Grand Theft Auto III - The Essential Fixes

A collection of community-made mods for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto III to fix many long-standing issues and restore some of the PlayStation 2 version's features, as well as a few mod packs to enhance your experience.

Introduction

Grand Theft Auto III is often considered one of the most revolutionary PlayStation 2 titles of its time, known not only for making a huge leap from its top-down 2D predecessors, but also the wide-open sandbox genre by allowing players to freely roam in a fully 3D, fictionalized version of New York. Over the course of time, the game has been ported to other platforms such as Windows PC in 2002, the original Xbox in 2003, and for its 10th anniversary, a mobile port for iOS and Android in 2011. The PC version, while it has a few benefits over the original PlayStation 2 version, it also has some noticeable drawbacks, missing features from its PlayStation 2 counterpart, and many leftover issues that to this day has yet to be addressed by Rockstar themselves, some of which only has gotten worse thanks to growing compatibility issues on later Windows operating systems and newer hardware. However, thanks to a talented modding community, we can not only fix many of these issues, but improve upon what the PC version has to offer. For those also interested in the aesthetic and technical differences between each version of the game, give these comparison videos by Vadim M a watch, as well as this article by Digital Foundry a read.

In-Depth Comparisons and Differences

• GTA III - PS2 VS PC In-depth Comparison (Part 1)
• GTA III - PS2 VS PC In-depth Comparison (Part 2)
• GTA III - Steam VS Retail PC In-depth Comparison (Part 1)
• GTA III - PC VS Mobile In-depth Comparison
• PS2, PC, Xbox, and Mobile Comparison by Digital Foundry[www.eurogamer.net]

The Essential Fixes

In the following download is a compilation of various community-made mods and unofficial fixes that not only address some of the major issues in Grand Theft Auto III's PC port, but will also downgrade the Steam and v1.1 versions of the game to the v1.0 release which is usually required by some mods to work properly. This package can also be applied to the retail release as well. These fixes are compiled with the intent of retaining vanilla features of the PC version to an extent as a precaution for other mods that may have issues. If you wish to know more about the mods featured in this package, you can view the included readme file under the "List of Featured Mods" section.

Benefits of these fixes

✔ Proper widescreen display, FOV fixes, custom HUD scaling, DirectX 9 support, borderless fullscreen, and an ASI loader (via Widescreen Fix).

✔ The original PlayStation 2 atmosphere and effects restored (via SilentPatch, SkyGfx, and ParticleEx), along with SkyGfx presets available based on other releases.

✔ Modern XInput and DualShock 3 controller support, with classic or Grand Theft Auto IV-styled controls (via GInput III); higher-quality controller prompts for GInput are also included.

✔ The ability to restore positional 3D hardware-accelerated audio and EAX effects (through EAX Fix and DSOAL; optional).

✔ Comes with Link2012's Mod Loader plugin, which allows you to use various mods for the game without replacing most core installation files, making installing/uninstalling mods easier.

Downgrading the RGL version

Note: You do not need this if you have the retail or Steam release.

Before proceeding to install The Essential Fixes, if you happen to own the Rockstar Games Launcher version of Grand Theft Auto III, there's more than just executable replacement to downgrade it to the v1.0 release as the Rockstar version will try to undo changes and restore some of the original files. Thanks to George Costanza from the GTA Forums, his new Downgrader Tool can easily convert the Rockstar Games Launcher release of the game to the retail version.

1. Download the RGL III Downgrader[gtaforums.com].
   
   
2. Extract the contents of the zip archive you just downloaded and place the files into the root of your Grand Theft Auto III folder
   
   
3. Run the "install.bat" file and let the downgrader do its work. The tool will delete the files you don't need anymore and the command prompt window will close automatically after it finishes downgrading the game.
   
   
4. Launch the game using the newly created gta3.exe executable. Do NOT use the old executable since it will open the Rockstar Games Launcher version and undo the downgrade!

The Essential Fixes Download and Installation

Note: A clean, vanilla installation of Grand Theft Auto III is also highly recommended to minimize issues upon installing these files! I also suggest making a back-up vanilla copy of the game to save time in case if you need to re-install the original files!

IMPORTANT: If you are installing the game from the retail discs, you must also copy the audio folder from second installation disc and merge that folder into your game's installation folder where game's *.exe is located. For the North American version, it should be the CD labelled "PLAY" that has the audio files, and for European versions, it should be CD labelled as "DISC 2". You should have about ~750 MB worth of audio files in the audio folder.

