One of the true gaming greats (Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2)
Date:	05/09/09 (2 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb plot and gameplay

Disadvantages: None

It simply fascinates me how far the Grand Theft Auto series has come - from the crudely made, but incredibly fun original on the PlayStation, where you gained points for committing numerous acts of murder and mayhem - to the 3D wonder that began with Grand Theft Auto 3, and has seen through numerous sequels, most recently including the fourth game.

With the advantage of newer technology, the dodgy "blimp cam" from the first set of games has been replaced with a fully realised 3D world, emphasising just how robustly designed and huge this living, breathing world is. Liberty City is surely one of the best engineered and densely packed worlds ever created in a video game, and you play a nameless thug recently double crossed by an associate. You want to get revenge, so you get to know some of the local mobsters and drug dealers, and earn their trust by performing various crazy missions for them, from simple assassinations to insane set pieces such as having to drive a truck rigged with C4 into a fish factory and letting it send mackerel sky high!

The missions are only a small slice of the cake, though, and I know many people who haven't even touched the missions despite owning the games for years - the free-roaming element is extremely impressive, and the fact that there's not too much pop-in is astounding. There are also numerous extra things to do, such as pick up hookers, become a cab driver, and even steal a fire truck and perform fire missions! Of course, what everyone really loves doing, though, is nicking a police car and starting a high speed chase, and I must admit to wasting many hours away from the story mode doing this.

With an astounding level of extras, from the hilarious radio stations, to the immense missions, this is a game of mind blowing scope, and one that began a pop culture phenomenon that still reigns today. Simply one of the best games ever made.

Summary: Simply superb