Grand Theft Auto Double Pack

"Two great [not perfect] games."

Before you read this review, know that the 9 I gave it should actually be around a 9.4. These games, which are essentially the same, are very great. But there haven't been too many improvements over the PS2 (besides the graphics, which look very nice). If Rock* North would have put a little more effort into it, it might have gotten a 10. And notice: there won't be a review for each game, but, because they are so alike, I will distinguish between each game when necessary.

Story---9
Very loosely connected, but still good. Both games are really just a documentary of your rise to the top of the crime ring. The missions you do are there to tie each character together. They don't have the best stories, but each is presented well.

Graphics---9
There has been a pretty good improvement over the PS2 versions. There are individual fingers, cars look a lot better, you can see further, and there is less pop-up. You will notice reflections off cars and the overall scenery looking more ''life-like.'' The fire looks a lot better also (especially the explosions). While there was an improvement, it still good have been much better. If only Rock* would have spent an extra 2 months or so.

Control---10
The easy controls haven't changed much. The transition to the XBOX controller is painless. Plus, the controls are customizable, so you should never have a problem. They are as good, if not better than the PS2 controls.

Audio---10
Still one of the best games out there in the audio department. Each game has some of the best music, and the radio is absolutely hilarious (check out chatterbox). The voice acting is flawless. No one should ever give either game below a 10 in audio.

Gameplay---10
The gameplay has not changed one bit from the PS2 versions. You must go to a designated spot to start a mission. You must perform the task (killing someone, spreading around fliers, robbing some place, etc.). But what GTA is known for is its free roam. You have a whole city, which is filled with thousands of things to do. Besides normal missions, you can also find secret packages, go on vigilante missions, taxi missions, and a lot more. It is also just fun to kill people. The vastness of the city provides for many hours of replay.

Final Thought---(Buy or rent)
Buy, if you have never played the games before (or never beat them). But if you played and beat both games, the Double Pack doesn't warrant more than a rent. It might have been more buy-worthy if Rock* had put a little more time into the project.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/08/03