That "GTA 3" Feeling

[@obbevermeij7285]

Cool video, Joyless. 30:00 The weather is on a cycle of (if I remember correctly) 40 hours. So if it's raining now, it will be raining again in 40 hours (40 rl minutes). Thanks for appreciating the fog. I enjoyed coding it.

[@Joyless]

No way. Thanks so much man, for everything. You have no idea how much that part of the game meant to me and so many others as kids.

[@obbevermeij7285]

Because the game ended up being so successful, people assume everything was well planned and designed but it wasn't like that at all. There were only 7 coders, 25 people in total so everybody ended up doing a large chunk of the game. We would just throw things in the mix and change them if it didn't work. Up until 5 months before the release it wasn't clear to me that the game was any good. It all came together at the end. Among other things I ended up doing the weather effects & passing of time. I remember picking the 1hr/minute thinking there would be loads of request to modify it. As it turned out everybody was happy with it and we didn't change it until gta4 when we halved the speed. That the game connected with so many people and became part of people's childhood memories is mind blowing and humbling. I stayed until after gta4. Anyway, your video is cool. Sincere.

[@kaizermengele6669]

Yeah I enjoyed coding the 3D models, that was real fun

[@Poppa]

wonderful interaction!

[@samatics4]

@@obbevermeij7285 Would you consider GTA IV to be Rockstar's peak?

[@PresidentKony]

GTA 3, Max Payne 1, and Manhunt really captured that gritty low pitched darkness of the 00's. Where even when the sun may shine it's still dark and foreboding.

[@MrFunnyHandsInYourPants]

The sun went down with practiced bravado. Twilight crawled across the sky, laden with foreboding.

[@andrewtatereal3168]

silent hill too

[@juliusc.8711]

Max Payne 2, i still remember the creepy sensation of loneliness and silence as i walked through an empty map after killing everyone.

[@edward5247]

i always thought it, never put into words...

[@greytuesday28]

Metal Gear Solid on PS1 also had this type of dark, gritty style back in 1998.

[@ChristianVezina]

Introduction stating that gta3 is “definitely not nearly as groundbreaking at San Andreas” Gta3 is unquestionably one of the most ground breaking games of all time. It was a watershed moment introducing the open world 3d gameplay loop that San Andreas merely iterated on. Almost every modern AAA game iterates on ideas first popularized in gta3

[@mremire4425]

Yes exactly. GTA was REVOLUTIONARY. Coming from someone that remembers the hype when it released. I’m 33 now

[@paumarin977]

let's not forget vice city

[@slimxshady6111]

I am so surprised he started the video with that.

[@welflew]

It popularized the open world genre for many players but it was not the first one. They did not even need to develop a custom engine and just built on RenderWare. RPGs were already open with non linear quests years ago. Morrowind was released around the same time. The true innovations of GTA were the trafic, pedestrian and law enforcement systems first developed in previous titles.

[@antuanperez426]

🤡

[@L3nny666]

this is why the remaster isn't working. it's not the bugs and all that. it's the atmosphere, graphical style and the artwork. (nearly) every game has an artistic intention in its artwork. that's why i don't like remasters or graphical mods too much. it just kiils the atmosphere.

[@BloodUlcer]

100% This. Spot on.

[@Joyless]

Literally this ^ Perfectly put.

[@cristian-gabrielgaldamezbr3810]

Look at Skyrim Special Edition vs Original Edition. The skybox is soooo beautiful in the original one. I'm from a nordic country and it was pretty similar. It was removed in Special Edition.

[@thomasvleminckx]

Spot on. More realistic isn't always better.

[@jeremyforeman3216]

see i actually love the remaster. they did a great job imo

[@GlitchVolt52]

One time, I had a dream I was in an empty GTA 3 map, only portland was unlocked, and I was alone... somehow, my dream perfectly recreated the PS2 style of the game... it was really spooky exploring an empty map, normally flourishing with pedestrians and cars, the only cars i could've found were probably that one single banshee in the window.

[@Me-zo8yc]

That sounds so cool. 😆👍🏻

[@TheDarkWizard666]

That sounds like the cleanest, best pleasure for a dream

[@Rihcterwilker]

Perfect. GTA 3 has a mood that no other game has. The way the engine makes it look like it's so unique.

[@hatersgonnahate2505]

*GTA* *IV* *has* *left* *the* *chat*

[@z1kop540]

​@@hatersgonnahate2505idk.. gta 3 feels more like new york for me

[@remenix]

Same thing happpens with Vice City these two games have a place in my heart for that.

[@Journey_to_who_knows]

Half life 1

[@Rihcterwilker]

@@remenix definitely. I legit like the vibe and handling of vehicles in vice city way more than any other game that came later. Even something as simple as the car reflections and models feels unique in VC, to the point that VCS feels way more connected to San Andreas.

[@JackieMB92]

GTA 3 got this Taxi Driver meets Wariors meets Trainspoting meets Sopranos meets Matrix vibe with uk Underground late 90s coat of paint. I love it

[@vicrattlehead69]

lmao unironically this comment immaculately sums up the whole game

[@romar.]

How does someone hit that right on its head

[@moister3727]

So true, specially the UK part

[@martymcchew4347]

I’ve only played a little bit of the Rockstar The Warriors game but I do love the feeling of that game, the blend of the 2000s game space with the 70s setting seems perfect for me

[@TugaThreeSix]

I never thought of the Uk vibe but it's spot on

[@DamianOchramowicz]

We had 80s nostalgia with pixel art craze, and 90s throwbacks with boomer shooters and PSX warping textures. Now we are going into an era of early 2000s with its weird lights, fogs and drum n bass music.

[@SonEntry]

i used to pray for times like this

[@milosv123344]

@@SonEntry same

[@moister3727]

What is going to be with 2010's? Early PS3 jank?

[@WindiChilliwack]

The things I hope is that some of these aesthetics don't have the new coat of paint which may taint things a bit, what i mean is how they would "modernize" it where it may not feel like it's traditional sense.

[@unsavedprogress1419]

Pixel art was laziness sold as nostalgia

[@ethanpower381]

Claude's voice actor did an incredible job in bringing the character to life

[@Me-zo8yc]

Less is more. 😂

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Absolutely. He's the same voice actor as Gordon Freeman.

