We know, we know... Why is it not September 17th already?! We're right there with you, and we can't wait to get our fix of the massive, sprawling illegalities that are sure to be on offer. But until then, we're going to help tide you over by showing you the complete video game history of the Grand Theft Auto series to date. Did you know that Grand Theft Auto V will in fact be the FIFTEENTH entry into this franchise? Neither did we until we started researching this piece! And here they are, in all of their violent, hedonistic glory!
GRAND THEFT AUTO (1997)
Formats: PlayStation One, Gameboy Colour, PC.
Originally titled Race ‘n' Chase and intended for release on the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn, the entire game was reimagined, pushed back to the then next generation system, and an evil star was born. Quite different from the games we play now – as the top down view will testify to – but the violence and awesome radio stations were there from the very start.
Rating: 7 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO: LONDON 1969 (1999)
Formats: PlayStation One, PC.
More of an expansion pack than a stand-alone game, this put players in the middle of London at the end of the swinging 60s, with references to the likes of James Bond, The Kray Twins and Quadrophenia. There was another expansion pack, London 1961, released later in 1999, which was really just more of the same.
Rating: 6 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO II (1999)
Formats: PlayStation One, Sega Dreamcast, Gameboy Colour, PC.
After spending some time in the past, GTA II is set in an odd retro-futuristic world, which is supposedly the year 2013 (how fitting!). What didn't change much were the old-world graphics, so while the world of GTA felt like it was progressing, the game itself felt like it was standing still.
Rating: 7 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO III (2001)
Formats: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, Mac.
Realising it was time to shake things up a bit, out went the out-dated graphics and top-down viewing system, and in came the 3D visuals and fully immersive world. This is pretty much the proper starting block for every GTA game that has come since, and at the time, was one of the most groundbreaking video games ever made. Even today, it's playability is almost beyond compare.
Rating: 10 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY (2002)
Formats: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, Mac.
Though not all that different from GTA III (except for the jump back from 2001 to a 1986 setting), this was possibly the game that received the most negative publicity upon release. One of the mission within the game involved hiring and using a prostitute, which the Australian government demanded by removed or the game would be banned in their country. Aside from that, it was business as usual. Brilliant game, though hardly a giant leap forward.
Rating: 9 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS (2004)
Formats: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, Mac.
Amidst some toothless allegations of racism, San Andreas managed to revolutionize the GTA world by ramping up the open world aspects of the game to eleven and beyond. This was probably the game that was most current players first introduction to the Grand Theft Auto universe, and is widely regarded as one of the best games ever made.
Rating: 10 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO: LIBERTY CITY STORIES (2005), VICE CITY STORIES (2006)
Formats: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, Mac.
There was a Gameboy Advance only GTA called, rightly enough, Grand Theft Auto: Advance, which was then followed up by these two entries into the GTA series which basically just used the exact same format as GTA: San Andreas, but to less re-invigorating effect. While neither of the games could be considered even close to bad, they both just seemed like a blatant cash-in on all the good work put in by San Andreas.
Rating: Liberty City Stories – 8 out of 10, Vice City Stories – 8 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV (2008)
Formats: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC.
With the first of the GTA games on the current (but not for too much longer) generation of consoles, along came with it massively improved graphics, massively increased cities to play around, and the kind of plot that most series on HBO would strangle their mothers for. Once again, the makers of Grand Theft Auto have delivered yet another “one of the greatest games of all time”. Which is really quite a thing, when you think about it.
Rating: 10 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO: THE LOST & THE DAMNED (2009), CHINATOWN WARS (2009), THE BALLAD OF GAY TONY (2009)
Formats: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, Nintendo DS, PSP
In quick succession after the release of GTA IV, there were three downloadable add-on games, each of which had their own stories and settings and sets of missions and unique vehicles. While any one of them were fantastic fun in their own right, they suffered from the same issues as previous GTA add-ons, in that while they may be great fun to play, they're still little more than a new way to make money from an old product.
Rating: 9 out of 10
GRAND THEFT AUTO V (2013)
Formats: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Not out until September 17th, so we don't know yet. But we can safely assume it's going to be fantastic, right? RIGHT??!!