1. Install Grand Theft Auto III through Steam or the installation discs if you own the retail release.
   
   
2. Download the The Essential Fixes package for Grand Theft Auto III from the links below.
   
   Download - v2.07[1drv.ms]
   Mirror: mega (dot) nz/file/bxc2xTgK#ExjnuVFyAX9k9njWc-1TQ0ssCJydoqOVSPe2xcl_El4
   
   
3. Extract the contents of the zip archive and copy the files to your Grand Theft Auto III installation folder, overwriting any files in the process.
   
   
4. Tweak any settings of each mod's .ini file if they support configuration files as desired, found under <path-to-GTA3>\scripts folder or its root installation folder.

If you wish to see the changes and comparisons with these mods installed, continue reading to the following section, otherwise jump to the appropriately labeled sections for mods that can be applied with these fixes.

Comparisons

In the following section is a comparison of some of the visually represented issues from the vanilla Steam version and how can they be addressed with these mods. Note that all screenshots were taken at a resolution of 1080p (1920x1080).

Poor widescreen support

An example of poor widescreen implementation, even with the in-game widescreen option enabled. Issues includes distorted visuals and HUD elements stretched from 4:3 which are not scaled proportionally in high resolutions, certain radar blips becoming tiny on high resolutions, poor FOV, and irrelevant controller button prompts (left). These issues are corrected via Widescreen Fix while GInput adds improved controller support for XInput and DualShock 3 controllers with relevant controller prompts (right).

Misaligned mouse aiming in widescreen

This issue be difficult to spot through the screenshots, but the game's widescreen option also breaks alignment of the weapon sight for weapons when using the "Standard" mouse and keyboard controls, causing your shots to fire slightly above and to the right from the center of the sight (left). This was also corrected via Widescreen Fix (right).

Missing surface glow from pick-ups

The PC version is missing the subtle surface glow under pick-ups from the PlayStation 2 version (left). SilentPatch addresses this (right).

Simplified particle effects

Some particle effects from the PlayStation 2 version such as smoke (pictured) and water splashes (not pictured) are simplified in the PC version (left). ParticleEx not only can restore the original PlayStation 2 effects, but also give users the ability to switch between the PC and Xbox effects as well, without modifying the game's particle.txd and particle.cfg files (right) or drastically altering their appearance.

"Dark cars" bug (Steam)

An example of a Steam-exclusive bug where cars are rendered incredibly dark and dull being demonstrated with a Cheetah (left), which was not present in the retail releases. This is how they should look like after using Steam Car Colour Fix (right; using the "PC" texgenSwitch and texblendSwitch from SkyGfx).

Miscellaneous issues

There are some other oddities, issues, changes that are not shown but are present in the PC version as well, such a "cannot find 640x480" error, menu text being missing or being slow to display, the Steam version asking players to "insert Disc 2 to play" when they most likely don't have a retail copy, unused loading screen images from the PlayStation 2 version, the infamous "missing Purple Nines" glitch, though these issues can be remedied by these fan-made fixes.

Mod Installation

Before using a mod pack

Use only one type of mod at a time! These mod packs are designed to be used with Mod Loader and side-loading multiple mod packs can cause conflicts with the game, hence they are separated into their index. However, these mods are interchangable, meaning as long as you swap their associated files and switch the appropriate pre-configured mod loader mods and configurations, switching between mods should be a breeze.

How to install a mod pack

1. Download and install The Essential Fixes from the link(s) above.
   
   
2. Chose the mod pack you want to download from the sections above.
   
   
3. Install the files from the mod pack you have downloaded as you would with The Essential Fixes, overwriting the ones all files in the process.
   
   
4. (Optional) Adjust settings for each plugin with thier *.ini files (if available) as well as the pre-configured modloader.ini file for the corresponding mod pack.
   

PS2 Feels: III Edition

PS2 Feels III: Edition mod by Mugetsuga basically converts many of the assets and features of the PlayStation 2 release of the game to PC, while fixing some of the oddities from that version. It also has various tweaks and extra features supported without losing the overall feel of the PlayStation 2 version, with various presets available. This is nice way for those that want to re-experience the original PlayStation 2 version without resorting to emulation or if you do not have access to the PlayStation 4 re-release. The mod packs I've put together were also inspired by this mod's structure to allow for some toggleable features. If you are having issue with video playback when using PS2 Feels III Edition for the game's into videos, please look into its readme file for a codec pack that can fix the issue as well as its preset of features you can enable.

