Grand Theft Auto Advance(also marketed asGrand Theft Auto) is a 2004action-adventure gamedeveloped byDigital Eclipseand published byRockstar Games.The eighth entry in theGrand Theft Autoseries, it was released for theGame Boy Advancein October 2004. The game takes place inLiberty City(a fictional parody ofNew York City), the same setting used forGrand Theft Auto III,to which it serves as a prequel. The story, set one year beforeGrand Theft Auto III,follows small-time criminal Mike's quest for revenge after his partner's supposed death, which leads him to become entangled in a world of organised crime, gang warfare, and corruption.
| Grand Theft Auto Advance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Digital Eclipse |
| Publisher(s) | Rockstar Games |
| Director(s) | Michael Mika Sr. |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Programmer(s) | Cathryn Mataga |
| Artist(s) |
|
| Writer(s) | James Stanley |
| Series | Grand Theft Auto |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Advance |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The game is played from atop-down perspective,similar to the style used inGrand Theft AutoandGrand Theft Auto 2;despite this, it is part of the series' "3D universe"canon,sharing continuity with the three-dimensional games of the franchise. It also features most gameplay elements of the 3DGrand Theft Autogames, including the vehicle-based side-missions, most weapons, the use ofsafe houses,and the style of theheads-up display.The game received mixed reviews from critics, and was followed byGrand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories,anotherGrand Theft Auto IIIprequel, in 2005.
Gameplay
edit
Grand Theft Auto Advanceis anaction-adventure gameset in anopen worldenvironment and played from atop-down perspective.The game had to be adapted to the Game Boy Advance's hardware limitations. As a result, it does not have animatedcutscenes,nor does it haveGrand Theft Auto III's much-lauded pedestrian dialogue. All cutscenes are text-only with hand-drawn pictures of the characters' faces, with a thematic backdrop behind. The art style is consistent with that used for the cover and loading art of the three-dimensional releases in the series. Replacing the pedestrian dialogue, some soundbites taken fromGrand Theft Auto IIIare played when the player hits someone's car. Short police radio voiceovers will announce the player's location and vehicle type when the player commits a crime.
The game does not feature radio channels. Like theGame Boy Colorports ofGrand Theft AutoandGrand Theft Auto 2,each car has one fixed tune that is constantly repeated and cannot be changed. These include parts of some familiarGrand Theft Auto,Grand Theft Auto 2andGrand Theft Auto IIItunes, in instrumental versions. Despite this, billboards for the radio stations featured inGrand Theft Auto IIIcan be seen throughout Liberty City.[4]
Synopsis
editSetting and characters
editThe game is set in 2000 within Liberty City, the same setting used inGrand Theft Auto III.As the setting had to be recreated for the Game Boy Advance, much of it was noticeably changed in its conversion, including elements that were impossible to interpret to from the game's top-view perspective. As a result of these changes, players familiar with the original setting have to explore it afresh inGrand Theft Auto Advance.
As a prequel toGrand Theft Auto III,the game features both new and returning characters. The protagonist is an original character named Mike, who in his quest to avenge the supposed death of his partner, Vinnie, crosses paths with several prominent criminals that offer him assistance. These include explosives expert and firearms trader 8-Ball,Yardiesleader King Courtney, andyakuzaco-leader Asuka Kasen, all previously featured inGrand Theft Auto III,although their characters received significant changes in appearance and lifestyle to reflect who they were one year prior.
Plot
editSmall-time criminal Mike works for the more connected criminal Vinnie in hopes of leaving Liberty City with him and retiring from their life of crime. Vinnie convinces Mike to do work for theMafiato achieve this goal. However, after several jobs, Vinnie is seemingly killed in acar bombexplosion, which also destroys all their money. Mike vows revenge, and quickly falls out with the Mafia as he investigates Vinnie's murder. After carrying out some jobs for 8-Ball, an explosives expert and old acquaintance of Vinnie's, he points Mike to a bartender named Jonnie, who maintains connections with the city's criminal underworld and might help him find the answers he seeks. Jonnie hires Mike for several jobs while they investigate Vinnie's murder together, until the former is suddenly killed midway through the investigation.
