Grand Theft Auto III

 PC
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. CPUGamer
    100
    If you’re an action gamer like me you will probably play every last penny of this AWESOME game!
  2. Computer Gaming World
    100
    GTA 3 is the crack cocaine of gaming: You know it's bad for you, but you keep using it. [Sept 2002, p.74]
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  3. Yahoo!
    100
    The perfect gaming experience. Anyone who doesn't like it is a pansy wuss who needs sense beating into them with a baseball bat, and that's a fact. Capiche?
  5. netjak
    98
    The interaction between player and environment sets the bar so high for other games, that it is nearly inaccessible.
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  6. Armchair Empire
    98
    A stunning, involving experience that, though not for everyone, will appeal to both the gamer looking for a long, structured action/adventure game and the one looking for loosely organized chaos.
  7. PC Gameworld
    96
    I hope you’re not some sissy, the sort of guy who’s afraid to commit crime or see a little (bleep)ing blood splattered around every once in a while. It’s part of the job. If you don’t like it, I hear there’s a new (bleep)ing Barney game and a nice Britney Spears action-adventure out.
  8. Game Informer
    95
    Instead of desperately switching through the clumsy auto-targeting, now you're capping fools with a simple flick of the mouse. It's awesome. [August 2002, p.89]
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  9. GameSpy
    94
    It's a game you could play for weeks -- maybe even months -- and still discover something new every day.
  10. IGN
    94
    It's simply huge, and just gets better and better as players dig deeper into it, and the intense open-ended gameplay, believable Artificial Intelligence, pumpin' soundtrack, and total immersion in the cityscape make GTA 3 a delight to play.
  11. GameSpot
    93
    Other than the addition of mouselook--whose beneficial impact on gameplay cannot be understated--nothing much has been added...But--and this is a big "but"--GTAIII is a faithful port of a truly exceptional game.
  12. PC Gamer
    92
    One of the very best things about this game is its almost total lack of any visible interface. [July 2002, p.56]
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  13. GameZone
    92
    The sound in GTA III is phenomenal - nothing was overlooked in this department.
  14. GamePen
    90
    What started out as a 10-minute compatibility check turned into an all-night rampage, after I got past all the bugs that is.
  15. All Game Guide
    90
    Fun with impressive character development, replay, variety, and gore.
  16. Electric Playground
    90
    The number of different ways you can play GTA III is astonishing.
  17. ActionTrip
    90
    GTA3 suffers a bit from console porting syndrome, and the designers could've worked a bit more on the whole side-quest concept, but I think you'll find that in the end, this is one addictive, intelligent and original game that's definitely worth your money.
  18. Media and Games Online Network
    89
    One thing the PC version does have over the PS2 version is the fact players can re-skin the main character, and no doubt in given time people will create modifications and new missions, cars etc for the game.
  19. Game Over Online
    88
    It’s not deep and it’s not teaching our children good things about being productive members of society, but it’s fun, and personally that’s all I expect a game to be.
  20. FiringSquad
    84
    There’s more senseless violence in GTA3 than there are bleeps in an episode of "The Osbournes."
  21. G4 TV
    80
    As shocking, unsettling, and addictively compelling as a viewing of HBO's "The Sopranos." It's just that brilliant of a game. Capiche?

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2002
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2002
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1725 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,253 out of 1725
  2. Mixed: 398 out of 1725
  3. Negative: 74 out of 1725
  1. DanielV.
    Jan 27, 2010
    10
    I first played it on PS2 and couldn't get enough. When I saw it on PC, me being a PC gamer, I *bought* it without hesitation. At first, I first played it on PS2 and couldn't get enough. When I saw it on PC, me being a PC gamer, I *bought* it without hesitation. At first, I was sorta flustered about the lock-on system, or, rather, lack thereof, but after a while, I came to find the aiming system was far better. Rockstar made the right move. And with the option of skins, mods, and the very cool mp3 radio station, it makes the PC version better than even its PS2 counter-part.… Full Review »
  2. FredericksburgC.
    Oct 19, 2002
    10
    One. Of. The. Best. Games. Ever. FACT.
  3. lutteres
    Mar 20, 2014
    4
    GTA is probably one of the most iconic series in video game history, therefore, doesn’t need any introduction.
    Although, for those who lived    GTA is probably one of the most iconic series in video game history, therefore, doesn’t need any introduction.
    Although, for those who lived under a rock for the past few years, I think it would be adequate to describe the GTA series as a Crime Simulator.
    So how does GTA 3 fit into the series? Is it still relevant? Is it worth the time and money? Or is it just a mere historical curiosity?
    Presentation:
    In terms of the graphics presentation, it has not aged well. Moreover, even for the time, GTA 3 was already a bit dated on the visuals department compared to other AAA PC games of the time. So expect pixilated textures, blocky models and robotic and clunky animations.
    Sound :
    In the sound department, GTA 3 is only satisfactory, the sound effects of vehicles and weapons are acceptable, and the soundtrack is what you would expect, but the voice-overs, despite above average, are on a lower quality format, which makes understanding people really difficult sometimes.
    Story:
    The player starts as a small bandit climbing thought the crime ranks selling its services to various mobster groups in an attempt to reach the American dream. Mix that with a bunch of "colorful" characters, and the compulsory revenge story, and you have the recipe for any other GTA game ever made. In other words, a bland and cheesy action flick full of clichés, stereotypes and dark "humor ".
    Ok, let's be honest , Rockstar can’t write anything good, just look at what they did to the Max Payne series.
    However, no one plays GTA for its “fantastic” narrative qualities anyway…
    Gameplay:
    If you played the sequels, you will know what to expect here. It’s the same basic mechanics but done poorly.
    The controls are surprisingly acceptable for keyboard and mouse, although the fixed camera when driving was a bit annoying.
    Also particularly annoying was the lack of a global map and the lack of permanent “locations hints” for Ammu-Nation and Pay 'n' Spray on the mini-map.
    In conclusion: GTA 3 might have been innovative for its time, but as it stands today, I cannot recommend it, since the sequels have done it bigger and better than what is presented here.
    But don’t get me wrong, GTA 3 is not a bad game; it’s just not a “unique enough” experience to justify its purchase anymore.
    So unless you’re a GTA fanatic, you’ll be better off keeping you’re GTA 4 installation, or try GTA San Andreas (the best GTA game for the PC in my opinion) as an alternative.    … Full Review »
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