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GAME ON!
By Ian Bonds
Game On! *EXTRA*
Video Games 101 - Grand Theft Auto Welcome once again to our special Game On! Feature look at a landmark game series. This time out, we’re taking a gander at that favorite target of parent groups and senators, Grand Theft Auto. From it’s humble beginnings on the PC and PSOne, to it’s reign of glory (and terror) on the current generation’s platforms, the game has offered up one simple thing to keep gamers coming back…and no, violence isn’t it. The one thing that revolutionized the series has always been it’s open environments and it’s freedom to do…well, just about everything (well, everything immoral, at least). But it hasn’t always been pretty. This week, we’re going to look at every chapter in the car jacking, pedestrian splattering, mob killing saga.
GRAND THEFT AUTO – 1998 – PC, PSONE; - 1999 – GAMEBOY COLOR
For senators on the lookout for a scapegoat on which to blame the tainting of young children’s minds, there were two high-profile targets; movies, and video games. More than any other source, video games took most of the heat, with MORTAKL KOMBAT and GRAND THEFT AUTO leading the charge (or charges, as it were) as examples of violence taken to extremes. In 1998, PC gamers, and later PSOne fans, experienced GTAs free-roaming environments, vast cityscapes, and ability to drive any vehicle they saw on the road. Parent groups saw another game where mayhem, chaos and bloodshed were how you scored points.
And, in a way, that’s true. For those only familiar with the current generation versions of the series, the original GTA was a vastly different being to it's later entries in the series, from a design standpoint anyway. You begun the game as one of five selectable (and ultimately similar) hoods in your quest to fulfil your “Made Man” duties to the mob and carry out hits, pick up criminals, shut down rivals, and own the city. You had a series of missions dolled out in three different cities; Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas (yes, all three were in one game, not nearly the size they are now). Complete each task and you’re awarded points. Cause carnage along the way (be it by running over a pedestrian, whacking a cop, or just jacking a car from an innocent) awarded you more points. Simple evil fun.
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The game certainly broke ground with its violence, but what kept the gamers attention was how freeing the landscape was. Sure, you could only advance to the next two cities by completing all the missions in the first, but the cities themselves were so massive in scope, you could run around them all day without even touching the missions, taking any car you saw for a “test drive”. The game’s audio was also a standout. While there weren’t many voiceovers for the various missions you were given, each pedestrian commented on the way you drove or how you interacted with them, must to parent’s dismay (as there were many expletives peppering the dialogue). Also, the game’s music, which varied from car to car, depending on the previous driver’s radio station preferences, was deep and diverse. Certainly something that has stuck with the game since it’s inception.
Sadly, the one thing that hampered the idealistic gameplay was the game’s control. We’ve come a long way from the series’ initial iteration. Here, the action in vehicles and on foot remained the same. Press a button to move forward, another to go back, whether you’re in a car or not. Pressing up on the d-pad did nothing, all it was used for was some slight steering (both on foot and off), and until you got the hang of hitting a button to reverse your direction, it was quite cumbersome. The cars may all have handled differently, but it took some time to figure out just how to make even one move the way you wanted without winding up hitting four or five trees and pedestrians. Add to that the dated graphics (even for 1998), a few bugging instances (park to close to a building and the car becomes unusable for some reason) and you had a game that only the die-hard would even attempt. Still, once you were able to overlook those shortcomings, you would find a rather deep and rich game, with many interesting twists and fun missions.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO: LONDON 1969/GRAND THEFT AUTO: DIRECTOR’S CUT – 1999 – PC, PSONE
The following year, Rockstar issued the very first (and, I think, very last) mission pack for a PSOne game. GTA: LONDON 1969 needed a copy of the first GTA to play. You simply inserted the mission pack disc, waited for the prompt to insert the original disc, made the switch, the switched the discs again in order to play the new one. Sure, it sounds lame (especially with PC gamers, who simply just install the expansion within the pre-existing game) but for PSOne owners, it was something new and exciting. Well, new anyway.
If you already owned GTA, this wasn’t a problem, and if you didn’t, they released the two games together in a value-priced two pack titled GRAND THEFT AUTO: DIRECTOR’S CUT, though the title was a bit misleading, as the original game featured no new missions or cut-scenes, no bug-fixes, just the inclusion of the mission pack second disc.
