Official Website

Platform: Playstation 2, Xbox, PC

Genre: Action

Number of Players: 1

* Note to parents. Grand Theft Auto 3 is DEFINITELY not a game for children. This game features scenes of explicit violence and many adult themes. There is a reason that this game has a mature rating. Those parents that insist on buying this for their children without looking into the games content have only themselves to blame for the images their child will witness during the course of playing this game. Do not place blame on Rockstar Games or on Sony. There is a reason there is a ratings system in place *

When Grand Theft Auto 3 was released last year, I don’t think that anyone in the gaming industry had the power to foresee the powerhouse that the title was to become. The game literally crushed all of its competition and boosting the sales of the Playstation 2 console. Sony, seeing the full sales potential of GTA, took things to the next logical level and now has the exclusive on the series until 2004, unless of course they just outright buy Rockstar to ensure that the game stays on the Playstation.

High sales figures weren’t the only thing the GTA3 delivered however; it quickly became the latest title to gain media attention due to its violent content which made anyone under the games mature rating clamor to try and get a copy for themselves. Of course, unwitting parents that purchased the game for their underage children quickly found themselves with more than they cold handle, and in many instances it quickly became easier to blame the manufacturer than to take the responsibility on themselves. In the entertainment industry though, there’s no such thing as bad publicity, which quickly becomes obvious by the 7 million plus units that GTA3 has pushed.

Well, the series is bad with a vengeance and ready to take on any pretenders to the throne that come along. Vice City is neither sequel nor prequel however, at least not in the classic sense of the word. However, players still enter into the same world of underworld crime that they’ve become accustomed. Vice City places gamers into the GTA world circa 1986, assuming the role of Tommy Vercetti, a hood who’s just been released from the joint. Gangsters in Liberty City aren’t too pleased with Tommy returning to the streets, so they decide to send him to warmer climates: Vice City. Tommy first moves when he hits Vice is to pick up some smuggled drugs, but unfortunately the deal turns sour and the drugs as well as the cash are taken by a rival gang. Now, Tommy’s boss wants his drugs and his money, and it’s up to Tommy to work his way through the underworld thugs to find who the responsible party is.

There’s already two schools of thought regarding Vice City, and they are both pretty obvious. Since the games release, there are those that feel Vice City is merely a minor upgrade with nothing really new to offer and makes a better rental title. Well, when it comes right down to it, just about every football game that comes out is exactly the same game with a few minor adjustments, as are the Tomb Raider titles, and even the brilliant Metal Gear Solid titles for that matter. On the other hand, there are those that sing the praises of the game, and with good reason.

Now, Vice City does play exactly like GTA3 does, and is set up in pretty much the same fashion. Players undertake various missions given to them by the various low lives that populate Vice City. Just as before, these vary from simple tasks like giving some floozy a ride to the local strip club, to carrying out a hit one someone’s rival. You get cash again for completing each assignment, and there’s hidden packages scattered all over the city. Need a weapon to carry out an assignment? No problem, Vice City has easy access to Ammu-Nation (apparently a chain) just like liberty city does. And, if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can always take on a rampage mission to get more cash as well as notoriety.

So, where are the changes, especially since all these things sound just like GTA3? Well, the changes may be minor, but they make all the difference in the world. In GTA3, our anti-hero had the personality of a pet rock. He did little to stand up for himself (aside from what you made him do) and was the silent type. Vice City provides a different take on this though. Tommy is voiced by Ray Liotta (Good Fellas, Turbulence, John Q) and this ads quite a new element into the game. Tommy comes across as a take no bull type of guy that’s determined to get to the bottom of just whom is trying to screw things up for him. He wants two things: his drugs and his money.

So, Rockstar pulled in enough cash to bring in one big name, and I’m sure you’re thinking, “So what?” Well there’s more that just Mr. Liotta on the cast list. Add in Jenna Jameson (Dirty Bob’s Xcellent Adventures 35, Virtual Sex with Jenna Jameson), Luis Guzman (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Bone Collector), Burt Reynolds (Smokey and the Bandit, Boogie Nights) and even Dennis Hopper (Blue Velvet, Speed, 24) That’s just a small sampling of the cast that was assembled. And, all the same outdoor trash talking is there, with some choice color comments from Mr. Liotta.

Rockstar has done a nice job with the soundtrack as well. In the previous title, you just had songs written for the game, but this time, all of your 80’s favorites (and some you don’t like) are included on the various stations in Vice City. Some of the artists include Iron Maiden, Slayer, INXS, Blondie, Foreigner, Yes, and even the King of Pop himself Michael Jackson. In fact, the line-up is so massive that Rockstar has released 11 separate soundtracks for the games various stations, and each of these come with a cheat code for the game as well. Music aside, you may hear a couple of familiar voices like Lazlow and Fernando, and all the great commercials are there again as well.

Aside from voice cast and music, what’s improved? The graphics have been touched up quite a bit, and look better than ever, as do the character animations. They still seem a bit stiff, but not nearly as much as they did in GTA3. There are plenty of new weapons this time, from golf clubs to machetes, remote control bombs, and my personal favorite, the chainsaw. In fact, you can use these little items to go and hold up stores around Vice City if you’re a little short on cash (or even if your not) and if the heat gets to be too much, you can run back to your hotel and change clothes to drop your wanted ranting. And, once you start building up enough cash flow, you can invest all the “hard earned” green into some of the properties that lie across the city.

Getting around is essential, and Vice City offers some new modes of transportation. Hop on a motorcycle or a scooter to make your get away, or even a golf cart if it comes down to it. Even as cool as the motorcycles are however, they take a bit of getting used to when it comes to the controls, and it’s extremely easy to get thrown off or run into something. The developers also added a nice feature where, depending on your speed, you can bail out of the car. Sure, you may take a little damage, but it certainly extends your life span when you’re dealing with a flaming car. If this still isn’t’ enough, take to the air in a helicopter for an aerial tour of Vice City.

Sure, Vice City may in fact be GTA3 in disguise, and it doesn’t do anything in terms of innovating its game play beyond the original, but the fact of the matter is that it’s still a hell of a lot of fun. Some people will just want to pick it up to go on another mass killing spree, but when it comes down to it, Vice City is actually much more story driven than its predecessor. And the only real issue I had is that there are a few graphic glitches here and there, but it’s a minor thing and doesn’t take away from the overall playability of the game. I’m sure we’ll all be seeing more news reports talking about VC’s “graphic depiction of violence” and it’s lack of “socially responsible” issues, but it doesn’t matter; Vice City is sure to dominate where GTA3 once did, and increase the coffers of both Sony and Rockstar once again.

 -mike-