When Grand Theft Auto 3 came out everyone told me to by this game before it was taken off the shelves. Having come out after the World Trade Center tragedy, many people were up in arms over the amount violence this game showcased. So I bought the game as soon as possible. And after playing the game, I have decided that there is really no cause for an uproar. This game is just a lot of fun.

     I have never had so much fun playing a game in my whole life. As a gangster looking for acceptance in the underworld, you have to perform well in various missions, all involving illegal acts. Despite the fact that I was supposed to perform these missions, my friend and I had more fun stealing cars and beating up old ladies for their money. We wanted to buy guns and we needed to drive places, so we took a break from our mission and enjoyed the surrounding landscape complete with unsuspecting innocents not ready to be clubbed in the back of the head with a bat. The artificial intelligence in the game was so perfect, that when you hit someone, a friend, partner some samaratin would chase after you and take revenge upon you. I was forced to throw a cabbie out of his car and drive off. I never laughed so much as when I squished someone under my car.

     To all of you people out there complaining...it is just a game and it is not a title that is training me for a life of crime. I would even think of trying any of these acts in the first place. Anyone who would imitate an act of violence from the game was predestined for a life of violence to begin with and didn't have parents there to show them what is right and wrong. Anyone complaining about this game should focus their energy on something else, like taking care of their children. Rated M for Mature means these kids shouldn't have the games to begin with, so start watching what your kids are buying and report merchants that do not abide by these ratings. With that said, let me give my review of this game.

     Presentation: 10 of 10 This game plays like a movie. The cinematic cut-scenes are awesome, and the story is spectacular. Basically, Grand Theft Auto III is a story of murder, revenge and betrayal; and a criminal looking to make it and doing whatever he has to do in order to cement his status in the underworld. I would love to watch a movie like this. Add to the fact that the world in which the game is played in is just so damn huge, that it takes days to discover everything. Grand Theft Auto III is an epic quest that would embarrass some of the best Hollywood Directors. There is a beginning, middle and end, and what it takes to get there will have you playing for hours on end. Rockstar Games knows how to deliver.

     Gameplay: 10 of 10 What is there not to like about this game? It has a little bit of everything in it. For those who enjoy shooters, you have over 10 weapons to choose from, including guns, rifles, flamethrowers and more, at your disposal.

     Shoot innocent victims, blow away the cops, or just go toe to toe with rival gangs. If you are a speed freak, then steal one of 81 different cars and go crazy, cracking other cars, smashing people and avoiding the police. If you pick a cab, make extra money, picking up fairs. If you pick an ambulance, save some lives; it's just crazy what you can do. Of course, you also get a little bit of adventure and role-playing thrown in for fun. And there is even a storyline to follow. Unlike the first two games, you can now enter buildings and explore them. You interact with realistic characters and accept missions in person, on the phone or with your pager. There is just so much to do in this game that I cannot put it all in this review.

     Graphics: 8 of 10 It isn't the best graphic-intensive game ever, but who cares. You have to understand that with so many cars, people, buildings, streets and more populating this surreal world, not everything is going to look perfect. Real-time lighting and weather conditions add to the game's believability and I like the pools of blood that show up after pounding someone to the ground. That is pretty cool, but other than that the graphics are good enough; the storyline and gameplay carry the rest.

     Sound: 10 of 10 Wicked! The sound in this game was something you can tell took a lot of work. I mean, when you steal a car from an elderly person, you get to listen to classical tunes and when you steal a car from some punk kid, you may listen to rap, reggae or rock. There is even a talk show and some parody commercials that you can listen to as you drive your stolen car through the neighborhood. Beyond that, you have voice actors delivering movie-quality work. It just doesn't get any better than this game.

     Replay Value: Very high This is by far my favorite game for the PS 2. I think this game has the most replay value of all. You will be playing this game for weeks and when you are finally finished with your mission, you are going to want to have some fun, show it off to your friends and try something different. You will be playing this game until Grand Theft Auto 4 makes its way to the stores.

     Overall Get this game now. Forget about Gran Turismo, put Metal Gear Solid 2 aside; this is the game of the year. No other game can match the epic, groundbreaking, awe inspiring title that Rockstar Games has released on us all. Now, I have to go out and steal a car and beat up on some innocent civilians. The game is making me do it. How stupid does that sound?

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