5 Best Rockstar Games That Aren’t GTA

When you have a look at the lifetime gross sales of “Grand Theft Auto 5” alone, it is clear why Rockstar would not hassle to publish a lot else in addition to “GTA” and “Red Dead Redemption” anymore. Basically, they do not should. It’s not not like how Valve hasn’t appeared significantly focused on making video games anymore now that they’re raking within the money from operating Steam. But while you have a look at a number of the different video games Rockstar has printed in addition to “GTA,” and the way superior lots of them are, it is disappointing that the corporate has gone all-in on its two largest franchises over these final 15 years or so.

From one other open world journey that additionally deserved to be a franchise however by no means bought one, to entries in fully totally different genres that Rockstar has utterly deserted, Rockstar really used to have a reasonably numerous portfolio. And lots of that portfolio was implausible, which must be spotlighted — particularly as that a part of the corporate’s output turns into an more and more distant reminiscence. Although, in Rockstar’s protection, it is not the one main writer nowadays that solely focuses on its absolute largest hits and has all however deserted all of its different IP. But that is a gripe for an additional day…

Let’s check out Rockstar’s 5 finest video games that are not within the “Grand Theft Auto” franchise.

Only two months after the discharge of “GTA 3,” Rockstar printed one other groundbreaking, generation-defining title: “Max Payne.” Combining “Matrix”-style bullet time slow-mo results with diving, twin pistol-wielding John Woo motion — to not point out a posh, mature noir narrative — the sport pushed boundaries for each gameplay mechanics and storytelling. But I argue that “Max Payne 3” proved to be the final word realization of all that, bringing in a degree of recent polish that the primary two entries could not have probably achieved whereas having the most effective story and gameplay number of the trilogy.

Plus, the third sport was the primary entry to be developed by a group inside Rockstar, with the earlier two video games coming from Remedy. So it was the primary “Max Payne” sport to be a Rockstar sport via and thru, which is the opposite cause we let this sport characterize the franchise on this record. Sadly, it could be the final sport Rockstar printed earlier than going all-in on “GTA” and “Red Dead” for the following 14 years and counting, ports and remasters not withstanding.

Still, this one no less than has a cheerful ending. Rockstar not solely gave its blessing to a remake of “Max Payne” and “Max Payne 2” (mixed right into a single sport), however the firm appears enthusiastic about it and plans to throw the complete drive of its funds and advertising and marketing machine behind the upcoming launch. Here’s hoping it sells nicely sufficient to encourage Rockstar to begin branching out a bit once more.

2023’s “Robocop: Rogue City” confirmed what can occur while you let a group who has true respect and admiration for a film make a sport based mostly on mentioned film, and in addition enable that sport to be a scrappy labor of affection in the very best manner. It’s one thing that does not occur almost sufficient, however when it does, the outcomes are magic — because it was when Rockstar put out a sport based mostly upon the cult basic motion flick “The Warriors.” That stays among the finest film tie-in video games of all time, and an ideal snapshot of the sorts of video games Rockstar was nonetheless permitting throughout its 2000s golden period, again earlier than each single sport it put out needed to be a large, extremely polished, headline-grabbing occasion.

Smartly making the sport a beat-em-up at its core — becoming, because the unique film mainly set the template for the complete beat-em-up style — “The Warriors” immediately grabs you with how satisfying it’s to bash heads in. The urge was additionally resisted to attempt to make it some large cinematic expertise, largely letting the gameplay communicate for itself with surprisingly sparse cutscenes and unplayable segments. 

Sure, there is not the depth or gameplay number of a “GTA,” however there did not should be. It’s only a enjoyable sport based mostly on a enjoyable film, which is all anybody who would purchase a “Warriors” sport was in search of. Miraculously, a 1080p up-res of the PS2 model is accessible for simply 15 bucks on the PSN retailer, which is a steal.

