GTA III vs Vice City vs San Andreas vs GTA IV vs GTA V

[1987_Lakers]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/GTA3boxcover.jpg/250px-GTA3boxcover.jpg
http://gtaarea.webs.com/gta_vice_city_ps2_usa.jpg
http://gtahelpers.webs.com/gta_san_andreas_cover.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/03/3-21-08-gta_iv_xbox_360.jpg
http://rarenorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/grand-theft-auto-v-cover-art-1-544x380.jpg

My rankings...
1. GTA V
2. GTA San Andreas
3. GTA Vice City
4. GTA 3
5. GTA IV

After playing GTA 5 for over a week I've come to the conclusion that it is the best GTA game I have ever played. Amazing map, great story, endless things to do, multiple characters, great game play. GTA San Andreas is right behind it, when I first played San Andreas I was blown away by the map and the multiple things that you can do, but V is ahead for its better story mode. GTA 3 was revolutionary, but compared to the other GTA games it is limited. Vice City is the GTA game that got me hooked to the series, not as versatile as San Andreas & V, but it had a great story mode, great characters, and a very nice environment. GTA IV was probably the biggest disappointment for me, although it is still a very good game the story mode wasn't interesting and it felt very limited compared to San Andreas. Something about Liberty City just feels like I'm playing in a box while in free roam (III & IV).

How would you rank the 5 games?

[plowking]

GTA 4 was undoubtedly the worst. It actually wasn't a great game.

Just to get a little off topic, am I the only one who thought Red Dead Redemption is better than all of them?

[knickballer]

To me i'd rate them the same(all of them are great) mainly because I due the same thing in each of the games like smash skulls and drive like a lunatic.

I thought 4 was the best though because of the graphics. really eye opening at the time although it wasn't as deep as San Andreas.

[Suguru101]

GTA 4 was undoubtedly the worst. It actually wasn't a great game.

Just to get a little off topic, am I the only one who thought Red Dead Redemption is better than all of them?

Definitely not the only one.

The setting and story formulas of GTA have gotten less interesting for me, i just can't be bothered to play more than 10 minutes at a time of GTA V.

Red Dead just felt so fresh and intriguing..

[plowking]

Definitely not the only one.

The setting and story formulas of GTA have gotten less interesting for me, i just can't be bothered to play more than 10 minutes at a time of GTA V.

Red Dead just felt so fresh and intriguing..

Yeah.

The setting, environments, and the characters in particular made you care for them. Graphics were great, a bunch of cool features like dead eye, great online, etc.

Seriously one of the best games I've ever played.

[HarryCallahan]

In order of personal enjoyment:

1. Vice City
2. GTA V
3. GTA III
4. San Andreas
5. GTA IV

[Bucket_Nakedz]

for now...

1. san andreas
2. red dead
3. vice city

v i have yet to scratch the surface, but has potential. i don't care about the others

[goldcrow]

1. Gta 5
2. Gta vice city
3. Gta San Andreas
4. Gta 3
5. Gta 4

GTA Vice City had the best story abd sound track so far but GTA is just pretty damn cool.

[blablabla]

1. Vice City
2. GTA IV
3. San Andreas
4. V (this might change with the introduction of GTA Online)
5. GTA III

[CeltsGarlic]

Vice City and SA.

Havent tried V yet.. next month probably.

[Thorpesaurous]

GTA 4 was undoubtedly the worst. It actually wasn't a great game.

Just to get a little off topic, am I the only one who thought Red Dead Redemption is better than all of them?


Vice City
V
San Andreas
IV
III

And I too would put Red Dead ahead of all of them.

Vice City did was the most satirical of the bunch, and that's my favorite part about these games. And the satire was built into the story more, and relied less on me having to watch TV or something. And the celebrity voice acting in Vice City was a great touch at the time. I've said this many times, but I think tieing the game to a time and place, like 80s Miami, or 90s LA, helped the game.
I haven't finished this one yet, but it's much more clever than IV was, and the controls have improved notably, and I agree with what was said about Liberty City just not feeling like a great map to play a game on. My only gripe with these games as they went along is that while there's a ton of stuff to do, a lot of it just isn't particularly fun beyond that first time. It's like they got too big.


