Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: Definitive Edition (PS5) Review-
While for reasons currently unbeknownst to me, this trilogy pack of some of gamings finest has not been talked about very positively by many. PC ports were reportedly performing so badly that even playing the games was deemed un-doable. I, however, have experienced none of these reported problems and can honestly say that after playing through all 3 games, I found nothing but quality of life and up-to-date overhauls that we have come to expect of any self proclaimed remasters of classic titles. Sure, some of the mechanics in GTA 3 are obviously still frustrating and archaic, but I did not run into any "game-breaking" bugs with my time spent playing through each. The game in this series that obviously benefitted the most was GTA San Andreas, which thanks to the speedy load screens and quality of life improvements such as mission checkpoints and etc have really made life a whole lot easier than what it must have been back in the day on the older systems we were no doubt playing it on.
GTA 3 is the first numerically, and I spent enough time as to complete all the main story missions. This was the lowest point of my time dipping back in the classic series, and although this is the game that forever changed what we all thought a game could and should be, it still ages pretty badly and can be pretty finnicky to complete. Your protagonist, Claude, who has no voiced dialogue at all, serves as the pivotal posterboy for just how old the game actually is. That being said, not all is bad, as the game still cooks up a pretty solid plot that involves mafia dealings and cartel treachery at it's finest, and also gives a a peek to a baddie who will remerge later in the series. Taking over Liberty City and performing drive by shootings on Diablo gang turf has never looked better. The game does not require all that long to complete and is just the icing on the cake as far as the whole set package goes.
Next up is a game I have many memories spending many hours completing back in my junior high/high school days. GTA Vice City was a momentous upgrade (at the time) from what we got with GTA 3. Enter Tommy Vercetti, the protagonist who just so happens to have his own dialogue voiced by the world renowned actor Ray Liotta, (who by the way does a fantastic job bringing Tommy to life). Not only was the playable character overhauled but we were introduced for the first time to a new city, Vice CIty. A coastal Miami beach-like town was the playground given to us and the 80's era music and cars really did a phenomenal job of capturing a very realistic take on what that era felt like. There weren't as many substantial changes to the overall mechanics as the next game in the trilogy, but there was enough here to make any fan of GTA 3 very happy. The plot served up some good ole fashioned backstabbing, and this game also introduced us to several key faces who make cameo and guest appearances in other games in the series timeline. It also was the first GTA game to give us the ability to purchase properties and sort of branch out and become self made gangsters. The main flaw that is still very much a problem with this game was the money that you earn. The game never warns or properly gives you the head-up about how to spend your money very early on in the game. If you do not manage your money VERY early on, you will most likely either not be able to see the game to the finish or you will have to grind like crazy to earn enough. The game fails to ever properly put this into perspective or iterate on the importance this actually is. Due to that, it took me a little longer to complete but overall, it's still a classic game that brings back many fond memories of rocking out to Bryan Adams on my PS2 back in the day!!
By far the game that benefits the most from this whole remaster is the 3rd and final entry in this trilogy set, GTA San Andreas. It is quite easy to forget how influential and important this game would be as far as giving players an idea of just how much could actually be implemented to update the GTA world of gameplay. This gangster epic is a massive great time and is worth the price of admission strictly for this one alone. More cars, massive amounts of story missions to partake in, the girlfriend romancing option introduced, the ability to eat food and gain health, the street races and rally circuits, the ability to run a gang, the massively improved map to roam at your behest, the option to purchase your choice of clothing and haircut and tattoes, this game was unbelievably packed to the tee with genious ideas and refinements. I had honestly forgotten how amazing this game was until revisiting San Andreas now, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I am sure back on the PS2 or PS3 systems, it took an ungodly amount of your time loading up screens to get from mission to mission, but here its a matter of seconds and you're all set! Not to mention, the cast is the most believable and colorful seen up to that point. In every sense of the word, this was a game that was way ahead of its time and it is amazing now to witness all the additions to the experience Rockstar was able to inject into the series. You play as CJ, an up and coming gangster who is being blackmailed and threatened by some very crooked police officers and in spite of this, manages to majorly make something of himself and become a major player not only in the gang industry, but in every opportunity that presents itself to him throughout the game. The game is just such a massive step up from what had been the norm before that it is hard to go back once you have experienced how great it feels to play. San Andreas is a huge sprawling mixture of Hollywood California-life vistas that is only the doormat to a vast countryside mountainous region and even a dusty wide open desert region. The ability to do what you want and purchase your ideal mountain house in the hills of Los Santos or to own your very own air strip with your privately owned jets is immersive. This along with all the speedy updates brought about through the remastering process (not to mention the banging soundtrack on play) is the main reason why this is a must play in my eyes for any fan of GTA styled open world games. Now, if only Rockstar would complete the legacy and bring back the spin-offs Liberty City Stories & Vice City Stories, the nostalgia would be complete!!