I played both GTA 3 and Vice City on my OG Xbox as recently as this past Fall and they both hold up. The shooting is a little dicey, but the core games are still compelling. The design is far from flawless, but it's also interesting to see what "open world" meant when it was new. It's a bit too easy to see through the seems, like Rockstar's choices for everything from street layout to mission placement was predictable. But it also gave the games a certain coherence that is rarer these
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Are the PS2 GTAs worth playing today?
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Where did you hear this because it's not even remotely close to true. GTA3 was a relatively large team for its time, easily 30+ core people outside of QA & any external production at Rockstar.
They all have unique atmospheres and settings. Make sure you play III and VC on PC since the controls are a lot better. San Andreas might have aged a bit writing wise since that aspect of gaming has come a long way since but its truly and epic game with an excellent cast to go with.
San Andreas I'd suggest on console. The XBOX port is my choice especially on an SDTV played on the 360 and also has the best controls of any version. The PS2 version also has some nice lighting that are not in any other version and runs really well on the PS3 (even better as the loading and pop-in are significantly reduced).
San Andreas I'd suggest on console. The XBOX port is my choice especially on an SDTV played on the 360 and also has the best controls of any version. The PS2 version also has some nice lighting that are not in any other version and runs really well on the PS3 (even better as the loading and pop-in are significantly reduced).
VC was also developed in less than a year, amazing feat but also makes sense as to how much better SA turned out to be from having two full years.
Play them on PC. Get a nice pad like DS4 or 360 (wired) or xbox one controller and enjoy the ride. The radio stations and ads make the series great. Oh and free aiming is a thousand times better than the auto aim/box system. What I do is drive using my controller then when i'm on foot i use WASD and mouse to shoot.
ShirAhava
Plays with kids toys, in the adult gaming world
Vice City and SA are great.
I never liked GTA III....when I got GTA III what I expected was what Vice City turned out to be but everything was so empty and the whole game felt unfinished and tech demoish
Outside of 'wow 3d space' GTA 2 is a much better game by far
I never liked GTA III....when I got GTA III what I expected was what Vice City turned out to be but everything was so empty and the whole game felt unfinished and tech demoish
Outside of 'wow 3d space' GTA 2 is a much better game by far
Not much thought was given to GTA III's sandbox aspects outside of the missions. Really the only thing to do is find sweet jumps and collect the hidden packages.
That's why people were bored enough to fly the Dodo plane to the secret island they used for the opening cutscene.
I disagree, based purely on driving in GTA 1 and 2 being absolutely miserable. You can't see where you're going and crash into shit all the time. You never get a good feel for the layout of the city, like you do in the 3D ones.
Driving in GTA III was actually fun, therefore it was automatically a massive step up for the series.
FloweryMarston
Member
what? just dma design alone was 50+ people man. GTA III was a massive undertaking, you could say that the mind of a dozen or so people that made GTA III the success that it is today (the housers, aaron garbut, leslie benzies and others), are still the ones that make rockstar the great company that it is today. and these 1000+ numbers include actors, pedestrian etc, (which would make the number of gta III pretty big too, around 150 people or so).
Tidus_Great
Banned
on foot/gun controls feel too dated IMO. GTA games on ps2 did not age well at all.
DUFFMCWALIN
Member
Preach. Those games are still incredible to this day.
Jaded Alyx
Member
Play them on PC.
I agree, loved the music and the setting.
RedRedSuit
Member
I think San Andreas is the greatest game of all time... but I played it on PC. I think playing modded up PC version of San Andreas is absolutely worth it.
family_guy
Member
I think San Andreas is still the best but I think some of the control improvements the series has made might make it hard to go back to now. I think it still hasn't been topped in terms of mission variety and sandboxing.
For someone new to the series, I'd say San Andreas is one of my favourite games ever and definitely worth playing. Visuals are dated for sure and the gunplay hasn't aged well but it's still a great game with lots of character, content, good music and more. I'd say play that and if you can handle it without nostalgia goggles on, then you might enjoy Vice City too.
RockmanWhore
Member
i'd recommand getting the PC versions if possible, with today's hardware you'll have crazy framerate and no loading times. You can always set the graphics to 640*480 and use a controller if you want to match the console experience. You'll probably need something like joytokey to use a controller properly though, the 360 controller isn't natively recognized.
