Long before Grand Theft Auto adopted three-dimensional worlds, GTA 2 was already experimenting with an interesting idea: changing relationships with criminal groups. Players could work for different gangs and alter how each organization reacted to their presence.
How gang respect worked
Favoring one faction could damage the player's reputation with its rivals. Respect influenced access to missions and the risk of entering hostile territory, allowing the city to respond to some player choices.
GTA 6 introduces characters connected to different criminal circles in Leonida, naturally inviting comparisons. It would be interesting to see relationships between groups influence missions and travel, but this possibility should not be treated as a confirmed feature.
The comparison is an interesting subject for discussion, especially given the presence of different criminal groups in Leonida. The gang respect system, however, belongs to GTA 2's history, not to the mechanics announced for the new game.
Revisiting GTA 2 is also a reminder that the series was experimenting with ideas considered sophisticated today back in the 1990s.
