Recently been playing the 3D universe games in chronological order

[lucy12345]

I gotta say, I am enjoying them a lot more than the HD era games. And it's not just nostalgia or anything, the only 3D era game I played before the HD era was SA. In fact, for all the 3D era games aside from that and III, this was my first time playing through them fully.

 

One thing seems odd though. How is it that you can travel through all of SA without loading zones, and yet, the much smaller VC and LC have loading zones in between islands.

[universetwisters]

One thing seems odd though. How is it that you can travel through all of SA without loading zones, and yet, the much smaller VC and LC have loading zones in between islands.

 

I read it's got to do with the engine. In VC and LC, the island was loaded once you passed into it, whereas in SA, the map was loaded around the player. Don't count me on that though, I just read it in an article.

[don ovdi' island]

I think because of the advancements of the time. I remember when SA first came out one of the highlights were that "OH LOOK you can't travel from one island to the next without loading screens"

[universetwisters]

I think because of the advancements of the time. I remember when SA first came out one of the highlights were that "OH LOOK you can't travel from one island to the next without loading screens"

 

Yeah, I remember that being one of the main selling points as far as technical advancements went.

[don ovdi' island]

 

I think because of the advancements of the time. I remember when SA first came out one of the highlights were that "OH LOOK you can't travel from one island to the next without loading screens"

 

Yeah, I remember that being one of the main selling points as far as technical advancements went.

 

Yeah, and back then, after playing San Andreas for a while and putting Vice City back into the console, I was almost taken by how it was loading when i tried to cross islands.. At first i thought something was wrong with the disc - how quickly we forget.

Of course now I only play those games for nostalgia so I take them how they are.

[universetwisters]

 

 

I think because of the advancements of the time. I remember when SA first came out one of the highlights were that "OH LOOK you can't travel from one island to the next without loading screens"

 

Yeah, I remember that being one of the main selling points as far as technical advancements went.

 

Yeah, and back then, after playing San Andreas for a while and putting Vice City back into the console, I was almost taken by how it was loading when i tried to cross islands.. At first i thought something was wrong with the disc - how quickly we forget.

Of course now I only play those games for nostalgia so I take them how they are.

 

 

I never really minded the load times so much. I liked VC's and how they were styled like postcards to give it the tourist-ey feel, and living up in Washington DC at the time, it felt like I was legit on vacation. Now that I actually live in Florida, I'm all "meh" about it.

[Journey_95]

I did that too few years ago was very enjoyable indeed especially with the different Cameos and connections throughout the games (I also played VCS and LCS)

 

but few weeks ago I did a complete HD era playthrough and I gotta say its much better in every aspect (played GTA IV + Episodes in chronogical order, and then GTA V)
I will still like the old ones because of nostalgia but in my opinion the HD era was a step up in almost every category (story, characters, gameplay. of course graphics)

but thats just me

[Pooyan Cyrus]

One thing seems odd though. How is it that you can travel through all of SA without loading zones, and yet, the much smaller VC and LC have loading zones in between islands.

 

It's not odd in any way. Rockstar had used a newer, improved RenderWare engine in San Andreas which loaded maps better.

[Osho]

3D ERA ( incl GTA 2 ) games are hands down, the BEST in the series!

I've been going through playing these classics for years now, and still that old school fun doesn't bore me, AT ALL!

Diverse missions and lengthy campaign, awesome music, side content, great characters, unique atmosphere, and the unrestricted freedom!!!!

 

I popped in EFLC, just few months back and got me thinking about how much has changed, that turned the game to a huge bore faster than I expected from the "GTA" game. They went for realism which isn't a problem, but they offered way less in what you can think of GTA game, content wise.

New things they should've introduced over throwing silly pigeon kills. That's just an example of why HD games are my least favorite, when it comes to replay value and side fun.

All they introduced in the name of content outside story missions just doesn't appeal to what the kind of 3D games offered.

I honestly don't see HD titles good enough as the old titles. They definitely win on technical front, and the improvements brought, no doubt. But, they really leave a lot to be desired when it comes to outstanding gameplay.

Still, GTA V doesn't top GTA IV for me though, for the better story and decent game overall.

[Pooyan Cyrus]

One thing seems odd though. How is it that you can travel through all of SA without loading zones, and yet, the much smaller VC and LC have loading zones in between islands.

 

It's not odd in any way. Rockstar had used a newer, improved RenderWare engine in San Andreas which loaded maps better.

[Dope_0110]

Well, there could be a few reasons you're enjoying them more. It could be the novelty, since you haven't played them before so they are something new to you. Or it could be the tighter controls due to the whole engine being a bit more arcady so the controls and gameplay overall felt a bit more precise and responsive. If you're a fan of such gameplay then it will be much more fun then the more realistic gameplay of HD era. But in the end, it's all down to subjective preferences.

