Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories – The Most Popular PSP Game

Playstation and PS2 fans can likely tell you everything you need to know about Grand Theft Auto and all the games in the series.  Once Sony’s PSP made its debut, it was only a matter of time before the Grand Theft Auto series made its way onto the handheld platform.

Since its release, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories has been known as the hottest PSP game available, and it’s easy to see why.  The Grand Theft Auto titles are some of the most popular on the market today.

For fans of Grand Theft Auto III, Liberty City Stories brings them back to familiar surroundings, as the game takes place in Liberty City, just as the third game did.  However, since the PSP game takes place after the storyline in the PS2 games, a few things have been changed to modernize Liberty City.

You play Liberty City Stories as a character known as Toni Cipriani.  Like the other games, this one revolves around missions which eventually unlock new locations.  However, this is nothing new for GTA III players.

What is unique in this game is that the character can talk, unlike in the Liberty City game before it, and the cut scenes are better.  The free roam ability in Liberty City stories is impressive, however, you must note that there is no specific free roam mode in this PSP game.  The game loads when you turn it on, and whether or not you choose to be involved in a mission is up to you.

Like the other games, the weapons in this PSP game are impressive and there are many to choose from.  The cops are still present, as are your wanted levels, so while the temptation to blow things up might be overwhelming, just remember the consequences are the same. 

While many of the vehicles in the PSP game are still the same, there is a new transportation method: the ferry.  It’s a slow boat ride (no, you don’t get to drive the boat) and you have to pay for the service.  However, it’s a quick way from getting from island to island and you get to keep your car.

If you choose not to do the main missions, you can take on some of the side missions that you may fondly remember if you’ve played the other PS2 games.  All of these missions are repetitive – taxi driver (in which you deliver passengers to their location before time runs out), ambulance (take injured/sick people to the hospital), fire engine (putting out fires) and the new dump truck mission (collecting all the trash cans within the time limit) – but are worth it for the rewards that come.
Once again, there are hidden packages to collect, unique jumps to attempt, and the radio stations which are all too familiar to GTA fans.  But a unique twist to this PSP game is its exceptional use of the wireless capabilities allowing for complete multi-player free play.

All in all, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is a great PSP game, a worthwhile addition to any PSP game lover’s collection, and a must-have for any GTA fan.