Sacred Symbols+, Episode 309 | Is Grand Theft Auto III the Perfect Video Game?
Added 2023-07-05 16:00:11 +0000 UTCRecently, I (Colin) was looking for a bit of a digital time-waster. Final Fantasy XVI was on the horizon, there wasn't really much else I wanted to play that wouldn't require a grander commitment, and so my mind settled on what I figured would be a good 'podcast game' as I whittled the days away: Grand Theft Auto III. I was there when GTA3 launched on PlayStation 2 in the post-9/11 fall of 2001, cash-in-hand. And we all know how seminal and influential it was, and continues to be. But the more I played, the more riveted I became. I loved Rockstar North's romp through Liberty City then, yes, but now, 22 years later, I started to ask myself... is Grand Theft Auto III actually the perfect video game? In a lot of ways, it feels like it. Not too big or small, very little bloat, lots to do, but nothing repetitive or out-of-sorts. How could something so vast come off as something so quaint only two decades later? To dissect it, I welcomed Ian from 616Entertianment back to Sacred+. I hope you enjoy our chat.
Comments
Depressing as it is to consider a game that came out when I was at university as a retro this was a fantastic listen and a great concept considering how many PS2 era games have been remastered or remade 👍
Michael Cook
2023-07-09 04:42:56 +0000 UTCWell, you pay them to leave though
Michael Thew
2023-07-07 13:06:38 +0000 UTCThere are NO male prostitutes. Women don’t have to out right pay for sex.
Context Should Matter
2023-07-06 14:50:39 +0000 UTCR2, R2, L1, R2, left, down, right, up, left, down, right, up. Etched into my mind.
Surge!
2023-07-06 07:40:34 +0000 UTCA KnockBack episode without Dagan, what’s with these shenanigans? But yeah, 3 is a classic and still holds up. Only had like a mission or 2 that needed some work.
NeO JD
2023-07-06 02:42:25 +0000 UTCGTA 3 was when the PS2 Generation, as we know it, began.
Kameron Clem
2023-07-06 01:06:06 +0000 UTCSo pumped to hear Ian back so soon!
larry Seitz
2023-07-06 00:59:26 +0000 UTCIn the navy
SeanG123
2023-07-05 22:09:32 +0000 UTCI’ve been watching 616 for years I’m so hyped that he’s coming on these shows!!!
Brandon Lahood
2023-07-05 20:28:43 +0000 UTCSo happy to see this game get a dedicated sacred + episode. I do agree with you to some extent Colin. This game has not aged well, but there's a special sauce to the way the missions play out non linearly and how the side missions reward you with meaningful upgrades. There's a charm to the writing and voice acting that I don't grow tired of. I played GTA 3 for the first time when the definitive edition released and though it had many faults I do think they made important changes such as the control scheme, checkpoints, weapon wheels, etc. that will help make this game more approachable to the newcomer. I think GTA 6 stands to learn a lot from this title the open ended mission design, and fun arcade like side quests with the vehicle missions, and getting rewards like weapons for gathering collectibles. I hope to see a Vice City & San Andreas sacred episode in the future! Thanks for coming to my ted talk.
Jesse Sanchez
2023-07-05 19:21:06 +0000 UTCGta 3 when it came out was jaw dropping to me. Played it for thousands of hours. Had cool parents and got it for 11 year old me at launch. Still prefer gta Vice city to it though. Never played gta 4 or San Andreas. Need to sometime
Robbie Cooper
2023-07-05 18:44:35 +0000 UTCI think GTA6 could do the perfect parody while sidestepping the issues of today’s culture by just wantonly using labels as much as everyone else does. It would be hilarious if you run someone over and a person’s response is to yell “transphobe!” Or “woke idiot!” Like everyone just ignores the real violence in order to say a random selection of labels, even if they contradict each other.
Oliver Johnson
2023-07-05 18:29:42 +0000 UTCI’ll never forget playing GTAIII my first time, and playing for days without knowing you could change the camera from top down. My mind was Blown when my friend pressed Select. 😂🤦🏻♂️
Andrew Cuschieri
2023-07-05 18:28:51 +0000 UTCLove GTA 3, one of my all time favorite games. That being said, I can’t get into the Definite Edition. Everyone looks like they are made out of plastic and it’s really off putting to me. I’m currently replaying the original version on Steam and having a blast. All of the quality of life features added to the DE can’t outweigh the nostalgia I feel when playing the game with the original graphics.
Cody Raburn
2023-07-05 18:09:50 +0000 UTCThat game was mind blowing back when it came out. I beaten it several times and enjoyed every minute of it. My favorite of the series is Vice City. They improved on what they did in gta3. The soundtrack and how they represented the 80’s Miami era is perfecto.
JoeKerr
2023-07-05 16:59:13 +0000 UTCI had a great time playing through GTA III again a few months ago. It’s hard to explain to people just how impactful this game was.
Jordan Fugate
2023-07-05 16:30:25 +0000 UTC
