Grand Theft Auto 2

The action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999) is set in “Anywhere City,” a dystopian, retrofuturistic metropolis. Players take control of Claude Speed, an aspiring criminal who completes assignments for rival gangs while navigating a unique respect system and escaping increasingly aggressive authorities.

Grand Theft Auto is returning. The automobiles move faster, the streets are busier, the bad people are meaner, and the cops are more aggressive. The FBI and the Army are now getting involved. Seven deadly gangs are engaged in a brutal power struggle, and this is their opportunity to establish their names. Respect is earned, not granted.

Key gameplay mechanics

Gang Loyalty and Respect:

• You begin with a neutral stance toward the local gangs in each district. Doing jobs for one syndicate gains you respect from them, but loses it with their competitors. Low respect leads to gang members attacking you on sight.

Escalating Law Enforcement:

• The game includes a multi-tiered wanted system. Petty crimes draw regular beat cops, but when your “wanted meter” grows, SWAT squads, the FBI, and the Army become involved.

Vehicles and Weapons:

• To go throughout the city, you must steal civilian and emergency cars. The game adds heavier artillery, such as rocket launchers, silenced machine guns, tasers, and molotov cocktails.