Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: The Definitive Edition: PS5 Review

Developed by Grove Street

Published by Rockstar Games

Platform: PS5

It's hard to explain how defining the Grand Theft Auto series originally was.

As a third person perspective game with an open world ethos, and an option for absolute and utter chaos, Rockstar Games really did change the PS2 game with this franchise.

GTA III, GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas were iconic, defining titles which revolutionised the gaming world - but it's fair to say that the release of the Definitive Edition of these titles is something short of a letdown in parts.

GTA: San Andreas is the worst offender in these, with graphics that are almost hysterically underfinished, and which border on an almost niggling feeling that the developers decided enough was enough and the budget was done, and it should just be released in the state it's in and to hell with everyone else.

At their core, though, while stripped of the complications of the more recent GTA V and its execution, these games remain playable enough - even if the mission structure of GTAIII feels somewhat simplistic. 

But that's not to say they're not enjoyable enough. Certainly Liberty City and GTA III retain their charm and obnoxious edges once you adjust your mindset to the attitude that these are games which have been ported over, not games which have been rebuilt from the ground up in remasters like Mafia and Ratchet and Clank.

There's still the basics in III and Vice City you remember from before - even if some of the iconic music is missing. The crazy physics, the insane way you can die without a hint of a warning and the way missions can abruptly end in abject failure. 

However, the port of GTA: San Andreas is almost impossible to appreciate - thanks to its graphics which seem utterly laughable in the game's context. It also retains some of the flaws that stopped GTA San Andreas being perfect - having to maintain a character and build up their strength and stamina is just time-consuming and sapping. 

While the souls of the games are intact, it's the art of them that feels a bit chunkier than in the past - it may be some games are not meant to be played on a modern machine, but while Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: The Definitive Edition is playable enough as a nostalgia addled late night blast, its criminal underpolishing from Rockstar Games is nothing short of a disappointment.

* Rockstar Games has promised patches for all three titles to be released soon.