iOS Game Review: GTA III

Go back to the time as a kid and imagine just getting the Playstation 2. It was the next generation and it supported many amazing video games and turning points for the gaming industry at that time. Eventually Grand Theft Auto entered our cross hairs and we knew we wanted this game. This game our parents knew about, feared, and the reason why some negative, violent things were happening in the world. But we knew the truth about it and we were definitely going to play it.

It's been 10 years waiting patiently on your gaming shelf, in your drawer, on eBay, or perhaps only in your memories...

Are you ready to head back to The Third? Grand Theft Auto III is available on the App store right now for $2.99 as a holiday special (originally $4.99). Is the game worth the nostalgia alone? How do the controls work? Is it worth the money? All will be addressed and more.

The story line and open world elements remain perfectly intact. The graphics have even improved, look even better than when we first saw them. But how does it control? This game is a game you played with a controller with many buttons, now can be played with one touch screen... Rockstar Games had the challenge of putting all of these vital buttons in control at once, and they have come up with the perfect solution.

Everything you do has its own set of controls. When you are walking you have the left side of your screen control Claude's movement and direction, and also buttons for attacking, running, sprinting, and swiping over your weapons in the right-hand corner to switch to the one you want.

I found the controls for driving to be pretty solid. The steering gets a little crazy at times but only time will tell if I am to fault. Shooting weapons, tasks required for completing missions, and rising through the ranks are your missions yet again. On top of all that is the fact that It still is a blast running around wreaking havoc, listening to the radio, and just driving around. It's the same true classic, just in the palm of your hands.

Saving, loading, and starting the game is satisfyingly quick. You can hit resume to start your game, or load one from the main menu. Don't worry about frame rate drops either, game play is smooth and consistent, things have been positive on the Android side also. The entire soundtrack is back and sounds great when blasting through the iPhone's speaker. You'll be catching yourself reciting lyrics you thought you've long forgotten.

Graphically this game looks better in every way. The colors and brightness and subtle details have never looked so... right, and the detailed textures have helped improve the visuals as well.

If your thinking about picking this one up I would say you won't regret it. Console experiences on handheld devices are on the rise and it's something you should care about. Grand Theft Auto III for the iPhone gets my official recommendation.

All in all-

+ It's a great game and story worth experiencing again

+ Nostalgia over load

+ Reasonably priced at $5

- Controls can be a little off at times

Will you return to where GTA began for you? The first ever Liberty City introduced to you in 2001?

I would not hesitate buying this game for you or a friend. Yes it's an exact copy of a game you played years ago but that doesn't mean it somehow became boring. The iPhone really does breathe new life into this game and it is much appreciated.

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