Grand Theft Auto Advance is often forgotten and talked less about in GTA series. The Game Boy Advance game released on October 26, 2004—same day as the genre-defining San Andreas—was doomed from the start. The game returned to a 2D overhead view with simplified gameplay but it did not command the attention that 3D titles did. Was it just a matter of timing for this game to fade into obscurity, or was there something else?
A Return to 2D Roots
GTA Advance uses a top-down perspective rather than a cinematic 3D approach like the PS2-era games did, which is true to the original GTA titles. The visuals are dated but still hold up fine. Sprite work is clean and there is some basic 3D where the cities are. However, the cutscenes consist of static portraits that are set against a plain background with dialogue boxes.
The game is set once again in Liberty City, comprising all three core areas from GTA III. It’s sadly very tough to navigate throughout the game because there’s no map, and there’s not much room on the Game Boy’s screen. I find it so annoying that the camera is zoomed too much. It really doesn’t show enough of the minimap all at once. Traveling around (especially during missions) is more annoying than fun.
Driving and Combat Woes
Driving in GTA Advance has its quirks. Despite the distinct weight and handling of different vehicles, the controls feel floaty, and the hitboxes feel slightly off, resulting in frequent crashes. Another bug is when cars will not accelerate unless you mash the buttons. This is an important problem in timed missions or police chases.
Speaking of the police, they’re everywhere. Players often struggle to identify cops amidst civilians; often results in a chase for petty crimes. Though you can pay a garage to spray pain over the evidence of your criminal activity and bribe the cops, you’re going to have to constantly manage your wanted level. The return of gangs has also increased the chaos.
Combat doesn’t help matters. Melee attacks don’t feel impactful — enemies simply take damage without much effect. Firing from a distance is unpredictable; bullets frequently miss close targets and there is no guaranteed lock-on. The shotgun is the most reliable gun but it has a “dead zone” in the player’s immediate front that hinders its impact at close range.
Side Missions and Optional Content
As expected from a GTA game, side missions abound. You can.
- Collect hidden packages: Each 10 collected gives you a new weapon at you hideout.
- Complete select paramedic missions to unlock infinite sprint and permanent health pickups.
- Conduct undercover operations: Eliminate these along for police bribes.
- You can earn weapons and vehicles by finishing sets of missions that put out fires and drive taxis.
- Complete all 18 races to unlock an F1 car.
- Even though they are optional, these activities will greatly improve your chances to survive. This is especially true given the game’s lack of mid-mission checkpoints.
Short Crime Thriller That Could Happen
Set one year before the events of GTA III, the story follows Mike, a low-level criminal who is ready to leave liberty city with his partner, Vinnie. Mike wills revenge after the car bomb kills Vinnie.
Mike’s search takes him right across Liberty City with the help of old associates like 8-Ball, King Courtney and Asuka Kasen. Eventually, Mike gets involved in turf wars, murder plots, kidnappings, and corrupt schemes, all of which are par for the course in the series.
Even if the twists here seemed promising enough, the story still failed to impress us. Although there are some missions with choice-based outcomes (sneak or shoot, kill or spare), these are rare exceptions in an otherwise bland narrative. The cutscenes weren’t appealing either, mostly containing weak characters. Important events such as the slaughter at Johnny’s bar are told rather than visualized.
The Twist: Vinnie’s Betrayal
It is revealed in the climax that Vinnie has faked his death. He faked his death so that he could steal their savings and live lavishly. It’s a twist heavily telegraphed from the early missions. Despite a mission where Mike confronts and kills his former mentor, this encounter happens several missions before the game’s conclusion, thus ensuring that the impact of Mike’s choices suffers.
Final Missions and Weak Ending
Post-Vinnie, the game continues with filler objectives. Mike finishes things off with the survivors, mostly fighting King Courtney’s gang. The last escape mission steals a tank to cut through police and military blockades. This tank is different from those of other GTA games. It’s fragile, won’t clear obstacles, making the ending tedious rather than exciting.
Ultimately, he boards the private jet, leaving Liberty City behind. The fact that he has developed into a vicious gang leader was not lost on him.
A Portable Experiment That Fell Short
GTA Van is a pretty unremarkable and not horrible game The gameplay, the story, and the mechanics are all fine, but not more. Released with San Andreas and soon overshadowed by Liberty City Stories on the PSP, this handheld release was clearly not going to last.
You might want to play it just to see what it is like. However, for the majority, GTA Advance is a chapter that they can easily skip. Not all spin-off games are great.