Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

When i put this game in to play, as I've done with all the other "Grand Theft Auto" series, i said, "ok here we go" And as soon as game play began i immediately knew that this was it. "Grand Theft Auto" was back with a vengeance!!! If you loved Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, then you will definitely love Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, hands down. It delivers the same brilliant atmosphere and feeling as the original Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Set in 1984, just two years before the events of (GTA: Vice City, set in 1986) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, captures the essences of the 80's just as well as the original GTA: Vice City. Rockstar did and amazing, and outstanding job with the hardware of the Sony PSP, (PlayStation Portable) The graphics are fantastic, and tweaked just a tad bit better than Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, which is also a PSP title, and also available for the PlayStation 2. The action delivers, "big time" It's a spectacular masterpiece on a Portable Hand-Held that can all fit in your pocket. So if you're looking for a little fun on the run, any time and any where, pick up a copy of this Game for the Sony PSP. There's nothing more satisfying then having "Grand Theft Auto" at you're side. Nothing has been left out. A true Fan of the "Grand Theft Auto" series will know that this is the real deal. What you get with the "Grand Theft Auto" Games on the PlayStation 2 Console, is what you get with the PSP. And i am truly impressed with RockStar Games, for pulling this off....again. So i strongly recommend, without a doubt, that you buy this title. And even if you don't own a PSP, my advice would be to go out and invest in this, for ones own pleasurably, and leisurely fun. This Game alone is wroth it, pure bliss...i guarantee it. Enjoy.

After the horrible letdown of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Rockstar Games decides to release a better version of Vice City, which is the portable Vice City Stories. This game is much better, and the graphics are improved. Also, the city in Vice City Stories seems a lot bigger than it was in Vice City, and the game-play doesn't get boring as easily as it did in Vice City and Liberty City Stories. The only cons I can think of are aiming your gun, and weak missions. Otherwise it's pretty fun, and it makes Vice City look super boring, which it kind of is. If you are a fan of Grand Theft Auto, you should definitely check this game out.

I'll say right now that I've had a LOT of fun with "Vice City Stories", and a huge part of the game's draw is returning to Vice City (it was fun to witness the architectural changes in the prequel setting). A nice new addition was the Empire building feature, which spiced things up but still made it satisfyingly more-of-the-same. The soundtrack is (again) terrific, the satire and talk radio shows are as much fun as ever (I need more Billy Joe and Bobby Ray) and the story's a departure for GTA; sometimes it works, others not so much. But then they had to go and integrate Phil Collins into the actual story - a stroke of brillliance, and I love that Phil was down with this.

What this game really proves is that Vice City is an awesome place in which to set a GTA game (take note, Rockstar).

Many hours of fun.

9/10

"Before the lights, the coke, and Tommy Vercetti... there was Victor Vance. And he had something to lose."

Vice City Stories isn't just a prequel-it's a gut punch with heart. It takes the neon-soaked chaos of Vice City and grounds it in something rare for GTA: honor. This is Victor Vance's story, and unlike most GTA protagonists, Vic isn't trying to rule the world-he's trying to take care of his broken family. That's what makes this game hit differently.

Let's break it down:

Setting: Vice City. 1984. Two years before Tommy Vercetti turns the place into a cocaine-fueled empire.

This is a dirtier, hungrier, more vulnerable Vice City. There's construction still happening. Crime is on the rise, but it's not yet organized. It's in chaos-and you're right in the middle of it.

Gameplay Upgrades: Empire Building: You take over businesses, defend them from rivals, and turn your street hustle into a criminal empire. It's like San Andreas' turf wars, but evolved.

Improved Combat: Finally, you can swim and climb in Vice City! (Something the original didn't allow.) Vehicle Variety: Jet skis, helicopters, muscle cars-you name it. And the handling? Smooth.

Soundtrack: Pure 80s fire. From INXS to Phil Collins (who literally appears in-game). This isn't just background music-it's a time machine.

Characters: Victor Vance (voiced by Dorian Missick) is a man's man. Military background, tough but loyal, principled but fierce. He's doing all of this to care for his sick brother Lance (yes, that Lance).

Lance Vance is back, and even more of a reckless wildcard here.

You also meet a colorful cast of hustlers, psychos, and crooks like Reni Wassulmaier, Armando Mendez, and Phil Cassidy. It's classic GTA: twisted, funny, and dangerously real.

Why It's a 10 Out of 10: Vice City Stories is everything a prequel should be: ✅ It deepens the lore.

✅ It makes you care.

✅ It enhances your view of the original Vice City.

It doesn't just rest on neon and nostalgia-it builds something bolder. There's genuine emotion in Vic's journey. He's not a power-hungry maniac. He's trying to survive. And when the world pushes him? He pushes back-hard.

Final Word: Vice City Stories is criminally underrated. It's cinematic. It's brutal. It's stylish.

And it's arguably the most human GTA story ever told.

10 out of 10. No hesitation.

Beautifully done, a great storyline, characters well developed, awesome music and the best decade. It's a shame that only came out for PSP and PS2 (I own it for this last one), because you can tell that it has a lot of effort in it and not so many people played it. Even so, it never had any remaster or a planned one is on sight. Only con: it's so glowy. I'm going to be blind. Definitely worth it. Play it, for Pete's sake. It has Phil Collins in concert.