GTA Liberty City Stories lagging on PS2

[Bocho]

Recently I bought GTA: LCS for my PS2 but for some reason its lagging, but the other GTA games run perfectly fine. Is it because of the disc or is my PS2 acting up?

[Moncastler]

The PS2 version of LCS was a terrible port with lots of performance issues, so what you're experiencing is normal. The only way of playing PS2 LCS decently is through PCSX2, but you need a good PC to stay at 25 FPS (PAL) or 30 FPS (NTSC). 

[Stahli]

100% agree. This game is terrible to play on a PS2. Most recently I always played it in the PCSX2, like Moncastler. With the emulator you don't have these FPS drops and can even play in upscaled resolution.

Edited February 5, 2024 by Stahli

[Max Payne]

What are the differences between PS2 and PSP versions? Aside from PS2’s frame drops.

[RecklessGlue540]

32 minutes ago, Max Payne said:

What are the differences between PS2 and PSP versions? Aside from PS2’s frame drops.

Quite a few. Extra content on the PS2 version, but you can also fancy patch a PSP .iso with this mod if you prefer losing the controller triggers: 

 

[Nico]

The PS2 version of Liberty City Stories doesn't have any additional content over the original PSP version. That's the case with Vice City Stories though. The only plus of the PS2 version of LCS is slightly better visuals, but as RecklessGlue540 mentioned it's possible to mod the PSP version of the game for that. Both LCS and VCS play reasonably well on the PPSSPP emulator.

[Max Payne]

I was reading the thread linked above and I saw mentioning of LCS mobile using PS2 version's map. Not sure what exactly it means but do we have info on other assets and features of mobile versions? Mobile version's lighting resemble GTA III's lighting, so does PS2's. I wonder if they used PS2 lighting for mobile version and that is the reason?

 

There are more stuff I'm curious to know about LCS. Like why the PSP version having a colorful and PS2 version having dark artstyle. Rockstar's reasons for doing what they did with LCS.

[travisbickle_]

If you think the PS2 version is bad, you should play the PS3 PSN version.

 

 

[Mister A]

On 2/7/2024 at 12:03 AM, Max Payne said:

What are the differences between PS2 and PSP versions? Aside from PS2’s frame drops.

improved building models, new props, more shadows (that are dark af in the game), higher quality textures, correct skinny Toni for Casual and Leone outfits, 3d vehicle wheels like VCS, improved trees, slightly higher quality interface

[Guest]

On 2/4/2024 at 10:37 PM, Bocho said:

Recently I bought GTA: LCS for my PS2 but for some reason its lagging, but the other GTA games run perfectly fine. Is it because of the disc or is my PS2 acting up?

its a known issue. but fixed on an emulator if you have a strong pc