In an odd twist of fate, we see the first PSP to PS2 port in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (LCS). When LCS was released for the PSP in October 2005, it was big news. Rockstar took everything about GTA III — and more — and put it on the PSP.
It doesn't really matter if you are a fan of the series, having LCS running on the PSP was a milestone event for handheld gaming. Now, eight months later, the game arrives on the PS2.
It is hard to imagine a game coming from the PSP would have anything missing, but it does. Liberty City Stories on the PS2 is missing the multiplayer mode. This was a fun diversion to the game, and a welcome feature on the PSP.
Multiplayer added a lot, even if it was out of place. Split-screen would have been fun on the PS2, but the mode has been completely stripped out.
Custom soundtracks are also missing, but this has more to do with the technology available on the PS2 than anything else.
Another missed opportunity, the PS2 version of the game could have interacted with the PSP version. This has been done in games such as Daxter and Jak X: Combat Racing, and others.
All is forgiven, however, when you take a look at the price tag. For $20 you will get more than 20 hours of game play out of LCS. A brand new PS2 game for $20 does not have production values of this caliber. Ever.
Considering the PSP version was a $50 game, this is a slap in the face of many PSP owners. But now you get to reap the rewards of this "budget" title. Rockstar is going to take this one strait to the bank, considering how many more PS2 owners there are.
The major problem with LCS on the PS2 has nothing to do with the game play, presentation, or graphics - the issue is rooted in the fact that this has been done before, the novelty is gone. When LCS launched for the PSP, it was unprecedented.
In contrast, the PS2 has a vastly larger game selection, both in quantity and quality, and the "sand box" genre on the PS2 has many competitors. Liberty City Stores doesn't have the edge on the PS2, plus it is fighting with its relatives with GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. Directly compared to the other three GTA games, it does not stack up, not even to GTA III.
Article comments
1 - Rhianna
this is a good game