Grand Theft Auto III (PS2)

Sonically, GTA 3 cannot be beaten; in-car tunes are provided from one of nine radio stations, each with its own distinct feel, and the sounds of the city are all here too; walk around for a while and you'll hear far-off police sirens, motorists abusing one another and general chit-chat as people go about their business.

The game is very open-ended. Its major focus is the mission-based goals--start out as a convict accidentally sprung from jail and work your way up to become a shining light in one of the city's controlling gangs. If that gets dull, hijack a cab, police car, ambulance or fire engine and carry out missions suitable for your mode of transport, and if all else fails, find the ludicrously dangerous looking ramps and hit them hard for some big air and big cash bonuses.

It has to be said that GTA 3 fully warrants its 18 certificate, dealing as it does with mob warfare, indiscriminate murders, auto crimes, prostitution and more. The language gets a little "fruity" from time to time and you can't help but wince as you watch innocents get in the way of a good firefight. At the end of the day, though, this is a game and nothing more; thankfully, it's a good game, a very, very good game in fact, so buy it now. Or we'll send Luigi and the boys round. --Chris Russell

so i would definetly recomend this game to anybody who owns a ps2 and to those who are fans of the series you will find nothing but happiness with this game


This Game is the reason to buy a Playstation 2   December 4, 2001
37 out of 41 found this review helpful

Free from prison after a breakout job on transit and away you go stealing the first car you see. With the police behind, you need to be fast to get to the safe house. From here on in it's up to you. Roam around the streets of Liberty City causing chaos everywhere you go. This game is an amazing world of crime and corruption. The story line is very interesting and can change depending on who you do missions for. You start off with the Italian Mafia in Portland which is the industrial part of Liberty City. There's loads to keep you busy even if you want a break from full missions including Taxi Driver, Fire Man, Ambulance Driver and even Vigilante. These missions can be easily started by simply stealing the type of car or truck required eg. Cab or Fire truck etc. Doing these missions earn you cash which you can proceed to spend in the local Gun Shop, although every cop car stolen provides a shot gun and there's plenty of gangsters carrying guns to kill. The arsenal includes handgun, shotgun, Uzi, M16, Rocket launcher, grenades, Flamethrower and much more.

The whole city is broken up into 3 different sections Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. Each with own level of class Portland being the poor and Shorside Vale being very Rich and where there's money there's nice cars. Travelling from one part of the city to another is very well designed and realistic. you can use one of the bridges or maybe travel by subway or perhaps the underground car tunnel or if you don't get sea sick why not steal a boat and drive across the sea. Your wanted level also changes depending on how dangerous you are. The levels are set by stars 6 in all. 1 star and you'll have a few cops running after you, 2 and they'll shoot at you on site, 3 and the police helicopter will be over head, 4 and the swat teams gets called out, 5 you better get running the FBI are coming and 6 well you must be some dangerous person because here comes the army in their tanks and if your really good you might be able to steal one and then they'll have a hard job stopping you then. You can even use the tank to shoot other cars or trucks.

This game is by far one of the best I've ever played and the life span is endless. I'm sure you will be playing this game until they bring out GTA4. The graphics are amazing the sound is brill with radio stations selectable in every car from Hip Hop to Classical and Dub to Dance. The playability is top notch and to be honest I really have very little to fault this game, but the one thing that I was disappointed with was when I reached the Airport and stole a plane I realised the wings where clipped but I think this has been done for reasons which everyone can understand. Who knows maybe they'll add it back in for the next realise.

Here's hoping....


A classic in the making   October 26, 2001
34 out of 39 found this review helpful

This game has earnt its 18 certificate alright. Within minutes of playing this game my kill quota read at 30 something people run over and one guy bludgeoned to death by a baseball bat.
Lets face it, its this thats going to sell this game by the truckload, but there's also a lot of new things I wasn't expecting from GTA3.
Upon stealing police cars, ambulances, taxis or fire trucks, you can earn a bit of extra cash by killing criminals, driving people to hospital or getting fares as a cabbie, the voice acting and animation of cutscenes is brilliant, the makers really have put 110% into this game. Some have warned of slow-down during intense amounts of on-screen action, though I haven't seen this yet.

In short, buy this game, buy it right now. You cannot justify the price of your PS2 without it.

The only bad thing about this game is that when one idiot goes out into the world and blames a crime he/she committed on this game, public outcry hinders games like this being published, so I give this message:
This game is an 18, meaning at 18 you are deemed sensible and unimpressionable to extreme content.
If you don't understand that when the power goes off, thats the end of it, dont buy this game, because you are stopping good games like being produced.


The greatest on the ps2 so far...... yes its here GTA3   November 5, 2001
32 out of 36 found this review helpful

The previous two games in the series were classics on the ps, causing outrage in some papers. The games were a new breed, totally original! The major draw back of its predecessors was the 2D view from above, which this game totally revamps with amazing 3D graphics of a huge city. Nothings is lacking in this game, from an outstanding storyline to fantastic criminal realism! Just to be able to walk around the city and see the goings on off muggers and gang fights leaves you standing in awe of this beautiful game. The weapons on offer supply you with many ways to murder innocent bystanders, or members of the mafia or of cause the Columbian drug lords! The effects of picking off an enemy from the top of a building with the sniper rifle is superb, and gives a sense of pride in committing a crime, never seen before in a game! All of this and still I have not mentioned the cars, which supply the main focus of the game, which most of the missions are based around. The mechanics of the cars is amazing, each car different to the next, every one including emergency service vehicles are available for you to steal and take for a ride. When getting in one of these vehicles you are the given the choice of taking on the challenges in the chosen emergency vehicle. Such as putting out fires saving lives or catching criminals. The most amusing being the crazy taxi style challenge, which awards you with money, used for weapon purchasing. Now getting onto the missions which the game I based. Throughout the game you are required to meet with gang bosses and complete their tasks, whether they be killing a grass or winning a street race to up your status with the gangs! There are 63 missions in all some taking many goes to complete, which adds to the overall amount of game play you will get from this game. To put it blunt this game is amazing!! You would be a fool to miss out, all of the stated above makes this game top class, but there is still much more, such as the drive by shootings, crazy car stunts and of course the police chases including helicopters and the army!! A game every playstation 2 owner will play and everyone else dream!! Do you really want to miss out??


GTA 3   September 9, 2001
aceventura1234@hotmail.com (Leicester, England)
19 out of 55 found this review helpful

This game is soooooooo much better than the first two because the graphics are amazing and its actually 3D unlike the rest of which you have a satelite view now its in 1st person so you can play the game just as if its real life if you enjoyed the rest of the GTA games i strongly recommend this game to you!