Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

What is it?

Rockstar North's sequel relocates the action to Vice City, a fictional Miami analog set during 1986. The protagonist, Tommy Versetti, emerges from prison into a crime-ridden city, initially caught in drug dealing before orchestrating his rise to criminal kingpin. The narrative heavily influences from 1980s Miami Vice television and Scarface cinema, incorporating hip-hop and glam metal soundtracks capturing the era's cultural zeitgeist. The game's mature rating reflects depictions of gunfighting, drug trafficking, and organized crime reflecting actual societal conditions. The broader geographic scope and narrative ambition marked measurable advancement over GTA III.

The setting's period authenticity extended beyond narrative—player character clothing, vehicle designs, and environmental decoration meticulously recreated 1986 aesthetics, creating immersive temporal authenticity.

How it plays

Third-person perspective gameplay follows Tommy through Vice City, operating vehicles and weapons similar to GTA III. Mission-driven advancement alternates with complete open-world freedom: explore casinos, nightclubs, clothes shops, and arbitrary locations. Police pursuit 'wanted level' escalates identically to predecessor: higher levels summon increasingly powerful enforcement. Combat incorporates guns and melee weapons with improved mechanical responsiveness compared to GTA III. The narrative draws cinematic inspiration from 1980s crime media, incorporating serious dramatic tension alongside dark humor.

Celebrity voice casting added legitimacy—established actors lending performances legitimized gaming's narrative medium. The radio soundtrack featured period-authentic hit songs from actual 1980s artists, deepening immersion.

Why it sold

Following GTA III's phenomenal reception, Vice City achieved 14.2 million copies sold by building on established foundation while offering genuinely fresh settings and narratives. The 1980s aesthetic proved commercially attractive—nostalgia for previous decades resonated with PS2 audiences. The franchise entered its golden era with back-to-back blockbuster releases establishing Rockstar's dominance of open-world gaming. Subsequent platforms received Windows and Xbox releases, extending audience reach beyond PS2.

The game demonstrated that GTA III wasn't a one-hit wonder but rather indication of a franchise reaching peak creative maturity. Vice City's commercial success guaranteed continued investment in the franchise, culminating in the later San Andreas entry that established the series' commercial peak.