Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Main Game
RELEASED
8.7
Oct 27, 2002
PlayStation 2PC (Microsoft Windows)+3byRockstar North•Rockstar Games
Overview:|
As a main open-world adventure game originally released in 2002, you navigate the 1980s-inspired Vice City as Tommy Vercetti, fighting to take control after being set up. The core loop involves completing missions, exploring the sandbox environment using diverse vehicles, and engaging in third-person shooter combat. Its distinctive feature is the strong 80s atmosphere, heavily supported by an iconic soundtrack across its radio stations. The game blends Adventure, Shooter, and Racing genres, and a remastered version is available.
Released in 2002, this main entry in the open-world adventure genre transports players to the neon-drenched, hedonistic streets of Vice City, a fictional metropolis heavily inspired by 1980s Miami. The core experience is built around a sprawling sandbox environment where players are free to explore, engage in various activities, and follow a central narrative. The game blends elements of shooter, racing, and adventure genres, offering a wide array of vehicles and weaponry to utilize across the city.
The Setting and Story Premise
The narrative places players in the shoes of Tommy Vercetti, a recently released criminal sent to Vice City by his mafia superiors. Following a deal that goes disastrously wrong, Vercetti finds himself broke and targeted by various criminal factions, including biker gangs, Cuban gangsters, and corrupt officials. Left with nothing, the central objective becomes a fight for survival and dominance, pushing the protagonist to rise through the ranks and seize control of the city.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
As an open-world title, the gameplay loop revolves around mission completion, exploration, and emergent sandbox scenarios. Players navigate the city using a diverse selection of cars, boats, motorcycles, and helicopters. Combat mechanics involve third-person shooting, allowing players to engage in various conflicts throughout the storyline and during free-roam activities. The game features a robust system of side activities and collectibles scattered throughout the map.
What defines the atmosphere of this 1980s sandbox?
A defining feature of this title is its immersive atmosphere, heavily reliant on its period setting. The game utilizes an iconic soundtrack featuring numerous radio stations that broadcast hit songs exclusively from the 1980s, significantly enhancing the feeling of cruising through the vibrant, crime-ridden cityscape. This combination of setting, music, and narrative satire creates a distinct tone for the adventure.
Available Content and Platforms
This title is presented as a standalone main game and does not feature any official downloadable content (DLC) or expansions released post-launch. It was initially available on the PlayStation 2 and has since been ported to PC (Microsoft Windows) and Xbox. A remastered version of the game is also available on modern platforms.
What genres does this open-world game incorporate?
The gameplay experience is a hybrid, primarily categorized as an Adventure game, but it heavily incorporates mechanics from the Shooter genre for combat and the Racing genre for vehicle traversal and missions.
Game Details
Primary Name: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Alternative Names:
GTA VC (Acronym)
GTA Vice City (Acronym)
GTA: Вайс Сити (Bulgarian title)
Vice City (Alternative title)
侠盗车手：罪恶都市 (Chinese title - simplified)
俠盜獵車手：罪惡城市 (Chinese title - traditional)
Type: Main Game
Series: Grand Theft Auto
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive
Engine: RenderWare
Release Information
Release Date: Oct 27, 2002
Genres & Themes
Genres: Shooter, Racing, Adventure, Arcade
Themes: Sandbox, Open world, Action, Comedy
Platforms
PlayStation 2PC (Microsoft Windows)PlayStation 3XboxMac
Game Modes
Perspective: Third person
Player Modes: Single-player
Game Modes: Single player
Age Ratings
ESRB:M (Mature)
PEGI:18+
Open world adventure game set in the 80s, where you play as Tommy Vercetti taking over Vice City.
CERO:Z (18+)
USK:18+ (Adults Only)
GRAC:19+
CLASS_IND:18+ (Adults Only)
ACB:MA15+ (Mature 15+)
Strong Violence, Strong Sexual References
Soren