Grand Theft Auto 2 (stylized as GTA2) is a 1999 action-adventure game developed by DMA Design and published by Rockstar Games. It is the sequel to 1997's Grand Theft Auto, and the second main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series. Set within a retrofuturistic metropolis known as "Anywhere City", the game focuses on players taking the role of a criminal as they roam an open world, conducting jobs for various crime syndicates and having free rein to do whatever they wish to achieve their goal. The game's intro is unique for a title in the series, as it involves live-action scenes filmed by Rockstar Games. The game was released for the PlayStation and Windows in October 1999 and for the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in 2000.
Grand Theft Auto 2 received mixed reviews for most platforms, and negative reviews for the Game Boy Color, but was a moderate commercial success. While the soundtrack and some gameplay elements, such as the gang loyalty system, were praised, the graphics, controls, and setting received a more mixed game response. The game was also criticised for failing to innovate the formula established by its predecessor, despite several improvements it brought. Grand Theft Auto 2 was followed by 2001's Grand Theft Auto III, which started a new era for the series, while the game itself was re-released on Steam in January 2008.
Gameplay
thumb|Grand Theft Auto 2 being played at "dusk" in the Windows version
Players begin a game with one character (six in the Game Boy Color version). Like its predecessor, the game focuses on players completing a series of levels, each requiring a set target score being achieved to progress to the next stage. Points are awarded from various criminal actions, such as destroying cars, selling vehicles, and completing missions for various crime syndicates, with the latter awarding more points than doing simple criminal actions. Creating chaos from their crimes will cause the player to be wanted by the police, who will hound the player to arrest or kill them, with higher wanted levels increasing the level of response used. Being arrested or dying loses the player any equipment they found, and impacts their multiplier bonus.
Grand Theft Auto 2s setting is unique for the series: a retrofuturistic metropolis referred to as "Anywhere, USA", which is divided into three districts (Downtown, Residential, and Industrial) that players will switch between as they progress through the game. The time period the game is set in is not specified—conflicting sources suggest anything from "three weeks into the future", to the year being 2013, a health meter, garages that can modify vehicles with special improvements, a selection of side missions ranging from running a taxi to driving a semi-truck, and groups of 'hidden' packages to find across the level.
Development and release
Grand Theft Auto 2 was developed by DMA Design in Dundee under the lead programmer Keith Hamilton. The team initially considered calling the game Eh Stole E' Motur but later believed this name could hamper the game's international appeal.
Grand Theft Auto 2 was released for the PlayStation and Windows on 22 October 1999. It was released for the Dreamcast on 1 May 2000 in North America and 20 May in Europe. A Game Boy Color version, developed by Tarantula Studios, was released in December 2000.
GTA 2 – The Movie
The game was developed with an eight-minute short film of live-action footage, filmed within New York City. The short film was devised as an introductory sequence for the game, and was made available on Rockstar Games's website. The film follows a criminal named Claude Speed (played by Scott Maslen), who conducts jobs around Anywhere City for several criminal syndicates, until his actions eventually catch up and he is killed by an assassin from one of the gangs he robbed. The film was based on a screenplay by Dan Houser, and directed by Alex De Rakoff.
Soundtrack
The game features a dynamic soundtrack with five radio stations available in each area, selected from a total of eleven. Players can switch between stations while driving most vehicles, allowing for a personalized listening experience. The "Head Radio" station, a staple in the Grand Theft Auto series, also appears in this installment. Each gang in the game operates its own radio station, but these broadcasts are limited to specific areas. Emergency vehicles—such as police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and tanks—do not play regular radio stations. Instead, players hear the emergency services' radio transmissions.
The game continues the series' tradition of featuring exclusive music and advertisements. The soundtrack was curated by a team including Craig Conner, Stuart Ross, Paul Scargill, Colin Anderson, Bert Reid, and Moving Shadow. The menu song, "Short Change", was produced by the British band E-Z Rollers. The Game Boy Color version includes a sped-up rendition of "Back in Black" by AC/DC. The Character Selection theme is based on the classic Brazilian song "Chega de Saudade".