In 2002, Rockstar Games published another entry into the beloved Grand Theft Auto franchise. This fourth main entry into the series was titled Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and took clear inspirations from the 80s culture, and Miami Vice itself.
The game is still beloved by many, even after 20 years. Despite Rockstar Games moving on from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and publishing games with breathtaking graphics, physics, and stories as seen in 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2, many see Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as a GTA game done right, with many features in the game still better than some of Rockstar’s later titles.
8 The Vibrant City
In the official manual of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, there’s a Vice City Tourist Guide page that reads “Today it’s a city run by dealers and weasels.” This quote couldn’t be truer, if not a little dismaying for those that wish to visit the city. It’s vibrant, alive, and wild. The architecture is bold with white paints, and the lighting is full of neon pinks and neon blues.
The city looks great, both during the day and the night. Vice City, or The City of Vice, is a great location in the Grand Theft Auto franchise and shows a lot of personalities for its environment, weather, and architecture. It’s one of the franchise's best cities, and one many hope to see again in Grand Theft Auto 6.
7 Nostalgia Boost
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is set in 1986. The 80s is a pivotal decade, not only for pop culture but for American society as a whole. Nowadays, 80s nostalgia is everywhere. Whether that be in clothing, music, or even TV shows like Stranger Things. There’s a demand for all things the 80s, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City delivers just that.
From the flashy clothes to the eccentric characters, and the familiar theme of neon colors, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has everything that someone could want who needs that nostalgic 80s fix. The boost in 80s vibes makes the game a lot better than most Grand Theft Auto titles, since there is a culture here, and not a modern-day one in which people live every day.
6 The 80s Music
Perhaps no decade was quite as influential as the music in the 80s. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City does a great job of licensing tracks from the 1980s era of music, and placing them on the many different radio stations that players can listen to in their vehicles. Sometimes, the songs can be so good, that the player will delay the mission just to finish listening to the tune.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City features popular music that is still prominent to this day, like Hall & Oats’ Out of Touch, and The Buggles’ Video Killed the Radio Star. The music in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is nigh on endless, and features a great song for almost anyone to bop their head to on the sunny days of Florida.
5 The Aesthetic
Upon looking at the box art for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, many might instantly recognize the aesthetic that the game is going for. Whether that is the glowing neon pink logo that casually and smoothly spells “Vice City,” or the attire of the characters with white jackets and pink shirts.
The game features a plethora of 80s goodness, and an aesthetic to bolster and be bold about, from Hawaiin shirts to bright lights. Leaving Vice City would be a challenge for any player, since the lights are enthralling, like a moth to a flame.
4 The Legend, Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta was an American actor, producer, and voice actor who tragically passed away in 2022. His credits in film bolster an impressive library and legacy that many will remember. Part of Ray Liotta’s great talents included the classic Goodfellas and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’s protagonist, Tommy Vercetti.
Tommy ventures to Vice City for a major drug deal with the Vance Brothers, but everything goes wrong, and Tommy embarks on a mission to find those responsible. Tommy’s journey takes many twists and turns and has him even leading his gang, the Vercetti Crime Family. Liotta brings a legendary performance to Tommy and makes the character his own.
3 Taxi Driver
Almost every entry into the Grand Theft Auto franchise features missions in which the player can become a taxi driver. Games like Grand Theft Auto 4 actively encourage it, as Niko Bellic’s cousin, Roman, works for one. The objectives are largely the same and have the player deliver passengers to their destination with a time limit set.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City features this minigame once again, and has a bundle of side missions to embark on as a cab driver. If players are completionists, they will need to complete 100 fares to get 100% completion for the game. By doing 100 fares, the player also gains access to a boost jump ability when in any taxi.
2 Colorful Characters
Grand Theft Auto is a franchise that does not shy away from colorful characters. These can range from dangerous, to deranged, or even just downright silly. Each game features a supporting cast of strangers and side characters to make the player question if they are in a satirical depiction of America, or a madhouse.
With the many characters in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City presenting the player with fun or intense scenes, they are faced with main characters and supporting characters alike. Such characters are the fun and brave, like Umberto Robina, played by the favorite Danny Trejo, or the frantic and worried lawyer, Ken Rosenberg, played by William Fichtner, but a surprising lack of female characters.
1 Stellar Story
Celebrity cameos and great writing combine to make Grand Theft Auto: Vice City a great story in the Grand Theft Auto universe. Vice City feels like a classic in the making, and 20 years later, many are still confident that it is the best story that Rockstar Games have been able to produce.
The game features Ray Liotta’s Tommy Vercetti, a convict recently released from prison, and desperate to rise through the ranks and gain a profit in the drug-fueled, crime-riddled town of Vice City. The story embarks on mystery and intrigue, and the rising tides of power, to become the ultimate drug kingpin.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.