59 out of 59 people found this review helpful.
Grand Theft Auto 3: Wow. Leibermann Would REALLY Hate This Game.
Date of Review: Nov 26, 2001
The Bottom Line: Fun on so many different levels. If you don't hate driving games, I'd recommend this to you.
For those of you who have never played a "Grand Theft Auto" title, the concept is really as simple as it sounds. You walk around, pull people out of their cars, and get cash.
The real fun comes in the high speed chases with the cops that inevitably occur. Because, let's face it. Every time you see a chase on TV you're rooting for the guy to get away, kind of like the guy who looks like he's just about to break a kick return for a TD, or more applicably, the guy who runs on the field and is evading the security guards.
GTA gave you the chance to be that guy without the whole getting shot/going to jail downside. GTA3 gives you the opportunity to be that guy in 3D.
If you've loved Crazy Taxi, you will really dig this game. There are tons of mini games packed into the bigger game plot. You need to earn money for weapons. How to best solve this conundrum?
You can become a hard working member of society, by stealing a taxi cab, and earning fares by picking up and dropping off passengers. Steal an ambulance, and help the sick. Steal a fire truck and put out car fires. Or, steal a cop car, and take out the criminals.
Too much hard work? Well, you can always beat the money out of passersby on the street, or sell stolen cars.
Alternately, you could follow the mission path and gain cash that way.
Not enough games incorporate good mini games anymore. So, I'm thankful Rockstar Games found it fit to cram as much as they could into this game.
The basic plot has getting sold out by your ex-flame during a robbery. She straight blasts you, and leaves you to get picked up by the PO-leece.
Anyway, after the five-0 pick you up, a couple guys organize a break out of the wagon you're in. You survive the carnage, and end up starting to work for the boss of the guy you help save.
From there, it's up to you. You can run a bunch of jobs for him, and advance the story along, or you can justroll around the city earning cash, and getting a quick thrill out of racing by the cops and pulling off jumps and stunts in various locations around the town.
Various locations will have different cars you can take. When you start out you can take a couple rot hods, some fish trucks, taxis, etc. Later on, you'll find a variety of SUVs, pick-up trucks, minivans, etc. They all have their unique handling capabilities.
The fish wagon is prone to flipping over, while the police cruiser is a quick and nimble little vehicle with incredible speed and cornering.
If your car flips over, you make a run for it. Because in GTA3, just like in the A-Team, any time a car filps over, you know it's going to blow up. Blowing up equals you going to the hospital. Don't drive your car into the water either. Water equals death in the video game world, too.
There's so much to do with this simple concept of a game, it's almost unbelieveable. Good for quick action, and deep enough for you to sit at for hours. Gather a bunch of friends around the PS2, and as long as you don't botch too horribly, everyone should be fairly amused.
I recommend as a buy, although, if driving games aren't your thing, try it first before taking the plunge.
