Grand Theft Auto Advance
Encyclopedia
Grand Theft Auto: Advance is a handheld console game
developed by Digital Eclipse, published by Rockstar Games
, and released on October 25, 2004 for the Game Boy Advance
. It is the first to not be developed by a Rockstar Games studio. The game is referred to as "Grand Theft Auto Advance" on its title screen; the game's cover art and all promotional material refer to it as simply Grand Theft Auto.
The game is played from a top-down perspective; this view angle was seen on the first two games in the series, GTA and GTA2
, but vehicle-based side-missions (such as "Vigilante" and "Paramedic"), the heads-up display
and a large majority of the weapons, first introduced in the three-dimensional counterparts, have also been included. Unlike previous top-down Grand Theft Auto games, vehicles can now flip over. It is the first game from the Grand Theft Auto
series which got an 16+ rating from PEGI and an M rating (recommended for mature audiences though any age is still allowed access) from the Australian Classification Board
. The game was released a day before the North American release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
.
, in 2000 the fictional GTA city that appeared most prominently, in Grand Theft Auto III
. Indeed the earliest announcement of this game was that it would be a port of GTA III, but at some point in development (it is unclear exactly when this occurred) this idea was rejected, probably due to technical limitations and the time needed to reconstruct the previous game's missions in the new two-dimensional environment.
The game was actually released as a prequel
to GTA III, taking place one year prior to the events in GTA III. As it takes place in GTA IIIs Liberty City, familiar landmarks re-appear and the overall street layout is the same. However the locations of familiar secrets such as Rampages, hidden packages and jump ramps have all been changed, so players familiar with the city's corners and alleyways in GTA III will have to explore them afresh in GTA Advance. The city's three islands have been noticeably changed in its conversion and elements impossible to interpret to a top-view perspective, so there are no longer any sloped surfaces, and the tunnels and train system have been removed.
His revenge leads to his falling out with the Mafia, and he ends up working for various gangs, mostly the Yardies, the Colombians and the Yakuza. Each gang or single employer, such as 8-Ball, a close friend of Vinnie's, persuades Mike to do jobs for them as they help him find out the truth about Vinnie's death.
In the later stages of the game, Mike finds out that Vinnie has actually staged his own death, and Mike swears revenge on his old partner, eventually killing him. During the next mission 8-Ball is arrested (setting the stage for his escape in GTA IIIs intro sequence), but Mike manages to escape on the late Cisco's (the Colombian boss') plane, after seeming to kill Vinnie's real boss, King Courtney. There has been a bit of controversy over this, as the player may receive missions from him in the form of phone calls in GTA III. Judging from Courtney's dialogue after the fight, he may have escaped his death.
Some of the characters from GTA III appear in the game, including bomb-shop owner 8-Ball and the Yakuza
crime boss Asuka, although none of the Mafia
characters from GTA III appear, and entirely new characters such as Vinnie (Mike's friend and first employer), Cisco (the leader of the Colombian Cartel), and Yuka (Asuka's niece) have been added to the mix. Several characters which were only referenced in GTA III are now met face-to-face, such as King Courtney, the Yardie
boss.
s, nor does it have GTA IIIs much-lauded pedestrian dialog. All cutscenes are text-only with hand-drawn pictures of the characters' faces, with a thematic backdrop behind. The art style is consistent with that used for the cover and loading art of the three-dimensional releases in the series. Replacing the pedestrian dialogue, some soundbites taken from GTA III are played when the player hits someone's car. Short police radio voiceovers will announce the player's location and vehicle type when the player commits a crime.
The game does not feature radio channels. Like the Game Boy Color
ports of GTA and GTA2, each car has one fixed tune that is constantly repeated and cannot be changed. These include parts of some familiar GTA, GTA2 and GTA III tunes, in instrumental versions.
, the game received an average score of 68 out of 100, based on 33 reviews.
IGN
gave a score of 8.5 out of 10, calling the game "a great, recommended action title." UGO gave an "A" rating, saying that "if you're a great fan of the series, then Grand Theft Auto Advance is definitely the game for you." Game Chronicles gave a positive review, calling the game "nothing short of amazing." Nintendo Power
was also impressed, saying that "the game's scope is massive, and the missions are varied and rewarding."
GameSpot
gave a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying that "by and large, [the game] just isn't much fun." Game Informer
gave a score of 7.5 out of 10, calling the game "only a bare-bones reminder of a much greater work of art."
Handheld console game
A handheld video game is a video game designed for a handheld device. In the past, this primarily meant handheld game consoles such as Nintendo's Game Boy line...
developed by Digital Eclipse, published by Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is a major video game developer and publisher based in New York City, owned by Take-Two Interactive following its purchase of UK video game publisher BMG Interactive. The brand is mostly known for Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, L.A...
, and released on October 25, 2004 for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. It is the first to not be developed by a Rockstar Games studio. The game is referred to as "Grand Theft Auto Advance" on its title screen; the game's cover art and all promotional material refer to it as simply Grand Theft Auto.
The game is played from a top-down perspective; this view angle was seen on the first two games in the series, GTA and GTA2
Grand Theft Auto 2
Grand Theft Auto 2 is a video game that was released worldwide on October 25, 1999, by developer DMA Design , initially for the Windows operating system and the PlayStation console. The game was later ported to the Dreamcast console and the Game Boy Color. It is the sequel to 1997 hit Grand Theft...
