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Review : Grand Theft Auto Advance for Gameboy Advance
Rockstar games put together a Gameboy Advance game based on their highly profitable Grand Theft Auto Series. Rather than trying to make a half ass over the shoulder game in an attempt to make a port of Grand Theft Auto 3 they went with a sequel to GTA 1 and GTA 2.
GTA Advance is based on an overhead 2D graphics engine with some pseudo 3d buildings. A lot of gamers were introduced to Grand Theft Auto when GTA 3 was the biggest PS2 game of the decade but I was first hooked on the PC version of GTA 2. Sony re-released the three PSOne GTA games in a greatest hits value pack. I love on the back of the PSOne Collection that there are no screen shots of the 2d game engine. Of you had played the first three PSOne games then the GTA GBA games would be right up your ally but if you started with GTA 3 and can't stand old school 2d games than you should stay away from this game.
There is lots of cool action, driving around stealing cars, shooting bad guys, running over innocent bystanders, in a criminal underworld based on the Liberty City of GTA 3. There is some of the same characters such as 8-Ball. The Pay and Spray, and Ammo-Nation, a huge city environment and rampant car jackings are all there in GBA form.
The graphics is based on a good port of the GTA One/Two engine but it does have some slow down and choppy graphics when driving at high speeds. There is some good sound effects and the music is decent but it can't hold a candle to the PS2 games.
I can only hope that there is a new GTA games being made for the PSP and the Nintendo DS. This is a nice portable dose of GTA insanity and it should be well received for those who have been schooled at the 2d GTA games. This is one of the few M rated Games for the GBA and driving around being a thug can be quite fun in a small bite-size handheld form.
Jake at January 9, 2005 
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Comments
People who aren't sure if they would like GTA Advance can always go here: href="http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/" and download GTA 1 and GTA 2 for the PC. Rockstar Games has made them free to download.
I've never played any of the GTA 3 games, but I spent many hours in GTA 1. That was a fun game.
Posted by: danny at January 10, 2005 7:09 AM
There's going to be a GTA title at US/EU PSP launch. ( http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6204 )
Posted by: Matt at January 10, 2005 8:39 PM
Yeah I should have linked too GTA 1 and 2 Classic. It is cool that Rockstar reworked them to work with modern PCs.
Yeah I see that GTA PSP is in the works. Who knows if it will be done on time and if even the PSP will out in March.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 10, 2005 10:16 PM
Hello!! I want that game so much!! Plz Can I have some Games Like that!!! as a Christmas gift!!! Ty!!!
Posted by: jonathan at December 13, 2005 12:59 AM
can you gave me that game for free
Posted by: marcus at May 4, 2006 7:46 AM