[@Unmedicated_Moments]

What does that have to do with the video? This is a bot comment.

[@Me-zo8yc]

@@Unmedicated_Moments I think you missed their joke but if I explain it won't be funny...

[@Unmedicated_Moments]

@@Me-zo8yc Darn haha I just got it. If only I read the comment above mine...I'm a dunce

[@Omarock]

35:30 did anyone else used to stand near the broken Callahan Bridge and wonder what is there on the other side? I did that numerous times when I first played this game as a kid. Internet access was VERY limited and you boot up a game without literally knowing anything about it. It was part of the magic that this game had and it's hard to experience in this day and age.

[@batcaveloner1383]

Damn, what a bittersweet flashback!!! ;)

[@TauricornA]

Yep. I wanted so bad to find another city 😂

[@annadelsiena]

My friend who owned the game and I used to fly over the broken bridge with the low gravity cars cheat. The ambulance was really good at making the jump! At the time it was the only way we got to the other island because we were like 8 years old, and the Bomb Da Base act 2 mission was just too difficult for our tiny brains ^^

[@markb35]

I guess that was the time when I first got the idea that so many people got while playing GTA, but maybe in a different way than most. One thing that every GTA game after San Andreas had in common was people speculating on the map, with many hoping it would not only be bigger than the previous one but make the game truly an open world of it all, by tying all the previously visited locations together. This idea of having a vast world to just walk around with no real purpose or spectacle always intrigued me. The more real and mundane, the better, ironically. When I stood next to Callahan Bridge, I didn't picture extraordinary things over there, I pictured something as simple as being able to walk into the airport where I assumed the planes would have to land and take off.

[@MrScartz123]

The amount of times i tried to jump the fuckin bridge with every single car :)). then i found cheats, the amount of trial and error to get to the next island was so satisffying when i used the flight and suspension jump cheats togheter to go to Stanton :))

[@yaneproduction]

Thought it was one of those "1 hour of retelling the gta iii's story 22 years later" videos but it turned out to be something way more interesting. Very good video

[@mrrandomdude4291]

Don´t get me started on those trash videos. They really just regurgitate the plot without offering any insight into it, like WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS??

[@sunsetman22]

​@@mrrandomdude4291those so-called "retrospectives" are really the bottom of the barrel when it comes to making content. literally just reading a poorly made summary/drawn-out recap of whatever piece of media they're talking about and calling it a day.

[@mrrandomdude4291]

What gets me, Is that these videos get so many damn views. Usually I don´t like to judge people for what they watch, but these "essays" really are the media discussion equivalent of those NPC streams. I felt crazy reading the comments of these videos and not seeing any pushback on them, it always feels nice to just let it out. @@sunsetman22

[@WhayYay]

Thank God I found these comments I thought I was going insane.

[@ayrtonjoga]

​@@sunsetman22 Isn't the whole point of a retrospective to look back at something?

[@Traph]

I'm so glad that someone else finally noticed this. GTA 3 has the most depresssing tone and vibe out of the 3D games.

[@lucifer-ic9th]

The only one with a real sense of danger

[@eugeniaamariei8626]

I guess GTA 4 is the GTA 3 of the HD universe.

[@acev3521]

@@eugeniaamariei8626yeah especially considering how colourful VI looked in the leaks

[@TemmieContingenC]

GTA 3 for the 3D universe, and GTA 4 for HD

[@Yeshua_is-Cool]

​@@TemmieContingenCdamn I didn't even think about that that kinda makes sense hopefully gta6 is the San Andreas of the HD ones aw that would be nice

[@skylacken]

bro yes! that early 2000s gritty urban grey, cold, rainy, big city yet feeling lonely, reverberating sounds feeling

[@Sanguivore]

We need a snappy, marketable name for this sort of experience so more people start to pay homage to it or emulate it.

[@playversetv3877]

yeh something like "neo noir" movies@@Sanguivore. or maybe thats what gta 3 fits into actually

[@greytuesday28]

@@Sanguivore I think it's fine without a name. Its ineffability adds to its specialness.

[@Sanguivore]

@@greytuesday28 That’s certainly true, and I agree. But a name makes it much easier for a community of those who appreciate it to form and band together.

[@greytuesday28]

@@Sanguivore It could make it easier for new generations, but people around my age usually get me when I mention that I'm a fan of that cold, dark, serious, gritty and often futuristic atmosphere of late-90s/early-00s films and games. It was basically the style of the era.

[@djcoinlaundry]

I love the npc quotes. “Yep I’ve been drinking again”

[@BrentynMacMillan]

Haha yes

[@MrFitness94]

Carpetmuncher!

[@kappa_oasis]

'your mother told me she hates me!'

[@yaneproduction]

My mother's my sister

[@w00df0rd]

Lol. Yeah I've remembered that quote every week of my life since 2001

[@Bluemustacheproductions]

This is why I think gta 3 is secretly a horror game, but you arent playing as a victim running away from the killer, you are the killer.

[@gumbaholic]

That's a very interesting take on the game. Never looked at it that way. "I'm not trapped inside here with you. You are trapped inside here with me". Like a kid stomping on bugs that are trapped in a box. Creepy.

[@antoinesilva1527]

I think you could make short horror movies with GTA III or Minecraft. III is a bit more eerie since the characters look more human, and with mods, I think you could put in different characters and form a horror narrative.

[@lightsideendings5815]

Claude bled out after Catalina shot him. Every character he meets in "Liberty City" is an aspect of himself helping him die.

[@daevidpp445]

bro think he a philosopher

[@cyber_stealth]

Claude's voice actor really helped me get immersed into the game, bravo to him!

[@vicrattlehead69]

so did gordon freeman's va

[@thegamingprozone1941]

.....

[@everythingpony]

He doesn't speak? What voice actor?

[@cyber_stealth]

are you stupid???? did you have voices turned off or something???@@everythingpony

[@NeymarNation]

@@everythingponythat’s the point

[@NTxC]

Finally. Finally someone who understands the nature of GTA III - my favorite game of all time - and why it's so good. The odd lo-fi sound, the reverb, the UI, the atmosphere, the weather, the music, the peds, the effects, everything works just so well to create that eerie feeling of this game. This video deserves a million views. Thank you for making this. Finally someone who understands. To think what they'd done to this amazing soulful experience in that horrible "remaster"... I shudder.