Once again, you chose one of four miscreants with which to wreak your mayhem, and the controls also remained the same; though honestly, one should have expected as much since it was merely an add-on. The humor of the series really began to shine here, however, with various DJs on the radio, as well as the different characters you met throughout missions. Everything looked and felt as though it belonged in the era of swingers and swindlers throughout the London Underground, and the cars seemed to match the time…well, as much as the graphics would allow. Since we’ve spent so much time with the three cities of the original GTA game throughout it’s various current generation games, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next-gen GTA visited the foggy land across the pond.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO 2 – 1999 – PC, PSONE; - 2000 – DREAMCAST, GAMEBOY COLOR
For the game’s sequel, Rockstar decided to forgo the different cities and focus more on the gangs themselves to divide the territories of the GTA world, and as such, turf wars became the main goal for the next chapter. Respect was the name of the game here. As you did jobs for one gang, it caused an uproar within another, and you could play off the factions’ fights with each other, even sitting back and watching wars break out among rivals. Gain respect with one gang, and use it to fuel your ferocity with another, only to turn on that initial gang and join forces with the third. While this added a new element to the gameplay as a whole, the game’s open-ended environments and different vehicles to choose from remained the same.
Sadly, so did the control. While many consider GTA2 to be more like another add-on rather than a true sequel, the game did change a few things around, such as the inclusion of more voice-work, and odd live-action cut scenes peppering the action. Still, the main gameplay focus of a free-roaming, fully functional city in which you were the be-all bad ass remained the main draw of the title, and evidence of where the series would go from here was hinted at throughout the title. For current fans of the series, you need only look at these first three games to realize many of the ideas and tricks of the newer games aren’t really all that new after all…just better looking and better playing. Oddly enough, GTA2 is the only title in the series to have a rating lower than M (it’s still the only game in the series to have received a T for Teen rating, other than the original game’s Gameboy port).
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO III – 2001 – PS2; - 2002 – PC
With the series’ move to PS2 and to the world of 3D came many other things. Firstly, a greater sense of control and scope of the land around you. The storage space of a PS2 DVD was ideal for holding not only the huge living environment of a seedy city such as Liberty City, but also for the countless hours of voice work for the cut-scenes, numerous side missions, and varied radio stations full of music. What began as an idea for a free-roaming environment on the PC and PSOne was now a fully realized world on the PS2, and gamers ate it up.
This time around, you entered the gangland world as a no name mute, fresh from getting double-crossed by his girl in a heist gone wrong. As you progressed through the three islands of Liberty City (which here, seemed to be a weird hybrid of New York and Chicago) you grew from low level thug to all around Made Man and bad ass. You acquired cars and prestige, and each mission was a manifestation of Mafia machismo…from gun running to rubbing out your rivals, running protection to just running from the cops, the game stretched the mobster mentality of gamers to places it had never been before. There were games that had elements of GTA, but never had they been put in one place so well and so wonderfully.
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Once again, the free-roaming environment was the game’s main draw, and once again, it was overlooked as it’s freedom for violence took center stage. Now, it was more realistic, and even more high profile with the system’s cutting edge graphics and technology.
All the controversy certainly didn’t hurt the title, however, as it became one of the system’s top selling titles of all time. And with good reason too. The game’s script was compelling and rivaled many of Hollywood's top projects in the genre (and even featured some famous voice talent as some of the game’s characters). The freedom was in the chaos and the scope of the city, but the fun was in completing all the missions and becoming one of the underworld’s top thugs.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO COLLECTOR’S EDITION – 2002 – PSONE
Since GTAIII was breaking records right and left on the PS2, Rockstar saw fit to re-release the original three games in a three disc collector’s pack for the PSOne. No extras were included, save for a few advertisements for the next upcoming chapter in the series.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY – 2002 – PS2; - 2003 – PC
My original review.
That title was VICE CITY. Once again, Rockstar took a city from the original game and added a new generation touch. This time around, they decided to go a bit retro by setting the game in the mid-eighties. With this came many features which have now become standard with the series, such as it’s inclusion of more recognizable voice talent, larger and more interactive environments, as well as it’s acquisition of licensed songs for the game’s soundtrack.
Vice City, which resembled Miami, was a teeming living city, even larger than GTAIIIs Liberty City. There were more buildings and cars to interact with, and you could even buy property and own houses, offering you more places to save, or just hideout until the heat died down. Entering buildings was now possible, which before you could only do via a cut scene, never interacting with your environments. Now, the game seemed even more real. The game also saw the return of motorcycles, which certainly fit the feel of the 80s theme, but also opened up a few new ways for travel as well as vehicular mayhem.
Essentially a video game version of the movie SCARFACE, gamers took on the role of Tommy Vercetti, a middleman in the Mafia who just got out of jail in Liberty City. Before being allowed back on the main mob’s payroll, he had to take care of business in Vice City. After a drug job gone badly, Tommy tries to
regain his status as number one thug, and settle his debt to the mob. In the process, you’ll cross numerous rivals and the typically excellent script lays out all the action beautifully. For many, this is still their favorite of the series.
