Grand Theft Auto Double Pack

"Sweet like bear meat."

Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City on sale together in a box set for $40? Where do I sign up? As if there wasn't reason enough to own at least one of these games, you can now get them both for a reduced price! Who in their right mind wouldn't take Rockstar up on this offer?

As if you didn't already know, Grand Theft Auto 3 has pretty much single-handedly revolutionized current gaming as we know it. This is painfully obvious since extremely large, streaming worlds have become the norm in today's releases. While there were other games before it that offered up large three-dimensional worlds (Ocarina of Time comes to mind), Grand Theft Auto 3 took the concept, turned it sideways, kicked it in the ass, and perfected it.

Not only did it bring about a revolution in 3d game design, it also provided a cathartic release for many angst filled teens (who, according to the ESRB and soccer moms worldwide, shouldn't even have). While doing such things as stealing a car and driving down a sidewalk, hitting old ladies with your car, and blatantly murdering stereotypes of America's large melting pot society may seem horrible, it turns out to be quite fun. And in the end that's just what games are all about, fun. And both Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City give it out in spades.

While both of these games are very similar in design (hey what do you expect?), each installment has its own unique look and feel. This keeps playing through both games one after another from become obscenely repetitive.

While playing both 3 and Vice City you will be doing quite a lot of car theft (duh), fast driving, evasion of authority figures, and brutal murder. Needless to say (although I'm going to), this game is definitely not for the wee ones. However Vice City one-ups 3 by adding motorcycles, helicopters, and dozens of new weapons to the mix. However, in my personal opinion, I find the city layout of Grand Theft Auto 3's Liberty City to be far greater in design.

In the end, if you have yet to play either of these games, (if you are of the legal age) go ahead and just purchase this double pack. Trust me, unless you find extreme violence and vulgar language appalling (in which case your selection of games is already severely limited), a rental will not suffice. Buy these games!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/30/03