Download

• PS2 Feels: III Edition - GTA Forums[gtaforums.com]
  (~2.23GB compressed; scroll down until you see the "Downloads" section on the forum thread for The Leftover Fixes: GTA III)

Screenshots

GTA III: Anniversary Edition

After seeing basic and so many bad "10 Year Anniversary PC" mods for Grand Theft Auto III, ranging from only getting the menus and (poorly converted) Xbox vehicles, some of these being bloated with unnecessary things that don't make sense, or worse, don't let you play story missions, I decided to try and make an off-shoot of dimzet's "Mobile to PC" mod and try to make a collection of mods that can bring some of the features from the mobile version to PC while trying to restore missing features from the PlayStation 2 (via Liberty City: The Leftovers Fix). The result (so far) is a mod pack that not only lets you enjoy some of the mobile version's features on the PC version, but also allows you to switch between the PS2/PC features thanks to Mod Loader, along with some things borrowed from PS2 Feels III Edition to fix some other errors the vanilla PC and even the mobile version has. I still consider this compilation a "beta" since there are some features I haven't seen implemented, like the Vice City-like rain effects, recreating UI and HUD elements from the mobile version in higher quality/resolution, other UI graphics that I haven't been able to port over to PC (while many others were edited from other mods), some textures supplied by dimzet's mod doesn't exactly work right (some clash together with the PC ones or rendered "brighter" than usual), and there doesn't seem to be an accessible map mod of sorts, but so far it is fully playable from my experience putting this together.

Download

• v0.06: mega (dot) nz/folder/W0kGwIaa#JM-h9pBrpn6WNSndIQtI0Q

Changelog

v0.06

• Clean up of files, and replaced the radar disc for the Anniversary HUD with the default one since it looks rather than on 4K resolutions.

Screenshots

Xbox Conversion: The Unofficial Revision

Xbox Conversion: The Unofficial Revision is an unofficial "revised" version of Rim's Xbox Version mods, which brought the visual upgrades from the Xbox port of the game to PC. The HD version would later fix issues the previous version had with remastered HD-quality textures. The problem with these mods whoever is that they seem to be prune to bugs one way or another (especially the original non-HD version), have a long and complicated set-up process (especially the HD version), and since Rim's disappearance, other mods that Xbox Version mod relied on becoming outdated. So I took liberty of trying to fix these issues myself, simplifying the set-up process (thanks to Mod Loader), compiling everything the HD version of the mod has, and taken some of the converted Xbox port's assets by TheHero for a replacement for the old Xbox mod (since the HD version used these as a base), while trying to remain faithful to the mod's original intentions.

Download

The link below contains downloads for HD and Lite versions plus the HD Tri-Pack Vehicles.

• mega (dot) nz/folder/60sVhQaZ#q76lDuUfU5FZl1toWVh-1w

Changelog

v1.06 (HD) / v1.03 (Lite)

• [Both] Includes the updates and file changes of The Essential Fixes files used in this pack (v2.06).

Tri-Pack Vehicles Add-on

• Fixed an error of misplacing the "coll" folder of the add-on.

Before installing Xbox Conversion

The original Xbox port used the same dialogue changes from the PC version rather then ones originally on the PlayStation 2 version, so it is recommended to restore the original audio files before using the ones found in this mod if you are switching from PS2 Feels Edition or Anniversary Edition.

Screenshots

Other Recommended Mods

This is a small set of other mods I recommend outside of the ones featured in The Essential Fixes, however they can be used alongside these fixes and mods above. Please note that for the most part, this list of mods is trying to avoid anything majorly game-changing.

• Auto-Save[github.com] - This CLEO script adds an auto-save function to the game, which saves your progress upon completing a mission. Despite what the description says, it always saves on Slot 1, NOT Slot 7!
  
  
• Car Speed-Dependant FOV[github.com] - An FOV feature from Widescreen has been re-implemented as a CLEO script. This script is highly recommended!
  
  
• Walk Mod[github.com] - Binds the Alt key to allow you to walk when playing on mouse and keyboard. May not work when played in borderless fullscreen.
  
  
• Wheel Turning Speed Adjuster[github.com] - Makes the wheels on vehicles turn a bit more slowly and "realistic".
  
  
• Radio for All Vehicles[github.com] - Allows all vehicles, including emergency vehicles like the Police car and Ambulance trucks, to support the radio.
  
  
• Turn Indicators[github.com] Allows your vehicle to use turn indicators while driving (if the vehicle has them). Has not been tested with non-vanilla Grand Theft Auto III vehicles.
  
  
• Vehicle Camera Movement[github.com] - Allows camera movement while driving with the mouse. Only works on the "Standard" (mouse and keyboard) control style!
  
