Grand Theft Auto

The original Grand Theft Auto is indeed the first game in the Grand Theft Auto series and a sandbox-crime game published by Rockstar Games. Your description of its core gameplay mechanics is accurate.

The game is structured around levels set in three cities—Liberty City (based on New York City), San Andreas (based on San Francisco), and Vice City (based on Miami). In each level, players have a target number of points to achieve while managing five lives. The score counter functions as both a progression metric and currency, allowing players to spend money on paint jobs and other items, though any spending reduces their overall score and makes reaching the target more challenging.

The gameplay revolves around completing missions received via payphones to earn points and progress through the game. These missions are often timed and involve tasks like ferrying passengers, assassinating rivals, or acting as a getaway driver. Once players accumulate the required points, they must drive to a specific location to complete the level and advance to the next one.