After a little time to sit with V, and having run my way through The Last of Us and now have a little perspective, I think I'm willing to say Red Dead is the best game of this console generation for me. I don't have an XBox, so I can't comment on Left 4 Dead, Halo, or really the Mass Effect Series (which not being able to play the first eliminated me from the multi platform sequels), but right now gun to my head I'd RDR, TLoU, Uncharted II, GTAV is my mount rushmore of the PS3. With some serious consideration for Dead Space, both Batman games, and a few other things.

[Scholar]

1. GTA V
2. GTA SA
3. GTA IV
4. GTA VC
5. GTA III

I still say GTA IV is my favorite because of the in-depth character build of Niko Bellic, but gameplay-wise, I can't deny that SA & V top it.

[DetroitPiston]

V
San Andreas
Vice City
III
IV

V's three characters at once made gameplay more interesting, and allowed you to focus on the respective characters lives. San Andreas was fun but there were points where it went over the top (Eating at intervals) and parts where the story felt rushed.

And Rockstar in general makes awesome games, let's just agree to that. Now if Agent can ever come out I'd be happy.

[LJJ]

No point really comparing across generations, but 5 is a pretty large step up from both 4 and Red Dead Redemption.

[Wally450]

Fun fact: there's a helicopter in the top left corner of each cover.

[pauk]

GTA 1/2 (nostalgia)
GTA 5
GTA San Andreas
GTA 4
GTA Vice City
GTA 3

[Andrei89]

Haven t played 5 yet, however, some people here compare the games to the present date instead of compare the games to how good they were when they came out.

Of course GTA V is better right now than GTA 3.

However, in terms of how great and revolutionary the game was when it came out, GTA III beats all of them. People really forget how much fun they had with GTA III being the first of its kind.

GTA III
GTA San Andreas
GTA IV
GTA Vice City

[TheReturn]

Vice City >>>

[kNicKz]

GTA V
GTA San Andreas
GTA III
Vice City
GTA IV


First 1/2 don't really count. IV was kind of awful lol. GTA III was probably the one I spent the most time on . I used to **** with the cheats a lot

[AlphaWolf24]

http://gtamp.com/images/gtanes.jpg

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070429132555/gtawiki/images/6/6c/Grandtheftendo-Gameplay4.gif

:confusedshrug: :confusedshrug:




as far as your list...

I 100% agree....but the original GTA was pretty cool for it's time.

[Myth]

GTA 5
San Andreas
GTA IV

I never played the others. Red Dead Redemption is above the others because of the awesome multiplayer, but the release of GTA 5's multiplayer could bump it above RDR.

[TheReal Kendall]

I got San Andreas over all of them right now but I haven't played V yet so my opinion might change tomorrow

[DonDadda59]

Just to get a little off topic, am I the only one who thought Red Dead Redemption is better than all of them?

Red Dead Redemption is my shit. Wish they would hurry up with that sequel :bowdown:

[MavsSuperFan]

I never got why people hated 4.

All of the extras in san andreas didnt add much for me.

I like the core game play of 4.

[OJ SIMPSON 2.0]

San Andreas. I usually skip through all the cut acenes of all gta games but CJ and the storyline got me hooked. Grove street 4 life.

[RoseCity07]

GTA 4 was undoubtedly the worst. It actually wasn't a great game.

Just to get a little off topic, am I the only one who thought Red Dead Redemption is better than all of them?

GTA V is probably the best, but I think it is a legit argument to say Red Dead is the best game Rockstar has ever made. Depending on my mood I think it is better than GTA V. The score for Red Dead was amazing. Music in GTA V sucks. There aren't enough things to tweak in customization (only thing you can change are breaks and acceleration). There is no gambling in GTA V even thought they have a casino. Cars often disappear even when you purchase them (big let down). I've walked away from cars in GTA and they aren't there when I come back. Rockstar said they would still be there.

GTA V is one of the best games ever made. It beats GTA IV quite easily but it's not a perfect game. I don't blame Rockstar either, this PS3 and Xbox 360 are old pieces of hardware. They did the best they could given the technology.

[iggy>]

Wtf? Gta iv was awesome. I enjoyed all 3 storylines.

[shoops]

I never got why people hated 4.

All of the extras in san andreas didnt add much for me.

