Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Game Info

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Developer: Rockstar Leeds

Platform:  PSP

Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 24, 2005

Intro: 

As the credits roll, comic book-style pictures of tough-looking characters play across the screen, most of them carrying guns.  Tony is out and Mr. Leone tells Tony that he's family and that he will take care of him.  Tony gets in the car and heads out for the safe house.

Getting Going:

As in all of the GTA's, gameplay begins when the player hits triangle and gets into the car.  As you drive away, information pops up onto the screen, although, especially on a PSP, the small writing is difficult to read while you are doing other things.  In this case, you are supposed to be driving, but the mini tutorial is written, not spoken.

Fun:

For me, the physics problems and unempowering mission style precludes fun. 

Visuals:

The graphics are basically improved in this GTA version over previous ones that I've played.  Crashes create smoke and obvious damage and elicit barks about ruining the vehicle.  Weather, such as rain, is a new addition in this game over previous iterations.  Vehicles move at a snail's pace, which is irritating. Females no longer move in an exaggerated swagger, but in a more normal matter now.  The vehicles are actually pretty boring in this version of the series, offering little that is enticing to steal, at least during early play.

Sound:

Rain does sound like rain and there is plenty of traffic noise, although the horns seem overdone.  Barks are a bit too repetitive.  The music stations leave a lot to be desired and, in the time that I played, offered no recognizable songs.

Intelligence:

The first time I hit a police car head on, it seemed to go unnoticed.  The second time, however, I was chased by the police, but able to elude them.  Vehicles, such as mopeds, keep running when you get off of them.  People run right in front of you.  Cars turn right into your lane,  causing you to hit them.  In some cases, there are cars causing traffic jams because they are essentially causing accidents with other non-player cars.  I didn't even die when I was hit by a car on a motorcycle, leaving me sprawled on the road in front of other moving vehicles!

Immersion:

I can understand how some players may feel very immersed in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. There are a lot of offerings in the game, giving players a seemingly endless supply of things to do.  The missions draw you through the game, whether you do all of the side items or not.

Rewards/Punishments and Win/Lose States:

When you get "wasted" you are taken to the nearest hospital. You will lose all of your weapons and be charged for health care.  You will also lose your progress in the mission.   Taxi missions are available and can earn the player extra money, while completing regular missions earn money on their own.  Other job missions, such as car salesman, are offered, giving the player opportunities to earn extra cash fast.  Stores, such as AmmuNation, are spread throughout the map for purchases with earned cash.  Also available are pickups for health, armor and police evasion.  If you fail a mission, you can't skip the instructions/video when going back into it.  

Camera: 

Liberty City Stories sees an improvement in camera angles via the select button.  There is also a backward view which is useful for backing up the vehicle. 

Controls:

The physics don't seem to be any better in this iteration of the GTA franchise.  It is still difficult to drive the cars or even to steer the PC in the direction you want to go.  Instead of walking, or driving, in a straight line, the PC seems to move through the game in a rather zig-zag pattern. 

Ideas:

Grand Theft Auto is a popular franchise, but the mechanics aren't solid.  It succeeds in creating a sandbox style offering players many ways to play.  This empowers the player even though the player character is not empowered.  I think that it's certainly possible to make a great sandbox game with solid core gameplay and great mechanics.  Grand Theft Auto simply fails to provide this.

Memory:

If it weren't for the DP Challenge, I wouldn't play GTA.  It seems to me that controversy breeds popularity.  Grand Theft Auto may not be ethical game design, but it's hardly the most violent game I've ever played.  What it lacks in great design, it more than makes up for in player options.