Few games ride the line between the sheer audacity and sheer brutality like "Grand Theft Auto".
Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Grand Theft Auto Missions.
For this list, we're looking a glance at the finest missions conceived by Rockstar Games for their landmark series,
from heists gone awry to impressive escapades.
Regardless of their age of scope, any mission that left a distinct impression or evoked some kind of emotion is fair game.
Number 10: "Publicity Tour", "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City"
Tommy! Tommy! Tommy, man, that psycho's back!
It may not be complex, but it's exciting enough for us.
"Publicty Tour", the final mission given to Tommy Vercetti by the heavy metal band, Love Fist, involves a bomb threat.
Specifically, as a nod to the film "Speed", Tommy must keep Love Fist's limo driving at a certain speed or else the bomb and the limo detonate.
SCOTTISH MAN ON TAPE: "You try and slow down and your limousine will explode, along with your BIG, HAIRY ARSES!
Besides, being a fun reference, this premise also allows for effortless tension to be fused in an otherwise straight-forward mission concept.
Plus, the banter between the band member is a definite bonus. Don't slow down, Tommy. Don't slow down.
Number 9: "Black Project", "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"
A secret military base to infiltrate and a high-tech gadget to abuse? How fun.
The Truth, an aged and off-kilter conspiracy theorist, tasks C.J. with breaking into the nearby Area 69 and looking into reports of a classified project.
For players, this means sneaking past guards or blasting one's way into the facility.
A fittingly exciting challenge in it's own right.
However, the kicker is when C.J. finds the said "top secret project", a jetpack, and makes use of it as a part of his thrilling escape.
Number 8: "I'll Take Her", "Grand Theft Auto IV"
No one ever said kidnappings were easy. But, man can ever they be entertaining?!
"I'll Take Her" has Niko working to kidnap Gracie Ancelotti, the daughter of a mob boss under false pretenses.
It's a rather simple mission in it's design: Niko drives Gracie to a warehouse and delivers her to his employers.
What moves things into more amusing territory is Gracie's reaction to it all. She goes from somewhat enthused by Niko to increasingly agitated and even violent, giving the audience some delightfully mean-spirited back-and-forth dialogue in the process.
Number 7: "Dropping In", "Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony"
When might gives you lemons, you send someone to cause pain and suffering in turn.
That appears to the thought-process behind Luis being sent to gun down the owner of the Liberty City Rampage Hockey Team.
"Dropping In" commences with a parachute drop onto the massive MeTV building, before segwaying into a string of firefights in the building's tight corridors.
The action is just brutal enough to fit with the tone of this assassination mission while still keeping with the lighter, wackier spirit of the DLC.
Of course, that parachute escape at the mission's end certainly doesn't hurt either.
Number 6: "Caida Libre", "Grand Theft Auto V"
Well, THAT was explosive.
The task here is simple enough: semi-retired criminal Michael De Santa gets into a position to bring down a plane carrying the cousin of Martin Madrazo.
It's difficult, yet viscerally engaging to carefully aim at and snipe the plane's engine, taking into account, bullet curve and the plane's movement.
"Caida Libre" doesn't stop at precise aiming. Players must then chase down the falling plane as Trevor Philips all in order to execute Madrazo's cousin and finish the mission.
Number 5: "Treacherous Swine", "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City"
- JUAN: "Mr. Vercetti!! Thank you for coming!!" - "Colonel."
Chainsaws and a police pursuit? Yeah, that sounds about right.
Tommy's goal in "Treacherous Swine" is one of murder.
The retired Colonel Cortez asks him hunt down and kill his henchman, Gonzalez, in no uncertain terms.
"I'm ashamed to admit that one of the causes of our mutual problem appears to have been the loose tongue of a man..."
By no means elaborate, the task of locating Gonzalez at his penthouse hideout and chasing him down is nevertheless morbidly amusing.
"I'm going to shut that big mouth of yours!"
If it wasn't already obvious that "Vice City" took a lot of inspiration from "Scarface", this should settle the debate.
Number 4: "Father/Son", "Grand Theft Auto V"
Rev up your engines and put the pedal to the metal!! It's time for a chase!!
Very early in "Grand Theft Auto V", Michael and his new ally, Franklin are drawn into a struggle to retrieve Michael's yacht from thieves.
Things are further complicated by Michael's son, Jimmy, being stuck on the stolen yacht, forcing Michael and Franklin to chase the thieves down a freeway.
It all leads up to an extended sequence where Michael has to keep his car lined up with the yacht while Franklin works to liberate it and Jimmy.
Number 3: "End of the Line", "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"
Like the title says, this is the endgame and it's magnificent.
"End of the Line" caps off C.J.'s efforts to reform and refocus the Grove Street Families with a full-scale siege on his former boss Big Smoke's crack fortress.
To that end, C.J. and the player must battle through the forces of multiple rival gangs and the Russian mob before finally getting the chance to duel Big Smoke one-on-one.
Even then, it isn't over. There's one final car chase to put an end to the villainous officer Tenpenny before it's all said and done.
It is multi-layered and cathartic to say the least.
"I just want to be sure it's over, man. That's all."
"It's cool. No need to put a bullet in. He killed himself in a traffic accident."
Number 2: "The Jewel Store Job", "Grand Theft Auto V"
Being the first heist mission of the game, "The Jewel Store Job" spares no expense at showing gamers what's in store for them.
Everything from stgivaking out target locations to obtaining the necessary equipment is explained and undertaken,
given the sense of an antiquate process.
But, when the setup is complete, seeing all your carefully laid plans take flight is truly rewarding.
Whether players opt for the smart or loud route, the end result is a cinematic bike escape and a healthy payout that teases great things to come.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
"What? No big hugs for your old buddy?"
"I've had 15 years out the loop. I'm a bit rusty on family etiquette."
"Terry, man, we got to pay our friend Billy a visit. He's been talking. Bring Clay, being all the (BLEEP) firepower you got."
CATALINA: "Did you turn up to rescue Maria or to get me back?"
"Well, I got news for you, shooting you will be a pleasure, but dating you was only business."
Number 1: "Three Leaf Clover", "Grand Theft Auto IV"
The desperate escape after a successful heist is quite a sight, as this mission proves.
While in the midst of doing a favor for the McReary Brothers, namely robbing a bank, Niko finds himself caught up in a steadily escalading fight from the police.
The mission takes Niko and company through Liberty City's Chinatown section and into the city's subway tunnels before culminating in a getaway by car.
Working well as high-tension gameplay, "Three Leaf Clover" also succeeds at it's secondary goal: paying homage to the 1995 crime drama, "Heat".
It's nice how that works out.
Do you agree with our list?
What's your favorite mission from the "Grand Theft Auto" series?
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"Normally, I wouldn't busy myself with driving around a bunch of drunken Scottish bisexuals, but, in your case, I'll make an exception."