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Enjoy a long holiday and RE Visit Vice City (PS2)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: April 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Folks,

Let me get this out of the way San Andreas is by far the best GTA game so far (GTA IV is promising). But, my 1st love with GTA games is The original Vice City, so paying another visit was very exciting. I know my way around it (short cuts) was a huge advantage.

Do not worry it is a new game, with new missions, some new characters, new lead character. so yes the streets are the same, all the cars are repeated (with the addition of some new vehicles).
I read at a review some where that the game is short, I disagree totally. The game kept me busy for sometime. I took my time, enjoying all the side missions, shooting red balloons, Unique Jumps, Rampages, Main Missions, etc,etc,etc.

Do yourself a favor buy the game, I was not disappointed!

For those who are still reading, here are the Pros & Cons in my opinion:
1. Great price.
2. New side missions: Beach patrol, Helicopter rescue, Acquiring several types of bussinesses.
3. Great new radio Music.
4. Funnier than the original Vice City.
5. Just hard enough for you to finish the game (Try finishing it without cheats).
6. You don't drown in water anymore like you did in the original game.

Cons:
1. Long loading time.
2. Graphics are not all that impressive (Not Rockstar's main aim).
3. Close fights are clumsy.
4. Auto aiming needs more work (also clumsy).
5. Faced glitches a number of times.
6. That goes for the parents: Some kids have access to the game.

All the best,
Nawaf

A strong comeback after the Liberty City Stories debacle...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: April 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Being a big fan of the original vice city and a mega fan of San Andreas, I was sorely disappointed by the less than impressive Liberty City Stories but where LCS fails, VCS succeeds.

This map, all the surroundings, are indeed identical to the first Vice City. At times, it's even eerie. However, this game does take a different approach and you are a very different character, Vic Vance is NOT Tommy Vercetti.

The voiceovers and cutscenes are fairly forgettable, they cannot compare w/ San Andreas however most everything else is superb. Many fun missions plus some new cool options like the tremendously nice empire mode. You finally get some say in how the game goes, hooray! Keep in mind, there is no Haitian v Cuban style fighting like in Vice City. Admittedly, the targeting system still isn't quite perfect and the hand to hand combat should be improved. I think this game might have slightly inferior graphics than the first Vice City but I didn't find it very obvious.

Basically, if you liked Vice City and San Andreas, then give this game a spin, especially for just 20 bucks.

A welcome return to VC.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: March 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I was tentative about getting Vice City Stories for the PS2, since it hasn't been long since I have played the original Vice City all the way through for the second time. But I was pleasantly surprised by how well the glamour and style of the original Vice City transferred over to the new version. It almost feels like a completely different game.

However, that might have alot to do with the fact that this game takes a different approach to the city than the original (in VCS, you start the game on the Western island as opposed to the Eastern). Still, the game seems remarkably fresh, despite the fact that it takes place in the same time period as the original.

Another notable aspect of the game is it's soundtrack, which tramples Liberty City Stories' soundtrack into the dirt. Much like the original Vice City, this game features original tracks by top 80's artists. The Cure's "A Forest", Blondie's "Heart of Glass", Roxy Music's "Avalon" (!), Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" (!!), New Order's "Blue Monday" (!!!). It's all here, and all wonderful. And trust me, this is only scratching the surface.

The only major problem in the game is the fighting mechanics, which should've been fixed with the transfer to the PS2. But I find this easy to forgive. However,I must urge anyone who's thinking about purchasing this title to please play the original Vice City for the PS2 first. While this is a good title, the original is far superior.

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.

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.

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.

its the same as the first vice city

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

this game is the samething like the first vicecity but different story and with a black person your playing as. They did the same thing with gta111 and then they made a remixe of it libertycity story it was the samething to but different story, this game was okay but not great its similar to the first vicecity.

A Fun (if not thrilling) ride...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: March 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As soon as I saw the VCS PS2 release date, I got excited. I've been a big fan of the GTA series, ever since GTA III. I absolutely fell in love with Vice City (the music, gameplay, the overall nostalgia)...had me watching all of my favorite Miami Vice recordings all over again. I haven't gotten around to getting a PSP yet, so I hadn't had a chance to play VCS. After checking stores like Best Buy and Spin Street (neither of which had ordered any copies) I made one last stop (Game Stop) and fortunately for me, they had a few extra copies available that hadn't already been reserved.

Vice City Stories is not quite as exciting to me as my first Vice City experience was. Perhaps that's because a little of the newness of the GTA thrill ride has worn off (hundreds of hours playing Vice City, Liberty City, and San Andreas can do that to you). Also, there aren't really any NEW features in this game to look forward to. Of course there's a new storyline to follow, and the fun of revisiting Vice City (this time in a slightly different light), and some of the best characters from the original game (Lance, Phil, Umberto, Diaz, to name a few). The graphics also have been upgraded a bit, giving the game more of a San Andreas feel. The sky, the background, and the overall color scheme will probably remind you of San Andreas a bit more than Vice City, if you're familiar with both.

Overall, the gameplay is fun and familiar. I was pleased with the added swimming feature (something that really bugged me in Vice City - Tommy Vercetti drowning anytime he came near water). And the jet ski missions are also fun. You can drive, fly, swim (all of the main transportation features from San Andreas are available here, although if there's a jet pack available I have yet to find it). I got spoiled by that jet pack in San Andreas - so much so that for a while, I stopped walking/driving altogether).

The only complaint that I have about VCS thus far (still working my way through the game) is that the storyline and the soundtrack aren't quite as strong or as interesting as it has been in previous games. I could also have done without some of the beastiality inferences (a bit over the top for me). At this point, I'd have to say that VCS was well worth the $20 that I spent.

Welcome back to Vice City; we've missed you

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: March 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Like Liberty City Stories before it, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a conversion of the hit PSP game to the PS2. Like the aforementioned game, Vice City Stories is a near perfect emulation of the portable title, and like that game as well, this is good and bad. The first thing you'll notice is the graphical transition from the PSP to the PS2, which is far from the prettiest thing you'll ever see. Now I know the GTA series has never been reknowned for it's graphics, but Vice City Stories has possibly the muddiest and blurriest graphics of the series. That being said, just about everything else from there on is pretty much fine. Playing as Vic Vance (brother of Lance, who you'll remember from the original Vice City game), you perform the kind of missions that you'd expect to play in a GTA game. The open world setting may be getting old these days, but it's nice to make a return to Vice City, which is pretty much how you remember it. The game also pretty much controls the same way too, although there are some noticeable issues with the gunplay and driving mechanics. That aside, the overall package of Vice City Stories is nicely rounded thanks to an awesome soundtrack, and engaging story, longer missions, and a great voice cast that features many returning actors like Philip Michael Thomas, Gary Busey, and Luis Guzman. All in all, there may be nothing in Vice City Stories that we haven't seen before, but with the budget price and the tried but true gameplay that GTA made famous, you can't really go wrong here.

An improvement over Liberty City Stories

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: March 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am just starting this game and already I love it. The sound track if nothing else does it for me. Other improvements include swimming and flying, which were missing in LCS. This is a $20 game and was meant for the psp so keep that in mind. The graphics are not great but the classic game play more than makes up for it. All the LCS naysayers may not be that impressed but it's only meant to be an added installment to Vice City not an improvement over the other titles. Again, the soundtrack is what sets it apart from LCS. Classic eighties tunes and hillarious commercials. For $20 a steal and a good tide-over 'til GTA4 for ps3.

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