I like the core game play of 4.
I feel the same way. IV for me was pretty refreshing and felt pretty damn immersive, being able to aim on drive-bys, shooting people through the windshield, crash physics and flying out the windshield. I even enjoyed the vehicle handling and all despite cars feeling overly heavy on the turns, it made the super cars shine imo. Combat was clunky especially the godawful melee but it's pretty much always been that way in all GTAs. And as "plain/boring?" as some people found the story, I think it worked pretty well for me.

On the other hand, although everyone seemed to love it, san andreas felt pretty boring to me for some reason. Maybe it was because I played the shit out of vice city. Or maybe it was because the cheats became annoying to remember and input on the pc compared to the previous iterations. Either way, after I had tried the novelty cool stuff like the jets and passenger planes, I just didn't really enjoy the game as much as III/VC and IV, for me it just felt like more of the same. Even some of the neat features I had anticipated beforehand like the bikes, exercise, and jetpack ended up being tedious lol.

Haven't played V yet, but I dunno if I can really rank them though. I feel like putting SA as the one I least enjoyed, but I'm not sure if that's quite fair either. I did still end up spending a decent amount of time playing it, but not as much as the others.

[Derka]

Completed Vice City 100%, absolutely loved the in-game radio stations. That'd be my undisputed #1 with GTA3 as #2.

San Andreas...was just too much. Never played IV and probably won't play V.

[MavsSuperFan]

I feel the same way. IV for me was pretty refreshing and felt pretty damn immersive, being able to aim on drive-bys, shooting people through the windshield, crash physics and flying out the windshield. I even enjoyed the vehicle handling and all despite cars feeling overly heavy on the turns, it made the super cars shine imo. Combat was clunky especially the godawful melee but it's pretty much always been that way in all GTAs. And as "plain/boring?" as some people found the story, I think it worked pretty well for me.

On the other hand, although everyone seemed to love it, san andreas felt pretty boring to me for some reason. Maybe it was because I played the shit out of vice city. Or maybe it was because the cheats became annoying to remember and input on the pc compared to the previous iterations. Either way, after I had tried the novelty cool stuff like the jets and passenger planes, I just didn't really enjoy the game as much as III/VC and IV, for me it just felt like more of the same. Even some of the neat features I had anticipated beforehand like the bikes, exercise, and jetpack ended up being tedious lol.

Haven't played V yet, but I dunno if I can really rank them though. I feel like putting SA as the one I least enjoyed, but I'm not sure if that's quite fair either. I did still end up spending a decent amount of time playing it, but not as much as the others.

for me that was huge. I really like the shooting mechanics of GTA IV.

[zoom17]

GTA V
2. GTA San Andreas
3. GTA Vice City
4. GTA 3

[Scholar]

Damn, people hate on GTA IV for no reason. They're usually just upset because it wasn't GTA SA 2.0. I do think IV should've included all the features of SA and then some, but even though it didn't, IV is still among the greatest current gen (PS3/XBOX 360) games of all-time.
The physics were greater (and still are) than any game I've ever played. Even GTA V, if you run over someone, they just die under the car. In GTA IV, you hit someone with your vehicle and you'll see them fall in various, life-like ways.
In IV, beating someone's ass didn't kill them. In all other GTA games, including V, people die if you whoop their ass.
IV's shooting was superb IMO. It's not on the level of RDR, but it was easy to use and included recoil, something R* didn't include with V for some reason.
Plus, all the extra shit you can do in IV made it worthwhile. You encounter interesting characters, befriend some of them, the story was in-depth detailed, darts and bowling were pretty fun, driving drunk in IV > driving drunk in V because the effect actually lasted long in IV whereas in V the drunkenness wears off quickly, etc.
I still call IV my favorite of the GTA series, but I think gameplay-wise SA and V top it.

All this GTA talk is making me want to buy and download VC now on my PS3. I haven't played that game in several years. Maybe the last time was 2006.

