Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3549 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Take 2
• Released on: 2004-01-30
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• ESRB Rating: Adults Only
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
There can't be any more sure-fire a hit in the gaming world than Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Grandma may not approve, but the 143 million people who bought GTA III will be chomping at the bit for this follow-up. Not quite a full-blown sequel, but far more than the average lazy mission disk, Vice City relocates the action of the previous game from the New York-esque Liberty City to the Miami-influenced metropolis of the title. And clearly as soon as someone mentioned Miami the developers immediately thought of Miami Vice, because they've gone and set the whole thing in 1986 with an incredible soundtrack featuring everyone from Michael Jackson to Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

As the game starts you take control of Tommy Vercetti (voiced by Goodfellas star Ray Liotta) who gets involved in a bungled drug deal and must set himself up from scratch as a crime boss. Unlike in GTA III, you're not restricted to being a small-time hood any more; the game now allows you to purchase property (porn studios, strip clubs, cab companies and so on) and run extortion rackets, which cleverly widens the scope of the game while keeping the controls and gameplay pretty much the same. Which means that you still spend the majority of your time driving cars very dangerously and shooting and maiming anyone that happens to get in your way. Indeed, in most respects the game is very similar to its predecessor--the graphics, for example, are improved but hardly groundbreaking--though there are numerous minor additions, most notably the chance to ride motorbikes--which is particularly satisfying--and fly proper aircraft.

Vice City can't be recommended unreservedly though: if you're intending to buy this game for someone under 18, you really should think again, as it's violent, filled with sex and swearing, and is totally and utterly immoral. Which is why it's guaranteed to sell and sell. --David Jenkins

Official PlayStation 2 Magazine
"Undeniably the best thing ever to come out of the Eighties, and one of the greatest console games ever. 10/10."

Edge
"Remains a formidable experience."

Customer Reviews

A Classic Beyond All Standards
Every once in a while a video game will come out and change the face of computer gaming. In 1996, the arrival of Super Mario 64 in glorious 3D became the benchmark for all consoles today. Several years later, Rockstar came back with a vengeance with Grand Theft Auto III. Not only did it transform the old Playstation game into 3D, but it gave a much bigger plot and provided a lot more variety. By the time the sequel 'Vice City' came out, everything about gameplay had changed forever.

Based around Miami Vice, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has some of the most colourful scenary to date. It also introduced Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) to a younger generation as the voice for main character Tommy Vercetti. But the main thing it did was it took the original concept of GTAIII and expanded into a gigantic city complete with drug addicts, criminals, gang warfare and all other kinds of creeps.

Rather than the basic mission after mission like its predecessor, Vice City requires you to buy property in order to access later missions. Buying property means access to jobs like The Taxi Firm, The Ice Cream Factory or collecting specific motors for your garage. But for the very early stages, you do the basic 'hit and run' jobs for Vice City's big people.

Apart from the atmosphere and graphics being built up a notch, the music and sound was superbly chosen for the 80's theme of the game. With classic 80's stars like Human League, Bryan Adams and Blondie, it gave the game a whole new dimension. Also when Ray Liotta speaks, he does it with a masterstroke, and who better to play a wiseguy?

I have not mentioned the plot of the game since a lot of people may already know about it, but however the end of the game is well worth getting to. Never had a game been so gigantic in its exploration, so beautiful in its looks and the freedom to do whatever you wanted (to certain extent since the cops are still around) made this a game well worth buying.

When classic games are made, they're cemented in history, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City broke the mould.

Absolute perfection
After the huge success of GTA III, you'd think there would be little else to follow up on.. well you'd be wrong. Vice City is gaming perfection in every sense, complete freedom, improved visuals, a kickass authentic 80'soundtrack and a huge number of tasks to complete.
The story line is also much more involving than that of its predecessor, with the central character, Tommy Vercetti actually speaking, and not only that, but he is voice by Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Blow). There are a few other nice cameos in the game, such as porn actress Candy Suxxx being voiced by Jenna Jameson, and real estate tycoon Avery Carrington voiced by Burt Reynolds (Boogie Nights). A rather obsure cameo is that of the lead singer of the fictional rock group Love Fist, who is voiced by Kevin McKidd, who some may remember as Tommy in Trainspotting.

The influences from 80's films and other media are very strong indeed, one of the more memorable ones for me being Diaz's mansion looking like that of Tony Montana's in Scarface.. right down to his office.

This game has everything you'd expect from GTA and more, there's the usual killing, drug dealing and running errands for big players but also a lot more "obscure" missions, including the purchasing of property and setting up it's assets.

One of the best things about this game is the inclusion of motorbikes, planes and helicopters, all fully functional and loads of fun.

All in all, Rockstar have really pushed the boat out here, smashing all video game conceptions to create a game that places you in a real living, breathing city.. and unlike GTA III, you can enter many of it's buildings. If you loved GTA III or even if you've never played it, this is a must have for the PS2, a true classic.

Fantastic!
Well where do i start? This game is the best game i have ever played on any games machine. What pure genius! This has eclipsed the title GTA3 and is clearly NOT a polished version of its predecessor. Gamers wanted something new added to GTA no matter how good number 3 was. This has everything i wanted in the new one except for swimming. ok its a bit pointless but its pretty silly drowning in water thats up to your waist. Helicopters and bikes is something i think was a brilliant introduction. The bikes are my most common form of transport now. The added bonus of bying buildings and companies adds to the brilliance of the game. I also liked the street gangs and welcomed them with open arms. No more driving through streets without trouble.
The difficulty hasnt changed but some missions were a little frustrating to say the least. You know the ones you keep trying over and over.
And its good to see tommy talk, i thought he was mute in the last game i thought it was his character. Its nice to see tommy take charge!
Thsi game as outstanding and will be from yearto come, just roll on San Andreas you legend!