View source for Grand Theft Auto Advance

{{short description|2004 action-adventure video game for Game Boy Advance}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Grand Theft Auto Advance logo.jpg
| developer = [[Digital Eclipse]]
| publisher = [[Rockstar Games]]
| series = ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]''
| platforms = [[Game Boy Advance]]
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|26 October 2004<ref name="Release_Date">{{cite web |url=http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto/gba/ |title=Grand Theft Auto Advance |author=[[Rockstar North]] |publisher=[[Rockstar Games]] |quote=October 26, 2004 – The day has finally come. Grand Theft Auto has arrived on the Game Boy Advance and is now available in stores. Check out the all-new official trailer in the Media section of the site. |access-date=25 August 2013 |archive-date=10 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810112014/http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto/gba/ |url-status=live}}</ref>|EU|29 October 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=GTA Advance retourne aux sources |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2004/00010536.htm |access-date=8 May 2023 |website=Jeuxvideo.com |date=20 October 2004 |language=fr |archive-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508012702/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2004/00010536.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2014 |title=Grand Theft Auto Advance • Eurogamer.net |website=[[Eurogamer]] |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/games/grand-theft-auto-advance |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-date=24 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424105250/https://www.eurogamer.net/games/grand-theft-auto-advance |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
| director = Michael Mika Sr.
| producer = {{Unbulleted list|James Stanley|William S. Schmitt}}
| programmer = [[Cathryn Mataga]]
| artist = {{Unbulleted list|Boyd Burggrabe|Daniel Shallock}}
| writer = James Stanley
| alt = Video game logo, in black on light grey
}}
'''''Grand Theft Auto Advance''''' (also marketed as '''''Grand Theft Auto''''') is a 2004 [[action-adventure game]] developed by [[Digital Eclipse]] and published by [[Rockstar Games]]. The eighth entry in the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series, it was released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in October 2004. The game takes place in [[Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto)|Liberty City]] (a fictional parody of [[New York City]]), the same setting used for ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'', to which it serves as a prequel. The story, set one year before ''Grand Theft Auto III'', follows small-time criminal Mike's quest for revenge after his partner's supposed death, which leads him to become entangled in a world of organised crime, gang warfare, and corruption.

The game is played from a [[top-down perspective]], similar to the style used in ''[[Grand Theft Auto (game)|Grand Theft Auto]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto 2]]''; despite this, it is part of the series' "3D universe" [[Canon (fiction)|canon]], sharing continuity with the three-dimensional games of the franchise. It also features most gameplay elements of the 3D ''Grand Theft Auto'' games, including the vehicle-based side-missions, most weapons, the use of [[safe house]]s, and the style of the [[Heads-up display (video games)|heads-up display]]. The game received mixed reviews from critics, and was followed by ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]'', another ''Grand Theft Auto III'' prequel, in 2005.

== Gameplay ==
{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|width=200|image1=Grand Theft Auto Advance (title screen).png|caption1=Title screen|alt1=Screenshot of the game's main menu, showing the game's logo in the top-center, the logo of Rockstar Games in the bottom-left, and that of Digital Eclipse in the bottom-right. The bottom-center of the image displays the command "Press Start".|image2=Grand Theft Auto Advance.png|caption2=Game cartridge}}

''Grand Theft Auto Advance'' is an [[action-adventure game]] set in an [[open world]] environment and played from a [[top-down perspective]]. The game had to be adapted to the Game Boy Advance's hardware limitations. As a result, it does not have animated [[cutscene]]s, nor does it have ''Grand Theft Auto III''{{'}}s much-lauded pedestrian dialogue. All cutscenes are text-only with hand-drawn pictures of the characters' faces, with a thematic backdrop behind. The art style is consistent with that used for the cover and loading art of the three-dimensional releases in the series. Replacing the pedestrian dialogue, some soundbites taken from ''Grand Theft Auto III'' are played when the player hits someone's car. Short police radio voiceovers will announce the player's location and vehicle type when the player commits a crime.