[MavsSuperFan]

Damn, people hate on GTA IV for no reason. They're usually just upset because it wasn't GTA SA 2.0. I do think IV should've included all the features of SA and then some, but even though it didn't, IV is still among the greatest current gen (PS3/XBOX 360) games of all-time.
The physics were greater (and still are) than any game I've ever played. Even GTA V, if you run over someone, they just die under the car. In GTA IV, you hit someone with your vehicle and you'll see them fall in various, life-like ways.
In IV, beating someone's ass didn't kill them. In all other GTA games, including V, people die if you whoop their ass.
IV's shooting was superb IMO. It's not on the level of RDR, but it was easy to use and included recoil, something R* didn't include with V for some reason.
Plus, all the extra shit you can do in IV made it worthwhile. You encounter interesting characters, befriend some of them, the story was in-depth detailed, darts and bowling were pretty fun, driving drunk in IV > driving drunk in V because the effect actually lasted long in IV whereas in V the drunkenness wears off quickly, etc.
I still call IV my favorite of the GTA series, but I think gameplay-wise SA and V top it.

All this GTA talk is making me want to buy and download VC now on my PS3. I haven't played that game in several years. Maybe the last time was 2006.

Did you really enjoy the shooting mechanics of the GTA games before 4, especially in comparison to 4?


In IV, beating someone's ass didn't kill them. In all other GTA games, including V, people die if you whoop their ass.

This is one of the touches that made 4 great.

[blablabla]

Damn, people hate on GTA IV for no reason. They're usually just upset because it wasn't GTA SA 2.0. I do think IV should've included all the features of SA and then some, but even though it didn't, IV is still among the greatest current gen (PS3/XBOX 360) games of all-time.
The physics were greater (and still are) than any game I've ever played. Even GTA V, if you run over someone, they just die under the car. In GTA IV, you hit someone with your vehicle and you'll see them fall in various, life-like ways.
In IV, beating someone's ass didn't kill them. In all other GTA games, including V, people die if you whoop their ass.
IV's shooting was superb IMO. It's not on the level of RDR, but it was easy to use and included recoil, something R* didn't include with V for some reason.
Plus, all the extra shit you can do in IV made it worthwhile. You encounter interesting characters, befriend some of them, the story was in-depth detailed, darts and bowling were pretty fun, driving drunk in IV > driving drunk in V because the effect actually lasted long in IV whereas in V the drunkenness wears off quickly, etc.
I still call IV my favorite of the GTA series, but I think gameplay-wise SA and V top it.

All this GTA talk is making me want to buy and download VC now on my PS3. I haven't played that game in several years. Maybe the last time was 2006.
I think the greatest thing IV had going for it was the sense of immersion, the city was so unbelievably detailed and full of life it was unlike any game i have ever played. Coming fresh off the boat with Niko and taking him on this journey through Liberty City, meeting many great characters and I think this is the main reason why i didn't enjoy GTA V story, in IV you felt like a part of the criminal underworld, even though Niko never was more than a hitman basically, but in V the three protags are doing their own thing almost completely isolated from other gangsters. I really hope they go back to the 1 character system in the next installment.
Another thing i'd like to comment on are the extra things they added to keep you entertained after the main story line, as many people complained about that in IV. First of all Yoga, Tennis and Golf are absolutely useless and an incredible waste of developing Time. Another thing are properties, if you can't enter them to see what you spend your money on it makes the whole thing a million times less enjoyable, then why should i spend big money on a cinema for example when i have to wait 200+ ingame weeks till it starts making profits. And unlike in VC where there was a logical explanation why the Tommy the Boss of VC would buy properties and where he could actually do missions to increase profits in V its never explained why Michael who supposedly wants to retire would buy a nightclub or the sociopath Trevor would go from a meth dealer and murderer to the owner of a Golf Club and considering how underdeveloped a character Franklin is it at least makes sense why there's no explanation why he would do that.

[LexiKhan]

My favourite is still GTA III simply because of the impact it had at the time. It's the mold from where all the others come from and it completely transformed free-roam games. Had cool side-activities, worthwhile collectibles (those hidden packages gave you a ridiculous arsenal to play with), good balance between realism and fun, a great map giving you a nicely sized city that was easy to navigate and familiarize with and had no boring empty areas (a lot of those in GTA V), Chatterbox was hilarious.

[Scholar]

Did you really enjoy the shooting mechanics of the GTA games before 4, especially in comparison to 4?

Not in comparison to modern gaming, but yes, shooting in the old GTA games was enjoyable for their respective time.

