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.
