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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PC)
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| Description:
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 PC version of the PS2 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. 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. This cleverly widens the scope of the game while keeping the controls and gameplay pretty much the same. It also 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 ground-breaking--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
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4/5 |
Fantastic port of the original!
(July 09, 2008) |
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It would be silly to call any GTA review "brief"; it's obviously hard to hold back your thoughts over such an incredible game. But with the original being released on the PS2, and this PC Version being quite over-looked for some console gamers, I'm just going to highlight the key differences between PC and PS2/Xbox versions...
Thumbs Up
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- Modification; It's easy to do, and with endless downloads available on the net as well as your own expertise, you can actually really change the input of this game. This is of course no new feat - just look at Microsoft Flight Simulator, or The Sims...
- Well, it loads quicker! No time like the present for some madness and random shooting!
- The textures beat that of the PS2 and Xbox hands down. The animation is alot smoother, and many key visuals (face emotions, physics) are more real. Great! However, as I'll always say with PC Game reviews, the graphics will depend on your systems performance set-up. With your settings tweaked just right and good use of Anti-Aliasing/Draw Distances, Vice City can look incredible and still run very smoothly.
- Very easy to type cheats (and easy to remember)
Thumbs Down
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- The controls could have been a tad simpler on the keyboard, or at least easier to remember... Assigning the first letter of an action for that keyboard letter for example... However, personal assigning is available.
- The more action involved (Lets say a nice fat 5 Star Police Level), the more RAM/CPU power your PC will need... Take this into account.
- Heck, it just doesn't have that good old PS2 feel! But now i'm just being silly...
As someone who bought the PS2 around launch time and lived off GTA, Pro Evo Soccer, and Metal Gear Solid 2, I came to my senses some years ago and realised just how amount of poor games out-weighed the good. Therefore, for a very small price, having GTA Vice City on your PC is almost essential if your PS2 is gathering dust. |
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4/5 |
Great game, but it does not beat GTA 3.
(April 23, 2006) |
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I own all the GTA Games until now, since GTA 1.
I've purchased GTA: Vice City just after completing GTA 3.
Vice City has brought some new things such as the opportunity to purchase properties (where you can save your game afterwards and even keep your cars), and Motorcycles. (imitations of a Piaggio, Yamaha DT, CBR 600 and Harley).
In my opinion, Vice City falls down in Graphics when compared to GTA 3. Also lacks realism.
Apart of that, it is a great game and a must have. It will keep you busy for 3 months.
Still, GTA3 looks a lot better, at least to me. |
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4/5 |
Dirrty 80's prove to be a trully amazing set for the game.
(March 19, 2006) |
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O'k most of us, by us I mean fans of GTA, found this a trully amazing game.
At first it is confusing and quite boring especially for newcomers and they might find difficulties driving cars, motorbikes, boats and helicopters. I have to admit I struggled with radio-controlled helicopters until i changed the controls. So this is a downside. Another downside is Cars. Some of them look very stupid and others are hard to drive, but the biggest dissapointment was that they all look uunrealistic and very ugly.
If you compare it to GTA3 it's much more better - more sex, guns, drugs and anything you want. Plus now you have your own gangs and many buildings like huge multi-million mansion, few appartments, taxi company, film studio (where you'll be making a few naughty films with a miss called Candy Suxx), and the range of missions can only be described as massive.
Of course there always comes time when you get fed up and go on a rampage. Destroying vehicles, killing innocent shoppers, beating to death policemen and stealing a tank which anyone will find amazing.
This game like many other similar games have two objectives - money and power. Power comes with completing missions. Money come from various sources.
1) Completing missions is the best way to earn big bucks plus you gain power.
2) Completing driving missions this could be very challenging but very repetitive also you can drive an emegency vehicle, police car, taxi and a tank. You really have to be a great driver to complete these missions and they don't bring in much money.
3) Killing people this is the least popular way and if you get busted you lose money so really not worth it.
4) The last but not least is to do amazing tricks, spins, etc. on a bike/car. Of course you can die and there is not much money but this is very attractive way for many people. Again you really have to know how to drive a car.
The finale or the best thing in the game is really the bank robbery mission. It's amazing. You can proudly say that you have mastered the game if you complete it.
Well if you are really struggling I would suggest to look up for hints and walkthroughs but don't use cheats as it just ruins the whole game.
In conclusion you really have to buy Vice City before trying to play San Andreas otherwise you won't appreciate the beauty of the game and will struggle to understand the SA.
~~~Good luck my fellow gamers.~~~ |
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5/5 |
Anarchic, Violent, Amoral and Absolutely Great Fun!
(September 11, 2005) |
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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a brilliant follow up to the legendary Grand Theft Auto 3, which stole several weeks of my life when it was released. Vice City is fundamentally very similar to GTA3, and certainly all the best elements remain. For a start, you are as free to roam as ever - simply carjack a nice ride, find a gun, and go on a rampage. Or have a drive around the city, and see some of the sights, visit a strip club, jump in a boat, helicopter or motorcycle and just look for all the opportunities for bad behaviour that the game has to offer. The graphics are similar if somewhat refined, and the game has the same look as GTA3, although there is more variety and detail in the buildings, vehicles and scenery. As before, the city is full of vunerable pedestrians, simply crying out to be robbed or run over, and they come in a greater number of shapes, sizes, and dress than ever before, and have more to say for themselves. As far as missions go, Vice City boasts a far greater number of them, and they take in a great variety of locations, use a large number of the approximately 100 vehicles in the game, and are at times much more involved than in GTA3. There are many more people to work for, too, although the basic progression through the game remains, with areas of the map, and new employers becoming available as you make a name for yourself and complete certain missions. Overall, there are just more things to discover in Vice City, and this is where it really wins out over it's predecessor - there are more weapons, vehicles, buildings to explore, interesting characters, story missions, side missions, and things to do between missions, and they are all spread over a larger and more varied city. The most effective new feature of the game is the property aspect - there are now about 15 properties to buy around the city - some act as safehouses or places to store vehicles, and some are businesses that will generate regular income after you have completed key missions. They add to the sense that you are coming up in the world as the game unfolds. The atmosphere of the game is better too - the soundtrack is superb, featuring many of the biggest hits of the eighties, and loads of other classics, played on 10 radio stations that can be listened to in almost every vehicle. The dialogue is much more varied, and better voiced, and the sound effects are convincing, with gunfire and collisions improved from GTA3. Different areas of Vice City have much more distinct character, and this creates the impression of a real bustling city. It is possible to become immersed in the game world much more easily than in GTA3. In terms of innovation, Vice City has little to offer over Grand Theft Auto 3, but somehow it manages to create a more convincing experience - more to do, more to see, and crucially more fun than ever. For fans of the GTA series, prepare for the best yet. For those new to these classic games, this is a perfect place to start. |
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5/5 |
Way better than San Andreas!
(May 22, 2005) |
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If you have neither games definately buy Vice city. The storyline in vice city is just way cool. The weapons in Vice city are so good sounding. The cars ok maybe not but the general atmosphere of Vice city is so much better than the dull San andreas. The missions are a lot more fun it looks like your watching beverley hills cop. They so should have made a sequal to this game instead of san andreas. Seriously Vice city is much better than san an! |
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