Battle of the GTAs

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We've rated the clones - now let's see how the originals stack up against each other

The town: Liberty City again, but a few years earlier. So there are a few notable changes to its layout, as well as a slight visual upgrade and a different clutch of gangs roaming its streets.

The music: Like GTAIII, the song list is short on licensed tunes and long on relatively obscure acts playing a variety of genres. Some of its most memorable tracks actually come from its world-music station, which is weird. You can also create a custom soundtrack for the PSP version using your own CDs, although the tracks firstneed tobe laundered through Rockstar's special downloadable encoder, which only works on PCs.

The violence: Similar to previous 3D GTAs, right down to the rocket launchers, hooker-beatings and sniper-rifle dismemberment.

Why it's the best: It was the first portable 3D GTA, and it was proof positive that the PSP was almost as capable a system as the PS2. It brings much-needed gameplay improvements to Liberty City, and - oh yeah - it adds multiplayer matches, a long asked-for feature that turned out to be more fun than many had anticipated.

Why it isn't: The PSP's control limitations didn't make it easy to play, and we're a little less impressed with it now that Vice City Stories is out. Also, Toni Cipriani is one of GTA's less-interesting characters. And what the hell kind of modern GTA game doesn't have at least a hidden plane to fly around in?

Does it hold up? Yes, but it's been outpaced by its sequel.

Mikel Reparaz
Mikel Reparaz
After graduating from college in 2000 with a BA in journalism, I worked for five years as a copy editor, page designer and videogame-review columnist at a couple of mid-sized newspapers you've never heard of. My column eventually got me a freelancing gig with GMR magazine, which folded a few months later. I was hired on full-time by GamesRadar in late 2005, and have since been paid actual money to write silly articles about lovable blobs.