PC vs. Playstation2

Viva la difference!

I had the chance to sit down and play the Playstation2 version of GTA3 the other day (thanks Alex). I’m not really a console gamer anymore (I don’t own a PS2, XBox, or Gamecube), but I’m no slacker when it comes to a joypad. This page isn’t about which version is better, just about the differences between the two.

The biggest difference between the PC and Playstation2 versions is the interface. The PS2 DualShock controller is a world apart from a mouse and keyboard. When you drive with a keyboard you can only turn completely to the left or right, whereas on the analog sticks you can steer everywhere in between. Imagine driving a car in real life where you could only steer completely to the left or right; insurance companies wouldn’t exist. I did eventually get used to driving with the keyboard, and I could drive just as well with the keyboard as with the analog stick, so it’s not that much of a detriment.

The graphics on the PC version aren’t that much better than the PS2 version. While you can run at higher resolutions, GTA3 doesn’t take advantage of better textures and graphical quality that’s available on the PC. Playing the PS2 version on a TV, with low resolution and an interlaced screen, I expected the PC version to look much better. Like I said earlier, for a PC game the GTA3 engine looks out of date.

Fighting is easier on the PC. It may be because I’m a longtime PC gamer, but aiming with a mouse is infinitely better than aiming with an analog stick. For example, there are several side quests that involve precise shooting – sniping from a distance or decapitating with a machinegun. In the PS2 version these tasks can be quite difficult since it’s hard to aim precisely with the analog stick. On the PC they’re some of the easiest quests since mouse aiming is second nature.


The camera is also better in the PC version – a direct result of the mouse/keyboard interface. Since the keyboard allows you to strafe and walk backwards, the camera sticks to where you aim with the mouse. If someone is shooting you from behind, you can quickly whip around the mouse and see your assailant. In the PS2 version, the camera only turns if you run left or right (and the first person camera, but it’s to cumbersome to use in a heated battle). So if someone is behind you the only way to see them is to run around in a circle and wait for the camera to catch up.

I’d say that most of the differences in the PC and PS2 versions come from the keyboard/mouse interface. If you bought a mimic DualShock controller for your PC the game would play exactly the same. The graphics will be better, but everything else is just like the PS2 version. So if you already own the PS2 version and wonder if you should get the PC version, my answer is: don’t bother. It’s the same game. Rockstar only ported GTA3 to the PC, they didn’t do much else. If you’re a hardcore GTA3 fan, as well as a hardcore PC gamer, you may get a kick out of playing your favorite game with a superior keyboard/mouse controller. If you have to play both versions just to see how they differ, then you’re either a game reviewer like me or you have way too much time on your hands.