User Reviews (11 - 21 of 21)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

I missed you Vice City

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am a Grand Theft Auto fanatic and I love revisiting the cities we've seen, but with new storylines. The way that the games tie into one another through various characters gives the player a feeling of investment in their fates. "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories" is no different. It is fascinating to see how the city appeared prior to the rise of Tommy Vercetti. An avid GTA fan will notice the subtleties and will catch themselves amused by them. The game is humorous and as fun to play as the original Vice City. I understand that this is a transfer from the PSP, but my only complaint is that I still would like to see the cities expand as we revisit them. All in all a good game.

Pure mayhem simulator a popular medication

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The fifth GTA release for PS2, this is the second title that was an exclusive PSP-only release, following Liberty City Stories. The producers claimed they wouldn't port this one for PS2, but lo and behold, they did, and thankfully. Put aside the odd decision to produce games exclusively for a three inch screen...if you love the GTA games, this is a no-brainer, especially at the reduced price.

Overall, the game looks like it's been ported in that its slightly squished down so the aspect ratio is not quite the same as GTA: VC. On the up side, though, the graphics are improved, the movement is better, the colors are better, etc. Importantly, you have that 360-degree action with the environment at all times (using the right stick) meaning you can move the view around like a camera at any given moment. Similarly, the Cinematic View (for those who enjoy blowing things up in a cinematic mode) is like the 'old' style from GTA II and VC, meaning you cannot manually change the views like in LCS. For some reason, this is actually better and gives the action a better performance. And it can be hilarious. But it doesn't ruin this game, far from it. Basically, for Vice City fanatics who enjoyed crime and evil in that town, this is so very welcome. As before, some of the enhancements of LCS have made it in, so you can enjoy Miami-stand in "Vice City" with a few new twists.

Story-wise, for anyone keeping score, the game is set in 1984 (the earliest GTA setting now), two years before VC. Things are a bit different in town, there is much building to be done, it's rather sleazy...it's basically Miami circa the premier of Miami Vice. With more gangs. And sleaze. The story in the game is noticeably darker, which puts an interesting spin on this. There is even more chatter on the radio, entirely new stations, and generally the same amount of writing and detail as any of the other games. A real 'bonus' holdover game that does the job.

Plenty of violence and insanity, and like LCS, the missions are definitely easier, as if they wanted you to blow through it quicker and enjoy the free-for-all action and endless bonus stuff. Again, like LCS, looks a little bit 'smushed' on the screen, like the picture was not fully corrected from the PSP. But it still looks better and moves better, which is what counts. Like LCS, debuted at a cheap price (interesting strategy), and probably was a big shot in the arm for Rockstar, who are banking big on IV later in '08. Absolutely recommended for fans and addicts alike, even you have to play on your 'old' system.

I can see why this would be a great portable game...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: June 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

But on a console it really loses something.
Compared to GTA Vice City, this game is simply an inferior copy. One of the great improvements from Grand Theft Auto III to VC was its licensed soundtrack. Also to compare, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories had most of the original GTA3 radio with a few new songs and a new channel. For this game they only kept the worst VC channel, the Latin channel and nearly all the new music, outside of maybe two songs, is awful.
The GTA series has never really been about the story, but the laughably bad cut scenes fall flat in this one. It doesn't help that the voice acting is terrible and the characters are almost all annoying one-dimensional stereotypes.
Vice City had a number of things, like the full map or motorcycles, which the original GTA3 did not. So GTA:LCS with those improvements was a better game. In this game you can swim, but it isn't a huge part of the game. Honestly this isn't really much of an improvement. If anything the fact that it originated on the PSP means that it has a much worse engine than the original PS2 games.
Just go back and play the original Vice City, don't listen to this "story."

Pretty good

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is reasonably priced, and the PSP bugs are all gone (for the most part). VCS is set even earlier in the 1980's, but I don't mean the real-life 1980's. This is 80's from Mars. Neon is everywhere, even in places that aren't logistically possible. You can build a giant hermetically-sealed drug lab encased in the fake exterior of a condo building. You own an upscale apartment next to a Ferris wheel with a mini-helicopter (plus mounted machine gun) parked on the roof.

I guess this game is a last hurrah for the totally insane, logic-defying nature of the past three GTA3 games. I assure you, of all of them, VCS is the craziest. The story is simple (and ridiculous): A marine named Vic Vance gets forced out of the army because of a corrupt officer, Jerry Martinez (I can't believe this guy made it all the way to Sergeant. I wouldn't trust him as latrine cleaner). Vic decides he can't find work anywhere else except in organized crime (???), and next thing you know Vic is a crime kingpin. Whatever. Actually, everybody in this game besides Vic is a total idiot.

Vice city is gorgeous in this game. The original Vice City is one of those games that doesn't age well, unlike GTA3. The horrible "orange screen of death" (aka sun glare) is gone. There are all sorts of improvements, especially on the mainland. Seeing Downtown glitter at a distance during nightime is breathtaking (I think covering an entire bridge in neon was pushing it, though). Vic can buy businesses after slaughtering all the gang members around it, then build cathouses, smuggling depots, drug labs or other things. There's not much point, but this way you can customize the city, and it makes money. You can even build drug labs right next to the police stations.

The missions...well, they're ridiculously easy. Some are even dull, and the most exciting ones are over too quick; I would say you have to wait to get to the 2nd island before things start getting good. The early missions are terrible. You will have no trouble beating this game. There is a small glitch where if you buy enough businesses, suddenly they will be under attack all the time. This happens if you haven't saved in awhile. It's annoying, but even if you don't rescue your business, you can fix it for practically nothing (heck, you can build a fancy cathouse for $5000). The soundtrack is much improved over the first Vice City.