There are mods for xinput. They are actually compatible with directinput, so you can use your DS3 or DS4.
Herbspiceguy
Member
Having not played Vice City when it was released, I decided to give it a go on the PC (Steam sale) 1 or 2 years back.
To me I couldn't really get into it; horrible graphics and very clunky controls/combat.
I recall having to do a mission with a remote controlled helicopter not too far in and it wasn't fun at all. I just quit playing and uninstalled.
I really wanted to like this game.
To me I couldn't really get into it; horrible graphics and very clunky controls/combat.
I recall having to do a mission with a remote controlled helicopter not too far in and it wasn't fun at all. I just quit playing and uninstalled.
I really wanted to like this game.
Fuckin A
If they only ever released a HD collection... F'cking bastards.
I would have bought it in an instant.
It's never to late to play Vice City. Dated graphics and controls aside, no other game in the series or elsewhere can match its unique vibe and amazing soundtrack. In my opinion it's a game that everyone should play through at least once.
I still make a point to revisit it every now and then.
I still make a point to revisit it every now and then.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Yes. San Andreas is just as fun as it was back in 2004.
Voice acting hols up better than a good majority of games released today too.
Voice acting hols up better than a good majority of games released today too.
Blackthorn
"hello?" "this is vagina"
The biggest thing that's going to hinder your progress which not enough people are mentioning is the lack of checkpoints.
If you fail a mission (Vice City RC helicoptor anyone?) you'll be spawned at a hospital miles away, have to travel all the way back and start it all over again regardless of length. Many missions will include unskippable exposition and cutscenes.
I'd be willing to play through the old games if it wasn't for this inconvenience.
If you fail a mission (Vice City RC helicoptor anyone?) you'll be spawned at a hospital miles away, have to travel all the way back and start it all over again regardless of length. Many missions will include unskippable exposition and cutscenes.
I'd be willing to play through the old games if it wasn't for this inconvenience.
jim-jam bongs
Member
The Android and iOS ports have checkpoints and controller support.
Violence Jack
Member
Vice City and San Andreas are still the greatest GTA games I've ever played.
User 73706
Banned
I don't know, I just couldn't relate.
Yes.
Saintguine
Member
San Andreas, be one wit' da hood.
MMaRsu
Member
Cool so you hardly played it. This thread is about ps2 GTA'S. Read the OP before you post.
San Andreas and VC still hold up, especially if you play the upgraded versions or on pc.
PhantomZone
Member
Vice City craps all over San Andreas
Sure SA had a bigger world and some new novelty things to do. But Vice City's atmosphere, the setting, the soundtrack and the story were implemented far better. I never got bored going around Vice City, even after completing the story i'd hoon around and do many many awesome things (not just go around and see how long i would last with a maximum wanted level). Vice City is a game i still complete a few times a year (the only other game i have done this in recent years is Arkham Asylum). Whereas San Andreas left a bad taste in my mouth to the point where i completed it ONCE on the ps2, and never bothered to finish it the whole way through again until the leadup to GTA V's release last year (i did try several times over the years........... but when i got to the OG Lok introduction i would just get bored and quit). I also found the storyline far too predictable.
In saying that it is totally worth playing III, Vice City and San Andreas. I would even go a step further backwards and play GTA / GTA 2.
Parhelion69
Member
I loved GTA 3, but didn't play Vice city or San Andreas (got into MMOs that time, and thus, missed on many gems. I regret that... I realize MMO aren't really worth it). Anyway, I played Chinatown on my DSi, and GTA IV and V on my xbox 360. Loved them all.
Last year, I decided to give Vice City a try (so that's before GTA V), and I can say with confidence, that the game doesn't hold up. Driving mechanics are horrible, controls are unresponsive (I can't believe how much I fought with the controls... Makes me glad that things are much better in the current GTA), combat is lame, there are no checkpoints in missions, so if you have a long drive, cut-scene, action and then you die, you have to do everything again, which is incredible bore-some.
The story is predictable, the characters are lame, and the games makes you grind (by buying businesses or the like) and that's obligatory for the endgame. That's a chore.
