Grand Theft Auto 2

Screenshot GTA2 (PlayStation)

Grand Theft Auto 2 (or GTA2) is a video game released on September 19, 1999 in the United States by developers Rockstar North; it eventually reached a variety of platforms, including the PC, PlayStation and Dreamcast consoles. It is the sequel to the controversial 1997 hit Grand Theft Auto (also developed by Rockstar North, then known as DMA Design). GTA2 retained the top-down viewpoint of GTA but added a choice of factions to the car-stealing/telephone-answering formula of the original.

In the original GTA, only the local police pursued the player. In GTA2, SWAT teams, FBI agents and the army can begin chasing the player as his or her wanted level increases. There are two new factions for each of the three levels of the game, and one faction which is present in all levels. Being employed by one faction or gang can cause distrust from others (working for gang #1 will incur the wrath of gang #2, working for gang #2 will cause enmity with gang #3, et cetera).

The first level is The Downtown Area and features casinos, hotels, a large mental institution and a university. The second area is The Residential District and contains the city's prison, a trailer park with a Elvis-themed club named "Disgracelands", a research center and a large hydroelectric power plant. The third and last area is The Industrial District. It holds a large seaport, a meat packing plant, and a Krishna temple.

GTA2 also included a saving technique that improved upon that of the original GTA (which saved only when finishing a city). If the player entered a church with a certain amount of cash, a voice announced "Hallelujah! Another soul saved!". This obvious pun notified the player that the game had been saved. If the player did not have enough money, the voice would say "Damnation! No donation, no salvation!" (In later games, "safehouses" were established where the game could be saved at no cost.)

Grand Theft Auto 2 was released as a free download on December 22, 2004. This version also includes support for multiplayer games.

Gangs

There are 7 gangs in the game:

Zaibatsu Pharmaceuticals (symbol: yellow 'Z') - They appear in the all of the areas and their specialty is drug dealing. Their car, called a Z-Type, is the second fastest gang car available.
Loonies (symbol: winking smiley face) - They appear in the first area and they are quite crazy. Their gang car resembles a green VW Beetle with their mark painted on top. Their small section of turf is in the vicinity of the city's mental institution. Their boss is Elmo.
Yakuzas (symbol: blue yen '¥') - They also appear in the first area and are a "generic" gang, doing a "little bit of everything". They make drugs at the so-called J-Lab, one of their strongest "industries". Their boss is Johnny Zoo.
Scientists (symbol: a shield.) - They appear in the second area, and are all apparently clones of one genetically enhanced human. Their specialty is weapon development and cloning, and their leaders are Norwegian. Their gang car is called a Meteor and is the fastest gang car available. Their turf is the Scientist Research Center. Their boss is Dr. LaBrat.
Rednecks (symbol: the Confederate flag) - They appear in the second area, are rabid fans of Elvis Presley, and specialize in explosives and vehicles. Their car is called the U-Jerk and is a wide pick-up truck. The Rednecks' turf is the trailer park.
Russian Mafia (symbol: a red 5-pointed star) - They appear in the third area and specialize in advanced weaponry. Their car is some sort of a small closed pick-up truck. They can be seen in the seaport areas. Jerkov is the name of their boss.
Hare Krishna (symbol: an orange flower) - They appear in the third area and their car is actually sort of a big hippie-bus with flowers painted on its roof. The Krishna's turf is around their temple. Their boss' name is Sunbeam.

Radio

Each area features five radio stations from a pool of eleven. "Head Radio" was present in the original GTA and in Grand Theft Auto III. Each gang also has its own radio station that transmits within a limited area.

Head Radio - This is the city's largest commercial radio station. It can be received in all areas of the game. The DJ's names are Phanny Joe Styles and Johnny Riccaro. Head Radio plays modern pop and rock.
Rockstar Radio - A commercial radio station in the Downtown Area. Sammy Starock is the name of the DJ. The station plays pop and rock and occasionally features on-air phone calls from "listeners".
KREZ - The Residential Area's commercial station which plays rap and hip hop. The DJ is Richie T.
Lo-Fi FM - A commercial station in the Industrial Area that plays oldies and pop. The DJ (DJ Die/Dye) has a indeterminate, vaguely "foreign" accent.
Futuro Radio - The Zaibatsu gang's station. It can be received in all three areas. The DJ, Dean France, plays dance and jazz-oriented pop.
Tsunami FM - The Yakuza gang's station in the Downtown Area. The music is drum and bass-type electronic music.
Lithium FM - The Loonies' station. Features a totally mad DJ as well as some oldies and dance-music.
Rebel Radio/KING - The Redneck gang station in the Residential Area. The DJ, Marshall Nash, has a thick Southern accent. The music of choice is modern and classic rock.
Osmosis FM - The Scientists' station, transmitting in the Residential Area. The DJ is "Mama Doc", who plays modern dance music.
Heavenly Radio - The Krishnas' gang station, transmitting in the Industrial Sector. The DJ is Venus Ordelia. The music is a mix of Jesus-pop and soft music. Listeners are continuously urged to convert.
KGBH - Radio station of the Russian mafia with DJ Bombatumba. KGBH frequently encounters both technical and personal problems that interfere with their broadcasts. The station primarily plays classic rock.

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Grand Theft Auto: London, 1969	Grand Theft Auto series	Grand Theft Auto 3

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