While searching for the killer, Mike spots someYardiesleaving Jonnie's bar in a rush, and follows them to their leader, King Courtney. Courtney denies involvement in Jonnie's murder, claiming that his men were only sent to collect money Jonnie owed to him, and offers to help find the true culprit. After carrying out some jobs for him, Courtney points Mike toColombian Cartelleader Cisco. When Mike confronts Cisco, however, he quickly realizes that the man is innocent, and that Courtney has been using him all along to eliminate his rivals. Mike then begins working separately for the Cartel and their main rivals, theyakuza,led by Asuka Kasen, in hopes either gang will aid his investigation. After Cisco is suddenly killed, Mike pursues the murderer, and is shocked to find a still-living Vinnie, who reveals that he faked his own death to flee Liberty City with their money, and killed both Jonnie and Cisco to ensure Mike never learned the truth. Enraged at his former partner's betrayal, Mike kills Vinnie and steals his money, despite Vinnie's warnings that every criminal in the city will now target him for his wealth.
While meeting with 8-Ball to tell him how his investigation ended, Mike is attacked by the Cartel, who mistakenly assumed that he had killed Cisco. Although Mike escapes the attack, 8-Ball is injured during the shootout and subsequently arrested by the police. After dealing with the Cartel's new leader, Mike learns that Courtney is after his money and meets with Asuka one final time to plan an ambush at Courtney's hideout. However, the yakuza fail to show up for the attack, leaving Mike to face Courtney on his own (in one of the instances, the yakuza will provide cover for Mike once he confronts King Courtney provided he gets into the hideout within the stipulated time). Mike fends off the waves of Yardie attacks and then gravely injures Courtney but before he can finish him off, the police raid Courtney's hideout, forcing Mike to make his escape. After evading the police, Mike goes to the airport and leaves Liberty City in Cisco's private plane. He reminisces his fallen friends and heads toColombiato start a new life with his wealth.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 68/100[5] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Game Informer | 7.5/10[6] |
| GameSpot | 6.5/10[7] |
| IGN | 8.5/10[8] |
Grand Theft Auto Advancereceived "mixed or average" reviews, according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.[5]
The graphics of the game received mixed to positive commentary from critics, who likened it to other Game Boy Advance games. Craig Harris ofIGNsaid that the game "does a good job of looking like the oldGTAgames. "[8]Loki ofGame Chroniclessaid that the game uses "plenty of tricks" to give it a "3D feel," and that there's a "real sense of depth and perspective as you gaze down upon Liberty City."[9]Conversely,1UPstaff said that the game has "flat visuals" that are a "poor leap" compared to previous games in theGrand Theft Autoseries.[10]
The game's music received mixed reactions.IGN's Craig Harris said that the songs on the radio stations in the vehicles are "pretty repetitive and aren't so great."[8]1UP.com's Scott Sharkey stated that the music is "pretty bad," and named the radio tracks "very short and repetitive."[11]Jeff GerstmannofGameSpotcommented on the camera movements while driving, and that it "doesn't zoom out far enough to give you a good view of the road."[7]
References
edit- ^"GTA Advance retourne aux sources".Jeuxvideo.com(in French). 20 October 2004.Archivedfrom the original on 8 May 2023.Retrieved8 May2023.
- ^"Grand Theft Auto Advance • Eurogamer.net".Eurogamer.24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014.Retrieved8 May2023.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^Rockstar North."Grand Theft Auto Advance".Rockstar Games.Archivedfrom the original on 10 August 2007.Retrieved25 August2013.
October 26, 2004 – The day has finally come. Grand Theft Auto has arrived on the Game Boy Advance and is now available in stores. Check out the all-new official trailer in the Media section of the site.
- ^Gerstmann, Jeff(26 October 2004)."Grand Theft Auto review".GameSpot.Retrieved28 April2007.
- ^ab"Grand Theft Auto for Game Boy Advance Reviews".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on 29 December 2018.Retrieved24 December2018.
- ^Game Informer review, Jan 2005, p.148
- ^abGerstmann, Jeff(26 October 2004)."Grand Theft Auto Advance Review".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on 24 June 2011.Retrieved17 September2012.
- ^abc"Grand Theft Auto – Game Boy Advance".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on 24 March 2016.Retrieved28 April2007.
- ^Loki (8 January 2005)."Review".Game Chronicles.Archivedfrom the original on 5 April 2013.Retrieved17 September2012.
- ^1UPStaff (6 February 2005)."GTA Advance Review for GBA from 1UP.com".1UP.com.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2013.Retrieved25 August2013.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Sharkey, Scott (10 November 2004)."GTA Advance Review for GBA from 1UP.com".1UP.com.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2013.Retrieved25 August2013.
External links
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