Grand Theft Auto

The gameplay takes you through six levels set in three different cities: Liberty City (based on New York City), San Andreas (based on San Francisco), and Vice City (based on Miami). Each level requires you to reach a certain score by completing tasks such as stealing cars, crashing into traffic, or killing cops. Jobs are available by answering phones or entering special cars, which can range from simple tasks like ditching a hot car to more complex missions like bank robberies or assassinations.

Criminal behavior comes with consequences, however. If the police witness your crimes, your wanted level rises, and you'll have to evade them. The police will increase in numbers and intensity as your wanted level increases, from single cars to entire squadrons. You can respray your car to change its appearance and get new license plates, but this will cost you money. You also lose lives when you die or are arrested, but you can recover by finding a jail and being re-released.

The game is played from a top-down perspective, with zooming out while driving a car for better overview at high speeds. The cities are massive and can be explored freely. Crates contain items like weapons, armor, extra lives, police bribes, and get-out-of-jail-free cards. You have access to dozens of different vehicles, each with its own characteristics.