Game | | Grand Theft Auto Double Pack | Format | | Xbox | Publisher: | | Rockstar | Release date: | | Out now |
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The 1980s seem to be all the rage nowadays (in fact you could probably go as far to say they're the new black) and of all the decades to reinvent it had oh so much to offer. Including (but not exclusive of) appalling music, looking good depending both on the length of your mullet and the looseness of your rolled up jacket sleeves and of course Thatcherism - all undeniably horrific. But hey, you know, I don't mind doing it
for the kids. So in my capacity as reviewer I was thrown back (back) to the eighties to immerse myself in the violent, crazy, hazy, drugging and shooting world of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City via the Grand Theft Auto double pack. Having played Grand Theft Auto 3 on the PS2 I was curious to see how it looked in comparison to this new improved version and am able to report that it looks exactly the same and, yes, new and indeed improved. The locations etc. are just the same as the PS2 version but it features all the shiny surfaces and bloom lighting effects as well as the ability to create your own soundtrack which you expect from an Xbox game. So that was as much as I played that one as I was far keener to head to Vice City, with hair spray at the ready, for a bit of eighties glamour. Oh and killing and stuff obviously.  | | Phil gets back to his past in this double take. |
As most people know by now, the main aim of any Grand Theft Auto game is to drive around a map to a preordained destination (or destinations) to receive missions, complete the missions and get rewards (usually of more missions). Some of these are great - robbing banks, blowing up buildings by dropping bombs from an RC Helicopter. Some are awful - watching a poorly animated lapdancer for 10 minutes (yes really!) or selling ice cream - fun anyone?! When broken down all the aspects of the game really aren't that great. The driving? never mind Burnout it's not even Crazy Taxi, as a shooting game it's hardly Halo and as adventures go it won't have Zelda loosing any of his elfish good looks due to lack of sleep. But it all hangs together so well and is predominantly so much fun that you can ignore the little niggles (including an at times truly awful camera view). When hooked in to the seedy world of Vice City (and believe me you will get sucked in) you can't imagine anything better than racing round the streets as the sunsets - mowing down pedestrians with the sound of Blondie's 'Atomic' pulsating from the speakers. Hell, it's even fun with Nena's '99 Red Balloons' or hospital classic Cutting Crews '(I Just) Died in Your Arms' pumping out. Which must say something. To get the best out of this package play Grand Theft Auto 3 first and save Vice City as the treat as it offers an improvement in almost every aspect of the game. In fact at points I enjoyed Vice City so much I almost considered buying A Flock of Seagulls Album - 'because I ran-a-an, I ran so far away-a-ay' - shocking! Right I'm just off to get my mullet trimmed. 8/10 Phil Utility
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