As for the loading, it's simply the advancements that come with time. It's the same as if you said it's weird how SA has better graphics than III or VC. There's nothing strange there, they just improved the engine to allow a persistent world without having loading screens between islands. Though they still had them when going to interiors, which was then improved with IV.

[Lethal Vaccine]

3D Era is king. Nothing compares, and nothing will ever compare to III, VC, SA, LCS, and VCS.

[Staten]

The PS2-era games are showing their age a lot now and have been surpassed by the more recent games in almost every aspect, but they're still fun to play sometimes.

[don ovdi' island]

3D ERA ( incl GTA 2 )

GTA 2 was not 3D era.

[KFranchise]

Wish I bought 3 and VC from PSN. Instead I bought Injustice with its tedious and ridiculous ass STAR Lab missions.

 

I didn't buy 3 and VC because it would have been no purpose since PS3 purchases don't carry over to PS4, which I'm getting soon.

[J-B]

The 3d era games were stylized more, each one feels different. The HD games try to be more true to life style wise, this makes them feel more similar.

 

I don't mind the change, but I have more fondness for the 3d games.

[HOW'S ANNIE?]

To be honest I don't really have any incentive to replay any 3D era titles other than III and Vice City Stories. IMO they are the standout points of the entire era, I can't really get into playing either Vice City or San Andreas any more.

[Tyla]

I've been going through the III era games this week: III, VC and SA.

 

One thing I notice is that I'll dip into each of them for their merits and then move onto the next one. I don't do that when I go back to GTAIV and the Episodes.

 

I don't know why that is. This isn't me saying the III era stories were sh*t, because they weren't. They just don't hold my attention like they did when they were fresh out.

 

They're a lot of fun. I spent a good hour just setting fire to people with the flame thrower on GTA III and thought it was hilarious. Then I moved onto chainsawing people in VC.

 

Last night I had a giggle on SA.

 

I haven't bothered to get past Nines and AKs yet but I wanted my CJ to learn Karate so I broke into Los Santos International and stole a Shamal. Proceeded to fly over Flint County -- four stars -- Hydras trying to blow me out of the sky. I'm hit three or four times -- I bail and parachute out, end up in Fierro.

 

I make it to the Dojo, beast the old Sensei dude and learn Karate. And while I feel like it, CJ benches 300 pounds. I get outside and there's cops everywhere, I'm literally down to my last life. Somehow find a Sprunk machine, and suddenly I'm drinking soda pop to replenish my health. Surrounded again by cops, but I steal a cop car and escape some the train tracks.

 

But they're blocked at the end by a barrier, so I'm killing cops left right and centre until I manage to jack a car to replace the messed up cop vehicle. I go all around Flint County until I find a body of water I can swim across to make it into Red County. More cops -- helicopter guys screaming at me -- SWAT guys parachuting down. Mayhem. Then I make it to a Pay N Spray and it's like it never happened.

 

It was crazy, shameless fun - and totally worth briefly replaying the game for.

[Ezza.]

3D era remastered into HD graphics, improved vehicles and handling = *unzipps*

Edited August 15, 2014 by EZza2647

[Flachbau]

 

 

One thing seems odd though. How is it that you can travel through all of SA without loading zones, and yet, the much smaller VC and LC have loading zones in between islands.

 

I have to say, I've never paid much attention to this,but to me, that's a major improvement. Kinda an annoyance how you would speed across a bridge in Vice City, and then it would take a moment to load. So glad it's not like this anymore. Thanks to newer technology, they were able to fix this.

 

Anyway, I've never fully played III. Should I really do that before I have to go back to classes?

[J-B]

Anyway, I've never fully played III. Should I really do that before I have to go back to classes?

 

 

III isn't very long. You should totally do it.

[Tyla]

Agreed. Just don't blame us if you get hooked on it and your grades slip.

 

Did VCS have loading screens between islands? I can't remember if it did or not.

[universetwisters]

Did VCS have loading screens between islands? I can't remember if it did or not.

 

Yep, along with LCS. Hell, sometimes in VCS, it'd just freeze for a second while a text that read "loading" appeared at the bottom, but that was just on the PS2 version. I dunno if it was in the PSP version or not.

[TheFunkyBunch]

The HD era games(uptill now) are no match for the famous 3D era trilogy. III, VC, SA > IV, TBoGT, TLaD, V.

na Sorry i would take the Good Writing and Original Stories over the Generic tripe we got in the Overrated 3D Era.

 

 

 

but i Respect your Opinion of course but your Wrong.

Edited August 16, 2014 by TheFunkyBunch

[Mr_Leone]

LCS, III, VCS is all I care about, really. Never cared much for what SA had to offer, and VC has gone stale for me, minus the amazing story.

[Ezza.]

 

The HD era games(uptill now) are no match for the famous 3D era trilogy. III, VC, SA > IV, TBoGT, TLaD, V.

na Sorry i would take the Good Writing and Original Stories over the Generic tripe we got in the Overrated 3D Era.

