The Top 5 GTA Tribute Video Games
The Best Clone Games Derived from the Grand Theft Auto Formula
Grand Theft Auto is one of the most successful game franchises of all time. Its free-form blend of shooting, driving and all-round action has spawned an innumerable number of ‘copy-cat’ titles; so much so that the term ‘GTA clone’ is now used as describing the genre as a whole.
So, within this sea of wannabes, are there any gems that can help to pass the time before Grand Theft Auto IV hits the shelves in the first quarter of 2008? Here’s a list of 5 titles that might just fit the bill.
1. Saints Row [Xbox 360, 2006]
There’s a reason this is the number one GTA clone – and that’s that it is pretty indistinguishable from the real thing. Sure, it reeks of ‘street’, but it’s got enough unique gameplay ideas to set it apart from other titles. A great range of vehicles and weapons, compelling storyline and hours worth of playtime means that this is the perfect game to offset those GTA hunger pangs. The graphical presentation, sound effects and great soundtrack don’t hurt either.
2. Mercenaries [PS2/Xbox, 2005]
When Pandemic Studio’s Mercenaries hit the last-gen consoles in 2005, gamers were immediately attracted to the offer of ‘go anywhere, blow anything up’ gameplay. It wasn’t an empty promise either; with the option of playing for various factions and use an exceptional range of weapons to wreak havoc on the opposition. Whilst the sandbox style was limited by the range of missions available, the option to simply run around and blow stuff up proved too much to resist and made Mercenaries a great success.
3. Mafia [PC, 2002]
It may be on its last legs, but Mafia is a game that’s enjoyed a great deal of success since its release back in ’02. With a great story and superb voice acting, it’s as immersive as they come. The 1930s gangster theme is represented well with visually impressive set pieces and visceral, non-stop action.
Working your way up from a lowly mafia foot-soldier to the dizzying heights of becoming a made man – Mafia gave gamers a new angle on the GTA clone genre, with a tidy helping of historical accuracy to boot.
4. Crackdown [Xbox 360, 2006]
Crackdown began its life with some controversy – being bundled with the Halo 3 beta multiplayer demo meant that some gamers felt swindled into buying it. However, those that did will have found a game with depth, great visuals and a whole heap of fun.
Whilst the storyline is distinctly lacking – the RPG-style leveling up system means it’s a blast building your characters stats to the point of superhuman crime-fighting agent extraordinaire. Crackdown is a nice surprise, and a great way to wile away some of those hours in the GTAIV waiting room.
5. Just Cause [PC/Xbox 360/PS2/Xbox, 2006]
Avalanche Studios presented the world with Just Cause last year – along with the usual sandbox promises carried by any GTA clone. This one is slightly different though – due to the unrealistic presentation of human capabilities (opening a parachute 2ft from the ground must hurt just a little).
A handy grapple hook/parachute combo allows players to attach themselves to any vehicle, fill their ‘chute and take to the skies. Mixed reviews mean that this title is a blast in short doses; but it’ll never come close to conquering GTA, although visually it’s a treat.
Attack of the GTA Clones
Phew! Whilst this list is in no way exhaustive, and only scratches the surface of the GTA clone boiling pot; with a winning formula such as this, it's easy for developers to over-do it. In a murky sea of generic titles - all bidding for the attention of gamers worldwide - getting some clarity is never a bad thing. It also never hurts to find out how this mega-star of a genre got its big break. GTAIV is released early next year... and with hundreds of hours worth of gameplay in these five titles alone, chances are release day will be here in the blink of an eye.
