Grand Theft Auto 2 (GTA 2) immerses players in the sprawling metropolis known as Anywhere City. This city is a fascinating blend of retro-futuristic aesthetics, featuring a vivid color palette, advanced science fiction weaponry, and postwar architecture and transportation. All civilian vehicles are retro-modified versions of popular cars and trucks from the 1960s, reinforcing its unique retro-futuristic style. Players take on the role of Claude Speed, an emerging criminal navigating the complex web of criminal syndicates within the city’s districts.
Ambiguous Timeline
The exact year in which GTA 2 is set remains deliberately ambiguous. Police records on the Grand Theft Auto 2 website display dates in July 2013, while in-game radio host Johnny Riccaro’s references to the Y2K bug suggest a 1999 setting, coinciding with the game’s release year. According to the official GTA 2 Design Document, shared by DMA Design programmer Mike Dailly in 2022, the game is set “slightly in the future,” echoing the concept of Max Headroom’s “20 Minutes into the Future” quote. Overall, Anywhere City exists in a non-specific timeline, fitting anywhere from 1999 to 2013.
Gameplay Overview
City Layout
Anywhere City is divided into three sectors: Downtown, Residential, and Industrial. Each sector hosts three gangs, whose bosses assign missions via payphones. Each district also has a maximum wanted level, escalating the difficulty as players progress:
- Downtown District: Maximum wanted level of four, resulting in SWAT team pursuits.
- Residential District: Maximum wanted level of five (PC) or six (PlayStation), with FBI agents or Army pursuits respectively.
- Industrial District: Maximum wanted level of six in both versions, with the Army deploying Land Roamers, Tanks, and Pacifiers.
Saving the Game
To save progress in GTA 2, players must locate the Jesus Saves church, identifiable by organ music or the antenna on a hijacked TV Van. Saving costs $50,000, so it’s wise to accumulate funds by completing missions. The Game Boy Color version utilizes a password system instead of a traditional save feature.
Respect System
Respect is a vital element in GTA 2, affecting interactions with the three gangs in each district. Players earn respect by eliminating enemy gang members or completing missions for a gang, while attacking a gang reduces respect with that group, potentially leading to hostile encounters. Higher respect levels unlock more challenging and rewarding missions.
Mission Structure
Missions in GTA 2 are divided into three levels of difficulty:
- Easy Missions: Accessed from green payphones, offering basic rewards.
- Medium Missions: Accessed from yellow payphones, requiring some respect and offering better rewards.
- Hard Missions: Accessed from red payphones, requiring maximum respect and offering significant rewards but are highly challenging.
Completing missions rewards players with money, respect, and a money multiplier. Additionally, some missions unlock new areas, vehicles, or weapons.
Bonus Content
Bonus Stages
After completing each level in the PC version, players unlock Bonus Stages and the next district. Bonus Stages include destroying Ice Cream Vans or a time-attack mode where players race against the clock, earning more time by killing pedestrians and gang members.
Bonus Missions
Each city offers side missions, rewarding players with extra lives or money. The Wang Cars side mission, for instance, rewards players with three special vehicles after completing tasks like:
- Kill Frenzies: Killing numerous people or destroying many cars within a set time.
- Tokens: Collecting GTA 2 tokens, with 50 tokens in each district (25 in the PlayStation version).
- Wang Cars: Finding eight GT-A1 cars in the Residential District.
Conclusion
Grand Theft Auto 2 provides a captivating retro-futuristic experience set in the enigmatic Anywhere City. The game’s respect system, varied missions, and bonus content ensure a challenging and engaging gameplay experience, solidifying its place as a standout title in the Grand Theft Auto series.