 

 

 

but i Respect your Opinion of course but your Wrong.

 

No opinion is wrong. Only facts can be wrong.

 

My Opinion: We did get good stories in the III era. And if you're talking about Generic tripe not in the HD era, then you obviously haven't played V

[HaythamKenway]

I never really minded the load times so much. I liked VC's and how they were styled like postcards to give it the tourist-ey feel, and living up in Washington DC at the time, it felt like I was legit on vacation. Now that I actually live in Florida, I'm all "meh" about it.

Radio that kept on playing during loading actually made the cut in gameplay bearable. That was one of little touches I really loved about VC.

 

I, too, keep on replaying 3D era games all the time. They still hold up remarkably. Only VC's gameplay is a bit too clunky, but nothing that would render the game unplayable. SA is unsurpassed in its scope, VC still has that atmosphere, VCS is probably the most underrated GTA of all and I really enjoy LCS's story and setting. The only 3D era game I find myself not going back to is III. Unlike VC and its relationship with VCS, III doesn't have that kind of edge that would make me pick up and play it, when there is LCS on my shelf. The story is just a loose plot that exists just to connect missions, Claude is just a bland, boring mute and the gameplay is awfully barebones. I have to appreciate what III did for the series, but it's the only truly outdated 3D era GTA in my opinion,

Edited August 16, 2014 by SFPD officer

[Mr_Leone]

 

I never really minded the load times so much. I liked VC's and how they were styled like postcards to give it the tourist-ey feel, and living up in Washington DC at the time, it felt like I was legit on vacation. Now that I actually live in Florida, I'm all "meh" about it.

Radio that kept on playing during loading actually made the cut in gameplay bearable. That was one of little touches I really loved about VC.

 

I, too, keep on replaying 3D era games all the time. They still hold up remarkably. Only VC's gameplay is a bit too clunky, but nothing that would render the game unplayable. SA is unsurpassed in its scope, VC still has that atmosphere, VCS is probably the most underrated GTA of all and I really enjoy LCS's story and setting. The only 3D era game I find myself not going back to is III. Unlike VC and its relationship with VCS, III doesn't have that kind of edge that would make me pick up and play it, when there is LCS on my shelf. The story is just a loose plot that exists just to connect missions, Claude is just a bland, boring mute and the gameplay is awfully barebones. I have to appreciate what III did for the series, but it's the only truly outdated 3D era GTA in my opinion,

 

Claude to me is misunderstood. I think he's always been quiet, but when he got betrayed by someone he invested so much of his life to, he snapped, and did anything and everything to prove to himself that he is far from "small time". The mechanics work fine to me, with free aim on the PC I'm loving it. The side missions are fun and the gangs are very, very hostile which brings a certain edge to the game and to the city. I don't think it's any worse than VC, and in my opinion, the Liberty City story arc is better, both in the HD universe, and the III era.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Mr_Leone

[Algonquin Assassin]

To be honest I don't really have any incentive to replay any 3D era titles other than III and Vice City Stories. IMO they are the standout points of the entire era, I can't really get into playing either Vice City or San Andreas any more.

I kind of feel the same way except I would rather play VC and GTA III as they're my standouts for the 3D era. Despite GTA Vs weakness the HD era is more playable to me.

[Blingy]

 

 

I never really minded the load times so much. I liked VC's and how they were styled like postcards to give it the tourist-ey feel, and living up in Washington DC at the time, it felt like I was legit on vacation. Now that I actually live in Florida, I'm all "meh" about it.

Radio that kept on playing during loading actually made the cut in gameplay bearable. That was one of little touches I really loved about VC.

 

I, too, keep on replaying 3D era games all the time. They still hold up remarkably. Only VC's gameplay is a bit too clunky, but nothing that would render the game unplayable. SA is unsurpassed in its scope, VC still has that atmosphere, VCS is probably the most underrated GTA of all and I really enjoy LCS's story and setting. The only 3D era game I find myself not going back to is III. Unlike VC and its relationship with VCS, III doesn't have that kind of edge that would make me pick up and play it, when there is LCS on my shelf. The story is just a loose plot that exists just to connect missions, Claude is just a bland, boring mute and the gameplay is awfully barebones. I have to appreciate what III did for the series, but it's the only truly outdated 3D era GTA in my opinion,

 

Claude to me is misunderstood. I think he's always been quiet, but when he got betrayed by someone he invested so much of his life to, he snapped, and did anything and everything to prove to himself that he is far from "small time". The mechanics work fine to me, with free aim on the PC I'm loving it. The side missions are fun and the gangs are very, very hostile which brings a certain edge to the game and to the city. I don't think it's any worse than VC, and in my opinion, the Liberty City story arc is better, both in the HD universe, and the III era.

 

Anybody who wants to say GTA III is easy, or isn't really "defined", do the taxi missions after you turn on the Mafia and time just how long you'll last.