The game does not feature radio channels. Like the [[Game Boy Color]] ports of ''Grand Theft Auto'' and ''Grand Theft Auto 2'', each car has one fixed tune that is constantly repeated and cannot be changed. These include parts of some familiar ''Grand Theft Auto'', ''Grand Theft Auto 2'' and ''Grand Theft Auto III'' tunes, in instrumental versions. Despite this, billboards for the radio stations featured in ''Grand Theft Auto III'' can be seen throughout Liberty City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/adventure/grandtheftautogba/review.html?sid=6111483&om_act=convert&om_clk=gsupdates&tag=updates;title;4 |title=Grand Theft Auto review |first=Jeff |last=Gerstmann|authorlink=Jeff Gerstmann |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=26 October 2004 |access-date=28 April 2007}}</ref>

== Synopsis ==
=== Setting and characters ===
{{Anchor|Characters}}
The game is set in 2000 within Liberty City, the same setting used in ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]''. As the setting had to be recreated for the Game Boy Advance, much of it was noticeably changed in its conversion, including elements that were impossible to interpret to from the game's top-view perspective. As a result of these changes, players familiar with the original setting have to explore it afresh in ''Grand Theft Auto Advance''.

As a prequel to ''Grand Theft Auto III'', the game features both new and returning characters. The protagonist is an original character named Mike, who in his quest to avenge the supposed death of his partner, Vinnie, crosses paths with several prominent criminals that offer him assistance. These include explosives expert and firearms trader 8-Ball, [[Yardie]]s leader King Courtney, and [[yakuza]] co-leader Asuka Kasen, all previously featured in ''Grand Theft Auto III'', although their characters received significant changes in appearance and lifestyle to reflect who they were one year prior.

=== Plot ===
Small-time criminal Mike works for the more connected criminal Vinnie in hopes of leaving Liberty City with him and retiring from their life of crime. Vinnie convinces Mike to do work for the [[American Mafia|Mafia]] to achieve this goal. However, after several jobs, Vinnie is seemingly killed in a [[car bomb]] explosion, which also destroys all their money. Mike vows revenge, and quickly falls out with the Mafia as he investigates Vinnie's murder. After carrying out some jobs for 8-Ball, an explosives expert and old acquaintance of Vinnie's, he points Mike to a bartender named Jonnie, who maintains connections with the city's criminal underworld and might help him find the answers he seeks. Jonnie hires Mike for several jobs while they investigate Vinnie's murder together, until the former is suddenly killed midway through the investigation.

While searching for the killer, Mike spots some [[Yardie]]s leaving Jonnie's bar in a rush, and follows them to their leader, King Courtney. Courtney denies involvement in Jonnie's murder, claiming that his men were only sent to collect money Jonnie owed to him, and offers to help find the true culprit. After carrying out some jobs for him, Courtney points Mike to [[Illegal drug trade in Colombia|Colombian Cartel]] leader Cisco. When Mike confronts Cisco, however, he quickly realizes that the man is innocent, and that Courtney has been using him all along to eliminate his rivals. Mike then begins working separately for the Cartel and their main rivals, the [[yakuza]], led by Asuka Kasen, in hopes either gang will aid his investigation. After Cisco is suddenly killed, Mike pursues the murderer, and is shocked to find a still-living Vinnie, who reveals that he faked his own death to flee Liberty City with their money, and killed both Jonnie and Cisco to ensure Mike never learned the truth. Enraged at his former partner's betrayal, Mike kills Vinnie and steals his money, despite Vinnie's warnings that every criminal in the city will now target him for his wealth.