[@MJ_Gray23]

Couldn’t have said it better. Always amazes me when people talk about the definitive trilogy and they say “3 wasn’t that bad” like… that version completely ruined the most special thing about 3. The vibe and atmosphere got completely butchered.

[@josetecato126]

I pooped my pants

[@voteZDLR]

I think it was accidental. It worked don't get me wrong but GTA3 I almost look at as being a feature length beta for Vice City which is when they not only mastered the engine but had the budget to make the game they truly wanted to make. Then San Andreas comes along and completely and totally caps off the "3D era of GTA games", masterpiece that it truly was. I wonder what would happen if they had Vice City or SA budget when making GTA3. I think it'd be remembered as one of the best games they ever made, even though a very small % of people will tell you they think GTA3 is the best still just regardless. I actually love the soundtrack, if people think Vice City was Scarface inspired like... a lot of the songs in GTA3 are directly from the Scarface movie. And I don't know, I don't believe a single one in Vice City has any songs from Scarface however Vice City has a lot of other like actual licensed songs so at face value it's a love letter to the movie Scarface, but it's also more of a love letter to the 80's itself.

[@DennisMHenderson]

🌈

[@DennisMHenderson]

@@voteZDLR🤮

[@therudesociety5373]

I'm constantly trying to explain to people that GTA III truly captured the essence and "feeling" of New York City in the 2000s. No other game comes as close. Especially how NYC changed overnight because of 9/11. Wonderful Video

[@BobbyCarillo]

True Crime New York City kinda has a similar vibe, it has a trashy, gritty NYC where the sun never shines in the 2000s

[@MillywiggZ]

It was odd how it captured the UK at the time too, drumb & bass music, the cargo trousers with Vans, the humor, that “street” graffiti style of illustration, Y2K Neville Brody graphics, brutalist concrete buildings, rain with street lights, reggae, Japanesque style, it really was a product of its time.

[@enemy1191]

@@MillywiggZ Probably that's because the game was made in UK. Although most of GTA games were made in UK, or at least the core team is set in UK.

[@UnityAgainstJewishEvil]

@@MillywiggZGta3 was how I first realized I loved English humor, coming from New England in the US.

[@RaHeadD10]

I feel GTA 4 did something similar even if the vibe was different.

[@cristian-gabrielgaldamezbr3810]

Omni Trio was such a vibe in GTA 3. You really had late 90s London vibe to their interpretation of NYC.

[@mikedouglas9863]

For some reason, this is one of my all time favorite videos. More like this, please

[@KoopaTroopa1]

Just for the record, most of GTA IIIs radio is not licensed music (with the exception of a few stations such as Flashback FM) it's mostly music made originally for the game.

[@PavPlayz45]

That's amazing

[@thewelshbeersnob2783]

KJAH is basically an entire album from dub artist The Scientist but with a voice over in between the songs. The radio DJ references The Scientist once “you’re scaring me now, Mr Scientist”, but there’s no reference to the entire station being the same songs from the same album by the same artist haha - I guess it just adds to the fractured nature of dub music in the first place, reworking existing music into new context - the exact happens here for The Scientist’s album. I think the album is called Scientist rids the world of the evil curse of the vampires, or words to that effect. It’s a really cool record. Cheers!

[@harryarmstrong9816]

And MSX is straight from a Moving Shadow mix CD

[@arandompasserby7940]

And all the licensed music from Flashback FM are actually all the non-licensed music originally made for Scarface.

[@Don_Salieri1899]

Double clef fm has left the chat

[@BlindMango]

The echoey ambient noise and newspapers on the ground to make the game feel less “empty”, and sort of outside environments feeling like they’re inside in a way goes a long way with it. One of the first 3D games like this, and no real roadmap of how to do it before its time. I think they just did what they could figure out with the limitations they had, and this was the result

[@EdgeO419]

The nightime and fog being the default of the game was programmers choice to hide both draw distances and how hollow and empty the world is with almost everything bunched up next to each other so they didnt have model large roads of nothing. They took the fog out in the "remasters" and you can basically see to ends of the maps in these games

[@raulquiroz7492]

Basically what Konami did with the first Silent Hill game. No wonder so many people find this game eerie and creepy.

[@EdoloChannel]

I have always found the sound of Claude's shoes so so satisfying.

[@essgee4225]

Along with his “ugh!” When he falls down or gets hurt.

[@Boysoundtechniques]

So true! Haha 20 years after and i still do.

[@TheAngryRantz]

same sound as james earl cash

[@Keenie187]

⁠@@TheAngryRantznobody knows this reference but I sure as fuck do 👍🏼

[@Corvilux52]

I know this is entirely unintentional, but this game is so so so perfect on accident. Keep in mind, the game takes place in 2001 and is based on or at least inspired by New York. This is the time and place 9/11 occurred. As someone who watched it live on TV, I can never shut down the feeling that the dark, depressing, foggy, gloomy vibes this game gives off is perfect for the setting at the time and place it occurs. It feels like a world filled with darkness and evil where people only exist to kill one another and cause chaos. I know all this is more or less accidental since Rockstar didn't know 9/11 was going to happen, but when you tie it all together, this is what you get. GTA 3 feels so awkward to me to play for so many reasons but for the time it came out, I feel like it matches how the country felt at the time perfectly.

[@xndrgn]

The hostility and gloomy atmosphere is most prominent in this game, out of all games in series. When you complete all missions, every gang hates you and wants to kill you, almost everywhere, making you feel like entire city hates you too. And even before that you can notice how pedestrians always attacking each other and provoke fights, thieves pickpocketing, car jackers stealing cars, not to mention the usual gang wars. The cherry on top would be that particular cheatcode (or two) which makes pedestrians fight against everyone, either with bare fists or heavy weapons. That's probably the most creepy moments in the game which honestly didn't looked even remotely like horror game for me. But yes, it's pretty much a game about gloomy, cold, man-eating city where everyone is enemy to everyone and your friends only exist to backstab you tomorrow.

[@mannhouse8014]

@@xndrgnGTA 4 has a similar atmosphere but in a more “tired of the bullshit” way.

[@RolandBon]

"Grand Theft Auto" The only game series that changes its mood with every release without messing it up.

[@thesidneychan]

Unless it gets remastered.

[@Vasily_dont_be_silly]

The Elder Scrolls

[@jrt2792]

​​@@thesidneychanBRUH, the "Definitive Edition" completely ditches the atmosphere for GTA 3 and San Andreas. Now all 3 games look no different from each other.🤦

[@thegamingprozone1941]

​@@thesidneychanwe don't talk about that

[@Ved000000]

GTA5 doesn't have one, it's literally just photorealistic California and it sucks.

[@mattie2695]

It's feel still surpasses anything else I've ever seen. It's difficult to put into words, but I feel GTA III, in my mind, kind of represents the PS2 era of gaming of a whole. Vice City has its 80's excess, cheese and class and you can practically feel the humidity, San Andreas has it's 90's sprawling, west coast, boiling hot landmass. III feels... cool... literally, like a crisp breeze in the middle of the night idk. The game as a whole gives me the same feel as the PS2 menu does if that makes sense.

[@USAirsoft]

The amount of times I’d wander somewhere in GTA3 and just think, “I want to live here. This is oddly nice.”

[@KegOfMeat]

Despite the fact Liberty City was called “The worst place in America.”

[@commie_remover]

@@KegOfMeatJust like any other liberal/communist city.

[@ultramagnus1275]

​@@commie_removerDrug zombies and thieves have taken over San Francisco. Thanks liberals. 😒

[@mannhouse8014]

@@commie_removerLeave the politics at the door pls

[@LeuNoeleeste]

Chill on that good old game vibes and forget all of this poison man

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

*Fun Fact:* The building's music in Hepburn Heights ("Floating Waves" by DJ Roadrunner) is also the same song that was used at the beginning of the _Spongebob Squarepants_ episode, "Squidtastic Voyage".

[@BhargavaMan]

For me personally, i get this unparalleled feel from Max Payne 1 Just standing on a random street, doing nothing and just taking it all in

[@edwardmerriam6970]

This game and the original Watch Dogs had that "living on the edge of society" vibe where you play as a lonely fixer who's beholden to whoever is giving him missions, wandering around a seemingly vast dark gritty city feeling empty. It's why I love GTA 3 and WD1 both so much.

[@KatoCoyoteCombatWorkshop]

This. This is the atmosphere I'm always chasing in my own writing. GTAIII, W_D and Metal Gear Solid 2's tanker chapter had such a profound impact on my tastes in media. It's a vibe I always hope will resurface in pop culture.

[@pinkunokinyobi]

Im so glad this video exists. I’ve always felt the same way - GTA 3 made me feel very uneasy and it just felt so dark, this feeling never went away

[@marinadela1361]

Yass Małgosia

[@pinkunokinyobi]

@@marinadela1361 papieru

[@Yukanhayt-Mhenow]

It went away for the Definitive

[@rainonsuburbs]

Świat twój pełen zmarchwień

[@qualityguacamole9142]

@@rainonsuburbs *p u t a n g i n a m o*

[@QuintusCunctator]

Someone else noticed the apartments you can drive around and hear muffled music from! It may be a little thing, but I distinctly remember noticing it when I played the game for the first time and feeling like a kid again - with the childish desire to discover what's inside an unreachable place.

[@faithrewarded7486]

GTA3 was pretty ground breaking in 2001, I can vouch for that.

[@jessquiatchon2204]

GTA 3 - set the standard for open world games GTA VC - set the standard for storytelling in open world games GTA SA - pushed the capabilities of that generation's hardware to its limits combining everything from 3 and VC and improved upon them GTA IV - set the new direction of the series while staying true to the crime aspect of GTA GTA V - graphical achievements and online

[@Rodemu]

@@jessquiatchon2204 GTA4 is still superior to 5 imo 5 was a step or two backwards while doing some good things. Mostly optimization otherwise 4 was last good GTA game imo.

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Same, haha that time was the cleanest best pleasure as was playing Halo Combat Evolved in 2001 aswell, good generation man... nostalgia is a hell of a thing, if it were somehow in pill form I'd be an addict for sure, popping nostalgia all day

[@TheDarkWizard666]

​@@RodemuI agree, 4 is my favourite too personally

[@Rodemu]

@@TheDarkWizard666 It's my favorite too man for many reasons they really outdid themselfs with it for a ps3/xbox 360 2008 game.

[@tavrincallas3218]

It's crazy how universal this experience with the game seems to be. A couple years ago, long after playing GTA 3, I read a creepypasta set in Liberty City and it was really powerful because I could quite easily remember how eerie this game can be. This reminds me of those videos about empty multiplayer maps, I think GTA 3 is the closest a single player game gets to that feeling and the idea of liminal spaces (clearly not counting games that are ALL about liminal spaces)

[@JukoYT]

Do you maybe remember the creepypastas name? Sounds interesting

[@T.AzimuthSchwitters]

Might actually even be more liminal since it's not trying to be. True liminality is partially derived from the feeling of uncertainty, like looking at something you weren't meant to see or isn't designed for you, purposeful liminality ironically actually kind of takes away from that aspect

[@tavrincallas3218]

@@JukoYT I'm afraid not :( It was about the creepy abandoned picnic area and Portland beaches, though. I'm pretty sure about them being mentioned at least

[@tavrincallas3218]

@@T.AzimuthSchwitters oh yeah!

[@JukoYT]

@@tavrincallas3218 oh, gonna search for it abit than

[@JohnYourube]

I remember on the ps2 specifically, the audio was extremely echoey and there was like a weird motion blur thing going on at all times. That added a lot to the vibe even if it did t really make sense. This game is gloomy incarnate. I also love how the weather sometimes made the city this specific green color, not just gray. And how on sunny days with clear skies, the blue skies are a specific darker shade of blue

[@JohnYourube]

Also I love the blocky models with textures pasted on top of them.

[@istproduction1759]

I’m emulating the game right now it still has that weird echo especially during Luigi’s dialogue

[@SabbathPriest33]

The motion blur was something you could turn on and off on the menu lol

[@christiand2426]

Its probably the compression. Perfectly unintentional

[@sman14GTA]

Whenever I think of the GTA 3 vibe, I immediately think of the blurb/back of the game case: "Liberty City, USA. The worst place in America" Followed with the pics of city and Claude being a menace, it really sets the vibe that this city is a place of dread and deadliness. You know you're expected to bite back in this city as the player.

[@sunsetman22]

there will always be something utterly _poetic_ about the most oppressing city in the GTA universe being called Liberty

[@asais1024]

Carcer City from Manhunt is canon in GTA 3D and HD universes There even is a comment by the Lips 106 host that mentions Carcer

[@jackcravford8744]

Finally someone talking about the early 2000. Rain, urban city, the city ambience on the background, house/trance music coming from inside the buildings... man i love the atmosphere of this game so much.

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Same, my dad drives trains

[@Me-zo8yc]

Trains is hard job

[@TheSuckoShow]

I love how GTA3 had to use all these little tricks to create the SENSE of a world. Even as you stand in the middle of it, it feels more suggestive than explicit. Of course I love the rich, detailed worlds of games like Red Dead 2 and GTAIV, but I think there was some magic to GTA3 that nobody's recaptured since, largely because developers don't have to work around such limited tool sets anymore.

[@ethoman04]

It's fucking baffling that this guy doesn't have a million subs. The quality of his content is vastly beyond what his sub count would suggest

[@jonbourgoin182]

Every time he uploads I'm always afraid it's gonna be a long time before we see new content from him again. The fact that he uploaded this so soon after the previous video gives me hope that he will keep a consistent output at least for the foreseeable future

[@ethoman04]

@@jonbourgoin182 Here's hoping

[@kieranhurst8543]

It is mostly because of inconsistent uploads

[@holyshiftstudio]

I think he just needs to upload a little more frequently, but Joyless definitely puts quaillty over quantity

[@DZIKl]

I don't think that a million users would be interested in this weird ass content. Are you this dumb to think that amount of subs equals the quality of the channel? 12yo mindset

[@MotherGapshin12]

GTA 3 is unnerving and eery, the fact that you can hear people scream when you blow cars up and shoot, in some versions you can see bodyparts after an explosion, the weird suicidebombers of that one mission, the sheer darkness and grayness of the city not to mention all the urban legends about Darkel and those terrorist missions.

[@jacks2176]

Yes! Those weird suicide bombers always creeped me out!

[@asadfarookart]

there was this other thing, near a tunnel by 8 balls place that creeped me out as a kid too, like 4 homeless people surrounding a molotov .. just standing there.

[@YoutubeHandIe]

I’m surprised that joyless never mentioned the kingdom come mission, that was the first thing that came to my mind when thinking about what is weird and unnerving about gta 3

[@Minchken]

@@asadfarookart I'd used to call them; the mole people.

[@Me-zo8yc]

@InevitableOption-ic2vx SPECIAL DELIVERY!

[@Healthy_Toki]

"no where near as ground breaking as san andres" - wut mate? This is one of the most groundbreaking titles of all time.

[@matgalvao]

i really cant get enough of those early 2000s gritty vibes from games like gta 3, vtmb and Max payne

[@Milty2001]

What I love about gta 3 is that it was dark and gloomy, every person you meet is either part of a gang or corrupt in some way, the ambitious feel of liberty city is astounding

[@vicjake8730]

Dude thank you for this video I’ve been feeling this for years and you confirmed and completely expanded on the feeling I’ve had about this game. When I saw the name of the video I thought “finally someone is talking about this I know I’m not alone”, then the way you opened the video, ah I knew you understood

[@jonbourgoin182]

He's really onto something with this concept that is actually an original take on games. I for one haven't seen any coverage like this for a game like GTA 3.

[@dyorgewiltonspassos183]

YES, i've had it too, and for me it's still one of the bests and kinda different. in my childhood it was dreaded and eerie, but i grew fond of it with the time and could never explain why

[@Remix2366]

💯

[@TheDarkWizard666]

It's a great video. Indeed the cleanest, best.

[@jemoeder51]

Those tunnels in Shoreside Vale in combination with the big landmass object north of the map has caught my attention for over 13 years now. It's literally like they were placed there to encourage people to 'look beyond' the physical limitations of the game map. Especially since the map which comes with the game's manual shows a big landmass north of the whole playable game area, as if its an actually playable area where you are actually supposed to be able to go there. Add in the Dodo plane which is barely flyable and the flying tank cheat which is also very hard to control, its like the game encourages players to explore this inaccessible part of the map, since the 'Ghost Town' area, where the intro cutscene takes place is located there but is unsolid meaning you can't actualy drive of walk there but only fly by there. As if Rockstar actually wanted people to go to this barely accessible part of the map by making players find out themselves how to go to this area, by making people 'look beyond what they know'. To escape from the dark place that is Liberty City after finishing the storyline, also since that Shoreside Vale is the final part of the map to explore, it give the illusion that going beyond those tunnels and landmass is part of the game chronology, like going to a hypothetical 4th island after unlocking Staunton Island and then Shoreside Vale. The fact that this also encouraged modders to change this part of the map into an actually playable area by opening those tunnels and creating a whole new area to explore around the 'Ghost Town' area really gives the illusion that there was some sort of intentional philosophy behind the creation of this part of the map, to encourage players 'to seek and create beyond what they know', 'to take control of otherwise incontrollable aspects of life' is something which i never found in any game. To make people take a different look at life literally by placing a bunch of map objects into a game world. while completely unintentional. Its the same story with GTA San Andreas' countryside area, of which the creepy rainy dark vibe contributed to the creation of all those myths over the years like Bigfoot, Leatherface, Ghost Car, etc.

[@dietisgreat]

Imagine writing a paragraph this big and being wrong

[@MegadethMiller]

Unless there's a different version of the myth, ghost cars were real in San Andreas. They appear in an area of the map that looked like two horse shoes.

[@qualityguacamole9142]

I mean some say that the tunnels in Shoreside lead to Carcer city… and that place is undeniably in much more disrepair than L.C. But TBH that is part of the reason why I was so obsessed about GTA III, like what is up there yk

[@skornie123]

Your comment made me remember how I, as a kid, used to take a boat near the edge of the map where the pipelines were. I was trying to jump on them hoping to exit out of Liberty City that way^^

[@jemoeder51]

@@dietisgreat its just speculation

[@JohnVmc2]

GTA atmosphere is unique, i came back to this game every year.

[@Joyless]

0:00 - Intro 5:58 - Ocean/Boats 13:18 - Pedestrians/Traffic 20:17 - Sound/Audio 29:50 - Weather/Fog 34:45 - Tour of Portland 43:50 - Tour of Staunton 52:53 - Tour of Shoreside 1:00:07 - Silent Hill 2/Conclusion

[@saucers4eyes695]

What is the name of the music used in the intro and outro? Wasn't sure if it was one of your pieces or not.

[@saucers4eyes695]

It's Dead Games and Empty Lives, from his album of the same name, if anyone is interested. Only just figured this out as the album came out after this video lol

[@Crampsam]

An almost feature length video on the atmosphere of GTA3 is so extremely my thing. I love that this little niche exists. Thank you Jay ❤️

[@eEmm1]

GTA 3 is the first videogame I played from start to finish. I'm 33 years old now and I still think of this game randomly, despite of not playing it for over a decade. The atmosphere and graphics left a big impact on me

[@BrentynMacMillan]

I thought I was alone. It's a game but, it reflects something inside.

[@garden0fstone736]

Get it on iOS and play via iPad and controller

[@eEmm1]

@@BrentynMacMillan glad I'm not the only one. This game truly was revolutionary.

[@eEmm1]

@@garden0fstone736 I use Android currently :(

[@RedPandaTables]

I always wanted to live in a city but without the people. Just the idea of being able to hang out in alleyways and go to the store and be like one of three customers they had that day but be in a city so said store is within the block right next to the alleyway is just super cozy to me. Cities are nice, people are not.

[@varvarvarvarvarvar]

So, basically, you want to live in a private castle 😂

[@RedPandaTables]

@@varvarvarvarvarvar Nah, I like the city vibe but without the cons of living in the city. More like I want to live in a Yume Nikki/2kki dreamscape reality.

[@varvarvarvarvarvar]

​@@RedPandaTables Nah, neighbor, I get your exact predicament right there. What about when they try to make like a kids movie about ants or bees, and it comes out all weird because in real life hive is a stuff out of body horror on account of ants and bees not having families, you know, with all the infertile female-only workers being produced from one queen and with male drones dying like in a matter of days after mating? But that's the city life right there, city-maxing, so to say, on account of ants being here for around 120 mil years, and us for about a measly 30 thousands. That's why you shouldn't worry about starting a family, the city got you covered. Boy, how did I end up on this tangent? Anyway, yeah, I love a city at night too, when it's more relaxed, lit like a Christmas tree and you can feel like having more space to yourself and your friends.

[@skinnynotlegend]

I feel like a huge part of why cities are desirable is the social part, you can not get that level of socialism anywhere else.

[@CFNOSE]

SOCIALISM????????@@skinnynotlegend

[@ScubaPrison]

This is probably my favorite video about anything GTA-related ever!

[@younghem]

This game was revolutionary in its time.

[@macgmol159]

Every rockstar game is revolutionary for it's time honestly

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Definitely

[@PhantomSnake84]

The original Max Payne carries that same feeling and atmosphere for me that GTA III has.

[@TJOEL20]

You’ve been underrated for 8 years now

[@MrWhatIfYTC]

9

[@qualityguacamole9142]

@@MrWhatIfYTC10

[@deadwine511]

This game will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first ps2 game so I was a dumb kid and only wanted to cause mayhem while listening to Flashback FM (I remember there was a secret cheat to cause dismemberment on NPCs, secret as in, it wouldn't show the "Cheat activated" notification) but as I grew older, I would play the game like a NPC, I would drive, walk, grab a boat and just watch the sunrise/sunsets, use the trains, etc. Hearing the traffic sounds and the NPCs just saying random stuff (the low quality of the audio seems perfect), watching them walk around, drive around while I myself am walking, gives me a nostalgic and very comfortable feeling. I listen to Chatterbox all the time, even on youtube because it's like I'm in the game listening to the craziest shit and everytime I hear it, it sounds brand new and I laugh. The city, the pedestrians, the overall feeling of a dark, grim city (I always believed the atmosphere of the game was like this because of 9/11 but later on I realized they wouldn't have had the time to change the "mood" nor would it be well recieved if they made the game this dark on purpose to match the dark period US was going through back then). I Love GTA 3, Claude not speaking but "verbalizing" whenever he'd take fall damage was a mystery I was always curious about, the NPCs and Claude not knowing how to swim... fuck even how dark and dangerous the water is is just amazing to me (I'm smiling so hard as I type this, I want to play it again). I also always knew of a secret jump animation claude does (works only when you jump to dodge a police car since they drive faster than normal NPCs) and for so long I thought I was the only one who knew about it because no videos were made of it, nothing on gta 3 forums either (I just searched it right quick and I can't find anything but maybe I'm not using the right keywords). Idk, I simply love this game. Update 1: I found a forum speaking about it but the post was made in 2018. Like one person said "Well, I'll be damned. We all learn something every day. And there I was, thinking of myself as a GTA 3 expert." Update 2: I remember in GTA San Andreas, there's a mission where we fly to liberty city and it happens in Marco's Bistro, Saint Mark's. Also the short film by Rockstar "The Introduction", we can see Carl driving around Portland. Very nice feeling when I first saw that.

[@maineventkrunch2265]

I have ALWAYS said this about GTA 3. There is something about it that sets it apart. Portland Island especially is just..... really unique in a way that has not been duplicated since.

[@daevidpp445]

replicated

[@WillardLongshot-ks8yg]

Get over yourself.

[@NoobToob2014]

I've always loved the foggy, rainy, dull mood that GTA3 had, it feels as though you're in the universe of a gritty crime movie or even a snuff film to some extent. It also kinda captures the mood in a period JUST after 9/11 had happened

[@sreejat]

absolutely spot on. Since childhood I've had people ask me why GTAIII is special to me but I could never quite put it into words. Thank you dear friend.

[@oboroth51]

Gta 3 is by far my favorite gta the atmosphere is so dreamy its impossible to put into words.

[@Casketkrusher_]

2001, the greatest year of gaming for me. I miss that time.

[@gymonstarfunkle136]

GTAIII, MGSII Sons of Liberty, FFX, Max Payne, Dead or Alive 3, Devil May Cry, Onimusha, Tony Hawk 3, SSX Tricky... also Armoured Core 2 came out the previous year and AC3 would come out the next year.

[@rynun7620]

Alright, but consider this: 2007

[@samfisher5]

@@gymonstarfunkle136 Halo, Jak, Gran Turismo 3

[@freeone69]

even movies and music was goated. 92-2004 was like modern day renaissance. especially 2001.

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Me too mate, big time

[@matthewsommerville88]

It really reflects the times: early 2000’s / late 90’s. The next two games were locked into a time and place, but this is a reflection of the moment like GTA 5 and 4

[@Me-zo8yc]

That's a really interesting way of thinking about it. Maybe that's what grabs people, more than shiny graphics.

[@DeanH92]

When Vice City came out, I couldn’t help but keep going back to this game. There was just… something about it. You nailed that ‘something’ here, my friend. Subscribed!

[@raulquiroz7492]

Honestly I kinda miss Liberty City and wish GTA 6 would go back there. I think we got enough sunny bright colors from GTA 5 and that game has milked dry.

[@datingwiafusexclubdatingwiDOKI]

All same here I love liberty city so much. It is my favourite city in all of GTA. It is the most beautiful place heck it’s even better than vice city vice city will never come close to liberty city. Plus it’s on the north, which makes it instantly better and even better and there’s just something so creepy and beautiful about GTA threes version of liberty every version of liberty see that we ever saw is beautiful incredible and amazing but I think the 3-D era is the best version of GTA of liberty city, it’s the most beautiful gorgeous creepy in an unnerving vibe it’s I wish we could return to this version of liberty city. I really wish we could. I want rockstar to expand on this version of liberty city. I want to see more of it I can’t get enough I’m so in love with this version of liberty city.

[@kokobeliq]

No joke, i woke up to insanely gloomy weather outside of my apartment window and i immediately thought of gta 3. Started looking for videos to watch about the game and your popped up specifically about the atmosphere of the game. I can't believe these coincidences sometimes

[@ClaudeGnome]

This game always felt like the movie Groundhog Day in which Claude is stuck in some time loop. Only this time loop is in a simulation. Nothing ever really changes. Even when the radios are playing they're meant to sound like they're being broadcasted live, yet they just keep repeating over and over and over endlessly. In fact, the most human like part of this game is all of the cutscenes in which the characters actually have real dialogue and movement. I always felt this way with the old GTA's, especially VC, VCS, LCS, and GTA 3.

[@jaykayebandftw]

Perfectly captured, i'd like to add that playing this as a kid I got the exact same feelings but even more intense. It has stuck with me my whole life. Staying up way past my bedtime in a dark room with a sheet over me and the TV so my mom wouldn't see me playing. Terrifyingly unique feeling i'm unsure i'll ever feel again, but I loved it.

[@hughjass8430]

Doom on PC in 1993 was a breakthrough in gaming. GTA3 was a similar kind of monumental event in the early 2000's. I will never forget buying it in October '01 and returning to my home town from college. What was meant to be a quick try of the game with two of my buddies before we went out on Friday night turned into an all nite gaming session. We just couldn't put the controller down.

[@Bobaluga9]

I love the video but no one "felt" this sort of despair or lonlieness playing this in 2001. We were familiar with and acustom to technical limitations of the time. GTA 3 was groundbreaking in every sense. Your take is soley from a modern persepctive.

[@Joyless]

I dunno dude. I had it on release and it felt exactly like this.

[@Bobaluga9]

@@Joyless thats crazy. I was 12 and it felt full and populated. Living breathing world. The illusion was full then. You must've been a full grown adult to have had that perspective.

[@theloner7512]

​@@Bobaluga9I was 13 and yeah I was astounded when my brother first introduced me to this game! Being able to to just go up to random people and beat them up, start shoot outs with cops, and car jack people out of the blue was mesmerizing!

[@nicktyrin4401]

The part about boats and world borders is very relatable to me actually, I used to often go to those wooden houses in the sea in Vice City just because I could

[@EmmettXIV]

GTA III to me has a nostalgia to it like no other. The sights and sounds all to come together so well.

[@BeanieRob]

As someone who played this as a kid when it first came out the waves of nostalgia I feel looking back on it now give me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It's 100% down to the unique atmoshere this game has. It's like a comfort blanket in video game form; yeah it's old and tired and maybe a bit itchy but put it on and you'll have the best nights sleep of your life.

[@bitcoincryptofreedom3652]

Same man, I remember my Dad buying me a ps2 with this game. 12 year old me was so excited and I wasn't disappointed. 😊

[@dyykkarifin2454]

I think manhunt has kind of a similiar feeling with it's athmosphere but a lot darker

[@raulquiroz7492]

Manhunt was ominous and dreadful. Literally no where in that game did I feel safe.

[@dyykkarifin2454]

@@raulquiroz7492 Exactly! The atmosphere in that game is really unique. Especially the earlier scenes. And I love when games make you pretty much just as weak as the enemies

[@BlazeSpeed08]

I love this game vibes so much. The dark an gritty atmosphere, the rainy and foggy weather and the protagonist being a cold, silent dude that only cares about getting money and revenge. This game feels so weirdly calming and I love it. The only other GTA that has been near to have a similar vibe that this one is GTA 4.

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Aye pal, a great game, truly the cleanest, best pleasure I'd say...

[@TFitz1]

As someone who once ate mushrooms then spent time running around analyzing and exploring this game, I really appreciate this video 😂 I salute you for even having the idea of breaking down the vibe of this game. You put things into perspective that I've kind of thought in my mind but never really put into words. Pretty cool video

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Shrooms are the cleanest, best pleasure

[@TFitz1]

@@TheDarkWizard666 The TCAP pic is cracking me up 😅

[@changedmynamee]

An hour long video? That’s gonna be gooddd

[@wsnt]

This is exactly why GTA 3 is one of my favorite GTAs, especially when I was younger. The atmosphere, and the small details really makes this game gloomy and beautiful.

[@BuiltbyFellony]

I got really obsessed with jungle through this game too. 'First Contact' and its intro were hammered into my brain before I ever knew any of the song titles

[@B_Don99]

WE’RE COMING BACK WITH DA BLAAAAAAST 🗣️🗣️

[@BuiltbyFellony]

@@B_Don99 101.1!

[@B_Don99]

@@BuiltbyFellony INSIDE YA MANOR

[@BeanieRob]

I distinctly remember getting what I thought was a demo disc for the game free with a magazine just before it came out in 2001 and upon popping it into my PS2 was initially disappointed to discover it was 'just an audio CD'. I hit play anyway and instantly became entranced by the sounds that came out of my TV. Turns out it was a sample for MSX FM - The very first sounds I heard for GTA3 were the opening seconds of Omni Trio's First Contact - Been a never ending love affair ever since.

[@BuiltbyFellony]

@@BeanieRob Damn, I got that exact magazine in an airport on the way home from Disneyland as a kid. Maybe that's why that particular track stands out

[@nosidezero]

You described just about everything I loved about GTA 3's atmosphere, and added so much more

[@NightCat14]

I don't know why this video is such a comforting and repeatable watch (or background noise) to me, but i must say our feeling towards this game is definitely mutual and it is hard to explain why, i think you sums up it as cohesively as humanly possible.

[@Me-zo8yc]

Same here.

[@DedAlexFive]

You're gonna become one of those successful "KZbinr who understands weirdo me like no other about videogame moods", I can tell

[@ashash7251]

THIS!!!!! I have been trying to describe this about GTA 3 for years & I get what you mean about the sound/audio and the mixing of the radio stations..the transition between Ilacoins “by a stranger“ into “Rising to the Top” by Agallah is magic even now when I hear that it is truly magic and almost makes me feel like I’m in Liberty City

[@loveshork77]

Could you please link the transition? On yr or sum

[@theblacknaruto]

Honestly one of the best videos ive seen in a while now. The aesthetics of gta 3 and 4 are underrated and im glad someone FINALLY made a video about it. Keep grinding bro 🔥

[@MotherGapshin12]

GTA 3 and GTA 4 have to be parent and child in terms of atmosphere and vibes.

[@onkkell]

I feel like the strings in the background of the main theme of the game almost represent how the game feels

[@SemtexTakeo]

This video is crazy because I really thought I was the only one who felt this way. The old 3D games outer bounds always intrigued yet terrified me. I don’t know why

[@gamemonster7]

This game,max payne and manhunt had that "feeling". Rockstar games are just too good

[@FAFGamer]

Used to be good now with GTA V, online and perhaps GTA 6 is all gonna be bullshit. I wish they start making 3d era games again

[@ouroldhouse3674]

Were

[@NTEDOG561]

Might be just me but it’s the early 2000s vibe as well

[@twcyangon119]

So did bully

[@SabbathPriest33]

@@NTEDOG561I think you’re right, and idk how gta 3 did this but it actually feels how the United States did right after 9/11, everything was shaky and unstable. People’s hopes and optimism for the 2000s was completely shattered and destroyed in the matter of seconds after that first plane hit. Gta 3 captures that feeling of a grim future with no hope of anything better or worse. Just staying the same forever…

[@cybermexi-8100]

The grit and gloom of GTA III is like a concrete blanket. Pre 9/11 New York was a dirty crime ridden city, and with Rockstar HQ in NYC, they definitely intented this feel. Much closer to a Charles Bronson film. 2 radio stations that encompass the feel of Liberty City is MSX-FM for what was contemporary pirate radio and underground rave culture. The other is K-Jah, with all the tracks to from Scientists horror themed album Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires.

[@rifleshooterchannel208]

Post 9/11 New York is still dirty and crime ridden though.

[@Coey8900]

My man I rewatched your video on cityscapes in games again just because I can't stop relating to it, and after coming back I see you've just dropped this today too. Knowing I pick up on the same vibes you do I'm definitely gonna go sit down and finally play GTA3 before I dive too deep into this upload. Thanks for the content man.

[@ivanxyev]

This game deserves this kind of appreciation. Hour long essay that is mostly pointing out details that are hidden from most of the players. I kneel.

[@brendanchild1653]

I never thought of GTA 3 as an uncanny dreamscape but now I can't unsee it

[@Pupppeteer]

The soundtrack of GTA 3 was really a groundbreaking thing because it just connected you to the world. It introduced me to some of the best music. The sound in general is so perfect like you said its just so genius. It all just felt like they followed a guy around and was like what would sound real over what would a game be like.

[@WinstonBuford]

probs my favourite GTA

[@AlejandroCastilloRapper]

The way you view video games is soooo underrated

[@UpstairsPancake]

We need videos like this, videos that delve into and pick apart a video game's atmosphere. Video games have such a unique capability of carrying a specific atmosphere, for the reasons outlined at the beginning of this video; there are so many components of a video game, the sounds, the music, the visuals, multiple details that all come together to build a meaningful world with personality. For me, this is one of the best things about video games and it's always nice to see it appreciated. Especially by someone who has a passion for the game and is able to point out details that might have passed over my head, because it enables me to appreciate it and enjoy it in a new or different way, just like analysis of any other kind of artform.

[@luvanecho]

I first played this game when I was 5 years old back in 2002. I was absolutely obsessed. I spent hours driving around and exploring the city. Blasting MSX FM and driving around to Omni Trio’s “First Contact” while it’s raining is such a comfy memory to me. The setting and atmosphere has stuck with me since. I even have recurring dreams of a city that perfectly resembles the vibe of GTA 3’s Liberty City. Weird alleyways cutting through a grey landscape contrasted by neon lights. The Chinatown district in particular really stuck with me, along with the beach where the mansion sits atop the weird rock formation. I would just park my car there as a kid and stare at it. Seeing that supermarket 38:24 really threw me back because I loved that area in particular. The weird liminal vibe of this game is just perfect. Glad to see it’s being discussed! Amazing vid.

[@tristanchuey]

I played GTA 3 when I was made 5 or 6 years old. Something about the city pulled me in and I was really fascinated with it. It was a vibe even as a child. The sounds, the NPC, the gameplay, etc. no game has ever felt like that to me after all these years

[@Snufflegrunt]

I’m so happy that I’m not alone. I’ve always preferred “the vibe” of GTA III to the subsequent titles of the era.

[@joxituk]

i really love this video. youve captured feelings ive had about this game for so long in a perfect way i think im rewatching this for like the third time now lol

[@roomer8381]

Nothing cures my burn-out better than videogames essays like this. Thank you

[@babyshambler]

Brilliant analysis! You articulated many thoughts I'd previously had on this unique gem of a game.

[@TheDarkWizard666]

The cleanest best pleasure