Liberty City, the city in which Grand Theft Auto III is set, is considered the “most infamous city in America”. More than 4 million people live there, of which probably half are gangsters, criminals, petty thieves, prostitutes or corrupt cops.
Liberty City is divided into three islands, connected by bridges (during which there will be loads of the three districts): Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale.
Below are the official descriptions given by Rockstar Games of the various districts.
Portland
The first district, Portland, is the industrial area: you will immediately notice the metropolitan aspect, the port facilities, the red light district, the warehouses, the factories, the markets, the garages.
This area is populated by prostitutes, protectors, workers, port workers, politicians and scum of the lower village, as well as some useful drug dealers. Crime is widespread in Portland; the district has long been under the control of the Mafia, but the triads are trying to take over.
And it will be the local gangs, always fighting each other, who will give work to the protagonist of the game, Claude Speed, who will have to engage in various missions for the Italian Mafia, the Chinese Triads or the Spanish Diablo. In short, a delightful district, where everyone can find something interesting.
Staunton Island
The second district, Staunton Island, is the commercial area, the center of business but also of corruption, where there is no shortage of criminals and drug dealers who infest the city at night.
While during the day the area is full of businessmen who work from 9am to 5pm, of career women who keep fit by jogging at Belleville Park, among drug dealers looking for customers, at night the island becomes a dark, desolate and very dangerous area.
Almost absolute masters of the city are the Japanese of the Yakuza, who manage their shady business within the casino of the city.
Shoreside Vale
Finally, the third district, Shoreside Vale, is the residential area, where the suburban bliss and tranquility of Liberty City dominate.
It is certainly the kingdom of commuters, but also of rich gangsters, who enjoy life in villas with swimming pools, well-kept gardens, basketball baskets, all paid with money “dirty” blood.
High genealogy dogs and station wagons give a superficial air of serenity to these suburbs, but we must not deceive: violence and corruption are present in every house. After all, we are in America.
