Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
System: PC   Publisher: Rockstar Games   Developer: Rockstar North   Genre: Action   Release Date: 10/27/02

Ray Liotta is not the only big name on the casting list for this game.  Look forward to hearing the voices of Gary Busey, Dennis Hopper, and Jenna Jameson.  The voice actors did an outstanding job.  In fact most of the sound in this game is spectacular.  The sound effects for the guns, the vehicles, etc. make you feel like your in the game.  The choice of songs from the 1980's was a nice mix.  I can honestly say that nothing is lacking in this department.

There is an array of choices for weaponry and vehicles alike.  There are mopeds, dirt bikes, hogs, helicopters, seaplanes, tanks, race cars, trucks, and the list goes on.  As for weapons look forward to guns, guns, guns, flamethrowers, chainsaws, screwdrivers, knives, machetes, baseball bats, etc.  You can find these in the mall or at Ammu-Nation.  Many of these will be needed for the 80 plus missions that there are to complete.

Look forward to the police being more difficult to escape from.  They seem to be smarter in Vice City than they were in Liberty City.  They come equipped with tack strips to pop your tires and roadblocks to get in your way.  Prepare for war with the police because they mean business.  When you draw too much attention to yourself the FBI and the army will join in on the chase, then your chances are slim to none.  If too many cops come on the scene at once the game has a tendency to slow down which makes it even more difficult on you.

The graphics are splendid, the characters look more life-like, but not perfect.  However you can find yourself facing a building that you didn't even know was there because your going too fast for the game to catch up.  You can see the sun shining on the windows of the cars.  There are posters on the walls with pictures and writing that you can actually make out.  Not to mention the area is huge once you have access to everything. 

The gameplay is exciting although very similar to GTA: III.  This is a spruced up version of a game already made, but it's still fun to play again.  The story is different of course and there are some new, innovative things about the game, but all in all it's the same as the last one.  It's funny, it's raunchy, it's violent, and it's definitely not for children.  You will probably never run out of things to do, although you may get bored after awhile.  The missions can be a bit difficult, but the game is pretty easy to figure out.  When your feeling stressed out just bust out GTA: Vice City and take it out on some of these animated characters, after all that's what their here for.

Miranda Stites, HeroesOfGaming.com, 08/06/05