, but vehicle-based side-missions (such as "Vigilante" and "Paramedic"), the heads-up display
HUD (computer gaming)
In video gaming, the HUD is the method by which information is visually relayed to the player as part of a game's user interface...
and a large majority of the weapons, first introduced in the three-dimensional counterparts, have also been included. Unlike previous top-down Grand Theft Auto games, vehicles can now flip over. It is the first game from the Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto (series)
Grand Theft Auto is a multi-award-winning British video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Edinburgh based Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games...
series which got an 16+ rating from PEGI and an M rating (recommended for mature audiences though any age is still allowed access) from the Australian Classification Board
Australian Classification Board
The Australian Classification Board is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia since its establishment in 1970. The Australian Classification Board was originally incorporated...
. The game was released a day before the North American release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
.
Setting
The game is set in Liberty CityLiberty City (Grand Theft Auto)
Liberty City is a fictional city in Rockstar Games' video games series Grand Theft Auto, based primarily on several major cities including New York City...
, in 2000 the fictional GTA city that appeared most prominently, in Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 open world action computer and video game developed by DMA Design in the United Kingdom, and published by Rockstar Games. It is the first 3D title in the Grand Theft Auto series. It was released in October 2001 for the PlayStation 2, May 2002 for Microsoft Windows,...
. Indeed the earliest announcement of this game was that it would be a port of GTA III, but at some point in development (it is unclear exactly when this occurred) this idea was rejected, probably due to technical limitations and the time needed to reconstruct the previous game's missions in the new two-dimensional environment.
The game was actually released as a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to GTA III, taking place one year prior to the events in GTA III. As it takes place in GTA IIIs Liberty City, familiar landmarks re-appear and the overall street layout is the same. However the locations of familiar secrets such as Rampages, hidden packages and jump ramps have all been changed, so players familiar with the city's corners and alleyways in GTA III will have to explore them afresh in GTA Advance. The city's three islands have been noticeably changed in its conversion and elements impossible to interpret to a top-view perspective, so there are no longer any sloped surfaces, and the tunnels and train system have been removed.
Plot synopsis
Mike is a small-time criminal, working for the more connected Vinnie. He was saved by Vinnie when he was homeless, though not too much information is revealed about this. They decide to leave Liberty City together and retire from their life of crime elsewhere, but Vinnie decides that they should look for a few more jobs from their employers, the Mafia (although it is not revealed which Mafia family it is; the game's place in the GTA timeline suggests it is either the Forellis, or more likely the Leones), prior to leaving, for more money and reputation. During one of these missions Vinnie is suggestively killed in a car bomb, taking the duo's money with him. Mike, who Vinnie was like a second father to, swears revenge, and death to the person that set up the car-bomb.His revenge leads to his falling out with the Mafia, and he ends up working for various gangs, mostly the Yardies, the Colombians and the Yakuza. Each gang or single employer, such as 8-Ball, a close friend of Vinnie's, persuades Mike to do jobs for them as they help him find out the truth about Vinnie's death.
In the later stages of the game, Mike finds out that Vinnie has actually staged his own death, and Mike swears revenge on his old partner, eventually killing him. During the next mission 8-Ball is arrested (setting the stage for his escape in GTA IIIs intro sequence), but Mike manages to escape on the late Cisco's (the Colombian boss') plane, after seeming to kill Vinnie's real boss, King Courtney. There has been a bit of controversy over this, as the player may receive missions from him in the form of phone calls in GTA III. Judging from Courtney's dialogue after the fight, he may have escaped his death.
Characters
The game has an all-new storyline. The protagonist is no longer Claude but a new character named Mike.Some of the characters from GTA III appear in the game, including bomb-shop owner 8-Ball and the Yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
crime boss Asuka, although none of the Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
characters from GTA III appear, and entirely new characters such as Vinnie (Mike's friend and first employer), Cisco (the leader of the Colombian Cartel), and Yuka (Asuka's niece) have been added to the mix. Several characters which were only referenced in GTA III are now met face-to-face, such as King Courtney, the Yardie
Yardie
Yardie is a term stemming from the slang name originally given to occupants of "government yards", social housing projects with very basic amenities, in Trenchtown, a neighborhood in West Kingston, Jamaica. Trenchtown was originally built as a housing project following devastation caused by...
boss.
Technical details
The game had to be adapted to the GBA's hardware limitations. As a result it does not have animated cutsceneCutscene
A cutscene is a sequence in a video game over which the player has no or only limited control, breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot, strengthen the main character's development, introduces enemy characters, and provide background information, atmosphere, dialogue, and clues...
s, nor does it have GTA IIIs much-lauded pedestrian dialog. All cutscenes are text-only with hand-drawn pictures of the characters' faces, with a thematic backdrop behind. The art style is consistent with that used for the cover and loading art of the three-dimensional releases in the series. Replacing the pedestrian dialogue, some soundbites taken from GTA III are played when the player hits someone's car. Short police radio voiceovers will announce the player's location and vehicle type when the player commits a crime.
The game does not feature radio channels. Like the Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
ports of GTA and GTA2, each car has one fixed tune that is constantly repeated and cannot be changed. These include parts of some familiar GTA, GTA2 and GTA III tunes, in instrumental versions.
Reception
Critical reception was mixed. On the review aggregator GameRankings, the game received an average score of 70% based on 41 reviews. On MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, the game received an average score of 68 out of 100, based on 33 reviews.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave a score of 8.5 out of 10, calling the game "a great, recommended action title." UGO gave an "A" rating, saying that "if you're a great fan of the series, then Grand Theft Auto Advance is definitely the game for you." Game Chronicles gave a positive review, calling the game "nothing short of amazing." Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
was also impressed, saying that "the game's scope is massive, and the missions are varied and rewarding."
GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying that "by and large, [the game] just isn't much fun." Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
gave a score of 7.5 out of 10, calling the game "only a bare-bones reminder of a much greater work of art."