge open world full of stuff to do, but it's also elevated by the game's emotional story and impeccable writing. Some people actively choose to ignore the plot of Rockstar's games, but Red Dead Redemption 2 Notorious is an exception because its compelling story is a big part of the experience. On top of that, this title also revolutionized the open-world “sandbox” genre (something that seemed almost impossible in the late 2010s) because it is filled with so many impressive technical and graphical details that still blow gamers' minds to this day, and highlight how much time and care was put into its development.
This should come as no surprise Red Dead Redemption 2 It has won countless awards and is often considered the best thing Rockstar has ever made. All of this explains why there are expectations Grand Theft Auto 6 Too high: Players are expecting it to be bigger than both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 combined. Based on the company's almost flawless track record, this is very likely GTA 6 Will live up to the hype and end up being a huge success that will change gaming forever.