The music, the setting, and even some missions mirror the movie SCARFACE amazingly, and it’s very obvious the developers looked to that film for a point of reference. What’s even more striking, however, is how the game ties into the series of the games as a whole. A few characters from VICE CITY intermingle with their older versions in GTAIII, and what has happened in GTAIII is only begun by seeds set in VICE CITY…another feature of the games that will continue through their next iterations, and one fans love seeing.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO: DOUBLE PACK – 2003 – PS2, XBOX
With the popularity of the series rising higher than before with VICE CITY breaking the previous games’ marks, it was only natural that the games finally make it’s debut on the Xbox system. Featuring smoother graphics, fewer load times, and a brand new control scheme built for the Xbox controller, GTAIII and VICE CITY were offered in a two pack with exclusive packaging for folks who hadn’t played the PS2 version. The double pack was also released on the PS2, as both games had reached GREATEST HITS status, and offered the three PS2 owners out there who hadn’t played them an opportunity to get them together as well.
GRAND THEFT AUTO – 2004 – GAMEBOY ADVANCE
With a move that many didn’t even see coming, Rockstar released a brand new GTA adventure for the Nintendo handheld, rather than a port of a previous console version. Often referred to as GRAND THEFT AUTO ADVANCE, this title returns gamers to Liberty City as Mike, a Made Man who wants out of the biz, only to have all his money stolen and his best friend offed in the process. Of course, he has to get even, and sets about his task the only way he knows how…by causing mass amounts of carnage and chaos throughout the city.
Many characters from GTAIII make an appearance (such as 8-Ball and Paulie), though it’s not really certain when in the GTA timeline this game takes place. The game also takes a retro turn, not only returning to the setting from GTAIII, but also assuming the top-down graphical view from the first two GTA titles. Thankfully, the control is much improved here, and the processing power of the GBA handles things much better, even throwing in a few 3D elements to the usual stagnant 2D gameplay.
While certainly not he best in the series, it is one that fans should check out if they haven’t played it before, as there are many great missions and quests on Mike’s road to retribution. It’s also impressive to note how well the size of Liberty City from the PS2 translates to the tiny handheld screen, even if the perspective is changed a bit.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS – 2004 – PS2; - 2005 – XBOX, PC
My original review.
The GBA version of GTA made have gotten lost in the release shuffle however, due to being issued on the same day as the series’ most ambitious title to date, SAN ANDREAS. Thrusting players into the early 90s, you took on the role of Carl “CJ” Johnson, returning home from Liberty City to find his mother murdered and his gang falling to pieces. Taking the same gameplay style from the two previous titles and expanding on it exponentially, SAN ANDREAS is the largest title in the GTA series to date.
For starters, San Andreas, another name from the first game in the series, is not just a city. It’s a state. Made up of three smaller cities (though each is roughly the size of Vice City) including Los Santos (an imitation of Los Angeles during the 90s), San Feirro (a San Francisco doppelganger) and Las Venturas (the GTA version of Las Vegas), San Andreas is the biggest and most realistic game world ever for the series, and probably for most games out there.
New to the series are even more character-centric attributes, such as the ability to change your appearance with clothes, haircuts, weight-loss and muscle mass. These pseudo-RPG elements added a whole new realm to the gameplay, and immersed players as never before. Add to that the same style of Hollywood talent, exceptional storytelling skills and a killer licensed soundtrack to fit the era, and you had a Game-of-the-Year contender that no one could deny. The environments were larger than ever, the mayhem was new and improved (a better targeting system, for one), and the new version of gang life added a depth to San Andreas that was missing from previous titles. Even simple tasks as eating food or working out shaped not only your appearance, but also how others perceived, or even respected you.
The game once again found itself tying into the two previous titles in the series, not only with CJs connections with Liberty City, but also with many characters from III and VICE CITY spread throughout. We even learn the name of our mysterious mute ne’er-do-well from III, and find out just who and how double-crossed him. There are several other nods to fans of the series, but this one ties the storylines of the three games together nicely.
