Grand Theft Auto (1997 Video Game) User Reviews

Cool Game and Highly Addictive

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 9/10 · 17 June 2001]

I remember I once played this game for 5 hours straight and I still could not get past the first level. But for me, most of the time, I'm having so much fun killing people and smashing up cars that I don't care about the missions.

It's also most fun to defect from your current gang and just kill 'em all off. This is one game that makes it look like so much to actually run people over.

It's a pity that only the Playstation version doubles as a soundtrack CD but I gotta admit that is one cool radio station. These songs are rockin'. This is rather good considering it's only a game.

The graphics are kind of poor tho and the gameplay doesn't change much from level to level but who cares?!?!

Not the best shoot-em-up, but fun to play

[Michael_Pilkington · 7/10 · 7 August 2000]

This action-packed game is violent, bloody, vulgar -- and fun. The object is to complete many odd jobs for local crime lords in the United States and become a very popular criminal. Popular criminal? Along the way bump off a few innocent pedestrians, steal cars, and shoot as many cops as you can. If you're really good, you can practically get away with murder. Let's not skip on the weapons. Choose from a machine gun to grenade launcher or a flame thrower. What's really funny about this game is the excessive use of foul language. (That explains the M-rating.) On occasion, a pedestrian will call you a "piece of sh--." The biggest weakness is the graphics: third-rate and out-dated. They could have done better. Other than that, a really fun game if you don't mind redundant gameplay and age-old graphics.

My evaluation: 7 out of 10

one of the best games of it's time!

[imperial_wizard · 7 August 2003]

this game is excellent and I just want to say that despite the graphics, it is still an excellent game. It's funny, fun, and well, entertaining. it's not as good as GTA 3 and GTA: Vice City, but who cares?? for it's time, it's marvelous! 8/10

I would recommend this to people who like older video games.

[eslam4330 · 6/10 · 2 August 2020]

This started the whole series and all of the credit should go to it. I give it a 4 out of 10 on graphics. I give it a 8 out of 10 on game play. I would recommend this to people who like older video games.

''Next time I'm at the mall, I'll bring you back a spine!''

[Rabical-91 · 4/10 · 11 December 2018]

I played this game regularly back in the '90's. The idea of controlling a ruthless thug to wreak havoc around the streets of America appealed to my delinquent mind. However I regrettably have to say that this game has not stood the test of time with me at all.

Your character is required throughout the six levels in the game to perform missions as diverse as killing rival crooks, stealing cars and escorting hookers and gangsters. The three cities in which the game is set are Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas, all of which would be used seperately as the setting for subsequent games.

'Grand Theft Auto' was originally to be named 'Race 'N' Chase' and was meant to be released in 1996 on the Commodore Amiga, however the discontinuation of that console meant it would become 'Grand Theft Auto' for the PS1. Even a version was released for the Game Boy Color. It was popular at the time of release, there's no disputing that, but sadly these days the only thing the game's birds eye view graphics leave one with are strained eyes and a migraine.

Two sequels were made for the PS1 - 'Grand Theft Auto: London' and 'Grand Theft Auto 2', however none of these games live to their past reputation either. It was not until the arrival of 'Grand Theft Auto III' on the PS2 would the franchise make a change for the better.

Playable? Barely. Only really worth having in your collection to complete the set.

Lets be honest. (I'm not on the nostalgia train). This game was hash.

[ThunderKing6 · 3/10 · 17 February 2022]

Grand Theft Auto 1. Where it all began. How this piece of hash became GTA 5 is beyond me.

GTA 1997 was a boring, 1 minute game. After you played this "app game" for 1 minute that was it. All you did was drive and run pixels over. Ok...

The camera angle was a joke. The ant motion was hilarious.

GTA 1997 was hash. Fortunately, though, GTA 4/5 came out of it. Like the saying "1st you don't succeed, try again".