Introduction
Just doing an LP of Red Dead Redemption and updating that roughly once a month simply wasn't enough Rockstar content for me, so I decided to finally return to the Grand Theft Auto series (having LP'd GTA IV back in 2016).
GTA III and GTA: Vice City by Rockstar North (formerly known as DMA Design, creators of Lemmings among other titles) need no introduction. You all know what these games are all about. You know these are perhaps THE most influential video games of their generation, their respective 2001 and 2002 releases basically kicking off the entire open world action game genre that is still going on strong today (and growing increasingly tired due to the sheer number of open world games out there). Remember when open world games were called GTA clones? Good times.
When I was a teenager, GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas (which won't be played in this thread) were the shit. Everyone owned a copy of at least one of these games, everyone would talk about the crazy stuff they did in the games... or exchange tips on finding the many collectibles... or talk about which radio station was the best... the list goes on. The humor and gameplay of these games might not have aged too gracefully, but the fact remains that the PS2-era GTA games were a big part of my video gaming life (and life in general, as they and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater heavily influenced my musical tastes by introducing me to some of my favorite artists and songs) back in those days.
As I said, no introduction is needed for these games because everyone knows them. Right? Well, with me on this journey through the underworlds of Liberty and Vice City is ChaosArgate, who has never played any of the PS2-era GTA titles due to the fact he was a small child when those games came out, and knows only the bare minimum about them. Not only does this make me feel incredibly old, but it also offers me a chance to basically experience these games again through a fresh pair of eyes. I was going to do this LP regardless, but I feel getting ChaosArgate on board better justifies the LP's existence because otherwise it might've been a bit... well, boring.
I am playing both games - starting with GTA III and moving on to Vice City after III is done - on the original Xbox because I thought people would be less familiar with these particular ports. The changes implemented by Rockstar Vienna for the 2003 Double Pack release on the Xbox are mostly cosmetic, so if you're familiar with the other versions you'll feel right at home here as well. While the playthroughs are largely story-focused, I will also be doing some of the side content in both GTA III and VC. All the hidden packages will be collected and all proper missions (the ones with actual briefings) will be completed, but I'm not going to mess around with rampages, stunt jumps, optional street races or anything like that.
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"LIBERTY CITY, USA. The Worst Place in America.
You've been betrayed and left for dead. Now you're taking revenge, unless the city gets you first. Mob bosses need a favor, crooked cops need help and street gangs want you dead. You'll have to rob, steal and kill just to stay out of serious trouble. Anything can happen out here."
[YouTube playlist]
Episode 1: Give Me Liberty
Episode 2: Eat 'til You Explode
Episode 3: The Crook, The Thieves, The Wife, Her Lover, and The Donkey
Episode 4: Salvatore's Called A Meeting
Episode 5: Last Requests
Episode 6: Like A Dragon
Episode 7: The Lesser Yakuza
Episode 8: Kingdom Come
Episode 9: Marked Man
Episode 10: Grand Theft Aero
Episode 11: Rumble in Shoreside
Episode 12: The Exchange (FINAL)
Bonus: The Dodo & The Rhino
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"Welcome to Vice City. Welcome to the 1980s.
Having just made it back onto the streets of Liberty City after a long stretch in maximum security prison, Tommy Vercetti is sent to Vice City by his old boss, Sonny Forelli. They were understandably nervous about his reappearance in Liberty City, so a trip down south seemed like a good idea. But all does not go smoothly upon his arrival in the glamorous, hedonistic metropolis of Vice City. He's set up and is left with no money and no merchandise. Sonny wants his money back, but the biker gangs, Cuban gangsters, and corrupt politicians stand in his way. Most if not all of Vice City seems to want Tommy dead. His only answer is to fight back and take over the city himself."
[YouTube playlist]
Episode 1: Welcome to 1986
Episode 2: Demolition Man
Episode 3: Guardian Angels
Episode 4: Little Havana
Episode 5: Turf Wars
Episode 6: Death Row
Episode 7: Push It To The Limit
Episode 8: Mr. Vercetti
Episode 9: Fist Fury
Episode 10: The Driver
Episode 11: Inter Global Films
Episode 12: Taxi Drivers Must Die!
Episode 13: I Ran
Episode 14 (FINAL): The World Is Yours
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