| Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories was hailed as | | | | weapons and starting various side missions. Of course |
| the "killer PSP game". The popular GTA series had to | | | | the PSP has less buttons than the PS2 controller, so |
| make its way onto the PSP sooner or later, and it's | | | | condensing everything was not an easy task. |
| PSP debut is great.The game takes place, as the title | | | | Sometimes the controls do feel very fiddly and it can |
| suggests, in Liberty City, which is the city that Grand | | | | be frustrating when you need to target things |
| Theft Auto III (the series' first 3D game) is also situated | | | | quickly.Adding on to the "Toni Can't" list, is the ability to |
| in. Rockstar Leeds simply converted the city onto the | | | | swim. Implemented in San Andreas, this feature is |
| UMD, and changed a few things to make it look more | | | | absent. It's only really missed when you fall off a cliff |
| modern, as LCS is set after III. Having said that, the | | | | into the water, as you could swim to the side and get |
| only real changes are shops, which have different | | | | out. Instead, Toni simply drowns. All of the abilities to |
| names and styles, which is quite disappointing. A new | | | | increase stats are no longer present, but it's not |
| city to explore would have been much better.You play | | | | particularly missed.Toni can change clothes, and there |
| as Toni Cipriani, a no nonsense guy who's willing to do | | | | are some nice options. He is unable to change specific |
| anything and remove anybody in his way. Unlike GTA | | | | body parts, instead you choose from full suits. Though |
| III, he can talk, which makes the cutscenes better. The | | | | changing clothes is a small part of the game, you |
| basic story mode consists of missions that do tend to | | | | probably would never notice this option if it wasn't |
| get repetitive. You'll go to a guy on your map, he'll give | | | | required for some missions.If you don't want to do any |
| you a mission that usually involves killing someone, and | | | | main missions, you can engage in some of the side |
| you get paid once you're done. Once you've | | | | missions. Famous in all PS2 GTA games, these usually |
| completed enough missions, you'll move on to the | | | | involve Taxi missions, in which you act as a taxi driver |
| second island of Liberty City. There are three islands in | | | | and deliver passengers before time elapses. |
| total, and you unlock them over time. It's a good | | | | Ambulance missions, where you take sick people to |
| incentive to complete the missions, but for people who | | | | hospital. Firetruck missions, which involves putting out |
| have played GTA III, there's nothing really new.Though | | | | fires like burning cars. A new side mission is the dump |
| the game focuses on missions, the free roam ability is | | | | truck mission. You simply need to collect all the green |
| truly magnificent. You may find yourself playing it over | | | | trash cans within the time limit. All these missions are |
| and over again, and rarely getting tired of it. There is no | | | | basically the same repetitive actions. The rewards are |
| free roam mode, in fact there are no modes, the | | | | worth the effort though.There are also hidden |
| game simply loads when you turn it on. Whether or not | | | | packages throughout the game in various locations. |
| you choose to engage in a mission is up to you. If you | | | | Nothing new to the series, but collecting all 100 adds |
| choose not to, you can roam freely around the city, | | | | weapons to your hide out. Unique jumps are large |
| causing havoc, or just exploring. You can also collect a | | | | jumps where the camera changes and it goes in slow |
| number of weapons, ranging from pistols and UZI's to | | | | motion. When you successfully complete a unique |
| rocket launchers, flamethrowers and sniper rifles. You'll | | | | jump, you'll get money for your effort. While these |
| also have melee weapons such as knives and | | | | things are by no means new additions, they are nice to |
| baseball bats. Or, if you want to do some damage | | | | have, and it expands the game.We all know that the |
| from a distance, use a grenade or Molotov | | | | PSP has wireless capabilities, and Liberty City Stories |
| cocktail.The amount of weapons in the game is similar | | | | takes advantage of that. The wireless multiplayer |
| to the PS2 versions, which means there's loads.The | | | | action is staggeringly good. You must have friends with |
| cops are still present, so if you blow off too many | | | | PSP's and copies of the game, but if you do, you're in |
| heads, you'll get some heat on you. The cops are | | | | luck. The game allows for total free play with your |
| divided into levels with the usual system. You have 1 | | | | friends. There are many different game modes which |
| star at the beginning, and if you keep blowing things up, | | | | adhere to the capture the flag premise. Most of the |
| eventually it will increase to 6 stars, and you'll have the | | | | games work in this way. Liberty City Survivor allows |
| army after you.The vehicles in the game are again | | | | players to play against each other. This is the mode |
| similar to previous versions. Veterans will remember | | | | you'll be playing none stop. Even after you have |
| the Patriot, Cheetah, Infernus, Banshee and so on, | | | | finished the game, it is unlikely that you will get bored of |
| although some have redesigns which look more | | | | the multiplayer action.Liberty City Stories has the same |
| modern. You can also have motorbikes, which have | | | | radio themed soundtrack. When you enter a vehicle |
| never been seen around Liberty City before | | | | you can choose from a number of radio stations, all of |
| Motorbikes are generally faster and have better | | | | which have different styles of music. The soundtrack |
| handling than the cars, and make it easier to perform | | | | has some known tracks from the era, but nothing too |
| unique jumps, and such. There are no bicycles in the | | | | impressive. In comparison with the Vice City and San |
| game, which was a nice addition to San Andreas. As | | | | Andreas soundtracks, this is sub-standard.The graphics |
| you progress through the game you will also have the | | | | throughout the game are fairly cartoony. The series |
| chance to ride boats. It's not as fun as it sounds, and it | | | | was never meant to be a simulator, but some |
| never really has been in any of the GTA games. Boat | | | | smoother graphics would have been nice. Sometimes |
| handling is sluggish and it's not fun to drive them. You | | | | it can seem that Toni has several legs when you are |
| can no longer fly. Anything. Not a thing. The Dodo was | | | | running. Also, at times the frame rate has trouble |
| a plane on GTA III that was located in the airport, | | | | keeping up, but only when there is lots on the screen |
| which you could fly, or at least try to. This time there is | | | | at once. For the most part, the frame rate holds up |
| no Dodo, no helicopters, no planes whatsoever. It really | | | | well. The loading times are acceptable. There is a |
| feels like a missing factor, although in one of the | | | | loading period at the start and then as you cross |
| missions it is possible to steal a helicopter, so the | | | | between islands, a loading screen will appear, but only |
| physics and controls are still technically in the game. | | | | for a few seconds.Overall, it's a great addition to the |
| Why there are no planes to fly is confusing. The police | | | | Grand Theft Auto series, and the PSP line up. You |
| still have choppers following you, so watch out.A new | | | | can't help but feel it's just a watered down version of |
| mode of transportation is the ferry. It's basically a slow | | | | a PS2 GTA, or simply an expansion pack, that doesn't |
| boat ride and you don't get to drive the boat. You | | | | expand on much. Nevertheless, the action in single |
| even have to pay for the service. It is a quick way of | | | | player, and in particular, multiplayer, is well worth the |
| getting from island to island though, and you do get to | | | | purchase. was created to provide articles on a number |
| keep your car.The general controls of vehicles is good. | | | | of different subjects ranging from PSP game reviews |
| Sports cars have great speeds and handling, and slow | | | | to Science.The site is owned and run by Carl S. |
| cars have reduced turning capacity. The controls on | | | | Richardson and Joe Denison, who are also known for |
| foot have been changed dramatically. You use the | | | | a number of other websites including a Playstation |
| small analog style stick to control Toni, and vehicles. | | | | gaming website. |
| The directional buttons are used for changing | | | | |