PS2- GTA3

I wrote this whenever GTA3 game out. Technically speaking this is one of my first reviews, published in the High School paper, and again on IGN somewhere.

Grand Theft Auto 3 By. Doug Patton

Grand Theft Auto 3 is one of the best games ever, that’s all there is to it. There are a many elements that go into a great game. Sound, graphics, and gameplay are just a few. From the screech of the tires to the rain puddles on the road, this game has everything. The story line is right out of a mob film. It begins with you, a low-ranked street thug, trying to make a name for yourself in Liberty City. During a robbery, your girlfriend, a fellow criminal, decides to dump you, more specifically, with a bullet to your shoulder. You are caught by the police and found guilty. While being transported to prison, a mishap occurs and you escape.

Along your way to mobster glory, you make friends, enemies, and more importantly, employers. These employers are the most important people you meet in the game. They give you jobs, money, and a place to park your “borrowed” cars. You work for all kinds of low-lifes, including crooked cops, corrupt lawyers, Mexican gang leaders, and even a Mafia Don.

The graphics are a complete change from the other GTAs. It is completely 3-D, now becoming more of a third-person shooter as opposed to the original overhead 2-D view. This gives it more of a realistic look. The city seems to have a real look to it. Each building is individually developed. Skyscrapers don’t seen to just go off into the distance, you can easily tell where it ends. When it rains, puddles of water appear in lower parts on the road. Someone gets to close to you with their car; you give them an “unfriendly” hello. Cars that are on fire leave a smoke trail. The graphics are some of the best I’ve seen in a Playstation game in a while.

The controls are set up perfectly. The learning curve for anyone is just mere seconds. It’s simpler than ever to cruise the city streets or chase down an opposing gang member. Need to steal a car? One simple press of a button and you steal the closest car.

There is a new feature added a sort of drive-by ability. You are able to drive up to your target and take them down with out ever leaving the car. There are over 40 different cars, ranging from a station wagon to a fire-truck, all with their own damage zones. If you hit a wall too hard, you might break off a door, if you rear end someone, it cracks the windshield. The cars seem to break down more realistically in this game, if not too quickly. The game integrates a sort of “real-time”, that is, it moves according to a 24-hour clock. The sun rises at about three and sets at eighteen. The pedestrians even change according to this clock. During the day, there are shoppers and business people that fill the street. At night: thugs, pimps, and other unsociable people appear.

The pedestrians are one of the most interesting parts of Grand Theft Auto 3; they seem to have a reason of being there. They run away when you chase after them with your car and they crowd around when they see an accident. They all talk amongst themselves, giving the city a “real” sense. If you takedown an innocent by-stander or just barely miss hitting them, they usually have something to say. Some of the pedestrians have also turned to a life of crime. They mug people, shoot cops, and even steal your stolen cars.

From Luigi, your first boss, to whoever your last boss may be, all of the voices are recognizable, including Joey Pantoliano (The Sopranos and The Matrix), Michael Rapaport (Cop Land), and Frank Vincent (Goodfellas and Casino).

The music has always been an important factor in the Grand Theft Auto legacy. There are nine radio stations , each with its own DJ and playlist. Double Cleff FM is one of my favorite stations. All of the music is classical music from movies like Scarface, The Untouchables, and Goodfellas. If classical isn’t your bag, there are two rap stations, reggae, two pop stations, rave music, talk radio and 70’s and 80’s stations. All of the radio stations have their own commercials, advertising different products you will see all over town.

I should mention that this is an M rated game. It’s not exactly the game you should let a little kid play due to it’s violence, language, and suggestive themes. The stores seem to be on the lookout for younger buyers of it. With fifteen different endings, over 400 hours of gameplay, and ten different weapons, it’s more fun than a Mafia limo in the middle of Chinatown!