History VideoGame / GrandTheftAutoClassic

** Cheats were activated not through inputs, but by your character's name. This also meant that you could only have one cheat active per run, or only have every cheat active at once if you were playing on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version. It wasn't until the second game when you could activate them in the middle of gameplay.
** While the idea of multiple cities was revisited in VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas, it was originally done here. However it was much different. The cities were separate areas instead of being on one map.

* DummiedOut: The UsefulNotes/PlayStation version of the final level, "Dead Certainty", is missing two vehicle missions: one in a Myni, and one in a James Bomb.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Like the second game, these two are one of the few that don't take place in Liberty City, Vice City, or San Andreas.

* ObviousBeta / SchizophrenicDifficulty: The ''London 1961'' expansion pack is heinously difficult, due to its unrealistic {{Timed Mission}}s.

In 1999, Rockstar released a "Mission Pack" for the game -- basically an ExpansionPack that requires inserting the original ''GTA'' disc in order to boot up -- dubbed ''GTA London: 1969''. As it turned out, this was Rockstar's last foray into developing expansions for their little UsefulNotes/PlayStation gem, despite copies of ''GTA London'' boldly sporting the ''Mission Pack #1'' subtitle to this day.

* MoralGuardians: DMA basically sat down and decided to make a game that would infuriate {{Media Watchdog}}s and parent groups alike. And make a fortune off it.

** The first game, and its London expansion packs are noticeably wackier and "video game"-esque than the more realistic 3D games that would follow. Also, along with its sequel, this game has limited continues, unlike later games' infinite continues; the player would get a literal GameOver text after wasting all continues. Also, the original ''Grand Theft Auto'' (and [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto2 the sequel's]] Game Boy Color port) are the only single-player campaigns in the series where it is possible to play as a female character (with the exception of the [=PlayStation=] version that cut down on the number of playable characters).

** The game isn't as story-driven than later games.

** Unlike future games, the game doesn't have any humor or satire the franchise is well-known for.

* PermanentlyMissableContent: Missions that are failed cannot be retrieved again. This

** The game isn't as Story-Driven than later games.
** The game's iconic Wanted level isn't stars. Rather it's heads of cops.

* AllGaysArePromiscuous: El Burro. Not only does he constantly call you "cutie" or "pretty boy", but he eventually invites you over to his place to "thank you personally." This evidently forces you to flee to the opposite coast.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first game, and its London expansion packs are noticeably wackier and "video game"-esque than the more realistic 3D games that would follow. Also, along with its sequel, this game has limited continues, unlike later games' infinite continues; the player would get a literal GameOver text after wasting all continues. Also, the original ''Grand Theft Auto'' (and [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto2 the sequel's]] Game Boy Color port) are the only single-player campaigns in the series where it is possible to play as a female character (with the exception of the [=PlayStation=] version that cut down on the number of playable characters).

* ObviousBeta: The Original game and the London expansions suffer from very wonky hitboxes, with the player having a large hitbox and the AI occasionally having bullets go right through them, and any Cop that fires a shot after first leaving their car will have that bullet travel through their car, which can result in unfair deaths. Also, the last level, Rasta Blasta, can have the handguns outside Hospitals/Police Stations fail to respawn as well as traffic in general, making the city a near-ghost town.

* PresidentEvil: The Babylon gang is really the US Government, and is led by the President.

* TheMan: The Rastafari gang refers to all authority figures as "Babylon".

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Mutt]]: The extortionist who kidnaps Bubby's beloved pooch.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first game, and its London expansion packs are noticeably wackier and "video game"-esque than the more realistic 3D games that would follow. Also, along with its sequel, this game has limited continues, unlike later games' infinite continues; the player would get a literal GameOver text after wasting all continues. Also, the original ''Grand Theft Auto'' is the only single-player campaign in the series where it is possible to play as a female character (with the exception of the [=PlayStation=] version that cut down on the number of playable characters).

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first game, and its London expansion packs are noticeably wackier and "video game"-esque than the more realistic 3D games that would follow. Also, along with its sequel, this game has limited continues, unlike later games' infinite continues; the player would get a literal GameOver text after wasting all continues. Also, the original ''Grand Theft Auto'' is the only single-player campaign in the series where it is possible to play as a female character (with the exception of the {{PlayStation}} version that cut down on the number of playable characters).

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first game, and its London expansion packs are noticeably wackier and "video game"-esque than the more realistic 3D games that would follow. Also, along with its sequel, this game has limited continues, unlike later games' infinite continues; the player would get a literal GameOver text after wasting all continues. Also, the original ''Grand Theft Auto'' is the only single-player campaign in the series where it is possible to play as a female character (with the exception of the PlayStation version that cut down on the number of playable characters).

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first game, and its London expansion packs are noticeably wackier and "video game"-esque than the more realistic 3D games that would follow. Also, along with its sequel, this game has limited continues, unlike later games' infinite continues; the player would get a literal GameOver text after wasting all continues. Also, the original ''Grand Theft Auto'' is the only single-player campaign in the series where it is possible to play as a female character.

* DummiedOut:
** In the original ''GTA'', there was supposed to be a tram in the San Andreas level, but it was left out, although its tracks were never removed from the map. Despite not appearing in-game, the graphics of the vehicle can still be found in the game data.
** There were also plans to include a helicopter in ''GTA''. Unused graphics for it exist.
** The developers had an idea for a petrol bomb item for the original game, but everything except graphics was either deleted or not implemented.

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Mutt]]: The extortionist who mkidnaps Bubby's beloved pooch.

* IOwnThisTown: Deever’s claim regarding Vice City.

* AllGaysArePromiscuous: El Burro. Not only does he constantly call you "cutie", but he eventually invites you over to his place to "thank you personally." This evidently forces you to flee to the opposite coast.

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Mutt]]: The extortionist who kidnaps Bubby's beloved pooch.

Ah yes, the game that began what is now one of the most successful and most critically acclaimed series in all of video game history. In 1997 a studio named DMA Design (now Rockstar North), previously responsible for ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}'', gave ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' to the world. In an era of violent "controversial" games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'', ''GTA'' had waltzed in and stole the immoral crown.

* DummiedOut: The PlayStation version of the final level, "Dead Certainty", is missing two vehicle missions: one in a Myni, and one in a James Bomb.

** Cheats were activated not through inputs, but by your character's name. This also meant that you could only have one cheat active per run, or only have every cheat active at once if you were playing on the PlayStation version. It wasn't until the second game when you could activate them in the middle of gameplay.

The game itself is played from an overhead perspective of the city with the objective of earning cash. Earn enough money to progress to the next level, and new cities will be unlocked. How the player goes about this is up to them, since points are earned by stealing cars, murder and general mayhem. The story-based missions aren't required to progress, but they do provide the largest source of income. Basically a [[MediaWatchdog watchdogs]] nightmare.

* VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck: Averted in the first ''GTA'' title. Explosions of any kind are a death sentence; your character flails about for a few seconds, then collapses into a pile of ash. In fact, the flamethrower is ''so'' potent, you're as likely to set ''yourself'' on fire while wielding it.

* BiTheWay: [[PhraseCatcher Bubby's wife, Skye,]] flirts with the player character regardless of their gender.