As someoen else on another forum said:
Always remember that this was the game that changed everything. It introduced a new genre to games and it was such a blast to play with it's non-linear approach and sandbox gameplay that there was nothing else like it and it was FUN!

Everyone remembers where they were when they first saw or played it. That's how much of an impact it had. Everyone remembers skipping school or work and spending hour after hour shooting and driving and running over hopeless pedestrians.
GTA3 is often overlooked these days because Vice City and San Andreas and now GTAIV added so many new features. But GTA3 is just as revolutionary and important to gaming history as Super Mario Bros. 3 or whichever Sonic game was supposed to be important.

It was pure fun and will always be so.

Finally..David Hayter says it's his favorite game ever. So who can argue with that? (J/K(