Summer is the perfect time to catch up on games you’ve missed, and with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI still far off, I decided to revisit the franchise to experience its evolution. My journey began with Grand Theft Auto III, thanks to the Nintendo Switch version of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. What started as a promising bit of gaming archaeology quickly turned into one of my most frustrating experiences in years.
GTA III does not age gracefully
Launching GTA III in 2025 is like stepping into a time capsule—and not always in a good way. While the game was revolutionary in 2001, today its shortcomings are glaring. The story is thin, with missions chaining together without a strong narrative, and the silent protagonist, Claude, feels more like an empty shell than a character. The supporting cast fails to fill that void, leaving the experience emotionally flat.
The gameplay mechanics show their age even more. Driving is clunky and often infuriating, especially during missions that require precision. NPC drivers behave erratically, the draw distance is short, and vehicle durability is laughable. Police chases quickly devolve into chaos, and while that unpredictability occasionally leads to hilarious moments—like the AI driving Salvatore’s car into a ravine during “Sayonara Salvatore”—it mostly fuels frustration.
Repetition and frustration take over
Spending around twenty hours with GTA III revealed just how much modern standards have outpaced its design philosophy. Gang members endlessly harass you in the streets, the aiming system is clumsy, and side missions often feel like a chore. The ambulance missions, which require twelve consecutive successful runs, pushed my patience to the limit. On my last attempt, a rogue taxi flipped my ambulance and wiped out nearly an hour of progress. That was the moment I knew I had had enough.
Even the iconic radio stations, once a highlight, became grating after hearing the same loops dozens of times during long, repetitive drives. What was once groundbreaking open-world freedom now often feels like a tedious series of errands punctuated by outdated mechanics.
A useful but exhausting trip down memory lane
In the end, I am glad I finally experienced Grand Theft Auto III for the sake of my gaming culture, but nostalgia alone cannot save it. For players who grew up with it, the game still holds historical importance. For newcomers in 2025, it can be a frustrating reminder of how far game design has come. With GTA VI on the horizon, revisiting the past has made me appreciate just how much the series h