Before bringing “GTA” itself into 3D, Rockstar bought its ft moist with vehicular-based gameplay in large 3D areas with PS2 launch titles “Smuggler’s Run” and “Midnight Club: Street Racing.” Though each of these franchises bought a number of sequels, it was “Midnight Club” that in the end had the endurance to truly make the soar to the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 era — one thing that solely a choose few Rockstar franchises can declare. And whereas “Midnight Club: Los Angeles” was a stable entry, sixth era swan tune “Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition” was the top of the franchise and stays among the finest open world avenue racers ever made.

Rockstar pulled out all of the stops with “Midnight Club 3.” The cities have been huge, the soundtrack had a ridiculous variety of songs, and the bikes felt higher realized than they did of their introduction within the earlier sport. But what actually set the sport aside was the mind-boggling quantity of customization choices supplied, which is the place the titular partnership with Dub Magazine got here into play. You might spend hours tinkering along with your vehicles with out even getting behind the wheel and nonetheless have a blast. 

The varied “Need for Speed” avenue racing video games are likely to get probably the most love from followers of the style, however “Midnight Club 3” deserves to be in that dialog as nicely. It undoubtedly makes us want Rockstar would return to creating precise racing video games once more slightly than solely specializing in the racing throughout the “GTA” sequence anymore.

Though lots of Rockstar’s different video games flirted with open-ended gameplay and enormous explorable areas, it wasn’t till “Bully” that the writer introduced a real “GTA”-style expertise to a wholly totally different franchise. While Bulworth Academy and the encircling city was a lot smaller than even “GTA 3,” it was greater than made up for in packing that space with finer element and much much less lifeless area that solely existed to pad out the dimensions of the world to really feel as large and spectacular as doable.

In addition to a better-curated, extra tightly polished world, “Bully” was additionally a better-paced expertise general, particularly in comparison with the “GTA” video games of its period. It additionally has what stays among the finest tales of any Rockstar sport, in addition to one of many extra fascinating casts of characters. You get invested in Jimmy Hopkins’ expertise at Bulworth, and the buddies and enemies he makes alongside the best way, in a way that you simply simply do not with a “GTA” sport as a result of “Bully” is not making an attempt to inform an epic crime saga that includes dozens upon dozens of characters. Everyone has been a child making an attempt to slot in at college. Most of us have by no means tried to construct a legal empire. 

There have been rumors and leaks over time that time to a “Bully 2” that was in growth however in the end canceled, however nothing was ever formally introduced by Rockstar. At this level, a remake of the primary sport appears extra possible {that a} full-fledged sequel — however even then, do not maintain your breath.

It wasn’t till “Red Dead Redemption” that Rockstar lastly put out a sport that felt prefer it was making an attempt to be nearly as good as, if not higher, than “GTA.” Whether it’s higher is a matter of opinion, but it surely’s most definitely no less than equal when it comes to high quality. In truth, it is simple to make the case that “Red Dead Redemption 2” is Rockstar’s best work so far, with even the most effective “GTA” sport being its runner up. If nothing else, the story and characters of “RDR2” simply high not solely any “GTA” sport, however most video video games, interval.

While “Red Dead” was initially checked out as merely “GTA” within the Old West, it rapidly proved that it was its personal the factor fully and deserves its place as considered one of Rockstar’s two essential pillars. While fields, forests, mountains, and frontier cities would possibly lack the hustle and bustle of a “GTA” metropolis, the world of “Red Dead Redemption 2” simply feels extra lived in and alive. It makes even “GTA 5” really feel virtually like a film set of a metropolis slightly than an actual place. And that story — no one remains to be saying online game tales can by no means be nearly as good as films after taking part in “RDR 2.”

Needless to say, do not count on to be taking part in “Red Dead Redemption 3” for a very long time – any vital work on a brand new “Red Dead” possible will not even start till “GTA 6” is totally completed and shipped. And even then, there will probably be bugs to repair, patches to launch, and the following iteration of “GTA Online” to rise up and operating first.