Overview
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the Sony PSP brings gamers and fans of the infamous and famous gaming franchise by Rockstar back to Liberty City (The city where GTAIII is set for you newcomers) for all new adventure. Everything you remember from the original game based in LC is there for you to explore, only with different events.
In the game, you control the character of Toni Cipriani, a hotheaded member of the Leone crime family. In other words, the Italian mafia! As the game begins, you see Toni step of a bus into Liberty City. He has just returned from a job for Leone boss, Don Salvatore. The story begins here, and you immediately are thrown into the action and well-known missions associated with the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
Controls – 8.0/10
For a third-person action on the PSP, which has had so many different and logical controlling problems in the past, GTA:LCS turns out pretty decent. It is nothing when compared to its console brothers. It actually does not even come close! However, the controls are smooth and reasonably easy to understand and adjust too.
All the basic controls are there: Square for jump, circle for action and R1 for auto-aim. Moving Toni around Liberty City will see you taking control of the terrible PSP analog-nub, but it moves pretty smoothly, with no real stubbornness present. However, the use of the nub does bring some obvious problems. Although the same problem was present in previous GTA titles on the consoles, where it would be difficult to jump onto a single platform, first-try, and the same problem is present here, only worse. After trying to make a getaway after I brought up a 4-star criminal rating for running over pedestrians (I still don’t know what I did wrong), I attempted to jump onto a small platform, and then onto a building. It was possible, as I kept getting onto it, but eventually kept falling off. This is caused by the unbelievably annoying sensitivity of the nub. The slightest tap and Toni walks 100 meters (exaggeration). I understand that at times this sensitivity is a given and can be of advantage, but it is not purposely meant to be like that, as Rockstar would truly be insane if they made a game with intentional over-sensitive controls.
But, if you look past this, and can be easily obtained and enthused by the amazement that is Liberty City and its surroundings, you should be able to eventually get onto those buildings and away from the Military. It just takes some practice. Not as good as the console versions, but just as entertaining and gamer-friendly.
Graphics and Display – 9.5/10
If you have a Playstation 2, bring it out. Now, get a copy of GTAIII. Place it into your Playstation 2. Turn on your Playstation 2.
Now, grab your PSP. Grab a copy of LCS. Put it into your PSP and turn it on. Compare the two side-by-side.
Notice any difference?
I have.
The PSP version looks way better!
Honestly, I knew from the start this game would look better than its Playstation 2 counterpart. Rockstar hinted it at E3 2004, and since then, I’ve believed, and have been very pleased by what has been presented as the finishing product. The game itself never seems to play at more than 30 frames per second, but it looks just as good, and sometimes better, that GTAIII, with extra features and content within the atmosphere that only add to the already amazing world in the palm of your hand.
Enough said.
Features – 10/10
As with every Grand Theft Auto game, the extras and replayability here is beyond fantastic. Hidden packages and side-missions (including pizza boy, taxi driver etc.) reward your crime ‘fighting’ skills, and multiplayer is an absolute blast! Hook it up with 6 friends in 7 mini-games that add to the already plentiful and highly enjoyable GTA title. The mini-games generally all have the same type of direction: Protect your turf/car or kill other gang members. And, to put it into prospective on how fun multiplayer is, it’s just as fun, if not more fun, than the plentiful Mario Kart 64 multiplayer, and that is in a league of its own!
Overall - 9/10
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is a must have for any PSP gamer. Chances are if you own a PSP, you’re a fan of the hyped-up series and are craving a decent third-person adventure on the go. GTA:LCS not only fulfils all of your handheld needs, it exceeds them in every aspect. It’s as though you carrying a Playstation 2 around with you. It looks, plays and sounds great, and will keep you entertained for weeks on end.
Besides some bland missions to start off the game, it picks up speed as you work your way through, and by the end of this amazing handheld title, your bound to be screaming for more and craving another GTA PSP title. Vice City Stories anyone?
Submitted by calabreseboy
27/11/2005
11
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