How much has "GTA" evolved over the years? Watch.

Every great game franchise needs to start somewhere. Today, we continue our new video feature "120 Seconds" by highlighting the meager beginnings of the beloved "Grand Theft Auto" series. Inspired by its recent blockbuster game release, we decided to take a look back at all the series and see just where our adventures in Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas began.

First off, "Grand Theft Auto III," our first time playing in the sandbox:

Can you judge a game by its first two playable minutes? Does a great game immediately reveal its greatness? Does a bad one immediately show its seams?Consider today's entry part of a pilot test on MTV Multiplayer for a feature we're calling 120 Seconds. Each entry will feature video of the first two playable minutes of great and not-so-great games.

Today's entries are one of the most praised games of 2007 and one of the more harshly received titles of 2008. Do you think a newcomer could tell which is which?

Check back as the week continues for more "120 Seconds" experiments. And let us know what you think.

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