Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Grand Theft Auto III revolutionizes the open-world genre by placing you in the shoes of Claude Speed, a silent but vengeful protagonist who must claw his way back to the top of Liberty City’s criminal underworld. The core gameplay loop revolves around an intuitive mix of driving and on-foot exploration. You’ll hop between cars, motorcycles, boats and even a tank as you tear through crowded streets or make a daring escape on foot, keeping the action varied and adrenaline-fuelled.

The game’s mission structure is both structured and flexible. While the main storyline sends you on a linear path of betrayal and revenge—completing bank heists, hit jobs and daring rescues—you’re often given multiple mission options at any given time. This branching approach adds a layer of agency, allowing you to tackle low-level thug work one minute and high-stakes smuggling runs the next.

Outside of narrative missions, Liberty City is your playground for mayhem. Side gigs such as taxi driving, ambulance runs, vigilante police duties and street races provide both a respite from the main story and a way to pad your wallet with extra cash. The dynamic “wanted” system keeps you on your toes; the more chaos you unleash, the harder the city’s law enforcement will come after you. Balancing risk and reward is key to mastering GTA III’s addictive sandbox gameplay.

Graphics

As the first fully 3D entry in the series, Grand Theft Auto III’s visuals were groundbreaking at launch. Liberty City is divided into three unique districts—Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale—each with its own architectural style, traffic patterns and ambient life. Though textures and character models appear blocky by today’s standards, the cityscape still brims with atmospheric detail: neon signs flicker at night, car headlights streak through rain-soaked streets, and distant skyscrapers loom on the horizon.

Character animations and cutscenes are delivered in a charmingly minimalist style: Claude never speaks, letting his actions tell the story, while supporting characters exude personality through expressive movements and sharply written dialogue. The game’s camera system offers multiple viewpoints during driving segments and allows free rotation when on foot—an innovation that enhances situational awareness and heightens immersion in the urban sprawl.

Weather effects and day-night cycles add further visual variety. Sunny afternoons give way to moody twilight as neon lights bathe the city in color, and occasional rainstorms transform streets into glossy reflections. Though polygon counts are low compared to modern titles, the game’s art direction and level design remain iconic, capturing the gritty, crime-ridden atmosphere that defines Liberty City.

Story

Grand Theft Auto III opens with a brutal betrayal. Claude Speed’s partner Catalina double-crosses him during a bank heist, leaving him shot and imprisoned. His one-night reprieve comes when a Colombian gang stages a daring ambush on the prison transport van, freeing Claude alongside explosives expert 8-Ball. From that moment on, vengeance becomes your driving force.

What follows is a gritty, no-holds-barred descent into the criminal underworld of Liberty City. You’ll work for mobsters such as Joey Leone, Salvatore Leone and Donald Love—each offering distinctive missions that deepen the narrative and introduce you to the city’s power players. Catalina herself looms over every chapter, her manic presence foreshadowing the ultimate showdown that propelled GTA III’s storyline to unforgettable heights.

While some characters serve primarily as conduits to more mayhem, others leave a lasting impression thanks to memorable dialogue and clever mission design. The game strikes a balance between cinematic cutscenes and on-the-ground action, ensuring the plot remains engaging without interrupting the sandbox freedom that defines the series.

Overall Experience

Even decades after its original release, Grand Theft Auto III stands as a milestone in interactive entertainment. Its blend of open-world freedom, varied mission types and emergent gameplay moments still delivers visceral thrills—whether you’re launching a police car off a ramp, engaging in high-speed chases or simply exploring every back alley of Liberty City.

Certain mechanics feel dated: handling can be floaty, camera angles occasionally jostle during combat, and loading times may test your patience on older hardware. Yet these quirks become part of the game’s nostalgic charm, reminding players how revolutionary these systems were when first introduced.

For potential buyers, GTA III offers both a historically significant experience and an entertaining sandbox that rewards creativity and curiosity. Its groundbreaking 3D world laid the foundation for today’s open-world blockbusters, and its narrative of betrayal and revenge remains surprisingly compelling. If you’re seeking the roots of modern crime-driven gameplay or simply want a classic slice of digital anarchy, Grand Theft Auto III delivers in spades.

Retro Replay Score

8/10