2002’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City holds nothing but pleasant memories for both myself and the many others who either grew up playing the game or gained an appreciation for it at a later stage in their lives – doubly so if you’re a fan of ‘80s music and general aesthetic. Packed with great missions, an unforgettable selection of music, and quite possibly the most visually striking Grand Theft Auto entry Rockstar Games has ever produced (dated graphics aside), Vice City is truly one-of-a-kind.



Fast forward twenty-four years ahead and we’re once again poised to return to those iconic shores, albeit with a modern twist. Before Grand Theft Auto VI arrives with its visually stunning reimagining of everybody’s beloved ‘80s open world setting, let’s take a moment or two to fully appreciate what exactly made the original such an objective masterpiece.

To that end, I present what I believe to be the four main pillars of what made Grand Theft Auto: Vice City such an absolute pleasure to play and a standout title to this very day.

The Sights



The moment you set eyes upon those vibrant neon-soaked streets of Vice City, you’re instantly immersed in that rich ‘80’s atmosphere the title is so well-known for (and exceptional at pulling off). Cruising down Ocean Drive in the middle of the night while listening to one of the many incredible radio stations on offer (more on that in a bit) is a memory I guarantee every single person who has had the pleasure of experiencing this game still has running around their mind to this very day. But the old-school vibes don’t stop at the bright lights, no sirree. In typical Rockstar fashion, painstaking attention was paid with regards to ensuring as many aspects of the game world felt truly authentic and period-accurate as possible – reflecting the year of 1986, to be specific.

Whether we’re talking about particular pop culture references (from the likes of 1983’s Scarface and the near decade-spanning Miami Vice series, for example), the appearance of the pedestrians wandering the city, or even the direct nods to the numerous cultural shifts experienced in Miami at the time, Vice City still feels believable all these years later.

The Sounds



Perfectly complementing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’s incredible setting, the game’s soundtrack is an easy candidate, if not the outright winner, for greatest licensed video game music lineup of all time. Every available radio station, seven of which offer music instead of interview segments (although Grand Theft Auto’s talk radio stations are almost always relentlessly entertaining to listen to), has a phenomenal set of tracks to serve as the backdrop for your criminal shenanigans or lazy afternoon drives.

From Fever 105’s smooth as silk funk beats or Flash FM’s more conventional (but still amazing) ‘80’s pop jams, to V-Rock’s metal anthems and Emotion 98.3’s heartstring-tugging tracks, Vice City has something for almost every taste out there. You’ll also hear some tunes popping up in the background of certain story mission cutscenes, adding that extra touch of cinematic flair in unexpected and subtle ways. Unfortunately, a few notable songs have been unceremoniously ripped from the game’s multiple releases over the years due to licensing issues – including Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” (this one still stings) and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark at the Moon”.

The Cast



Despite the considerably more condensed script of Vice City, at least when compared to the more recent Grand Theft Auto series entries, Rockstar went all out with the vocal casting decisions here – opting for performers relevant to the depicted time period, prominent spheres of pop culture of the era, and subject matter found within the title. Headed up by late GoodFellas star Ray Liotta as protagonist Tommy Vercetti (the first in the series to actually speak), as well as Miami Vice’s own Philip Michael Thomas assuming the role of ally-turned-rival Lance Vance, Vice City’s star-studded credits extend even further to the various major and minor quest givers/NPCs encountered throughout the game.

Remember the Kaufman Cabs dispatch lady? That’s Blondie’s Debbie Harry right there. Vice City’s favourite adult film star Candy Suxxx? None other than real life model and adult actress Jenna Jameson. Property tycoon Avery Carrington’s voice sound familiar to you? That’d be Burt Reynolds, of course (another actor who has since passed away). The list goes on and on, but I think you get the point I’m trying to make here. Vice City’s cast is just as iconic as the game itself, adding further fuel to the nostalgia overload at the core of the game’s overall experience.

The Content



Significantly lengthier than prior series entry Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City has a lot to offer the player in terms of both main missions and side activities (although I’m not talking San Andreas numbers here, mind you). Purchasing properties, while a shiny new gameplay feature in itself, also usually came with its own small set of missions – some of which are major highlights of the entire game. Regardless of whether you were progressing the storyline or engaging in a side job (pizza delivery, taxi fare completion, or putting out fires to name a few), the sheer variety on display ensured you never felt bored or that you’d been doing the same thing over and over again. Oh, you’d certainly feel your fair share of frustration – rage, even - at some of the trials the game threw your way. But never boredom. And the icing on top of it all was, you guessed it, the ever-present ‘80s world design.

If the fun factor wasn’t enough motivation for you, the seriously helpful unlockables were. Features like infinite sprint, an increased health/armor pool and vehicle jumping were all superb incentives for deviating from the campaign and messing around with other areas of the game. And when all else failed to entertain, there were always hidden packages to stumble upon (with their own set of permanent rewards), plenty of cheat codes to mess around with and neat easter eggs to find (including one actual hidden egg).