Okay, so I've had the Australian edited version for two days now (I think all they took out is picking up the ho's) and am about 15% or so in there, so here are my initial impressions.
Graphics - mmm... is it actually an improvement over GTA3? The colours make it kind of hard to judge, but I'm firmly of the opinion that with the 'streaking' effect on it looks worse than GTA3, but with it off looks about the same. Draw distances are certainly better. I see they've polished up some of the fonts used, and the packages as the little carved statues is a nice touch.
Motorbikes - these are fantastic, their inclusion was inspired, no question.
Missions - these are much better. I like the multiple offender feature of the vigilante mission - I was quite shocked to see four bikini clad girls jump out of a car I'd just rammed (heh... fixed their curvey butts right up, heh heh heh...). The longer missions are great (thinking of the assault rifle from the helicopter and then the raid on the mansion, and the guardian angel mission) and much more involved, big improvement. It's even cool tooling around delivering pizzas.
Sound - just astonishing. So much music, and the voice acting is fantastic. I was a bit apprehensive to hear Tommy would have a voice, but the choice of Ray Liotta, and the script for him, are inspired - 'ah, you look like you need the walk anyway', brilliant stuff.
What else do I like? Mmm...
- some of the new locations are great. The golf course is pretty cool, and it's nice to be able to get into some of the locations. They're much more detailed now - the shopping malls are fantastic, and the laneways between the main thoroughfares give a lot more depth to the city
- the police seem to be harder to deal with. It seems to be easier to get to two stars, and the police are a lot more problematic at that level.
- changing outfits is brilliant - I seem to spend a lot of time running around in plaid pants
- holding up stores is cool.
- the new weapons are good, especially the chain saw and golf club
- it's fantastic that you can buy property and businesses, it does give a feeling of 'moving along in the world'
- I love that the cars are the earlier versions of the GTA3 cars - really gives a feel of being part of a world
- Love the layout of the city. Actually, it really reminds me of the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia.
So, a game that in my initial ten-twenty minutes I was quite apprehensive about (I was VERY concerned when I initially started playing) I'm starting to really get into. I'm surprised at just how different it is to GTA3.
So - do I love it. Oooh yes - there goes my Christmas.
Will I stop playing GTA3 now? Goodness me no - GTA3 has a 'casual violence' style that I love, a real element of street thuggery, whereas Vice City doesn't seem to have that element in it, as yet anway.
Graphics - mmm... is it actually an improvement over GTA3? The colours make it kind of hard to judge, but I'm firmly of the opinion that with the 'streaking' effect on it looks worse than GTA3, but with it off looks about the same. Draw distances are certainly better. I see they've polished up some of the fonts used, and the packages as the little carved statues is a nice touch.
Motorbikes - these are fantastic, their inclusion was inspired, no question.
Missions - these are much better. I like the multiple offender feature of the vigilante mission - I was quite shocked to see four bikini clad girls jump out of a car I'd just rammed (heh... fixed their curvey butts right up, heh heh heh...). The longer missions are great (thinking of the assault rifle from the helicopter and then the raid on the mansion, and the guardian angel mission) and much more involved, big improvement. It's even cool tooling around delivering pizzas.
Sound - just astonishing. So much music, and the voice acting is fantastic. I was a bit apprehensive to hear Tommy would have a voice, but the choice of Ray Liotta, and the script for him, are inspired - 'ah, you look like you need the walk anyway', brilliant stuff.
What else do I like? Mmm...
- some of the new locations are great. The golf course is pretty cool, and it's nice to be able to get into some of the locations. They're much more detailed now - the shopping malls are fantastic, and the laneways between the main thoroughfares give a lot more depth to the city
- the police seem to be harder to deal with. It seems to be easier to get to two stars, and the police are a lot more problematic at that level.
- changing outfits is brilliant - I seem to spend a lot of time running around in plaid pants
- holding up stores is cool.
- the new weapons are good, especially the chain saw and golf club
- it's fantastic that you can buy property and businesses, it does give a feeling of 'moving along in the world'
- I love that the cars are the earlier versions of the GTA3 cars - really gives a feel of being part of a world
- Love the layout of the city. Actually, it really reminds me of the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia.
So, a game that in my initial ten-twenty minutes I was quite apprehensive about (I was VERY concerned when I initially started playing) I'm starting to really get into. I'm surprised at just how different it is to GTA3.
So - do I love it. Oooh yes - there goes my Christmas.
Will I stop playing GTA3 now? Goodness me no - GTA3 has a 'casual violence' style that I love, a real element of street thuggery, whereas Vice City doesn't seem to have that element in it, as yet anway.
and sniping the pilots of the police choppers is great ..
.
arty:
