I virtually gave up hope on Rockstar Video games’ remake/remaster of the traditional GTA trilogy ever making it to cellular after a number of delays. When it was confirmed for cellular by Netflix Video games, I assumed Netflix would lastly have its killer app regardless of the discharge’s points on PC and consoles. Quick ahead to some days in the past, and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Version hit cellular as three particular person video games out there by Netflix and in addition as premium standalone releases priced at $19.99 every. I’ve been taking part in them on iPhone 15 Professional, iPad Professional (2020), and I additionally redownloaded the video games on Nintendo Swap and Xbox Collection X to see how this new launch compares. I’m shocked by how significantly better Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Version is on cellular regardless of a couple of annoyances. I’m going to be masking all three video games, and this evaluate will deal with GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive ($19.99) and GTA: Vice Metropolis – NETFLIX (Free).
The unique GTA: Vice Metropolis is one in every of my favourite video games of all time. I’ve performed it on every little thing, and personal virtually each model of it together with a number of regional variants just like the PS2 Japanese launch I bought a couple of months in the past. I adored it once I performed it years in the past, and liked revisiting it on iPhone by its tenth anniversary version. I nonetheless get chills with that trailer. I like the sport a lot that I even purchased that terrible PS2 on PS4 model they launched when Sony was making an attempt to get builders to carry PS2 classics to PS4 with trophy help. So when the trilogy was introduced to get a remake, I used to be excited however nervous.
The gathering hit PC and consoles together with Nintendo Swap again in 2021, and it wasn’t nice. Learn my evaluate of the trilogy on Swap right here. Since then, the video games have improved, however many points nonetheless stay. For the cellular launch, I didn’t anticipate a lot, however this launch shocked me. Once I launched GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive on Netflix and completed the 1.27GB obtain in-game, I assumed I used to be imagining issues, however the precise recreation regarded totally different. I performed a bit extra and puzzled why it regarded higher than I remembered from my time with the Definitive model on Xbox and Swap. I booted up these variations and forgot the lighting was totally different there. Then I seen GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive has a brand new Traditional Lighting choice which seems to be a lot nicer. GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive now felt like GTA: Vice Metropolis. I used to be ecstatic to have the vibe again, however there have been some points I seen.
With out wanting into the sport’s settings, I used to be shocked at how blurry it regarded on iPhone 15 Professional. I checked the choices and located a setting for the decision. I turned it as much as max, and it regarded rather a lot nicer. For some purpose, this doesn’t save and you’ll want to flip it up manually every time you boot up the sport. Barring that, the sport appears capped to 30fps which is disappointing. I hope each of those might be fastened in future updates. The graphics tab is the place you may allow or disable Traditional Lighting. I like to recommend making an attempt each choices in the event you’re conversant in GTA: Vice Metropolis. When you manually repair the decision, GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive seems to be glorious with fullscreen help on all iOS gadgets I examined it on.
On the management aspect, GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive contains the brand new fashionable management choices, and I examined it with each contact and controller. I used my DualSense controller, however the recreation appears to solely have Xbox button prompts. The touchscreen controls work effectively, and the sport is responsive sufficient. There are digicam sensitivity choices, motion choices to play with fashionable or traditional controls, and extra right here. I used to be glad to see a haptic suggestions choice right here.
Since these are an enormous a part of the expertise for me after I end the story, I wished to spotlight how GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive contains cheat codes. You may both use a controller and enter the controller cheats with button mixtures, or go into accessibility and enter the PC cheat codes. Each work.
Sure, I do know I’ve spent plenty of time speaking in regards to the port and options, however GTA: Vice Metropolis itself is unimaginable. I don’t care what you utilize to play it, nevertheless it is likely one of the all-time greats, and proper up there with GTA V and Purple Lifeless Redemption II as Rockstar Video games’ greatest. The story is wonderful, dialogue memorable, radio stations regardless of cuts are nonetheless glorious, and it has gameplay that is still enjoyable even at this time thanks to regulate enhancements.
I don’t personal GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive on Steam to check on Steam Deck, however GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive on Netflix and iOS is massively higher than the Swap model. Not solely does the Traditional Lighting choice drastically assist, however the recreation masses a lot faster on iOS in comparison with Swap whereas wanting rather a lot higher. The Xbox Collection X model runs at a better decision with 60fps help although, however I nonetheless don’t see myself going again to that till we get the cellular enhancements. Talking of enhancements, I’ve been noticing little issues like some fashions being higher on cellular, animation enhancements, and extra.
The one actual points GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive has on cellular now are the body fee cap, decision not saving for some purpose on iPhone 15 Professional or iPad Professional on the Netflix model, and the few points I’ve with the sport just like the one tremendous annoying mission that is still the one annoyance in GTA: Vice Metropolis itself. Whereas this recreation (and the trilogy usually) deserved higher, I feel we’re lastly on the stage the place the Definitive a part of the identify is definitely relevant. This cellular model of GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive is nice, and might be even higher with a couple of updates. The screenshot beneath exhibits the Traditional Lighting (proper) versus the PC and console lighting (left):
Whereas I’d say the unique cellular launch on fashionable iPhones and iPads is one of the best model of GTA: Vice Metropolis even now, GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive enhances it properly and is one thing I see myself dipping into for years to come back, identical to the unique. GTA: Vice Metropolis – Definitive is value shopping for, however I feel that is the very first killer app Netflix has to get folks onboard its video games initiative. Having the unique GTA: Vice Metropolis would have been sufficient, however this launch is definitely higher than the PC and console variations in virtually each approach. I don’t even suppose I’ll return to these variations with out the Traditional Lighting choice. The unique recreation is a timeless traditional, and my favourite GTA recreation, so I’m glad we now have an incredible model of the remake on cellular alongside the unique which continues to be out there.
