While the series has so many beloved titles, Grand Theft Auto thrived on the PlayStation 2. Each PS2 title offered something drastically different from the last. The gameplay was similar across all three, and the unapologetically mature themes were present throughout. However, the setting in which they took place were always radically different. Two have been returned to, as the Liberty City presented in Grand Theft Auto 3 was used in Grand Theft Auto 4, while Los Santos took center stage in Grand Theft Auto 5 as well as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in 2004. The one that has yet to receive a mainline return trip is one that many hope Grand Theft Auto 6 will be set in.
Vice City was the chosen destination for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and its neon-draped skyline was clearly inspired by Miami, Florida in the 1980s. This differed greatly from the drab architecture of Liberty City, and as such the fictional setting has been the source of much nostalgia for fans. Grand Theft Auto 6 has yet to confirm its location, but Vice City is likely a prime candidate, especially after the sun-soaked setting of Los Santos has been explored from top to bottom since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 in 2013. Vice City is so very different, and could be one of Grand Theft Auto 6's greatest strengths should it return.
A Story of Vice
Being a city that's fueled by the drug trade, Vice City feels far seedier than its Los Santos counterpart. Whereas the latter was a summery jaunt through a city of hopefuls, celebrities and crooked characters, Vice City's inhabitants feel more grounded in crime. Its people are always out to get what they want, and the city is shaped by the mischief of those that call it home. Tommy Vercetti's intelligence is balanced by his quick temper, and to survive the harsh streets of Vice City he often needs to rely on both. The fictional city presents more freedom to make the story feel closer connected to the world as Michael, Franklin, and Trevor feel like blemishes in an otherwise pristine Los Santos playground.
Mafia: Definitive Edition proved that mob-inspired stories are still popular and can capture a sizable audience, so Grand Theft Auto 6 leaning further into organized crime could do well to catch a ride on the genre's good graces. The game set in Los Santos feels more like three polarizing characters from different walks of life coming together for the convenience of the story, but Vice City does well to make the characters feel like they truly belong. It simply has more narrative potential, whereas the Los Santos presented last time out felt like a huge, gorgeous, but narratively uninteresting world.
Los Santos' Geography Differences with Vice City
Being so closely linked to the sprawling setting of real-world Los Angeles, there are obvious architectural and geographical differences between Vice City and the aforementioned landscape. These differences may not seem significant, as players will likely barrel down the streets far past the speed limit and not pay much attention to the world around them, but the city's layout has everything to do with the way players interact with the area. The winding country lanes of Los Santos would likely be replaced by angular avenues and grid-based downtown areas. This alters the way players can traverse the land, and could provoke a whole new play style.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a significantly smaller game than San Andreas, but its size makes it more claustrophobic, further adding to the tension of the story. Vice City is compact, detailed, and never feels like a victim of its scope, whereas there are whole districts that go unexplored in the tale that unfolds during the events of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It's clear that both games have different philosophies and both are revered in equal measure. However, with the huge landscape of Grand Theft Auto 5's Los Santos as well as the map presented in Red Dead Redemption 2 bringing size and diversity to the games' respective worlds, Vice City isn't a location whose charm lies in its size. Instead, Vice City is a smaller and more focused map, and Grand Theft Auto 6 would do well to separate itself from its predecessor by shrinking in size.
Vice City and Los Santos' Bit on the Side
Drawing inspiration from such radically different areas of the United States, it's clear that Vice City and Los Santos should offer side activities that feel like they fit their respective city's vibe. Grand Theft Auto 5 is full to the brim with side content, but while golf, tennis, and hunting missions litter the land, these simply wouldn't fit the atmosphere that Vice City provokes. Striping a ball down the fairway during a calm game of golf only to resume the story that's heavy in adult themes would feel like it breaks all tension. With Vice City so steeped in crime and villainy, having Los Santos' leisure activities included would severely damage its narrative weight.
The activities that can be completed go a long way to contribute to the game's overall tone, and Vice City is a setting that relies far heavier on tone for its narrative impact. The original Vice City obviously leans into its historical inspiration, so forging engaging side activities from what actually occurred would do well to improve upon the half-baked sports and uninteresting tasks in Grand Theft Auto 5.
Should Grand Theft Auto return to Vice City, there will likely be big changes that come from the difference in location. Grand Theft Auto 5 is a gift that keeps on giving, but dressing the same game in a glitzy new skin and calling it Grand Theft Auto 6 isn't enough to move the franchise forward. Vice City is structurally, geographically, aesthetically, and narratively different from Los Santos is so many crucial ways, and understanding what makes it great is the key to ensuring that the series' open world crown isn't taken for years to come.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is in development.