Gameplay is cool,other aspects not so much...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 18
Date: March 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm a big fan of the first two GTAs and I like how Rockstar gave us a chance to go back to Liberty and Vice City with new stories and added bonuses.

I'm not going to go into a whole lot of detail,because by now people are familiar with this game series and they either like it or hate it.The gameplay is as fun as it ever was,and it's nice that Rockstar decided to make the main character "Vic Vance",black;but not a thug.I couldn't stand the whole gangsta dialouge of San Andreas which is why I never played it all the way through.

The only minor complaints I would have about this title is 1.) the radio station soundtrack is not nearly as good as the original Vice City one.I was pretty disapointed with the V Rock and New Wave selection.So I'm pretty much flipping back and forth more when I'm in a vehicle.

Also,enough with the propaganda Rockstar.Please give it a rest!I'm so sick of hearing the Ammunation radio commercials.Yes,we all know you're anti-gun,anti-war and anti-republican.Yes,we know that you think America is always the one at fault.Even though your completely wrong with your views and your thinking,it's your opinion,which you have a right to.But I bought this game to play;not to listen to some political rant.Save it for CNN.Funny how the commercials are all anti-gun;but you make games that glamourize guns and killing people.Can we say double-standard?The whole deal with the transgendered dude is also pretty disgusting.It wasn't needed,just some extra ammo for Rockstar to put in it's "shock value" weapons.Whatever.

2.)Why Rockstar ever invented the clear stage 15 of the paramedic, vigilante and firetruck missions is beyond me.Although the game developers
do show some mercy by letting the game save your point of progress every 5 levels you pass.However this aspect of the game can still be extremely annoying as old issues haven't been resolved.Cars that WILL NOT get out of your way,short time limits for long distances,an inevetable encounter where one patient/fire/criminal is in between some buildings and it's next to impossible to get them in a timely fashion.What's worse is that in Vice City Stories,the blips on the map that were once a bright pink and easy to spot,have now been turned to DARK BLUE!!Try squinting your eyes as you are looking for the blip that almost completely mixes in with the street!Not a good idea esp when you are on a time limit!Just stick with the good old days of GTA3 (save 50 patients/arrest 50 criminals/put out 50 fires in a nonconsecutive order to be rewarded)

For the price,this is a fun title.I still think the GTA series was really in all it's glory when it was first released on PS2.There was nothing like it before.Now,they are growing a little stale.Also it seems like Rockstar is trying to make up for it by throwing in more aggressive shock material and militant,one-sided viewpoints.These are all okay games,but no longer my favorites.

Best game in the series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: May 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Wow, now that's a bold statement, and I'm sure most others will disagree. But I myself thought that Vice City Stories for the Ps2 rivals that of Vice City as the best game (in my opinion) in the GTA series.

We travel back in time, two years before the events of Tommy Vercetti and GTA: Vice City take place. Vic Vance is discharged from the army and ends up doing odd jobs around town. His brother Lance, who we see more of in GTA: Vice City, is a coked-up maniac who tends to get Vic in worse and worse situations that Vic has to bail them both out of. Vic himself really doesn't want anything to do with drug smuggling, and some of the other things that take place. But his motivation is to earn enough money to help out his and Lance's sick little brother.

Graphically, it is very similar to GTA: San Andreas, with the people and cars having more detail, with the controls being about the same as well. This was touted as a direct port of the PSP version, but you wouldn't really know it judging by the graphics and there is zero lag.

There are more missions in this game than I really have time to play, which is awesome for people who want to sink themselves into a game for quite some time, and for less than $20, you really can't go wrong. The music in this game is great, with a ton of hits from 1984, and they did a great job re-creating Vice City.

If I was a PSP owner, I'd be a little mad that the PS2 version came out costing less than the PSP version, which at one point was around $50. The PSP version might be portable, but the PS2 version's graphics are better.

For those with Ps3's, this is a nice game to tide everyone over until GTA: 4 comes out.

Even better than Vice City

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This has to be the best GTA game other than San Andreas. The radio stations are probably the best of any of the GTA games. Most of the missions are centered around the western portion of Vice City, which makes sense, as in the first game, most were situated on the eastern half of the city. The side missions are the best and most enjoyable of any GTA game. My only complaint is that many of the missions are timed and/or based on how much damage your vehicle takes.

Hand Held Mayhem at its finest!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Yet another entry into the seemingly endless world of Vice City. Taking place before the events of the original Vice City you place as Vic Vance who soon after getting thrown out of the Army begins to get wrapped up in a series of criminal engaging enterprises.

The missions are incredibly diverse and numerous. The colorful characters you meet along the way are very fun. As in most GTA the voice acting is superb. The story is engaging as you begin to find yourself rooting for Vic and wondering where/how things will end.

The story mode is only about 45% of the game. The extras are fun, but sadly you don't have much incentive to finish them once the story mode is over. That's always been one of my complaints about the GTA games. The extras in the game that you need to get through to finish 100% of the game get tiresome. I've never really completed a GTA because the side missions get boring for me.

Still, this is great game that is must own for anyone with a PSP. Especially good when your bored at work.

Pretty Fun

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is fun, but not as fun as the original. There are some neat additions though, like when you suffer a concussion from being too close to an explosion the controls and the screen move all around and prevent you from driving easily. I enjoyed this game for a couple of days before I went back to Final Fantasy XI. I plan to play more on a rainy day.

Sincerely,
Ira Carmel.

must have

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 05, 2008
Author: Amazon User

i have been waiting to play this game like forever i cant wait till it getz delivered

Review Page: 1 2 3 Next 

Actions