As is often the case with very early games in a popular series, I respect GTA III for everything it did for the franchise. It's very clear how and why this game was revolutionary for Rockstar, Grand Theft Auto, and gaming in general. It's also astounding just how much freedom this game gives you to pass missions in any way you want, something that is sorely missing from the heavily scripted nature of Rockstar's later releases. The soundtrack, while understandably barebones in comparison to later GTA games, is still pretty good; I can forgive it entirely just because it includes Paul Engemann's 'Scarface', a fantastic song that fit so perfectly with the tone of this game. Also the voice cast for this game is surprisingly rock solid, the familiar voices of Michael Madsen, Michael Rapaport and Kyle Machlachlan in particular lend so much personality to this instalment.
Unfortunately that's about where it ends for this game, as this experience truly highlights just how spoiled players are these days, considering what GTA III had to work with. The camera is almost impossible to move whilst the player is moving which leads to many frustrating moments of very restricted movement and turning. Aiming and shooting is nigh impossible unless you're practically nose to nose with the subject you're trying to kill. The Wanted system is also bizarre, leaving very little freedom to escape the cops in organic ways, and an over reliance on pay'n'sprays - which by the way, don't even have a marker on the mini map during many missions. So unless you know the map of Liberty City by heart (and why wouldn't you, when playing GTA III for the very first bleeding time) they become impossible to find.
Oh yeah that's another thing, there is literally no pause menu map like in every other Rockstar game; sure there's a pullout map in the physical game box, but have you seen that thing? Not only is it not top down, (like literally every map in existence should be), for some unknown reason, but also it is covered in graphics that just make it all the more confusing for a first time player. I'm not going to study this mess of a physical map just to find a pay'n'spray that should be marked on the in-game mini map.
There is a lot to love and respect about Grand Theft Auto III - unfortunately, when you take all of it's far, far superior younger siblings into account, there are far too many frustrations that come with it. This makes it by default, easily the worst 3D era Grand Theft Auto.
Also fun fact: the cars on this game are made of papier-mâché.
Unfortunately that's about where it ends for this game, as this experience truly highlights just how spoiled players are these days, considering what GTA III had to work with. The camera is almost impossible to move whilst the player is moving which leads to many frustrating moments of very restricted movement and turning. Aiming and shooting is nigh impossible unless you're practically nose to nose with the subject you're trying to kill. The Wanted system is also bizarre, leaving very little freedom to escape the cops in organic ways, and an over reliance on pay'n'sprays - which by the way, don't even have a marker on the mini map during many missions. So unless you know the map of Liberty City by heart (and why wouldn't you, when playing GTA III for the very first bleeding time) they become impossible to find.
Oh yeah that's another thing, there is literally no pause menu map like in every other Rockstar game; sure there's a pullout map in the physical game box, but have you seen that thing? Not only is it not top down, (like literally every map in existence should be), for some unknown reason, but also it is covered in graphics that just make it all the more confusing for a first time player. I'm not going to study this mess of a physical map just to find a pay'n'spray that should be marked on the in-game mini map.
There is a lot to love and respect about Grand Theft Auto III - unfortunately, when you take all of it's far, far superior younger siblings into account, there are far too many frustrations that come with it. This makes it by default, easily the worst 3D era Grand Theft Auto.
Also fun fact: the cars on this game are made of papier-mâché.
2 Comments
armani, I couldn't agree more, it was one of the things that led me to shelve the game, trying to complete time trial missions is near impossible when you're swapping cars every 30 seconds, drove me insane!
armani
2 years ago