As GTA 6 prepares to launch later this month, GameCentral looks back at Rockstar Games' history to spotlight its best titles that aren't Grand Theft Auto, including work from its predecessor DMA Design.
Rockstar Games is likely to always be defined by Grand Theft Auto, one of the most successful video game properties ever. While the company likely doesn't mind this reputation given GTA's profitability, particularly GTA Online, it means other titles like Red Dead Redemption are often overlooked.
Early DMA Design Classics
Lemmings (1991) was DMA Design's first major hit, long before GTA existed. The series, primarily on Amiga and Atari ST, involved guiding a tribe of Lemmings through puzzle-based levels, using limited special skills to get them to the exit. Published by Psygnosis, Sony now owns the franchise, though revival attempts have not succeeded.
Body Harvest (1998) on Nintendo 64 is essentially a prototype for GTA 3, featuring 3D open world environments and non-linear progression. Inspired by Starship Troopers, it was violent enough for Nintendo to pull out of publishing, despite DMA Design being part of their 'dream team' of third-party developers. It saw a re-release last year for the Polymega retro console.
Space Station Silicon Valley (1998), also on Nintendo 64, was a sales flop but is considered a hidden gem. Players control a damaged robot reduced to a microchip, taking control of robotic animals with unique skills. It has not seen a modern re-release, with hopes that Nintendo or Take-Two Interactive might bring it to Nintendo Switch Online.
Rockstar's Controversial and Cult Hits
Manhunt 1 and 2 (2003/2007) drew praise and outrage for extreme violence, with the sequel censored for UK release. The stealth series grades players on how brutally they dispatch targets, with the first game's plot involving forced participation in snuff films. The first game is available on PC via Steam, but the sequel's PC version only launched in the US.
The Warriors (2005), developed by Rockstar Toronto, is a scrolling beat 'em-up adaptation of the 1979 film. It is praised for its authenticity, with several actors reprising their roles, and is available digitally on PlayStation 4 for £11.99, though some licensed music has been removed.
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (2006) is a sterile simulation of the sport, with no Rockstar humour or violence. It served as a testing ground for the RAGE graphics engine used in all subsequent titles, including GTA 6. The Xbox 360 version is available digitally for £11.99 and is backwards compatible.
From Bully to Red Dead Redemption 2
Bully (2006), renamed Canis Canem Edit in the UK due to controversy, is set in a school where the protagonist is usually the one being bullied. Weapons include slingshots and itching powder, and passing classes unlocks new abilities. A sequel was cancelled, but the Scholarship Edition remaster is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC for £11.99, and is included with GTA+.
L.A. Noire (2011), primarily developed by Team Bondi, is praised for its puzzle solving, Ace Attorney style interrogations, and facial animation. The 2017 remaster for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC is recommended, and a sequel is hoped for, especially since Team Bondi's successor, Video Games Deluxe, is now Rockstar Australia.
Max Payne 3 (2012), developed by Rockstar itself, is a polished third-person shooter with top-notch presentation and gunplay, though it was branded a failure by writer Dan Houser. It is available for less than £20 on Steam or Xbox via backwards compatibility, and original creator Remedy is remaking the first two games.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) was Rockstar's most ambitious game, a technical achievement in graphics, presentation, and immersion. It is a direct evolution of the 2010 original, but the franchise started with Red Dead Revolver (2004), which began as a reboot of Capcom's Gun.Smoke. Red Dead Revolver had no open world and was only a minor hit, but is still available on PlayStation and Xbox Stores for £11.99.