  
• Not An Amazing Screenshot[github.com] - A script that allows you to control the camera and allow unique screenshots.
  
  
• Classic Axis[gtaforums.com] - This plugin gives players a more modern camera system similar to San Andreas. Be advised that this mod can be buggy from my experience at the moment with certain GInput configuration set-ups.
  
  
• VBDec[gtaforums.com] - This plugin allows the ability to use the original PlayStation 2 VB audio format files into the game. Highly recommended for PS2 Feels III Edition or Anniversary Edition when using the PlayStation 2 features. Requires Audio Samples (also available on the same forum page) and the original audio files (see Liberty City: The Leftover Fixes[gtaforums.com]) to use this mod!
  
  
• Achievement System[gtaforums.com] - Self-explanatory, adds Achievements to the game based on the PlayStation 4 re-release.

Troubleshooting

Note: If there's a problem with the mods themselves, please direct issues to their respective developers, this list for common and more easily fixable issues that can occur when using some of these mods.

The game does not work on Windows 8/10!

Older PC games (primarily ones that use DirectX 8 or below) require a feature in Windows 8 or later to be enabled to play them. A big thank you to Folway Sirth for reminding me of this oversight.

1. Go to Control Panel → Programs, then click Turn Windows Features on or off. If you can't find your control panel, type "OptionalFeatures.exe" without the quotation marks in Run (Windows Key+R) and press Enter.
   
   
2. In the Windows Feature window, go to the Legacy Components section and expand it, and enable DirectPlay then click OK. Let Windows install DirectPlay.
   
   
3. Now try launching an older PC game and see if it launches.

My game is crashing at launch!

Unfortunately, random "Unhandled Error Exception <code numbers>" crashes can still happen, even with these fixes speaking from experience. The best things I can suggest are:

• Delete your "gta3.set" settings file (found under Documents/GTA3 User Files). If need be, screenshot your settings and keybind beforehand!
  
  
• Uninstall any mods you may have downloaded outside of the ones mentioned in this Steam guide, though removing files from The Essential Fixes may help, too.
  
  
• If you're using mods like Xbox Conversion: The Unofficial Revision with the add-on HD Tri-Pack Vehicles, there might be conflicts caused by the new files. Removing the add-on files may resolve the issue.
  
  
• Revalidate/reinstall your Grand Theft Auto III installation from Steam, or if you have the retail release, reinstall the game from the discs.

The game is crashing before it even launches on Steam!

Try the following if the game is not working when trying to launching through Steam:

• Run the game in Windows compatibility mode; right click the game's executable → click Properties, go to the Compatibility tab and check Run this program in comparability mode for. Windows 7 or XP should be good enough.
  
  
• Use the SweetFx preset included with the download and wrap the game with it (there's a preset without any effects available).
  
  
• Run the game without Steam Overlay or launch it directly from the executable.

Steam Overlay doe not work/Game crashes when launched via Steam!

This seems to be an issue with Steam not knowing the game is being played under DirectX 9 instead of DirectX 8 moreover the patched .exe itself (I have tried disabling Widescreen Fix's D3D8to9 function and the game worked with the patched .exe launched via Steam, but it also means mods like SkyGfx won't work). For a possible workaround, try the following:

• Run the game using Windows 7 or Windows XP compatibility mode.
  
  
• Use SweetFx with Widescreen Fix (you do not need to use effects, but do NOT mix MSAA with SMAA!).

My game is crashing when switching resolutions!

I'm not sure if this is an issue with Widescreen Fix or how the game is able to handle resolution switching while running under Direct3D 9 instead of 8. If you need to switch resolutions, open GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini found in <path-to-GTA3>\scripts with a text editor (preferably Notepad++ to maintain format) and change the following to your desired resolution:

ResX = 0 // This setting can override game's horizontal resolution (-1|0|*).
ResY = 0 // This setting can override game's vertical resolution (-1|0|*).

Setting these values to "-1" will use the game's settings instead being overridden by Widescreen Fix. You may also want to manally change the aspect-ratio of FrontendTextures (e.g. set it to "16:9" for 1920x1080) if some menu textures appear to be not scaling properly to the game's resolution.

The HUD is too small/big!