[miller-time]

My favourite is still GTA III simply because of the impact it had at the time. It's the mold from where all the others come from and it completely transformed free-roam games. Had cool side-activities, worthwhile collectibles (those hidden packages gave you a ridiculous arsenal to play with), good balance between realism and fun, a great map giving you a nicely sized city that was easy to navigate and familiarize with and had no boring empty areas (a lot of those in GTA V), Chatterbox was hilarious.

Plus the gangs running around were cool and noticeable. You kill someone in Chinatown and the Triads are on your ass, kill someone in Staunton Island and you got the Yakuza. I know there are gangs in V but they just don't seem to be as noticeable. Even though GTA 5 has gangs they just seem to be in the background doing nothing most of the time (if you even notice them at all).

[fsvr54]

Pointless to really rank them, I love them all. Only thing I can say for sure is GTA III is at the bottom. They all have their pros and cons. Although I love it, the flying in San Andreas is so completely game breaking I never beat it.

I'd probably say Vice City is the best as a total focused game package.

And yes, RDR is just as good.

GTA is the greatest franchise in game history. Everyone talks about rampages and killing cops, but what I love most about it is the extremely sharp and hilarious satire on Capitalist culture.

Also, I agree with the dude who mentioned the immersion of IV. New York was so beautifully recreated with an eye for detail. Personally I loved it. ****ing hilarious too for all those who said it was too serious.

[zoom17]

I wonder if all the protagonists in all the gta's got in a fight who would win.

[CelticBaller]

I wonder if all the protagonists in all the gta's got in a fight who would win.
The GTA 3 guy. He had no emotions, and could run backwards :bowdown:

[bergs14]

I wonder if all the protagonists in all the gta's got in a fight who would win.

I got Tommy Vercetti :rockon:

[knickballer]

My favourite is still GTA III simply because of the impact it had at the time. It's the mold from where all the others come from and it completely transformed free-roam games. Had cool side-activities, worthwhile collectibles (those hidden packages gave you a ridiculous arsenal to play with), good balance between realism and fun, a great map giving you a nicely sized city that was easy to navigate and familiarize with and had no boring empty areas (a lot of those in GTA V), Chatterbox was hilarious.

Yea, GTA 3 was revolutionary. I remember the game came out when I was damn young and everyone was amazed by the graphics and what you were able to do in the game. The fact you can free roam and just drive was enough for us at the time.. The whole killing cops, banging strippers, driving helicopters, etc, was extra for us. The game still looks playable today.

[Scholar]

I just bought Vice City on my PS3. I haven't played that game in years. I figured it'd be fun to take a trip down memory lane.

[Heavincent]

360/PS3: Red Dead Redemption > GTA V > Max Payne 3 > L.A Noire > GTA IV

PS2: SA > Vice City > III

[The-Legend-24]

GTA V.

Vice City had the goat soundtrack tho.

[GOBB]

GTA 5 is the best game out of that bunch. Also Ballad of Gay Tony. I'd rank it top 3. It was that good.


GTA V is probably the best, but I think it is a legit argument to say Red Dead is the best game Rockstar has ever made. Depending on my mood I think it is better than GTA V. The score for Red Dead was amazing. Music in GTA V sucks. There aren't enough things to tweak in customization (only thing you can change are breaks and acceleration). There is no gambling in GTA V even thought they have a casino. Cars often disappear even when you purchase them (big let down). I've walked away from cars in GTA and they aren't there when I come back. Rockstar said they would still be there.

GTA V is one of the best games ever made. It beats GTA IV quite easily but it's not a perfect game. I don't blame Rockstar either, this PS3 and Xbox 360 are old pieces of hardware. They did the best they could given the technology.

Park your cars in the garage the game gives you. All my exotic whips are there. And there is a police impound where your cars can be found if you lose it. Being drove into water or whatever. I've never had an issue losing cars. I even park rides in my garage at the safe house and they are still there.

Red Dead was a great game as well. Cant say which is better. Simply saying "its a Western and I like horses" isnt saying much.

[GOBB]

GTA 5
GTA 4
Ballad for gay tony
GTA SA
GTA Vice City
GTA 3 (didnt play this long so hard to rank for me)

[1987_Lakers]

After playing online, I have to say GTA V is the greatest game I have ever played.

[MMM]

I found the missions too easy in GTA V and I never really had to go to Ammunation to load up. Ballad of Gay Tony was the opposite, seemed like every mission was difficult some felt almost impossible to complete.