Colin Anderson, the audio manager and co-composer for Grand Theft Auto II at DMA Design, recently paid tribute to the game, calling it the “unsung hero” of the franchise. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, many see GTA 2 as a misstep, but Anderson believes that it was pivotal in shaping Grand Theft Auto’s future.
GTA 2 introduced several innovative features such as the gang reputation system and fictionalized radio commercials. It also moved the setting to “Anywhere USA,” a retrofuturistic metropolis inspired by films and comics like Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled. These elements made it one of the more experimental entries in the series.
Anderson highlighted that GTA 2 was key for experimentation over perfection, making it a critical step in the franchise’s evolution. The game moved away from simple point-and-click mechanics and towards creating a meaningful immersive world.
Do you agree that GTA 2 is an unsung hero of the franchise?
I’d love to have a modern gta in that style.
3D is cool. But I had more fun in GTA / GTA2 than in any of the games since.
I remember making circles of cars and “hood” surfing (sliding) non-stop while cops tried to catch me (GTA1)
I would basically ALWAYS sneak into the army base in the bottom right of the map and just go wild with the tank lol.