Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Legacy Review

In 2002, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released for PlayStation 2 just a year after the groundbreaking GTA III. This milestone release revitalized the genre with a 12-month turnaround compared to the years-long wait for GTA VI. Vice City was a significant departure from its predecessor, offering a rich array of new vehicles, weapons, and missions that were more imaginative and varied.

The game also embraced a different storytelling approach by introducing a fully voiced lead character, Tommy Vercetti, played by Ray Liotta. This change allowed for more entertaining interactions with a more memorable supporting cast of allies and antagonists, setting Vice City apart from GTA III.

One of Vice City's standout features was its unparalleled personality and style, which were heavily influenced by the 1980s Miami setting. The game's soundtrack was sonically unmistakable and elevated the overall experience. Though it could have been just another iteration of the formula, Vice City's developers recognized the potential for a fully-fledged sequel. Initially designed as a mission pack, the project evolved into a standalone game that solidified the series' reputation for innovation.

Vice City was the GTA title that properly showcased the breadth of vehicle variety fans had come to expect. Motorcycles, aircraft, including helicopters and seaplanes, were now fully integrated into the gameplay. Additionally, Vice City introduced new features like outfit changes, property purchases, and an in-game map, albeit still accompanied by a physical paper copy.

The game's protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, embodied the spirit of classic crime dramas like Miami Vice and Scarface. Ray Liotta's voice acting brought a new level of personality and humor to the character, which was a significant improvement over the one-sided monologues in GTA III.