Retro City Rampage DX is the best version of the game

Retro GTA action comes to the 3DS

Retro City Rampage has hit the 3DS in the form of a DX version, which brings a few upgrades with it. Now, you may have already played Rampage on multiple platforms — so what’s better about this one?  Well, you’re getting all the patches that the previous iterations have obtained, as well as a new method of ditching the police (clearing the screen), a new drive camera, new control options (jumping and shooting), streamlined missions, and most importantly, a bottom map screen.

Gameplay-wise more checkpoints have been added, as well as a balanced difficulty and a generally better mission flow. As someone who has beaten the game previously, I noticed these upgrades almost immediately, though it’s not a perfect port as there are a few limitations involved. Circle Pad Pro support has oddly been left out in favor of a more responsive control scheme — and one wonders why it couldn’t have simply been an option for those who prefer it. The lack of twin-stick shooting doesn’t ruin the game at all as it’s easy enough to pick up the L button free-aim system, but it would have been appreciated.

To compensate for the smaller viewing area, developer Brian Provinciano created a “dynamic” camera that pans ahead while driving. While the 3DS is technically less sharper-looking than the Vita version, the upgrades add to the package and ultimately take precedent over visuals for me.

It’s not flawless, but Retro City Rampage DX feels in its natural habitat on the 3DS — a platform that keeps growing and growing every month. If you’re looking for an open-world game to just screw around in, this is it.