TLDR Review: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Switch
Pros
- •Offers an exceptional collection of classic games, including Vice City with its iconic 80’s aesthetic and standout soundtrack.
- •Delivers a highly enjoyable and engaging experience that captures the nostalgic magic of the original trilogy.
- •Gameplay remains fun, funny, and outrageously entertaining despite the simplicity and aging graphics.
- •Modernized mechanics and updated textures, models, sounds, and lighting enhance play while preserving the original feel.
- •Runs significantly better on Nintendo Switch compared to previous remakes on Xbox 360 and PSP.
- •Removes loading times between islands, improving flow compared to the original releases.
- •Vice City and GTA III feel especially solid and faithful, generally superior to earlier remasters.
- •Fasaced and satisfying gameplay that invites players to revisit the iconic series.
- •Runs smoothly with minimal technical issues for the most part.
- •Great choice for newcomers who missed the originals as well as longtime fans seeking nostalgia.
Cons
- •Graphics are noticeably outdated, with some odd omissions like the lack of car exhaust effects that feel strange compared to the originals.
- •Minor bugs, glitches, and occasional framerate issues can disrupt longer play sessions.
- •The game is not a full overhaul and retains many original quirks and bugs with only minimal quality of life improvements.
- •Missions can sometimes feel cumbersome and tedious, pushing some players toward using cheats for convenience.
- •Stability issues require frequent saving to avoid losing progress due to occasional crashes.
- •Explicit content and mature themes make this unsuitable for children.
- •The updated visuals maintain a polygonal cartoonish style rather than realistic violence, which may divide opinions.
- •San Andreas edition performance is still anticipated, implying some hesitance among users regarding the full trilogy experience.
Bottom Line
*Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition* on Nintendo Switch is a must-have for fans craving a well-preserved blast from the past, with gameplay and nostalgia firmly intact. While it isn’t a graphical powerhouse and carries a few glitches and stability quirks, the updated mechanics and smooth running on Switch make it a sturdy way to relive or discover these legendary titles. If you're after a pristine modernized GTA experience, this might feel a bit rough around the edges, but for a solid journey back to the classics on a portable console, it holds up nicely. Consider this best for mature players and nostalgia seekers who appreciate faithful remakes rather than full modern reinventions.
How we researched this
About this review: We pulled together findings from professional reviews and hundreds of user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.
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