From gambling to sky diving, dancing and dating to bicycling and tricking out lowriders, the game was a gangland dream made real by every day activities. Once again, controversy nipped at Rockstar’s heels, however, as a hidden gameplay mode, one never meant to be released, was found hidden among layers of code in the game. This mode, dubbed “Hot Coffee” due to it’s dubious invitation for the beverage before engaging the player in a mini game of coitus, sent shockwaves throughout groups that deem video games as immoral, and added fuel to their fire. The game’s initial rating of M was dropped for AO, despite the fact that the hidden content was A) not easily accessible unless you had the PC version and B) wasn’t really all that explicit as far as graphical content, despite being more interactive than other games with similar content. Still, one couldn’t deny that the controversy only helped the game reach legendary status, among gamers and detractors alike.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS 2ND EDITION – 2005 – XBOX, PC/GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAND ANDREAS SPECIAL EDITION – 2005 – PS2
In response to the “Hot Coffee” controversy, Rockstar re-released the game with it wholly removed from the code. The PS2 version also including a bonus DVD featuring “The Introduction”: a short half hour movie prequel to the game that sets up the story of SAN ANDREAS, and was previously only available with the 2 disc soundtrack from the game. Also included is the movie SUNDAY DRIVER, on LA’s lowrider scene. Beyond that, the version of the game included is essentially the same, retaining its former M rating.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: THE TRILOGY – 2005 – XBOX
On that same day, Xbox fans who wished for a collection of all three current generation GTA games got their wish in the form of GTA: THE TRILOGY. Featuring the three previously released titles and no extras (the version of SAN ANDREAS being the re-edited 2nd edition) this was merely for gamers who didn’t have the titles already, and was yet another collection for those gamers who wanted to get all the titles at once.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: LIBERTY CITY STORIES – 2005 – PSP
All of this controversy and chaos comes to a head in the brand new title in the series. GRAND THEFT AUTO: LIBERTY CITY STORIES, out now for the PSP handheld system is probably the most impressive handheld game ever, one on fitting in well with the scope and size, and not to mention everything else, that the series is known for.
For starters, let it be known: this is GTA as most know it. Free roaming, all encompassing huge 3D interactive environments. Taking place three years prior to the events in GTAIII, players take on the role of one of it’s key players, Toni Cipriani as he makes his way back into the good standings of the mob (and his mother) in Liberty City. Everything fans know and love from the series is here: the cars (and bikes!), the buildings, the missions, the people…it’s as if you never left the burg in the first place.
If you’re in anyway familiar with GTAIII, the game looks just about the same, just three years younger. That means certain places are under different management, and still others just aren’t built (such as bridges needing completion, to get you to the other islands). Still, everything else remains the same, and in no time you’ll be tooling around town in your newly stolen ride, checking out on what came before. For those keeping score, you may remember that bikes weren’t available in the original GTAIII, but three years ago in the timeline of GTA: LCS, they’re in abundance. Well, just check out a cool little article in the game’s
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manual (er, I mean, local newspaper) for the full story on a waging war by locals to get them off the streets. It’s this kind of attention to detail that keep fans coming back and keep the games strongly set in a realistic world.
The game translates very well to the handheld system, and only has a few drawbacks as far as control. Firstly, with no second analog stick, camera movement is limited. Thankfully, the developers at Rockstar kept everything moving smoothly with the movement of your character, and even added a look feature with the L-trigger, so you can check out your surroundings if need be. Also, the targeting takes a bit of a hit on this pocket version, as moving and shooting isn’t really possible. Still, this is a small qualm when given the fact that you have such a huge game to contend with.
The missions are made out to be a perfect fir for gaming on the go, with one tiny exception: often, once you finish the task, you have to go all the way to the other side of town where your safe house is to save. Still, the mission length is just right, and fans will feel right at home with the storyline. While not as grandiose as SAN ANDREAS (or even VICE CITY) it’s still one that fits into the saga well.
One of the newest features custom made for the handheld is the wireless multiplayer. Up to six gamers can compete in a variety of GTA-style tasks across the huge landscape of the islands of Liberty City. Protecting a fleet of limos, acquiring the one tank on the island, typical deathmatch and more add a nice variety to the normal single-player action. There’s also the ability to utilize your own song playlist from your PSP memory stick, but you first have to download the upgrade from Rockstar’s website to do so.
The story is once again told through well acted and rendered cut-scenes, though no Hollywood voice talent is recruited this time around. Tony himself, voiced by Michael Madsen in GTAIII is now done by a rather well done sound alike. Still, the unique and hilarious radio stations all return, as does the bizarre callers and songs styles that made the original game such a hit.
All in all, this is the game the PSP needed. Just as GTAIII sold PS2s, this title will finally get those PSPs flying off the shelves. And it’s worth every penny, too, just as the titles that came before it. Excellent action, story telling and the ability to jack and drive any car to any location in the game is and always will be GTAs main selling point. Sure, the violence is there too, but what better way to unleash it than in a fully realized video game world. You wouldn’t want to do it in reality, would you?
One Gamer’s Opinion:
And thus, we end another video game history lesson. Stay tuned, gaming fans, for our look at the series, CASTLEVANIA, including its newest title, CURSE OF DARKNESS.
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