Probably one of the most atypical entries out of the PS2 era GTA Trilogy, despite the fact that this provided the major jump from 2D to 3D and is also much richer in terms of the environment, storytelling, and cutscenes which are actually compelling with actors like Joe Pantoliano and Kyle MacLachlan providing voice work - on top of some pretty impressive body language work. The main character Claude doesn't say a single word in this game, but there's also so much which is just delivered through his facial expressions and body language, although where most of his character comes from his interactions with other people.
I mentioned this game was atypical, because it's much closer to the first two GTA games in terms of how you're mainly either doing story missions or rampaging through the city (the latter is just so much fun with ramming into vehicles and pedestrians like out of Carmageddon), but there is a pretty decent amount of variety with the story missions. It has a pretty straight forward simplicity, where you aren't exactly going around and getting haircuts or watching movies and so forth, where the latter games emphasised interactivity and messing about way more. That, and there's also something about the art style and the environment which feels really cold and sleazy, feeling like some sort of after-hours like deserted ghost town that can often feel a bit creepy at points. Vice City and San Andreas felt way more warm and inviting, whilst this one has a tone that would later almost be matched in Grand Theft Auto IV - but that one also had way more of an emphasis on realism, and this feels more like an adults only comic book in tone.
Also can't go without mentioning just how unbalanced the missions are in this game, either where they are just way too easy or they're really punishing and unforgiving - and often times I've encountered both of these at once, which is kind of hilarious. Failing at a mission multiple times then finishing it quickly and almost accidentally by running someone over or something, has a weird sense of satisfaction to it. This game also doesn't really hold your hand, allowing you to approach missions in a pretty creative way - but then there's also annoying things such as the fact you don't have a full map to access. Doesn't quite reach the same highs as Vice City or San Andreas, but it also definitely doesn't feel overshadowed by those games either.
I mentioned this game was atypical, because it's much closer to the first two GTA games in terms of how you're mainly either doing story missions or rampaging through the city (the latter is just so much fun with ramming into vehicles and pedestrians like out of Carmageddon), but there is a pretty decent amount of variety with the story missions. It has a pretty straight forward simplicity, where you aren't exactly going around and getting haircuts or watching movies and so forth, where the latter games emphasised interactivity and messing about way more. That, and there's also something about the art style and the environment which feels really cold and sleazy, feeling like some sort of after-hours like deserted ghost town that can often feel a bit creepy at points. Vice City and San Andreas felt way more warm and inviting, whilst this one has a tone that would later almost be matched in Grand Theft Auto IV - but that one also had way more of an emphasis on realism, and this feels more like an adults only comic book in tone.
Also can't go without mentioning just how unbalanced the missions are in this game, either where they are just way too easy or they're really punishing and unforgiving - and often times I've encountered both of these at once, which is kind of hilarious. Failing at a mission multiple times then finishing it quickly and almost accidentally by running someone over or something, has a weird sense of satisfaction to it. This game also doesn't really hold your hand, allowing you to approach missions in a pretty creative way - but then there's also annoying things such as the fact you don't have a full map to access. Doesn't quite reach the same highs as Vice City or San Andreas, but it also definitely doesn't feel overshadowed by those games either.