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ShoresideLiftBridge-GTAIII-Blocked

The Shoreside Lift Bridge blocked in GTA III.

An Island Restriction is a feature common in most Grand Theft Auto games, which restrict the freedom of the player to explore the game map until a certain part of the storyline is reached. These restrictions usually appear in the form of transport restrictions, such as bridge closures or other blockades.

Examples[]

3D Universe[]

Grand Theft Auto III[]

  • The initial restriction in Grand Theft Auto III is due to the destruction of the Callahan Bridge, linking Portland and Staunton Island in Liberty City, after it was destroyed by a bomb, and also due to delays in construction of the Porter Tunnel. This restriction remains in place until Last Requests, following which the bridge is repaired. The Portland-Staunton section of the Porter Tunnel also becomes accessible.
  • Once the player reaches Staunton Island, they are unable to access Shoreside Vale as the Shoreside Lift Bridge is inoperative due to a malfunction leaving the lift permanently raised. This restriction remains until A Drop in the Ocean, following which the bridge is repaired. The Shoreside Vale section of the Porter Tunnel also becomes accessible, and all subway stations become accessible for the first time.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Vice City Stories[]

  • The initial restriction in Vice City is the closure of bridges due to hurricane warnings (Hurricane Hermione in GTA Vice City and Hurricane Gordy in GTA Vice City Stories respectively). These respective warnings are lifted after Phnom Penh '86 in GTA Vice City and From Zero to Hero in GTA Vice City Stories, with the hurricanes bypassing the city.
    • For the same reason, although only in GTA Vice City, access to Starfish Island will also be blocked at the beginning, with the gate to the neighborhood in Island Bridge being closed. It will open after completing Guardian Angels, thus having free access to the small island.

Grand Theft Auto Advance[]

  • The initial restriction in Grand Theft Auto Advance is due to the finishing construction of the Callahan Bridge. The bridge's construction ends during the mission Show the Money. As the Porter Tunnel is not completed in Grand Theft Auto Advance, the Callahan Bridge serve as the only link between Portland and Staunton Island.
  • Once the player reaches Staunton Island, they are unable to access Shoreside Vale as the Shoreside Lift Bridge is inoperative due to a unknown malfunction. This restriction remains until Bad Pimpin', following which the bridge is repaired.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]

  • The initial restrictions in GTA Liberty City Stories are due to industrial action by the city's ferry workers due to construction of the Porter Tunnel and Callahan Bridge threatening the ferry service between Portland and Staunton Island. This restriction is lifted following Driving Mr Leone after the ferry strike ends and a ramp is placed on the incomplete Callahan Bridge.
  • Following the end of the ferry strike, another picket is set up on Staunton Island, with the protestors blockading the entrance to the Shoreside Lift Bridge. This restriction is lifted following Love on the Rocks, when new mayor Miles O'Donovan assures the workers that the ferry service will continue. Full access to the map is also achieved with the opening of all the city's subway stations.

HD Universe[]

Grand Theft Auto IV[]

  • When Niko Bellic arrives in Liberty City, his cousin Roman informs him that the city's bridges are closed due to a terrorist threat, and police cars are stationed on the bridge, restricting transport (more so for Niko because he does not have a visa). Restrictions are gradually lifted during the storyline with Algonquin opened after the mission Blow Your Cover, with full access to the map being granted following Three Leaf Clover. If Niko crosses the bridges while they are closed, he will obtain an immediate 6-star wanted level. He will also obtain a 6-star wanted level if he attacks any officers at the roadblocks.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]

  • Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars does not feature any initial restrictions on travel, the first game in the series to do so.

Episodes From Liberty City[]

  • Because the storylines of these games begin midway through the Grand Theft Auto IV storyline, they are not subject to the same travel restrictions, with all regions open, despite early missions in The Lost and Damned being explicitly set prior to the mission that unlocks the bridges in the main GTA IV game.

Grand Theft Auto V[]

Grand Theft Auto Online[]

Trivia[]

  • In Grand Theft Auto III, if the player manages to cross over to Staunton Island at the start of the game and go to Porter Tunnel, they will notice that the Staunton-Shoreside section isn't locked, so they can go to the third island without issue. All subway stations except Portland will also be open.
  • In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, there is a bug in the left column of the North Bridge that allows access to Vice City Mainland from the beginning. It will be enough for Tommy to run a bit and then jump towards said structure. By doing so, he will pass through it and now all the player has to do is cross the bridge, thus coming to the other side of the blockade.
  • It is possible to access restricted areas during some early missions in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas without gaining a wanted level, the best example being the mission Drive-By if the player does not enter the Greenwood. This also applies to some missions in Grand Theft Auto IV.
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