Retro|Spective 102R: Grand Theft Auto

[wakka]

This one totally passed me by, and I'd forgotten it existed. Seems it was released a month after the DS, which explains why! I would've been immersed in the early DS titles at that point.

Watching the video above, it seems OK for what it was. Not something I'd personally be looking to play in the here and now I don't think.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 09 - Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Initially made for the PSP and then later ported to PS2, this entry acted as another prequel to GTA3 returning to Liberty City. The city had a few tweaks to highlight the different year and the vehicle roster was widened to reflect how it was made later on but its origins on handheld also added an air of roughness to the game too. It was the most successful PSP released though remains less re-released than the original console trilogy.







A Story worth telling?

[Neon Ignition]

I only went through LCS fully about a year or so ago and it was... fine. Despite the additions and tweaks it does feel a little like a soulless version of GTA3 so it's a bit of an oddity

[Atticus]

I only went through LCS fully about a year or so ago and it was... fine. Despite the additions and tweaks it does feel a little like a soulless version of GTA3 so it's a bit of an oddity

Yeah, I remember giving it a go on PSP and soulless was my conclusion too. Chinatown Wars was a much better approach for handheld GTA.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 10 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The sixth GTA game in the same amount of years, VCS was similar to LCS in delivering a handheld version of an entry with an entirely new cast and story. Set on the opposing opening island in Vice City before the events of the console entry, this entry was pretty much as you would expect but with a revised combat system. It was well received and became one of the PSP's best sellers before receiving a PS2 port itself.









An experience full of vices?

[QualityChimp]

I'm pretty sure I didn't play anything between SA and IV.

[Neon Ignition]

Though I've done the opening hour twice this remains the title bearer as the only entry in the 3D games I haven't gone through still. Owned it repeatedly and for some reason never got around to it. One day...

[wakka]

I played both Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories. Neither were as good as the mainline entries, but the fact we had portable GTA 3 was pretty incredible at the release of LCS. I think it's interesting that they chose to make a new game rather than simply port GTA 3, and I appreciated that.

I actually played VCS on PS2, and my main memory of it is that it had quite an addictive sidequest component where you could buy properties and receive an income from them. In an inevitable twist, these would be attacked by rival gangs and would stop producing income until you went and gunned them all down. You could also buy houses and vehicles to 'park' at them (i.e. they would infinitely respawn in the same spot there).

At the end of the game I had the best house and a seaplane parked on the canal outside, plus I owned every business in the city. This meant I was extremely busy flying my seaplane around, landing it, flamethrowering everyone, then clambering back in to fly off to the next business that had been attacked. It was a pretty addictive addition.

I remember literally nothing about the storyline of either game though, nothing at all. Very unmemorable.

[Hirst]

LCS: I actually really like LCS, I think it's a neat way of re-using the GTA3 map but adding the Vice City improvements like the motorbikes and the ability to jump out of vehicles. The idea of setting in 1998 is pretty good too, they filled the radio stations with a mixture of era-specific and more made-up music. I remember getting into a car and that Moloko came on, I thought "hey it's 1998". It was the best-selling PSP game if I recall, I had the PS2 version though.

VCS: Compared to LCS, VCS isn't significantly different from Vice City other than the missions. Again, I had the PS2 version. It is quite noticeable how many visual effects and suchlike are missing from VCS compared to Vice City. I think the PS2 port was a bit of a quick thing to get it out of the door, also barely anyone seemed to notice it coming out and I suspect it didn't sell that well. This seems to be reflected in the prices, because Cex currently knock the PS2 one out for £15.00! That's 1p more than I paid for it in Gameplay when it had only just come out.

However, any criticism I have of VCS can be offset by the fact that it has the most realistic 3D Phil Collins with era-accurate hairline:

[charlesr]

[DeathAdder]

I got stuck very early on in this, with a mission I wasn't good enough to do. Think you had to use a forklift to save some booze from a burning warehouse or something. Anyway, after that I never went back to it. Pity, as I love the city and overall look.

[Atticus]

However, any criticism I have of VCS can be offset by the fact that it has the most realistic 3D Phil Collins with era-accurate hairline:

[wakka]

LCS: I actually really like LCS, I think it's a neat way of re-using the GTA3 map but adding the Vice City improvements like the motorbikes and the ability to jump out of vehicles. The idea of setting in 1998 is pretty good too, they filled the radio stations with a mixture of era-specific and more made-up music. I remember getting into a car and that Moloko came on, I thought "hey it's 1998". It was the best-selling PSP game if I recall, I had the PS2 version though.

VCS: Compared to LCS, VCS isn't significantly different from Vice City other than the missions. Again, I had the PS2 version. It is quite noticeable how many visual effects and suchlike are missing from VCS compared to Vice City. I think the PS2 port was a bit of a quick thing to get it out of the door, also barely anyone seemed to notice it coming out and I suspect it didn't sell that well. This seems to be reflected in the prices, because Cex currently knock the PS2 one out for £15.00! That's 1p more than I paid for it in Gameplay when it had only just come out.

However, any criticism I have of VCS can be offset by the fact that it has the most realistic 3D Phil Collins with era-accurate hairline:

And people say videogames aren't art.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 11 - Grand Theft Auto IV
The hype was insane and with a new generation of consoles Rockstar delivered the direct sequel to its industry shaking titan trilogy. Returning to a re-imagined Liberty City in another timeline reset for the franchise, players took on the role of Niko as he was quickly drawn into a life of crime. With an online multiplayer mode, new physics and reworked combat the game aimed to heavily increase the cinematic presentation and levels of detail in the series.







What is your memory of GTA4?

[wakka]

Wow, I remember being SO excited for this game. Bought it in HMV on release day and then I remember trudging home through absolutely torrential rain. Got in, stuck it on, and for me at the time it delivered. The graphics in particular were a huge leap forwards - the city in 720p while flying a helicopter looked incredible - and the story engaged me.

With the benefit of hindsight though, it's certainly one of the weaker entries. The car handling was poor, the city's design less fun to navigate than previous entries, and it was mired in irritating attempts at 'immersion' like your cousin being upset because you don't want to play a mediocre darts minigame with him every 10 minutes. The story and overall vibe were also much gloomier than previous entries, with less flair.