Grand Theft Auto III - The Improved Classic

Here you find a complete set of modifications that will fix most problems, recover many features and improve your GTAIII with just a simple download and installation.

Goal

After playing the game in various other versions, I noticed how problematic the PC port is. Because of that, I decided to create this compilation of modifications to transform the game into what it should have been from the start. This modpack brings numerous fixes and improvements to textures, models, characters, lighting, and more. Additionally, it includes optional modifications to further enhance your experience. Enjoy!

What's Changing?

1st: Recovered many PS2 features lost during the port;
2nd: Added many fixes and improvements to the map;
3rd: Added high quality audio effects from the PS2 version;
4th: Enhanced the in-game UI for better view on modern monitors and TV's;
5th: Added better vehicle models from the Xbox version with fixes;
6th: Added controller support with proper button icons and vibration;
7th: Fixed many graphics, lighting and reflection errors, with shaders from the Xbox;
8th: Improved all the characters with enhanced models from the Xbox version;
9th: Fixed many gameplay errors;
10th: Enhanced the draw distance and removed loading screens when changing between islands.

And a lot more...

Warnings

• By installing these modifications you are denying the Rockstar Games EULA. Any errors or problems in the game the contact should be made with the guide's creator or the author of the modification. To avoid problems, if possible, backup the original files.
  
  
• Make sure you have a clean version of the game. If you add this modpack with other modifications (scripts, textures, models, etc) the game will crash or have some bugs. If you don't know how to make a clean reinstall check the tutorial I made in the Notes section.
  
  
• If you find any errors or crashes, please, make sure to add a comment. If the problems are found in the modpack a fix will be released as soon as possible.

Modpack & Changes

The installation process is very simple. First download the modpack in the link below, then follow the steps:

Open your Steam library> Right click on Grand Theft Auto III> Select Properties> Navigate into Installed Files> Select Browse...> Extract the files that are inside the Main Files folder in the modpack into there, replacing what is needed> Play!


Modpack Download Link: GTAIII - The Improved Classic Modpack (586MB)[1drv.ms]

Changes & Improvements (10/27/24)

• Added the latest version of the Silent Patch mod;
  
• Made some adjustments to the HUD to work better with the new Silent Patch version;
  
• Changed the shaders option from the PS2 version to the Xbox version (the classic shader option is available in the optionals folder);
  
• Added many 10th Anniversry textures around the map, like graffiti and textures in Chinatown;
  
• [11/10/24] - Made changes to the bullet traces.

Modifications Used & Notes

These are just the Modifications that I've included in the modpack (You don't need to install them). The credits go to all the amazing modders that helped to fix and improve this game. Make sure to check the original posts from the authors for more details about each modification.

• Liberty City - The Leftovers Fix[gtaforums.com] - Created by Igor Bogdanoff and Various Modders
  
• SilentPatch[gtaforums.com] - Created by Silent
  
• Grand Theft Auto 3 Widescreen Fix[github.com] - Created by ThirteenAG
  
• SkyGfx[gtaforums.com] - Created By The Hero
  
• Project 2DFX[thirteenag.github.io] - Created by ThirteenAG
  
• Sharptrails[gtaforums.com] - Created by The Hero
  
• HQ Radar[gtaforums.com] - Created by yojo2
  
• Framerate Vigilante[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created by Junior_Djjr
  
• Fixed Helicopter and Airplane Collision[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created by Fire_Head
  
• PS2 Animations[www.gtagarage.com] - Created by kewun
  
• GInput [www.gtagarage.com] - Created by Silent
  
• Skin Filter[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created By Sergeanur
  
• Classic AXIS[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created By _AG
  
• RunDLL32 Fix[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created By Swoorup
  
• NoDEP[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created By Fabio
  
• Mouse Wheel Radio Changer[www.gtagarage.com] - Created By ThirteenAG
  
• VBDec[www.mixmods.com.br] - Created By Silent, Sergeanur, Ash, Jéssica Natália
  
• Fixed XBOX Vehicles[gtaforums.com] - Created By MrFinger
  
• LCS Vehicle Camera[gtaforums.com] - Created By erorcun
  
• Xbox Version HD[gtaforums.com] - Created By Rim
  
  
  

  Notes

  
  - To make a clean reinstall, follow these steps:
  
  Open your Steam library> Right click on Grand Theft Auto III> Select Properties> Navigate into Installed Files> Select Browse...> In a new window the game folder should appear> Delete all the files in the folder> Return to your Steam library> Right click on Grand Theft Auto III> Select Properties> Navigate into Installed Files> Select Verify Integrity Of Game Files> Steam should start to download the original files again.
  
  
  - If sometimes the game won't start or crashes in the menu. Try to set compatibility mode Windows XP (Service Pack 2).
  
  - If you are having problems when changing the resolution or the game is not launching, open the GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini file (You can open with Notepad), and change the ResX to the value of your X resolution (Ex: 1920) and the ResY to the value of your Y resolution (Ex: 1080).
  
  - Some micro-stuttering may be present due to many modifications that are rendering at the same time.
  
  - Some missions can have errors because of the higher FPS. For that, I Recommend you to check the Frame Limiters folder at the Optionals in the modpack.
  
  - If you want to play with the original gameplay style, just go to your scripts folder and delete the ClassicAxisIII.asi and ClassicAxisIII.ini files.
  
  - If you want to use any Dualshock/Dualsense controller with this game, make sure to use a Xbox controller emulator and change the controller icons (The Dualshock icons can be found in the Optionals mods in the modpack).
  
  - If you find problems after installing the modpack, pleasy, try a clean reinstall and follow the steps again. If the problems continues, drop a comment, I'll check if the problem is present in the current version of the modpack. If found, a new version will be released to fix that.
  
  Thank You.

Screenshots

My Other Guides

If you liked this guide, make sure to see my other guides:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1959669205
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1956640711
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1965324282

[Krok]

Do you know if it is possible to integrate the modpack and make it work with Upstate Liberty?

[Keyser Söze]

@Timmy just wait a couple seconds. Thats how it launched for me at least. Just took a while.

[Timmy]

Freshly downloaded and installed version of the game. Copied and pasted the unzipped contents into the main GTA 3 directory and overwrote the files when prompted. Game doesn't even launch for me. Steam says it's running so "something" is happening. It's not on the taskbar, alt + enter doesn't bring the window up either. GTA3.exe shows up in task manager as if it is running. Not really sure what else to try, I have already ran it as an admin and in compatibility mode.

[グロブ]

installed and the game menu just has a constant BUZZ sound. instantly removed the mod
Bazzite Linux

[Hat Fuel]

When i load the game its just fuzzy and i cant see anything any fix for this

[Web720]

Is the Ultimate ASI Loader included in this?
Is the .exe in this the version 1.0 of the game?

[limecatcher]

Is this modpack compatible with Upstate Liberty?

[Power Bottom Pete]

Is there a fix for the camera briefly zooming in and back out when driving by street light poles?

[Arsaces]

Any way to make this work with Upstate Liberty? Game crashes during loading (new game btw)

[Ling Ling]

If on Steam Deck/Linux, paste this override in the game's launch options:

WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b;d3d8=n,b;ddraw=n,b;rwd3d9=n,b" %command%