This is the fourth post in our Game of the Day series.
The first release of GTA 3 is arguably the moment of genesis for so-called sandbox gamse, something I agree with on a personal level. My sister had this on her PS2 when I visited and stayed over. Time ceased to exist and hours drained from the hourglass of night until dawn shone through the absence of sand. Yikes! If my sudden craving served as any key, it was going to be huge.
Unlike later incarnations of the series or spin-offs, you play a voiceless, nameless character who looks something of a cool and contemporary Elvis Prestley. The advantage here is you get sucked into that guy's shoes and become him through your own imagination. Plus there are no wise cracks or lengthy cut-scenes which can become tiresome. No, you're just some dude taking over Liberty City crime world from the bottom up.
Stealing and driving cars is quick and much more forgiving than subsequent installments, but if you're on fire and going fast then there's no hope to bail out in time. I don't recall much to do in side-activities, besides ones you create for yourself, but the joy of wreaking havoc behind the wheel or on foot is its own reward.
It's hard to believe it's been as long as it has, I have little doubt we'll see it appear in the browser before long and shock us old-timers. Myself, I'm disappointed it hasn't appeared on the Playstation Store for PS3 owners to download; I'd pay some bucks to play this again for sure.
