If you've never played GTA, where to start?

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I've never played any GTA game and would like to try the series out. I believe the only systems I have that can play GTA games are my PS2 and my MacBook (can run Windows on it), so of Windows, PS1 and PS2 games, where should I start? I'd prefer PS1 or PS2 as I don't often play games on my MacBook (it's mostly at work, not so often at home.) Note that graphics aren't a huge deal for me - sure, I like good graphics fine, but old-school works for me too. Some of my favorite games are 2D.

Edit: all game systems I have: DS, GBA, Gamecube, N64, PS2 (and Wii after xmas)
 
Gotta go with the one that started it all (yes, I know): GTA3. The city design and atmosphere are superb, especially on the first island. Gameplay-wise, it may be lacking a few improvements from the later games, but you probably won't notice since you'll be starting with it. Another thing is that while the stories and characters in the series have been getting more interesting, there's sort of a personal touch added by running around as an anonymous, silent character that the recent games have lacked.
 
Good question - I personally started with GTA III, tried GTA 2 (don't - GTA III is light years ahead of it), and moved on to Vice City, San Andeas, and GTA IV. If you have the time, play them in order, as each makes nice references to the previous ones (and builds on the previous' formula). If you only are going to play one, though, I'd go with San Andreas - it has the most stuff to do and the biggest and most varied city (well actualy, cities) imo, GTA IV was a let down compared to SA - the game took itself too seriously.
 
[quote name='metaly']Gotta go with the one that started it all (yes, I know): GTA3. The city design and atmosphere are superb, especially on the first island. Gameplay-wise, it may be lacking a few improvements from the later games, but you probably won't notice since you'll be starting with it. Another thing is that while the stories and characters in the series have been getting more interesting, there's sort of a personal touch added by running around as an anonymous, silent character that the recent games have lacked.[/QUOTE]

I've spent maybe a few hours in each of the games and I have to say I like GTA 3 the best. I think it is because of the silent character. The characters in Vice City were too obnoxious for me.
 
See if you can't pick up the Trilogy pack with 3, Vice City, and San Andreas. Go in order. Each game made it's own progression. Personally, Vice City was my fave. There was just too much to do in San Andreas.
 
If you're low on time I'd skip right to San Andreas. It was the only one that I liked enough to play through. CJ (the main character) is actually likable as opposed to the guy from Vice City.
 
Start with GTA 3. If you start with Vice city or San Andreas you might ruin the GTA 3 experience because it doesnt have as many side things to do as the other games do. I personally think GTA 3 was the best game as far as characters, story, city. I also loved Vice City and San Andreas was okay.

I would suggest playing them like this...

GTA 3
GTA Liberty City Stories
GTA Vice City
GTA Vice City Stories
GTA San Andreas
 
San Andreas was the best IMO, but if you play GTA 3 or GTA VC you should play them on the pc/mac because of the modding community. Mods made GTA 3 last forever for me
 
I dont think GTA SA was the best. Sure it had more vehicles, could change your character more, had girlfriends, bigger cities. But the story was meh. I liked GTA 3 and Vice City a lot more.
 
GTA 3 had a story :shock:, naw I'm just kidding. I just thought the SA story was better. I didn't really play VC all that muc so I can't comment
 
Vice City can't be skipped, that's my favorite out of GTA3 and SA

I didn't like the silent character on GTA3, I really haven't played it that much and I thought the story was kind of hard to follow.

SA was pretty good, huge city, awesome cars, but I wasn't a fan of the story, not a big fan of all the gang wars and what I remember that places were darker I thought at least at the first city from what I remember. I did like how it wasn't all city though and had some nice offroading trails ;)

Vice City is still my favorite, I love that first island that you start on :D
 
[quote name='Halo05']If you're low on time I'd skip right to San Andreas. It was the only one that I liked enough to play through. CJ (the main character) is actually likable as opposed to the guy from Vice City.[/QUOTE]

I agree with that, GTA 3, VC and SA are my 3 favorite PS2 games (I have both Stories games on PSP), but GTA SA is one of the best games I have ever played, enough to play through the story twice.
 
Many of my friends have recommended SA to start with, so I decided to order that. I've played some of 3 and VC, and SA just seems better than both. So, I'd guess to just try out SA. Or you could just play one, then a little ways through play another. :D
 
I would wonder, to answer this, why you haven't played a GTA game yet. They are such fixtures in gaming, it seems like an odd franchise to completely miss if you have interest in it.

If you are going to play only 1, I think you either play Vice City or San Andreas. San Andreas is a much bigger game. There is a lot more to do (almost to an overwhelming extent). It also has an early 90's timeline. You also have more control over your avatar's appearance (not just clothes, but working out, hairstyles, etc)

Vice City is set in the 80's. It is a bit more focused on the core gameplay elements, but there is still rediculous amounts to do, and the map, though not as large, is large enough.

Really, which sounds more appealing to play, you really can't go wrong with either one. As far as stories, I think the stories are all pretty similar. They are all different, but looking back, I was never that one really stood out as great, head and shoulders above the others.
 
I'd start with 3 and VC. I never really understood peoples' obsession with SA. Yea, its bigger and has more to do, but it just really got too big for me. It was annoying to get around and do stuff. I just stopped playing after the story mode and went back to VC for another playthrough.

Out of all the GTAs, VC was my fave b'c of the story and the city and especially the radio (i'm a big fan of the 80s)
 
[quote name='lordxixor101']I would wonder, to answer this, why you haven't played a GTA game yet. They are such fixtures in gaming, it seems like an odd franchise to completely miss if you have interest in it.[/QUOTE]

That's easy to answer. Because before we got a Gamecube, and we only got a Gamecube a short time before the Wii was released, the last video game system I had was a TurboDuo! I only had it for pretty short time before I sold it. I should have kept it - they sell for quite a bit now. Oh well. Prior to that I had a Sega Genesis. That was it until the Gamecube. After the Gamecube I got a PS2 because I wanted to play DDR after discovering it via DDR Mario Mix, and DDR was on the PS2. Now we have a Wii as of Xmas. So... I missed a lot of that stuff.

EDIT: so... I had the TurboDuo, and then I was done with console video games for quite some time. Got completely bored with it all. I got back into them because I had kids. At first it was kids games exclusively, but now I'm enjoying games for myself too, although I still mostly enjoy games I can also play with my kids. So, actually I haven't taken any steps to pick up any of the GTA games yet. The reality is that I don't get to pay M rated games much - there just isn't a lot of time for me to do so since I can't play them when my kids are up/around and then when there is time... I find myself playing Animal Crossing: City Folk! :) At least right now. I do want to check the series out, but, well, I guess perhaps not as much as I thought as I haven't actually bought anything yet. Hmm.
 
[quote name='rusty']I'd start with 3 and VC. I never really understood peoples' obsession with SA. Yea, its bigger and has more to do, but it just really got too big for me. It was annoying to get around and do stuff. I just stopped playing after the story mode and went back to VC for another playthrough.

Out of all the GTAs, VC was my fave b'c of the story and the city and especially the radio (i'm a big fan of the 80s)[/quote]

Same here, VC is great. I just like the storyline, era, and music more. Don't get me wrong, SA is a really good game, but I just got into VC more. I need to go back and play it some more, I'm like 40% through. One of these days, I'll finish a video game... lol
 
I've just bought my first GTA game and I got Vice City. So far I've really enjoyed it. Being in my 30's, I like the nostalgia feel.
 
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