Favourite Grand Theft Auto Game?

[Moosferatu]

I'm sure most people around here are familiar with the highly controversial Grand Theft Auto series. It centers around crime from the perspective of one criminal per game, and is highly enjoyable. The series started on the PC and eventually went to a large number of other gaming systems, including PS1, PS2, Xbox, Gameboy Advance, Dreamcast, PSP, and soon to be brought to Xbox 360 and PS3 with the release of GTA IV.

What is everyone's favourite game and why?

Personally, my favourite is Vice City. I throughly enjoyed this game, and I felt that San Andreas was great but added far too many things that ultimately ruined it (such as the rpg style gameplay and the damn flying with the damn keyboard!).

Edit: For anyone interested, the games are on the following systems:

1 - PC, PS1
London 1969 - PC, PS1
2 - PC, PS1, Dreamcast
3 - PS2, PC, Xbox
Vice City - PS2, PC, Xbox
San Andreas - PS2, PC, Xbox
Advance - Gameboy Advance
Liberty City Stories - PSP, PS2
Vice City Stories - PSP, PS2.
4 (not yet released) - PS3, Xbox 360.

[Freddie]

Easy - GTA: Vice City, it not only my favourite GTA game but it’s probably my favourite game of all time. Everything from the voice acting, to the radio stations, to the gameplay is about as near to prefect as you can get. Graphically the game looks dated now but that doesn’t detract from the overall experience nor 80’s nostalgia feel that I get when I here those 80’s sound tracks.

[bestantreas]

GTA Vice City was the first GTA I've played, and almost my favorite because of the time it is set, the 80's!!! The songs were really good and the cars pretty cool!
But my favorite is San Andreas, because it has more reality, and the world is bigger. 90's were also cool. The songs are pretty cool also but not as in Vice City. I also like the sky effects in SA, especially the orange sky!!!

Well, that's all

[the_mango55]

Vice City. Then 3, then San Andreas.

Although all of the main ones (I haven't played the "stories") have been good.

[Freddie]

I liked San Andreas but I felt the game world was to big, and graphics looked 'rough' and not as crisp or as vibrant as Vice City.

[iudas]

San Andreas, because of the features (and superior graphics...). The gangsta theme was a bit annoying and bothering, and some characters were really kitschy and non-badass. The girlfriend feature was also a bit... unnecessary (not to mention that it generated the controversy). But the length, size and complexity made it a quality game for me.

[HappeR]

San Andreas, by far. Vice was a bit too easy, and the 'mute' main character of 3 was just plain retarded.

[Cyrus the Virus]

Vice City, because of the atmosphere. Easy choice.
Then in order, SA, GTA3, GTA2 and last the first game. Those is the ones I've played.

[Moosferatu]

I haven't played the 'Stories' versions either, but they're apparently pretty rubbish (on the PS2 anyway) and a half hearted attempt at making more money.

[Sebdeas]

Has anyone mentioned the commercials yet?
I thought they weren't as good in SA compared to the earlier ones.

SA was also a bit too big and VC just had a really great atmosphere.

[Lame-Name]

Definitely Vice City The whole '80s theme and the Haitian and Cuban gangs and districts were also great. It wasnt as small and dismal as GTA 3 or as oversized and "rough" (as Freddie said) as SA.

[Cyrus the Virus]

Has anyone mentioned the commercials yet?
I thought they weren't as good in SA compared to the earlier ones.

SA was also a bit too big and VC just had a really great atmosphere.

Agreed with both.

In VC, "He was a man of peace, living on a quiet farm in North Dakota, until one day, all hell broke lose."
That one is the most "stereotype" and funniest.

[God-Emperor of Mankind]

Vice City without a doubt.
An awesome 80's setting, nice cars, nice graphics, easily the best music and radio stations.
Also the city had the right size to it, not too small and not too big like in SA.

Edit: Oh yeah.

"
1:They got your wife !!
2: I'm not married
1: you are now, to America
2: NOOOOOO !!! *wild gun fire*

[PacSubCom]

I've killed people. Smuggled people. Sold people.

I'm sold to IV.

SA was cool, but in the end it unnerved me with its silly anti-drug message. Hearing Ice-T of all people whining about the bad bad drug abuse in such a way, oh come on. Not to speak of the notion that it justifies the extreme violence.

[Gary88]

i hated SA i liked Vice City but i had the original GTA and loved it, definately my fave

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

GTAIII is the best for me, VC was too small for my likeing, GTAIII just had an atmosphere that i think VC lacked, VC was far too in your face comedy whereas GTAIII was alittle more subversive.

[VOP2288]

I'm gonna have to vote San Andreas...

SA further improved upon the already sweet gameplay the GTA games had. It added a massive free-form world, many new characters, a radically different perspective (first Black guy main character in GTA yeah?), and it just improved upon the already existing mechanics of the series.

I also liked the time period and environment...but coming in VERY close is Vice City. That game came out during my Scarface obsession thus it was the PERFECT game for me. I liked the feel, characters, and environment for Vice City the most out of all though.

[Cyrus the Virus]

"
1:They got your wife !!
2: I'm not married
1: you are now, to America
2: NOOOOOO !!! *wild gun fire*

[Darkragnar]

San Andreas

[Real]

The only one I've played: Liberty City Stories. And I just like to crash cars, the rest is not that funny...