Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Grand Theft Auto III

Written by Omer Ali on August 30, 2001

First Impressions: Calling all gangstah's, Let the car jackin' begin.

There's just something so enthralling about being able to jack a car and get away with it. Crime is just so damn addictive; whoever said УCrime doesn't payФ was a crackhead. The addictive nature of crime was clearly seen by the boys and girls down at Rockstar games, who already have a wide array of experience in crime based games. The developer DMA will once again bring us criminals a great mix of car jacking, shoot Сem up, ass cappin' action. I love the smell of jacked car engines in the morning.

The basic premise of the game is not to jack the most amount of cars but rather, like its predecessors, become the best criminal you can be and take out anyone or thing that gets in your way. At first you start off as a freelance criminal running around town and committing various illegal acts for an array of gangs and crime bosses. In Grand Theft Auto 3 (GTA3) you'll have to be craftier then your cohorts to take over Liberty City, the setting in which all your criminal actions will occur. On your way to the top you'll have to deceive, outsmart, and betray the very people you'll be working with. For example taking out a few members of a gang will get you a whole lotta brownie points with a rival gang, but if you're ever found in the betrayed gangs territory be prepared for some prompt ass kickin'. The criminal acts range from dealing narcotics, kidnapping, performing hits, and of course jacking cars. Damn this game just keeps getting better and better.

GTA3's system is very easy to use and actually is very much the same as the previous two titles. The player will be able to take new jobs whenever he or she sees fit. This open-ended system means that if one particular job is causing you some difficulty you can easily pick up a next, less difficult, job to hone your skills. Depending on the job and its location you'll have to pick your car accordingly. There are 45 automobiles that range from ice cream trucks to ambulances, and all 45 cars can be jacked. The most notable change to the GTA series is the move from a birds-eye perspective to a fully rendered 3D world. The new 3D world will add an entirely new depth to this already captivating series. The new GTA3 world will have three distinct locations, downtown, industrial, and suburban. Each locale will have its own dynamics and a real-time schedule. For example all the thugs and gangsters come out at night, while during the day in suburbia you can find children playing in the streets. Knowing when to make your move for your job will be a determining factor to your success.

GTA3 will be mixing a wide array of music to suit its various city cultures. The music will be composed of house (its about freekin' time), techno (Yeah baby), hip-hop (this should be a staple music for all games), reggae (not a big fan), and rock (no particular view point). All these different music genres will definitely make the game move faster and smoother.