About a year ago when this game came out, my initial impressions were that controlling the character and cars was a bit clumsy. Also I couldn't help but feel that San Andreas had so much more to offer. But I understand they're probably just saving all these removed features for the next San Andreas and Vice City, after all it must have been a LOT of work to start over when moving on to the next gen consoles. And I think they really nailed the technical aspect of the game not to mention the whole living world of Liberty City. It really blows my mind and for that I understand the critical acclaim from every major gaming site and magazine. After finishing the game twice and playing online with friends every now and then for a year, I've really begun to appreciate the game, and it's really the best GTA in the series. The story and characters alone make the game worth experiencing. Even the controls feel spot on now that I've gotten used to them. It's a masterpiece.
- Presentation
A game world has never been this alive and it has one of the most interesting storymodes I've experienced in any game. - Graphics
Nothing looks unfinished about this game visually. - Sound
Voice acting and all the sound effects are perfect. I'm not a fan of the radio stations here but they fit the theme of the game. - Gameplay
You get plenty of variation in gameplay just like you'd expect from a GTA game, but this time a more focused experience and a compelling online multiplayer. Planes would have been nice though. - Lasting Appeal
First play through takes about 30-60 hours. Add to that the online games and 100% completion and you won't need many other games for the ps3 besides this.