The good side, is that missions are sometimes crazy and when you're not fighting the control and bad physics, the game can actually be fun.
But my bottom line is, that the game doesn't hold up well for today's standards. And I don't have the "nostalgia" factor that may bias my opinion. So it's something to consider.
Just because of that I don't wanna try San Andreas, I know it's a really long game, and my backlog is big enough. Maybe if I get some time, I might try it. I hope I don't end up disappointed again.
Last year, I decided to give Vice City a try (so that's before GTA V), and I can say with confidence, that the game doesn't hold up. Driving mechanics are horrible, controls are unresponsive (I can't believe how much I fought with the controls... Makes me glad that things are much better in the current GTA), combat is lame, there are no checkpoints in missions, so if you have a long drive, cut-scene, action and then you die, you have to do everything again, which is incredible bore-some.
The story is predictable, the characters are lame, and the games makes you grind (by buying businesses or the like) and that's obligatory for the endgame. That's a chore.
The good side, is that missions are sometimes crazy and when you're not fighting the control and bad physics, the game can actually be fun.
But my bottom line is, that the game doesn't hold up well for today's standards. And I don't have the "nostalgia" factor that may bias my opinion. So it's something to consider.
Just because of that I don't wanna try San Andreas, I know it's a really long game, and my backlog is big enough. Maybe if I get some time, I might try it. I hope I don't end up disappointed again.
TheAdmiester
Member
You should definitely try San Andreas, it feels nothing like Vice City besides the clunky shooting mechanics. Vice City is the worst of the series but San Andreas picks it up massively from there, I'd say it's in the top 3 GTA games.
Soodanim
Member
Man... I don't even know what to say.
All 3 PS2 games are wonderful. Vice City in particular is Scarface + Miami Vice
The shooting was never fantastic in them, but it's not something that holds you back. Just lock on and blast away. Then get in a car and enjoy the music. Forget the naysayers.
Every single one of the PS2 games is far far faaaar better than 4. That was horrible to control. Horrible to move, horrible to drive in.
They're still fun games, but suffer a little based on modern standards. Like you can't swim in GTA III or VC or the aiming controls never worded that well, the cloudy draw distance (especially on PS2) is annoying and the vehicles don't have that modern feeling of weight to them. Their are many other quirks that are unacceptable by today's standards. Still, nostalgia helps a bit if you've played them before.
As much as I loved the games, I doubt the controls and certain game mechanics will hold up at all. Like having to stop and park a burning car that's about to explode in GTAIII before being allowed to get out, to not being able to jump properly, swim and other random little things
gamerforever
Banned
GTA 3 is still the best GTA game ever made down to the atmosphere, music, and more importantly, the memorable characters!
The world was also well designed and varied enough. Routes could also be memorised easily, before the days of handholding with built in GPS etc.
That Salvatore mission was epic and the soundtrack, whilst not a bunch of mainstream music is so memorable. Who can forget the eery atmosphere as it rains down, or simply looking down at the grim sea?
Amazing game!
The world was also well designed and varied enough. Routes could also be memorised easily, before the days of handholding with built in GPS etc.
That Salvatore mission was epic and the soundtrack, whilst not a bunch of mainstream music is so memorable. Who can forget the eery atmosphere as it rains down, or simply looking down at the grim sea?
Amazing game!
MMaRsu
Member
But the best story and voice acting. Also the best soundtrack, the best era etc.
Did VC have a smaller map than GTA 3?
TheAdmiester
Member
No idea if it was smaller than 3 but it was pretty pathetic:
At least there were more corners in 3's map to make it at least feel bigger.
Visualante2
Member
I'd agree with this. I got Vice City free when I pre-ordered GTA IV and was taken aback by how ropey it all felt.
Yeah so pathetic, they put that game out a year later.No idea if it was smaller than 3 but it was pretty pathetic:
At least there were more corners in 3's map to make it at least feel bigger.
Thing I find myself wondering is if I should go back to Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories for more.
Jawmuncher
Member
San ASAndreas still holds up very well and is a more enjoyable romp than GTA4 easily.
In SA case it helps that GTA4 did more to take away from it's previous game rather than add to it.
In SA case it helps that GTA4 did more to take away from it's previous game rather than add to it.