Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Set 3 years before GTA3, Toni Cipriani takes on the role as the main character in this new GTA game which has been ported for the PS2.
After been accused of killing a made man he tries to work his way back into society by doing jobs and favours for many different bosses.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 10 years you're bound to at least be aware of the GTA games.
Originally meant as a PSP exclusive it's now available on the PS2. It's the exact same as the PSP version nothing is added to it although Multiplayer has been removed. So it's less of a game as the PSP version was. Which is why it's only $20.
Yep, don't expect to see helicopters, planes, swimming, BMXs, eating or any other fancy stuff we've come accustomed to after SA. R* have gone back to basics...

..and also back to Liberty City.

Liberty City, the land of opportunity and corruption makes a welcome return. It's small size does take some getting used to after the massive map in SA but good things come in small packages. Some things have changed as it's set 3 years before GTA3 so some buildings are still been built for example but it's mostly the exact same as in GTA3.


GRAPHICS:
Slightly dated in this day and age but we don't mind. GTA games are not famous for their graphics anyway. So don't expect any eye candy that you might see in FFX or MGS. The graphics are the same as the PSP version which are average at best.

GAMEPLAY:
This is where GTA usually excels and this game is no different. With the addition of the L2 and R2 buttons on the PS2 the controls are the same as in the previous GTA games. The targeting system leaves plenty of room for improvement though as in the midst of battle Toni sometimes targets a civilian in the distance instead of the guy with a shotgun 3 feet away.
A minor thing which doesn't irritate too much as it doesn't happen a lot.

SIDE MISSIONS:
The main story is only 40% of the game. The remaining 60% is taken up on side missions. Many new side missions make an appearance here such as:
- Avenging Angels (a bit like taking over territory in SA but without actually gaining territory)
- Scooter Shooter (A civilian drives a motorbike with you sitting behind him shooting at vehicles)
- Trash Dash (Collect trash around the city before the timer runs out.)
- Carmeggedon (One of my favorites. Use a FireTruck to cause as much havoc on the streets as possible)
...and many more.

There's also the usual Hidden Packages, Rampages and Unique Jumps to find which is quite enjoyable.

AUDIO:
The radio stations are back of course although they're not as good as previous GTA games. The stations loop every 10 minutes. Which is a big step back from 20 minutes per station in SA. You'll be hearing the same song a hell of a lot throughout the game which is a shame. The songs are nothing special either. The odd song here and there stand out but nothing great. Even Chatterbox doesn't feel the same anymore.
The DJs and Commercials are often more fun to listen to then the songs themselves. The many Internet digs really puts a smile on your face.

LIFESPAN:
Because this game was originally intended for the PSP only, the missions are short and easy. 'Drive there, pick up him, drive him back here' occurs a lot. Plenty of missions feel similar to the last. The missions are the worst thing about LCS. Which is a real shame.

SUMMARY:
There's no denying that this game is good. Escpecially with a $20 price tag. It's definitely worth the money but it's also a big step in the wrong direction. Granted it's a PSP port which does mean that a lot less can be done due to restrictions but after playing SA for so long I can't help but feel like I've gone back in time when I play LCS.
The lack of Flyables and Swimming just feels wrong.
Overal if you're a GTA fan you should have this in your collection. Even if you're not a fan it's a large game that can take about 50 hours to finish. Surely that's worth 20 bucks?