Is GTA 3 before Liberty City Stories?
The Grand Theft Auto series, developed by Rockstar Games, is one of the most iconic and beloved gaming franchises of all time. With a timeline that spans over two decades, the series has undergone significant changes, transformations, and spin-offs. One question that has puzzled fans for a long time is: Is GTA 3 before Liberty City Stories?
Direct Answer
Yes, GTA 3 (2001) is before Liberty City Stories (2005). GTA 3 is the third main installment of the Grand Theft Auto series, while Liberty City Stories is a handheld spin-off.
Background
GTA 3 was released in 2001 and received widespread critical acclaim for its 3D gameplay, engaging storyline, and immersive city environment. The game follows the character Claude, a silent protagonist, as he attempts to avenge his girlfriend and bring down the criminal underworld in Liberty City.
Liberty City Stories, on the other hand, was released in 2005 and is a handheld spin-off for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) console. The game is set in the 2000s, 10 years after the events of GTA 3, and follows the story of Toni Cipriani, an old friend of Salvatore Leone, as he tries to help Sal take back control of the Leones’ criminal empire.
Timelines
Here’s a timeline of the events in the Grand Theft Auto series:
| Game | Release Year | Era |
|---|---|---|
| GTA 3 | 2001 | 1980s |
| Liberty City Stories | 2005 | 2000s |
| GTA Vice City | 2002 | 1980s |
| GTA Vice City Stories | 2006 | 1984 |
As you can see from the timeline, GTA 3 is the first game in the series, released in 2001, while Liberty City Stories is a spin-off that takes place a decade later.
Why the Time Gap?
Rockstar Games explained in an interview that the time gap between GTA 3 and Liberty City Stories is necessary to create a new storyline and characters:
"We decided that the game’s protagonist would not talk, partly to aid people identifying with him, but mostly because we had so many other problems to solve and this did not seem like a major issue… We started to discuss introducing a talking lead character when working on Vice City, but it was a lot of work."
This decision led to the creation of new characters, such as Toni Cipriani, and a separate storyline that explores the criminal underworld in Liberty City.
Conclusion
To summarize, GTA 3 is before Liberty City Stories. The former was released in 2001 and follows Claude’s story, while the latter, released in 2005, follows Toni Cipriani’s story. The time gap between the two games allows for a new storyline, characters, and setting, making Liberty City Stories a unique and exciting spin-off in the Grand Theft Auto series.