While meeting with 8-Ball to tell him how his investigation ended, Mike is attacked by the Cartel, who mistakenly assumed that he had killed Cisco. Although Mike escapes the attack, 8-Ball is injured during the shootout and subsequently arrested by the police. After dealing with the Cartel's new leader, Mike learns that Courtney is after his money and meets with Asuka one final time to plan an ambush at Courtney's hideout. However, the yakuza fail to show up for the attack, leaving Mike to face Courtney on his own (in one of the instances, the yakuza will provide cover for Mike once he confronts King Courtney provided he gets into the hideout within the stipulated time). Mike fends off the waves of Yardie attacks and then gravely injures Courtney but before he can finish him off, the police raid Courtney's hideout, forcing Mike to make his escape. After evading the police, Mike goes to the airport and leaves Liberty City in Cisco's private plane. He reminisces his fallen friends and heads to [[Colombia]] to start a new life with his wealth.

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 68/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grand-theft-auto/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |title=Grand Theft Auto for Game Boy Advance Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=24 December 2018 |archive-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229184659/https://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/grand-theft-auto |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GI = 7.5/10<ref>Game Informer review, Jan 2005, p.148</ref>
| GSpot = 6.5/10<ref name="gamespot1">{{cite web |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff|authorlink=Jeff Gerstmann |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/adventure/grandtheftautogba/review.html |title=Grand Theft Auto Advance Review |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=26 October 2004 |access-date=17 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624063750/http://www.gamespot.com/gba/adventure/grandtheftautogba/review.html |archive-date=24 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| IGN = 8.5/10<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://au.ign.com/games/grand-theft-auto/gba-621241 |title=Grand Theft Auto – Game Boy Advance |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=28 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324083959/http://au.ign.com/games/grand-theft-auto/gba-621241 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
''Grand Theft Auto Advance'' received "mixed or average" reviews, according to [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic" />

The graphics of the game received mixed to positive commentary from critics, who likened it to other Game Boy Advance games. Craig Harris of ''[[IGN]]'' said that the game "does a good job of looking like the old ''GTA'' games."<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Loki of ''Game Chronicles'' said that the game uses "plenty of tricks" to give it a "3D feel," and that there's a "real sense of depth and perspective as you gaze down upon Liberty City."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamechronicles.com/reviews/gba/gta/advance.htm |title=Review |author=Loki |publisher=Game Chronicles |date=8 January 2005 |access-date=17 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405104158/http://www.gamechronicles.com/reviews/gba/gta/advance.htm |archive-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, ''[[1UP.com|1UP]]'' staff said that the game has "flat visuals" that are a "poor leap" compared to previous games in the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/gta-advance |title=GTA Advance Review for GBA from 1UP.com |author=[[1UP.com|1UP]] Staff |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |date=6 February 2005 |access-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927001346/http://www.1up.com/reviews/gta-advance |archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>

The game's music received mixed reactions. ''IGN''{{'}}s Craig Harris said that the songs on the radio stations in the vehicles are "pretty repetitive and aren't so great."<ref name="autogenerated1" /> ''[[1UP.com]]''{{'}}s Scott Sharkey stated that the music is "pretty bad," and named the radio tracks "very short and repetitive."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/gta-advance_2 |title=GTA Advance Review for GBA from 1UP.com |last=Sharkey |first=Scott |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |date=10 November 2004 |access-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927001431/http://www.1up.com/reviews/gta-advance_2 |archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> [[Jeff Gerstmann]] of ''GameSpot'' commented on the camera movements while driving, and that it "doesn't zoom out far enough to give you a good view of the road."<ref name="gamespot1" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website|https://www.rockstargames.com/games/grandtheftauto-gba}}

{{Grand Theft Auto}}
{{Digital Eclipse video games}}
{{Rockstar Games}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of the Mafia]]
[[Category:Digital Eclipse games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance-only games]]
[[Category:Grand Theft Auto|Advance]]
[[Category:Open-world video games]]
[[Category:Organized crime video games]]
[[Category:Rockstar Games games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Take-Two Interactive games]]
[[Category:Video game interquels]]
[[Category:Video game prequels]]
[[Category:Video games about revenge]]
[[Category:Video games about the Yakuza]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in 2000]]
[[Category:Video games set in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional islands]]