I am a huge fan of the groundbreaking DMA Design game Grand Theft Auto III released in 2001. Even though it's been 23 years since it was released, I still regularly find my inner joystick waggler hankering after this stone cold classic, or at the very least craving a wee read around the subject matter, perhaps open up the Wikipedia page or find a YouTube analysis of the game.
Why is Grand Theft Auto III so good?
As well as an unwavering sense of nostalgia that keeps me returning to this game, there's also a hypnotic je ne sais quoi about Grand Theft Auto III that keeps it fresh no matter how many times I revisit this work of art. Maybe it's that I was an impressionable young whippersnapper in the year 2002 when I first discovered Grand Theft Auto III, or the fact that DMA Design were absolutely at the top of their game when they released said game. It's hard to pinpoint something so transcendental. Once you love a piece of art you become faithful to it's ethos.
Grand Theft Auto III is a game that is still relevant
One thing's for sure though, Grand Theft Auto III has stood the test of time and then some. It remains as powerful and relevant today as it did in 2001. And why wouldn't it? With immersive open-world gameplay like that, it's no wonder people return to this game again and again. I can't imagine life without it John.
DMA Design knocked it out the park
But it's not just the immersive open-world gameplay that make this game great. It's the overall package. The unparalleled sense of freedom to explore and wreak havoc in the game's world is a tour de force. The initial shock and outrage giving way to eventual acceptance and revelry is integral, as is the iconic soundtrack featuring a wide variety of genres. And who can forget endlessly re-playable vigilante mode. When DMA Design created this timeless classic, never mind the ball park, they knocked this one out of the solar system. This bad boy is in danger of bothering Voyager.
Has Grand Theft Auto III stood the test of time?
Of course, there are other games out there to be argued for. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Some might argue that EverQuest is better than Grand Theft Auto III, or that Verant Interactive is better than DMA Design. They may well have a point. But for me, Grand Theft Auto III will always hold a special place in my heart. And 23 years tickling the meridian response does not lie.
Grand Theft Auto III in conclusion
To sum up, Grand Theft Auto III is a wonderful thing, a game of unrivalled quality. It's a game that has etched itself into the psyche, distributing untold tingles up the spine, hogging synapses and monopolising neurons that could otherwise be put to use appreciating more important, or perhaps more useful information. But no matter what life throws at me, I know I can always rely on Grand Theft Auto III to deliver the goods.