Put simply, it’s one of the most immersive locations I’ve ever come across in a videogame and the vast majority of that is down to the presentation which although simple, fully embraces its 80’s inspiration. This is most evident in its packed urban areas which are filled with neon signs, seedy motels, tight alleyways and just a general lived-in feel.Īll of this is in stark contrast to the more rural areas – one of my greatest pleasures in this game was blasting along a palm-tree lined street next to the water while the sun set in a beautiful mix of oranges and purples on the horizon, which is the kind of moment you can find yourself lost in. So I want to spend most of the time in this section talking about Vice City itself. While it won’t win any awards for its graphics, Vice City Stories had plenty of moments of beauty and is an incredibly impressive technical feat considering everything that can happen on screen at once, all running in the palm of your hand. So while the intricacies of its plot may not be the most gripping, all the other elements of Vice City Stories are massively on-point – making a narrative experience that you’re really not going to want to miss. You’ll drive alongside sun-soaked beaches, through neon-lit city streets and around mansions and greenery in the suburbs, all the while blasting some brilliant licensed 80’s music – the simple act of exploring this gorgeous place is amazing in itself. Undoubtedly the star of the show is Vice City itself. Set years earlier than the PS2 entry, it’s more crime-riddled with some different elements (trailer parks, fairgrounds) but its fictional interpretation of Miami is just as glorious as ever. My two favourite cast members were Lance Vance (returning from Vice City and still as bonkers as ever) and Reni, a transsexual film maker who helps fix up Vic with a few important contacts. Interacting with them is probably the best part of the story as you an expect plenty of profanity-laden humour to spice things up.Īnother major element of the franchise is satire and again, this is fully represented here. None of it is subtle – whether it’s the ridiculous shop names (“Hardcore Pawn”) or the stupid things sputtered by the radio presenters (“I’ve got fun sensibilities, sexual ambiguity and a synthesizer!”), all of it is over-the-top and made me laugh out loud regularly. The fact that the game can tackle some serious content in such a humorous manner is commendable and really a testament to the writers at Rockstar at the time. The Grand Theft Auto series has always included a wide range of absolutely bonkers characters in its plots and that’s fully on point here – you can expect everything from corrupt Army Sergeants, intimidating Cuban drug Lords and even Phil Collins himself, in a cameo that was hilarious and works surprisingly well. That’s not to say it’s bad – you’re given plenty of characterisation and motive and will play some truly thrilling missions (picking up drug shipments at the dock while avoiding the DEA, escaping an abandoned power plant and assaulting a drug stronghold by helicopter being particular highlights), but I did feel the story was merely a means to an end (although I did appreciate the numerous ties to previous entries). The plot here is the usual tale of criminal activity and to be honest, passed me by while playing. Acting as a prequel to the original Vice City, Stories follows the life of Vic Vance, brother of Lance Vance who gets roped into the drugs trade in the titular city. The game takes place over a number of years and starts in the early 80’s with Vic as a Corporal in the US Army, before he gets framed, stripped of his title and falls deeper into the criminal underworld.
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