Product Description

Grand Theft Auto 3 is the latest edition to the Grand Theft Auto series of games. This game takes on a totally new perspective in a complete 3D world with stunning graphics. Like in previous games, players will be able to carjack a vehicle at anytime in Liberty City, but they will also be able to move around freely on foot. Gamers will choose from over 50 kinds of vehicles, each with their own physics--from taxis to sports cars to fire trucks, and even boats! There are also over 80 missions and a variety of side missions to pick from. Other features, like varying weather patterns, challenges gameplay. Cover art not final.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #289847 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

From the Back Cover

BradyGames Grand Theft Auto 3 Official Strategy Guide provides detailed strategies for the gangland missions and side missions in the game. Comprehensive walkthrough including in-depth coverage of weapons, character moves, vehicles, and bosses. Secrets and cheats revealed to uncover mysteries and multi-layered missions interspersed in the game story.

About the Author

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is an integrated global developer, marketer, distributor, and publisher of interactive entertainment software games and accessories for the PC, PlayStation® game console, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation®2 and the Xbox™. The company publishes and develops products through various wholly owned subsidiaries including: Rockstar Games, Godgames, TalonSoft, Joytech, DMA Design, PopTop, Global Star and under the Take-Two brand name. The Company maintains sales and marketing offices in Cincinnati, New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen, Milan and Sydney.

Customer Reviews

It was an okay book but leaves a lot to be desired
I was somewhat disappointed with this book for a number of reasons. However, so that I don't sound overly negative, let me first tell you what I liked about it.

1. The maps were excellently detailed and made navigating the game far easier than simply using the on screen map in the game. There was only one exception I cited below.

2. I would have paid the price of the book if the only thing they gave me was the packages map! It was excellent, and overall a great time saver. Beware though for package number 25 (on top of the drugstore). It is without a doubt the most difficult package to get to and the book doesn't describe how to do it (Email me if you want a little walkthrough for that one).

3. The "Secrets" section at the end was very detailed even though there were several factual errors about the Vigilante, Fire-truck and ambulance missions.

4. Some of the mission tips and walkthroughs were very good, particularly some of the Career missions".

Okay now for the negatives:

1. Although most of the maps were excellently detailed, the powerup maps were sometimes difficult to decipher because they used symbols that were so small that it made it somewhat hard to tell similar looking icons apart; for example differentiating armor from a Unique jump/Stunt bonus. perhaps had they increased the size of the map showing the powerup, or changed the color designations it would have been a tad less ambiguous.

2. Although, as I said, many of the level descriptions were very good, a lot of the so called strategy guides/Walkthroughs for some levels, as well as other missions were incredibly lame, and amounted to nothing more than reiterating the instructions that the game gives you when you come to that mission. This is particularly true on the off road missions where you have to get to a given number of checkpoints. These were, by the way, some of the more difficult missions in the game and about all that the book tells you is where to find the mission. Seriously, what were they thinking on this?

3. Where are the Cheat codes? I do not use them myself, but I would think that an Official Strategy guide would have a full arsenal of them!

4. There should be a separate list of all the gangs of the game, as well as where to find them. It would take up about a paragraph, as anyone after finishing the game could do it. This info would have been exremely useful.

5. There is absolutely no useful information about flying the Dodo plane.

Now for me, the book was worthwhile obtaining, no question, if for no other reason than the maps and packages locations. However, if you are on a budget or short on cash, and feel that you could use the big maps that come with the game, put the money towards another game instead and get your walkthroughs off of the Internet. There are some FANTASTIC sites that give you an unbelievable wealth of information in FAQ's/Walkthrough's and discussion forums where you can ask questions if you still don't get a particular level.

This is especially true of a Walkthrough by a guy nicknamed "Minesweeper". You can find his FAQ/Walkthrough and others as well as many GTA 3 forums on various sites like Neoseeker. The thing is that I was amazed at the detail that these folks gave out for free with downloadable FAQ's/Walkthrough's and general stuff.

BradyGames ought to take a lesson from them when writing their books, which they are making a tidy sum from! The information on the Internet is far superior to anything you will ever find in this "Official Strategy guide", and you don't pay a thing.

In short, it was fairly obvious to me that the people at BradyGames didn't play GTA 3 very much. Most likely they simply got all the pertinent specs from Rockstar (the game's publisher) and went through the game, playing it the obligatory time necessary to beat it once and do a few side missions.

The writers were wholly unfamiliar with far too many of the subtleties of the game for me to recommend the book anywhere near as enthusiastically as many of the other reviews I have read thus far...

All you need
You cant really ask for more from a strategy guide, this guide shows you locations of all the pickups you need, the weapons and police bribes are very useful to find easily! The hidden package guide is the most useful! You dont want to get to 99 and cant find the last one! believe me!
There are also detailed descriptions of each mission, some may call this cheating but if your stuck what harm is a little helping hand! If your stuck in the game, buy this!

Must Have For Those Who Owns GTA 3
I personally inclined not to have a guide for a game but this is an exception. Grand Theft Auto is a massive game. You will probably need 60 or more hours just to complete the missions themselves let alone trying new things that you can do in the city. This guide will make the learning curve so easy and make you prepare to what items/weapon you need for the next crucial mission.

The guide covers almost all aspects of the game from how to shoot, hijack a car to some 'nice' secret that I do not what to spoil you with.

The structure of the guide is straight forward. You can easily find out what you want since it has a clear information layout.

The quality of presentation is good but could be better. This probably the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.

In summary, if you have GTA 3 then this guide is a must have. If you don't have the game already I'm sure it will make you buy the game.