Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
- June 07, 2006 14:27 PM PST
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The Mission Plateau
Remember back to GTA 3 and how long it took for the missions to get challenging. This is not the case with LCS, as by the third mission or so, you'll be in some serious sh*t. But, where the missions in GTA 3 got ridiculously tough as the game progressed, LCS doesn't have the same flow of difficulty. In general, most missions are passable on the first or second try, and if you've got body armor and some nice strappage, you'll have even less trouble. That's not to say LCS missions aren't fun, because they are. But don't expect LCS to be more difficult than San Andreas, because it's not even in the same league.
Also, missions are a little less quirky than previous GTA games. GTA 3 and Vice City had lots of RC car/plane/heli missions, but there are much fewer in LCS; the majority are based on enormous explosions. Admittedly, there is a nice supply of sniper and rocket-play, which one can never argue too much about.
Possibly the biggest improvement to Liberty City are the motorcycles. Yes, they are all there -- the PCJ-600, the Sanchez, the Freeway, and even the Faggio scooter. Sadly, the insane speed and maneuverability of the bikes meant I rarely wanted to drive anything but a crotch rocket, unless it was a Banshee (what can I say, I'm a classy guy).
Control Comparison
If your last GTA experience was with San Andreas, then the on-foot controls for LCS will feel like a few steps down. First of all, the targeting system is somewhat frustrating. Moving around while locked onto an enemy is a chore, especially if you're trying to reload or switch weapons simultaneously. Changing targets is easy, but you don't have the San Andreas roll maneuver, so it's usually shoot or die because running is rarely an option.
No surprises here, but like GTA 3, there is no wall climb. But unlike GTA 3, the right analog stick provides a free-roaming camera, which is a huge bonus. I couldn't image playing though a GTA journey without one again.
