Summary
- Rockstar games often have slow beginnings to build up, revealing their hand later on to wow players.
- Max Payne 3 offers excellent action-packed set pieces once combat clicks, despite pacing issues.
- L.A. Noire gradually captivates players with engaging cases and cinematic moments after a slow start.
Many people argue that video games should never have slow beginnings, especially since first impressions are important and decide whether a player will stick with the game in question for the long haul. However, this isn't the hard and fast truth, since many titles have shown the importance of revealing one's hand later on instead of going all-out early on.
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Given how video games let players fulfill their wildest fantasies, it's easy to see why some titles let players step into the shoes of an unscrupulous
This is especially true in Rockstar's case, with the developer being more than aware of how important it is to keep fans engaged in a lengthy video game for the long haul. Most of their games may seem slow or lacking in content early on, only to wow players when things open up significantly in the latter stages.
8 Max Payne 3
Once The Combat Clicks, Players Will Love The Game's Focus On Action-Packed Set Pieces
Max Payne 3
- Released
- May 15, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Long-time Max Payne fans may find the changes in the third instalment to be a bit too puzzling, at times. Max repeats his character arc from the first game, and the story lacks a ton of the style that made previous games so riveting.
However, players who look past these issues will love what Max Payne 3 brings to the table. The gunplay is the very best seen in a Rockstar game that combines modern cover-shooting with the classic Bullet Time gameplay to make for an entertaining action-packed cocktail that lets players enjoy a series of pulse-pounding stages that are designed immaculately.
7 L.A. Noire
The Story Takes A While To Get Going And Capture A Player's Attention
L.A. Noire
- Released
- May 17, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Given the slow burn of L.A. Noire's story, it's easy to see why it takes a while before this game becomes riveting. Thankfully, L.A. Noire is still engaging to play early on, especially when players are coming to grips with the title's gameplay.
The first few cases slowly introduce players to the detective side of things, eventually introducing melee combat, shootouts, and chase sequences. Eventually, the kid gloves are dropped, and L.A. Noire blasts players with a series of engaging cases, enthralling cinematic moments, and some of the funniest facial expressions in video game history.
6 Bully
Jimmy's Quest To Become Accepted By The Cliques Of Bullworth And Get His Revenge Is A Blast
Bully
- Released
- October 17, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox
From the moment players take their first steps in Bullworth Academy, they'll realize just how unique this Rockstar video game is. Players control Jimmy in Bullworth Academy, slowly coming to grips with the class schedule and befriending a person named Gary.
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This turns out to be a major mistake, with Gary ruining Jimmy's reputation and becoming top dog in the process. This is when the game truly opens up, forcing players to climb the social ladder from scratch and befriend the many high school cliques. Eventually, players will head outside of Bullworth Academy to explore the town as well, making for a fresh visual change from the boarding school they've been exploring for hours.
5 Red Dead Redemption
Entering Mexico Is A Moment Fans Won't Forget Anytime Soon
Red Dead Redemption
- Released
- May 18, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Adventure
Red Dead Redemption doesn't waste any time in introducing players to Marston's quest. He's forced by the Pinkertons to hunt down the former members of his gang to ensure the safety of his family.
The game slowly opens up after a key character's death, with a major highlight being John's first steps in Mexico. The iconic soundtrack that plays as the latter half of the game kicks it into high gear is one of the many reasons why fans can't stop raving about Red Dead Redemption.
4 Grand Theft Auto 5
Once Trevor Enters The Fray, The Game Becomes More Entertaining Than Ever Before
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Grand Theft Auto 5's ambitious nature can be seen from the get-go, with players participating in a major heist before moving into the future. The city of Los Santos is introduced as players assume control of both Franklin and Michael up until the game's first heist.
A line usually spoken by his friend makes Trevor doubt whether Michael Townley had died all along, letting players control the rage-fuelled redneck as he drives away his competition in the outskirts before legging it to Los Santos. A reunion follows soon enough, and events in Grand Theft Auto 5 become more entertaining than ever before.
3 GTA Online
Fans Who Stuck With This Online Mode Witnessed Firsthand Just How Entertaining It Became With Regular Updates
GTA Online
- Released
- October 1, 2013
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Shooter, Action-Adventure
It's amazing just how much GTA Online has transformed from its content-lean beginning. Many people already wrote off this mode as nothing more than a novelty, not realizing just how serious Rockstar was about transforming the online gaming landscape.
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A string of updates soon followed that packed the game with content out the wazoo. It reached a point where GTA Online became so profitable that Rockstar could rest on its laurels for a bit, with both old and new fans marveling at the sheer volume of content present in this multiplayer mode.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan's Beautiful Adventures Are In A Class Of Their Own
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the greatest open-world games ever made. It also has an agonizingly slow start where Dutch's gang hides out in the abandoned town of Colter, licking their wounds before eventually returning to the open world.
The beauty of Red Dead Redemption 2 stems from the sense of discovery in this title as players explore the gorgeous sandbox, which only increases in intensity as players move forward with the story and the camp's location shifts over and over again. All of this is accompanied by the finest narrative told in a Rockstar game that turns Arthur Morgan from just another outlaw into one of the most fascinating video game protagonists of all time.
1 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
CJ's Adventures Take Him Across Numerous Larger-than-Life Cities In San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Released
- October 26, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
San Andreas is the peak of the arcade-y GTA games in the 3D Universe. Not only is the sandbox massive, but the world is jam-packed with so many things to do that players can genuinely get lost in this massive world.
All of this is augmented by a narrative where CJ must explore other locations in the world and figure out how to return to Los Santos and help the GSF become relevant again. The grand narrative and ever-increasing scope of San Andreas ensure that it just gets better and better as players invest more hours in the experience.
- Date Founded
- December 22, 1998
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- CEO
- Sam Houser
- Parent Company
- Take-Two Interactive
- Subsidiaries
- Rockstar North, Rocksteady Studios, Rockstar India, Rockstar Lincoln
- Known For
- Grand Theft Auto