Fierce Gaming: Your Multiplatform Head Quarters

Home

*E3 News*

News Archive

Xbox

Xbox 360

Gamecube

Playstation 2

Screenshots

Become Staff

Contact

Gamecube

Xbox

Playstation 2

PSP

Xbox 360

Playstation 2

GBA

Xbox 360

Xbox

Gamecube

Chatroom

Store

Forums

Grand Theft Auto 3

PS2 Review by: Kazooie
The original Grand Theft Auto was one of the most controversial games ever released, allowing the player to play the "bad guy", you could run over people and were given points for doing so. Gamers loved the freedom of it and the ability to do what ever you wanted. But it had its down side; the point of view was the blimp cam and really off set the games massiveness. But Rockstar has finally brought GTA into the third dimension, gamers rejoice!!

GTA3 takes place in the fictional metropolis of Liberty City. You play a small time crook who is looking to make it big in liberty city, you start off has the mafias lapdog driving there men around, taking out some low life's for them. Slowly you become more respected and you start to get more important jobs like taking out an armored car and rigging a bomb in one of the rival gangs cars. The actual story is slowly unreeled to you as you complete missions, you'll learn of gang wars and the mysterious drug known as SPANK. When the gangs of liberty respect you, you are offered some very cool missions, my personal favorite would have to be the gang war between the Italian mafia and the Triads, you are given two cronies who follow you as you head into enemy territory. There are men from both gangs fighting it out everywhere explosions, gunshots, its total mayhem. Its missions like this that helps add some variety to the missions.

The actual game play itself is rock-solid. The game is mission-based, as I mentioned earlier, and as linear as that sounds, it really isn't. You can choose when you want to go out and get a mission, which means whenever you want want free-roaming mayhem...you got it! But let's talk a little more on the more important stuff, shall we? At the risk of sounding repetitious, you start out with your first boss Luigi; he gives you work until you've completed all of the missions that he has to offer. After that you move on to your next boss, etc, etc. Once you really start getting far into the game your jobs become a little tougher, and MUCH more fun. The game's progression is amazingly well done.

The graphic department of GTA3 is pretty good. The polygonal models of pedestrians, vehicles, and buildings are pretty much on the money. They're not great by any stretch of the imagination, but they're also not too bad, either. The game graphics also have a certain 'cartoony' look to them, too. It doesn't look like something off of the WB on Saturday morning, but it also doesn't look like real-life. That may sound like a complaint, but it's completely understandable. Why? The violence, that's why. Yes, GTA3 is one violent game; you'll shoot people, run over people, and throw grenades at cars, whatever. While this may sound overly violent, it really doesn't seem like it because the graphics won't allow it. What I mean is that the game never shows you ultra realistic gore like in other games. It's was a good decision by DMA Ltd. (now called Rockstar Studios) to do this for the game's sake. All in all, GTA3 is has a visual flair that's unique to it, and it alone. Nice job.

The best thing about GTA3 is not the story or the great missions, but the openness of the city. The first few days I had it I did nothing buy run around the city stealing cars and running over hookers. There is a multitude of extra stuff to do on side. You can steal a taxi and run around Crazy Taxi style getting fares, grab a cop car and go vigilante on the criminal threat, or put out fires with a (what else) fire truck. Or you can steal a fast car and search for some air getting cash for each jump. But the best way to waste a day in Liberty city is by way of the police. Just take down a cop and you're sure to find excitement fast. The cop AI is very deep, they are ruthless and if you do enough damage the military could get involved.

The voice acting is some of the best every in a game, Hollywood actors provide many of the voices. And all are done to near perfection. One of the most enduring facts about GTA3 is the radio. Yes the radio. There is a station for every ones tastes, but the best and I'm sure everyone will agree with me is Chatterbox. The hilarious talk radio station, I could listen to it all day and still laugh.

It's not the best looking game, but the game play and Hollywood caliber voice work make up for the graphical short falls. This game is practically one of the best games I've ever played on the PS2.I give Grand Theft Auto 3 for PS2 a 10/10 10/10

Presentation There is no other game like it. And with the new camera view, the game is looking better than ever.	9.0
Graphics The polygonal characters look great, as do the environments. But, the same characters are very repetitive.	8.5
Gameplay The gameplay is rock-solid. The mission based goals give it a very realistic gameplay.	9.5
Overall This is one violent game. From the running over of pedestrians, to the killing of cops, this game definitely deserves its 'Mature' rating.	10