Few video game companies are as influential. rockstar gamesYou'll find that every single game developed and/or released has had some impact on the industry. This isn't even recent, as Rockstar has been releasing a ton of high-quality games (mostly in the open world genre) since the late 90s and early 2020s.
The company is now back in the spotlight with its upcoming launch. grand theft auto 6 Some of the best and most exciting video game releases of all time are slowly coming to fruition. But before that day comes, it's important to look back at everything that came before it, including the next five games that pretty much defined Rockstar and its enduring legacy.
grand theft auto
The start of Rockstar's most famous and iconic franchise
Rockstar is synonymous with massive open world games with 3D graphics and realistic art styles, but that wasn't always the case. When the studio was known as DMA Design, it created many strange and colorful titles, including: lemmings or Harvesting corpses. But everything changed in 1998 when DMA Design released its first product. grand theft auto game.
Set in the original Liberty City GTA It was a 2D action-adventure game with a top-down perspective. Despite its primitive graphics and simple gameplay, players could do almost anything they wanted to score points, including committing crimes, laying the foundation for what would eventually become the open-world “sandbox” genre.
Strangely enough, grand theft auto It originally started out as a racing game titled “Cops and Robbers.” race and chaseBut the developers decided to retool the entire project after committing crimes and running away from the police became more fun. GTA It received a lukewarm reception and was met with some controversy, but it's no exaggeration to say that Rockstar or the open world genre wouldn't exist today without this ambitious little game.
grand theft auto 3
The game that single-handedly redefined the 3D sandbox genre
DMA Design created several 3D games with open world elements throughout the '90s. corpse harvest or space station silicon valleySo developers ended up using everything they learned to grand theft auto A series that introduces you to the fascinating world of 3D gaming at the turn of the new millennium.
Needless to say, grand theft auto 3 It was incredibly ambitious and impressive for its time. Similar to the first entry in the series, players can explore Liberty City to their heart's content, driving cars, committing crimes, and even completing special story missions. The only difference is that the game was created entirely in 3D, and the open world was incredibly large, perfectly demonstrating the capabilities of the PlayStation 2.
GTA 3 It was a huge critical and commercial success, and gave birth to the modern “sandbox” genre, directly inspiring the creation of other similar titles, including: saints row or mafia. Rockstar's own popularity and influence GTA 3 It redefined and reshaped the company's identity and would go on to develop many sequels in the following years (most of which were excellent in every way): vice city and san andreas.
manhunt
The most controversial video games made by Rockstar
Rockstar's games have always been controversial, largely due to their adult themes, racy sense of humor, and gameplay that allows players to commit horrific crimes in a free-roaming open world. But the company's problematic reputation was taken to a whole new level when it released a stealth action game in 2003. manhunt.
In the early 2000s, video game graphics became increasingly realistic, and naturally the public discussion about graphic violence became more heated. So the timing is manhunt's launch couldn't have been more unfortunate. Because the game allows the player to control a death row inmate who is forced to participate in a snuff film by murdering and torturing other criminals. And yes, it is. Even for the PS2, the violence is very gratuitous and gruesome.
manhunt While it was extremely controversial, to the point of being banned in several countries, its existence also redefined Rockstar's entire legacy. At the time, the company was one of the few publishers willing to release experimental mainstream games designed for adults instead of children, and this was seen as a bold and fearless company, not to mention a major contribution in the mid-2000s to breaking the archaic stereotype that video games were for children.
grand theft auto 5
The GTA games were so successful that Rockstar didn't have to release another game for 13 years.
that grand theft auto The franchise flourished in the 2000s with the release of PS2 classic games such as: vice city and san andreasNot only that, but with the series entering the HD generation for the first time, grand theft auto 4. But as fun and impressive as they all were, none of them could compare to the giant monsters that came before. grand theft auto 5.
Originally released in 2013, this open-world game was truly massive for its time, boasting huge maps full of things to do, three playable characters to choose from at any time, a deep and complex narrative, and impressive, realistic graphics. GTA 5 It was the most expensive video game ever made at the time, and Rockstar's investment clearly paid off, making it the second best-selling game of all time.
Similar to previous works, grand theft auto 5 It redefined what an open world “sandbox” game was and could be. Needless to say, whenever someone thinks of Rockstar and open world games. GTA As an IP, this game will immediately pop into their minds as it has become synonymous with the company's identity. additionally, GTA 5 It was so absurdly successful that Rockstar re-released it several times and even used it as a base. gta onlineThis allowed developers to spend as much time as needed to follow up directly.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A beautiful narrative-driven adventure that showcases the studio's true capabilities.
It's important to remember that Rockstar Games is more than just games. grand theft autoAnd the company has created a variety of iconic open world franchises, including: teaser or red dead redemption. That's why this long-awaited release has taken place. Red Dead Redemption 2 2018 was a landmark year in that it was the first truly new game developed by Rockstar. GTA 5. Needless to say, expectations were very high and the final product did not disappoint at all. In fact, it surpassed them.
As expected from the company, this legendary western adventure boasts a huge open world filled with things to do, but the game's emotional story and impeccable writing elevate it as well. Although some people choose to actively ignore the plot of Rockstar's games, Red Dead Redemption 2 This is a notorious exception, because compelling narratives are a big part of the experience. Moreover, this title revolutionized the open world “sandbox” genre (something that seemed almost impossible in the late 2010s). That's because this title is filled with so many impressive technical and graphical details that it still captivates gamers to this day, and highlights just how much time and effort was put into its development.
It's not surprising to know that. Red Dead Redemption 2 It has won numerous awards and is often considered the best work Rockstar has ever made. All of this explains why there is so much anticipation for what's next. grand theft auto 6 It's so high that gamers are hoping it'll be bigger than both. grand theft auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 combination. Based on the company's near-perfect track record, it seems likely that: GTA 6 It would live up to the hype and become a huge success that would change the game forever.
