PS2 Question For Those With The PSP Version

[Executive]

Greets. I bought Liberty City Stories for the PS2 yesterday (don't own a PSP), and while I'm pretty sure I'll have a good time with this game overall, the number of graphical glitches and odd mishaps are really throwing me off. Grand Theft Auto games should have more polish than this. Consequently, I'm curious as to whether some of the things I name off were in the PSP version from the start, or if they are a result of the conversion to PS2 (I suspect they are in the PSP).

 

First of all (and I think someone noted this in another thread, but I didn't see a response) is that entering a safe house (or possibly all safe houses or interiors, technically the only one I've entered in gameplay is the first one) causes the screen to become a lot brighter and lose a lot of contrast (thus making everything look like total sh*t). I'm thinking this is a glitch as once the screen actually remained as it was for a second or so inside the interior before it switched.

 

Secondly, when it rains (or does other weather things of the sort), it's incredibly choppy. Half the time when I walk out of my safe house, it will be raining, then in 5 steps it stops raining at an instant. Or (if it keeps raining), there is a very noticeable line where the rain is an isn't falling.

 

Third, while the game has a pretty godawful framerate as a whole, for some reason it seems to drop another few notches during the cutscenes (which is odd as these tend to take place in interiors). This makes the cutscenes something of an eye sore.

 

Lastly, and I'm not so much asking about this as I've been told they exist (haven't gotten that far yet), but I have to bitch about them leaving the postcard loading screens in between the three islands. Seriously, I could have dealt with all of these other issues and then some so long as they made the island transitions seamless. It takes me out of the game experience like no other, and I would have gladly waited another month or so if it meant this one problem would have been fixed.

 

So anyway, yea, I'm noticing graphical issues and then some. They probably weren't as noticeable on the PSP screen (assuming they were present on the PSP version), but I'm a bit torn on this. At $20, I'm sure there's a lot of fun to be had with the new missions (well, new to me) and so forth, but on the other hand, I would have payed $30 or $35 for this if they had made it what it could have been. What probably irritates me the most is how Rockstar sent out a newsletter advertising LCS for the PS2 claiming that this version had been "optimized" for this console. B.S., my friends.

 

I'm off to play the game some more. But I gotta say, a framerate like this really takes away from that sense of urgency that the other GTA games had (even when I'm just punching people in the face or running from cops).

 

Thanks to anyone who reads this and/or takes the time to comment.

[GTA_Gangsta']

For the safehouses thats not really a big deal after lettin my game sit in the safe house for a min when i went downstairs it went away and when you walk oustide your safehouse thats not rain that the little yellow blimp behined you, just walk out and dont move and youll see it, and the loading screen inbetween the levels takes 2 sec so load so that doesnt bother me that much, but the graphics are pretty decent besides some of the car details,but being able tp drive through tress and sh*t is dumb cuz its not realisic at all. but hey the game is only 20 bucks and so far its prettty bad ass

[Natedogg.]

I don't see any reference to them saying it was optimized. Basically Rockstar claimed it was a direct port of the PSP version.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

Well the game was initially optimized for PSP which as you know isn't as capable as the PS2 so prehaps that doesn't really translate over to PS2 smothly for some reason. There's also the fact that a TV is much bigger then a PSP screen so maybe the resolution being bigger causes more noticeable problems. I don't have the PS2 version so I am only going by what I am hearing.

[Natedogg.]

 

Well the game was initially optimized for PSP which as you know isn't as capable as the PS2 so prehaps that doesn't really translate over to PS2 smothly for some reason. There's also the fact that a TV is much bigger then a PSP screen so maybe the resolution being bigger causes more noticeable problems. I don't have the PS2 version so I am only going by what I am hearing.

What you are saying is indeed true. For example, take a large monitor of let's say 24" and run a resolution of about 800x600, you will have jaggies because the resolution is not set to the monitors native resolution. This would transfer over to the PSP being low resolution and upscaling it to a T.V. that is around 25+ inches. Therefore, the claim is true.

