Also, the ability to customize your car and then save it. Your shooting/ aiming abilities would get better depending how your skills progressed during the game. Also, the rpg elements where you could update your character.
Also, swimming, the big game map was just crazy at that time. Just the from the opening of the game when your on the bike and have to tap to pettle faster made me feel like this was a way different gta then the previous ones.
What did I think of the game? Game of forever!! Loved the 90's theme, the characters.