Grand Theft Auto 2
Grand Theft Auto 2, commonly abbreviated as “GTA 2” is a 2D top-down view video game released on September 30, 1999 for the PC, October 25, 1999 for the Sony PlayStation, April 30, 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast, and November 10, 2000 for the Game Boy Color.
Contents
Gameplay
GTA 2 mimics GTA 1’s sandbox style gameplay with a similar top down view and the same physics engine. Improvements were made in comparison to the 32-bit lookalike graphics in GTA 1. Textures are published in slightly, but still noticeably higher quality. GTA 2 follows the old-fashioned formula of obtaining extra “points” by running over and killing pedestrians, damaging other cars, and even killing police. Points obtained unlock “missions” that progress storyline and earn extra money. Storyline is progressed by earning “respect” from one of the city’s gangs. Grievances dealt to a certain gang will decrease respect from one gang, but increase respect from another. Game progress is saved by walking into megachurches at select locations in the city, making a mandatory donation, in other words; payment of $50,000 dollars of in-game currency in exchange for “salvation” that will eliminate the player’s wanted level and save game progress to the storage medium that the platform uses. The game utilizes largely the same weapons (guns, knives, etc.) as other Grand Theft Auto games. The game also features the well-known pedestrian fights and car jackings, both provoked and unprovoked of other Grand Theft Auto games.
Settings
The game is set in an un named town in a non-specified location in the United States in a time period between 2000 and 2013. The game’s setting is referred to as “Anywhere City”. The city is divided into three districts serving as levels that need to be progressed through. Downtown District: The downtown district is a hub of commercial activity with its own mental institution and a large university. Its architecture mimics the upward building styles of downtown areas of your typical city of 500,000 people in the US. Residential District: The residential district consists of a prison, a trailer park with an Elvis themed bar named “Disgracelands”, a pun on Graceland; the home of the deceased Elvis Presley in Memphis, a shopping mall, and a large hydroelectric power plant. Industrial District: The industrial district consists of a large seaport, a meatpacking plant, a [[nuclear power]] plant, and a Krishna temple.
Soundtrack
The game follows Grand Theft Auto’s style of having radio stations featuring songs that exist in real life, accompanied by DJ chatter and satirical radio advertisements. The game’s second successor, [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]], makes significantly more use of well known music from the 1980s.
Head Radio
The largest radio station in the game in terms of coverage area (all three districts) and size of sound file.
- Apostles of Funk – Yellow Butter
- Pussywillows – Real Love
- Davidson – All I Wanna Do
- The One – Southpark
- Bella Maturi – Taxi Drivers (censored in PlayStation version)
- Flytronix – Pendulum
- Anna – Do It Your Own
- Testing – My Tiny World
Rockstar Radio
- Stikki Fingerz – Holdin It For You
- Connor & Jay – Vegas Road
- Track 7 – I Wanna Phunk
KREZ
- Negro versus Connor – Showin Me Love
- E=MC Good Times – Jacking in Hilltown
- Flytronix – Past Achieves
- Dumb – How It’s Done
Lo-Fi FM
- Stylus Exodus – Toucan Pie
- Bert Reids Guitar Trio – A Cool Day in Downtown
- Tammy Boness & The Swinging Mammaries – The Diner
- Cow Tastes Good – Surf City
Futuro FM
- Reed – L.E.D
- Davidson - All I Wanna Do
- Spangly Feet - Dazed and Confuzed
- Stylus Exodus - Toucan Pie
Funami FM
- Toys Are Real - Flymutha
- Future Loop - Garage Acid
- 4 How Much 4 - O2N
- Ido - Ballbuster
Lithium FM
- Tsunami - F.A.G Filter
- Tammy Boness & The Swingin' Mammaries - The Diner
- Voice Box - Computer Lust
- Rev. Rooney & The Rocksta Choir - God Bless All The Universe
Rebel Radio/KING
- Bella Matari - Taxi Drivers
- Testing - My Tiny World
- Stikki Fingerz - Holdin' It Out For You
- Sterlin - Standing On My Own
Osmosis Radio
- Davidson – All I Wanna Do
- Pussywillows – Real Love
- Anna – Do It On Your Own
- Track 7 – I Wanna Phunk
Heavenly Radio
- A satirical religious radio station available in the Industrial District.
- Rev. Rooney & The Rocksta Choir – God Bless All The Universe
- Sterlin – Standing On My Own
- Zoneboys – Amazing Grace
KGBH
An ameteurish radio station broadcasting entirely using a cassette deck.
- Cow Tastes Good – Surf City
- Spangly Feet – Dazed & Confuzed
- Tsunami – F.A.G Filter