True Crime: Streets of LA on Nintendo GameCube (2003) is Rockstar-style open-world chaos with a cop badge slapped on top. Instead of playing the criminal, you’re Nick Kang, an LAPD detective who’s as quick with his fists as he is with his one-liners. It’s gritty, over-the-top, and one of the early challengers to Grand Theft Auto’s sandbox throne.

Developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision, True Crime: Streets of LA drops you into a massive, mapped-out version of Los Angeles. You’ll patrol the streets, solve crimes, bust suspects, and, let’s be real—sometimes cause more collateral damage than the criminals. With branching storylines and multiple endings, it rewards (or punishes) you for how you handle justice—whether you play it clean or go full rogue cop.

Gameplay is a mash-up of driving, shooting, and martial arts combat, making it one of the first open-world games to really throw multiple gameplay styles into one package. Throw in a licensed soundtrack featuring West Coast hip hop and you’ve got a game that screams early 2000s attitude.

1. Open-world LA: Cruise through a detailed recreation of Los Angeles, complete with traffic and random crimes.
2. Multiple playstyles: Drive, shoot, and fight your way through missions and street encounters.
3. Branching story: Choices and performance lead to different endings—hero cop or loose cannon.
4. Killer soundtrack: Early 2000s hip hop and rap tracks fuel the West Coast vibe.

True Crime: Streets of LA may not have hit the polish of GTA, but it carved out its own cult following with its mix of action, attitude, and experimental gameplay. It’s messy, stylish, and absolutely a time capsule of the GameCube era.

Hit the streets and buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange—because True Crime: Streets of LA is still one of the wildest rides through virtual Los Angeles.