I've preset the HUD scaling size in Widescreen Fix based around the recommended original scaling settings. If you need to adjust the HUD scaling, open GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini found in <path-to-GTA3>\scripts with a text editor and adjust the following settings:

HudWidthScale = 0.0 // 0.8 by default. For original scaling, set to 1.0
HudHeightScale = 0.0 // 0.8 by default. For original scaling, set to 1.0714285
RadarWidthScale = 0.0 // 0.9 by default. For original scaling, set to 1.0
SubtitlesScale = 0.0 // 0.8 by default. This can increase or decrease subtitle's size. For original scaling, set to 1.0

Setting these values to "0.0" also seem to automatically set values to default scaling settings used by Widescreen Fix.

The game is asking for Disc 2 after launch!

If you are installing the game from the retail discs and somehow getting this message from launching the game, you should have also copied over the audio files from the second installation disc before setting up these fixes, which should have also bypass the leftover disk check from the game on Steam from the supplied exe and CLEO.

Can I use a DualShock 4 controller with the game?

From my experience, it could be possible by using DS4Windows to wrap XInput to a DualShock 4 controller to use with GInput. You can download and install DS4Windows in the link below:

• https://ryochan7.github.io/ds4windows-site/

Using Steam's Input wrapper and enabling PlayStation 4 support can also work. If you need to change button prompts to match, open GInputIII.ini found in the root of your Grand Theft Auto III installation folder or the scripts folder and change the following:

PlayStationButtons=0

Setting this value to "1" will swap the Xbox prompts with PlayStation ones and vice-versa.

Credits

Major thanks goes out to Rezident Meme for the gift Steam copy of Grand Theft Auto III, without it this guide wouldn't be possible, as well as the talent Grand Theft Auto modding community for not only for these incredible mods but also allowing us to enjoy these games for years to come. Please share your support for these guys and the hard work they've put in them.

The Essential Fixes for the rest of the PS2-era games

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1801364794 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1802545452

Authors of the mods featured in this guide

• Silent
  
• ThirteenAG
  
• The Hero
  
• Link2012
  
• Seemann
  
• Deji
  
• Fire_Head
  
• _AG
  
• Sam Lake
  
• DimZet13
  
• yojo2
  
• Sergeanur
  
• Rim
  
• Philips_27
  
• Vannimon
  
• Dingleman
  
• Greecko
  
• Mugetsuga
  
• Ryadica926
  
• Claude Balls
  
• developer_180790
  
• CeeJay
  
• Boulotaur2024
  
• Verokster
  
• muzzammil
  
• KCAT
  
• IDrinkLava

[notorious]

Good

[Popalke]

I can finally play some CLEO mods. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

[Soup]

on Win10 I am using the XBox mod from this guide btw. That might be crucial too, idk...

[Soup]

I used to use fullscreen Game Capture on Win7 with OBS (the game had only the most essential fixes) - and it worked.

Now I can't do the same on Win10 - Display Capture seems the only way rn. I tried compatibility mode and administrator - nothing helps. I know anything lower than DX9 doesn't work properly with OBS, but I still could do it before! There should be a workaround.

Has anybody solved the problem?

[Trommy]

=========
bfst

25.05.2021 9:05
I just made re3 version of GTA3 with mods:
- Xbox Conversion HD: The Unofficial Revision
- Skin & Bones
- Liberty City - Sky Full Of Stars
- Vital Improvements Pack
- new hud

Welcome to try it!
disk.yandex.ru/d/l0ooKVn_6ZEZ5w
===============
Big thnx, dude! U`re great, very nice compilation!

[Dtomis]

Which file/mod is responsible for the new bullet tracers? (Bullets are suddenly yellow instead of being gray) i would appreciate any kind of response.

[Trommy]

1) Clean Steam ver.
2) + GTA III - The Essential Fixes v2.07
3) + GTA III - Xbox Conversion HD The Unofficial Revision v1.06 = works fine, only AA need and can start to play.

[Trommy]

"Unhandled exception c0000005 005274ee"
The same error while start a new game.
1) Clean Steam ver.
2) + GTA III - Xbox Conversion HD The Unofficial Revision v1.06 (it didnt work, game not launch direct or via Steam, XP SP3 compatibility On, overlay Off)
3) + copied this file to main folder "[III/VC] DDraw Component (SilentPatch)" from mixmods (after add this file game works fine)
4) + GTA III - The Essential Fixes v2.07 = game launch with red menu, options works, start new game - crush "Unhandled exception c0000005 005274ee"

[гiдропiдар]

Hello! Can someone help me to solve an issue with XBOX mod?
Unhandled exception c0000005 005274ee

[ForgottenGamer]

Nyx, uncapped fps is bad, you should play at 30, not 60. It causes problems with running, causing you to fall down when running stairs.