[Executive]

Here's the Rockstar passage I was talking about:

 

"The videogame that took Game of the Year (plus Best Action Game, Best Use of Sound, Best Story, Best Graphic Technology, and more) in IGN’s Best Of the PSP 2005 Awards…

 

The game that ate up the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) System charts, and is still to-date the all-time bestselling title for that platform...

 

Now this heralded portable iteration of the Grand Theft Auto franchise is no longer solely the privilege of the handheld gaming set.

 

Today, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories arrives for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system - meaning PS2 owners across the nation can now also make that return trip to the unwelcoming streets of Liberty City, in the shoes of Toni Cipriani.

 

With all of the original storyline, gameplay, music and more that made

the original handheld version a 2005 classic – optimized for PlayStation 2 with faster load times, increased draw distance and a more densely populated city…

 

And for only $19.99 MSRP.

Yow.

 

This is an easy decision for anyone who missed out on the PSP release, and prefers their Grand Theft Auto gaming on the big screen.

 

Visit the official Liberty City Stories website at www.rockstargames.com/libertycitystories for online e-tail options as well as to check out the all-new PlayStation 2 version trailer and selection of new and exclusive screenshots."

 

Well anyway, I still think they could have done a lot more with it, and I would have gladly forked out some extra money for a truly optimized version, but I'm getting used to the framerate, and the missions are getting more interesting. Thanks for the replies.

[Natedogg.]

Here's the Rockstar passage I was talking about:

 

"The videogame that took Game of the Year (plus Best Action Game, Best Use of Sound, Best Story, Best Graphic Technology, and more) in IGN’s Best Of the PSP 2005 Awards…

 

The game that ate up the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) System charts, and is still to-date the all-time bestselling title for that platform...

 

Now this heralded portable iteration of the Grand Theft Auto franchise is no longer solely the privilege of the handheld gaming set.

 

Today, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories arrives for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system - meaning PS2 owners across the nation can now also make that return trip to the unwelcoming streets of Liberty City, in the shoes of Toni Cipriani.

 

With all of the original storyline, gameplay, music and more that made

the original handheld version a 2005 classic – optimized for PlayStation 2 with faster load times, increased draw distance and a more densely populated city…

 

And for only $19.99 MSRP.

Yow.

 

This is an easy decision for anyone who missed out on the PSP release, and prefers their Grand Theft Auto gaming on the big screen.

 

Visit the official Liberty City Stories website at www.rockstargames.com/libertycitystories for online e-tail options as well as to check out the all-new PlayStation 2 version trailer and selection of new and exclusive screenshots."

 

Well anyway, I still think they could have done a lot more with it, and I would have gladly forked out some extra money for a truly optimized version, but I'm getting used to the framerate, and the missions are getting more interesting. Thanks for the replies.

Yeah well they're right. The word Optimization applied to longer draw-distance and etc which is stated. All the reviews have claimed those theories of optimization true but I agree, some other tweaks could've been added to make the game further enhanced.

[Goldrusher]

I only have the PSP version and comparing my experience with your remarks:

 

- no weird rain, no choppy framerate during or after it

- no weird transitions between indoor and outdoor lighting

- no choppy cutscenes

 

Only negative thing I had was a weird crash.

Suddenly the music stopped playing, then a few seconds later the entire game froze.

 

I had to reboot the game (home-button still worked)

Edited June 8, 2006 by Goldrusher

[GTA3Freak-2001]

It sorta shows that sadly its more of a money maker.

[pbarb]

This game looks great on my big ass tv, in the rain, fog, whatever...I got no complaints.

[PetsOvernight]

This game looks great on my big ass tv, in the rain, fog, whatever...I got no complaints.

I agree. My TV isn't 'big assed', but the grapics are fine. The only annoyance I have is sometimes during the night it'll get too dark in certain areas, and it's kinda impossible to see anything, but that's minor and understandable. Overall I like the graphics just fine and wasn't disappointed like I thought I might be.