Grand Theft Auto III for iPhone and iPad

Credit: Apple

Liberty City is just as fun to explore as it was 10 years ago

Grand Theft Auto III for iPhone
 is a successful if imperfect port of the PS2 classic

It’s incredible that 10 years have passed since Grand Theft Auto III debuted on the Playstation 2, pushing the limits of console gaming and completely changing the perception of video games. Now, it’s available for download on your iPhone. What a difference a decade makes.


Sprawling Liberty City is there in its entirety, a staggering feat considering you’re playing the game on your phone. The graphics look as good or better than on the PS2, and everything runs smoothly, whether you’re shooting it out with the cops or causing multi-car pileups.


The number of missions you can tackle is huge, and given that you’re only paying $5 for a game that could last 40 to 60 hours, the return on investment is particularly nice.


iPhone Controls Hurt GTA III

Sadly, GTA III for the iPhone isn’t perfect, and you’ll experience some real frustration with the controls. It’s simply not possible to translate the PS2 controller onto the iPhone’s touchscreen, so the new auto-aim shooting mechanic, while not broken, will make you want to throw your phone against the wall on more than one occasion. The controls are workable, but you’ll constantly notice their shortcomings.


Still, for $5, the game is an absolute steal.


The good: Play one of the greatest games of all time, in its entirety, on your iPhone.


The bad: Shootouts can be a frustrating experience due to touchscreen controls; some of the longer missions don’t translate to the iPhone “pick up and play” experience.


Score: 7/10

Grand Theft Auto III for iPhone

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Developer: Rockstar North/DMA Design

Platform: iOS

Rating: 17+