3) Grand Theft Auto III – PlayStation 2
It might be hard to believe, but the Grand Theft Auto franchise will celebrate its 20 year anniversary as a franchise in 2017. Younger gamers probably won’t remember the days as a top down shooter, but the series went through two iterations, and as many expansion packs, of mad 2D open world action before it evolved into the massively popular title we know today.
Though the original two games did prove a commercial success, GTA’s popularity reached fever pitch when the franchise made the jump to 3D. The notion of exploring a detailed urban environment in 3D almost seemed unbelievable at the time. In fact, it is commonly regarded as one of the biggest advancements in the video gaming medium, allowing for an unprecedented level of exploration we had simply never seen before.
Indeed, the increased fidelity also detailed GTA’s themes of violence, sex and drugs far more graphically, and in turn that ushered a wave of controversy that has become synonymous with the franchise ever since.
Commercially, GTA III was outshone by the later sequels Vice City and San Andreas, buts its 14.5 million units sold as of 2008 is still an astonishing figure and is absolutely responsible for the popularity of the series today.
Trying to hold a 5 star wanted level with a room full of friends in GTA III became a part of PlayStation culture in the early 2000s, and for that reason alone it earns a place on our list as a definitive console exclusive.
