|
> Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Written by:
Chris "CBN" Nimmo
 Publisher: Rockstar Price: 19.99 (Greatest Hit) Genre: Action M for Mature
Grand Theft Auto… The series had quite a rocky start with GTA 1 and 2,
both of which were absolutely terrible. Then GTA: III came along and blew us all away, but it still needed more. The games
were a long way from perfect; that much was certain. This is where the series makes a change for the better.
To start,
I just want to say this game simply blows its predecessors out of the water. Everything seems to be more polished and updated.
From the weapons: Now featuring over 25 different ones (all placed in a class: such as pistol, melee, shotgun, etc). To vehicles
including: helicopters, motorcycles (which are exceptionally cool) and boats.
Much like the last game, we play through a Mafia movie-like story. The game’s plot twists
and turns wonderfully. You play Tommy Vercetti, a man who just got out of prison over some monstrous crime. Returning to Liberty
City 15 years later, your boss, Sonny Forelli, decides it’s best for you to leave town. The plan: give you some drugs
and cash and send you down south to Vice City. Not all goes as planned though. The deal is interrupted and the money and drugs
are stolen. Now, to save your own skin, it’s time to get them back. Not to mention taking over in the process. The story
is just extraordinary and you all must check it out.
How can I say this? “There’s more stuff” is a simple
way to put it. Larger city, more guns, more vehicles, property to buy, buildings to enter, just to name a few. All around
we get a very huge supply of new stuff.
I cannot stress enough how wonderful the concept of this game series is. You run from place to place in a completely free-roaming
city doing, well… Whatever. Whether it be picking up a prostitute, robbing a jewelry store, completing missions for
drug lords, or just cruising-- whatever you want to do, you’re free to do it. And that concept is finally mastered in
this game. This, friends, is revolutionary... Period.
There are some major differences we need to talk about, too. This isn’t the same GTA you were playing last time.
Not by a long shot. First off, we’re in 1986. That’s right, we’re going back to the 80’s for this
game. The 80’s themes in this game are evident through things like the music, (more on that later) and the vehicles.
Everything about this aspect of the game shines. I was a doubter at first, but I was proven wrong. Very wrong. Next up, we’re
not talking about a Metropolis here. Now the game is set in a Florida-like city. One of the first things you’ll notice
is that there’s a lot more water and palm trees around. Not to mention the one-eighth-dressed females running around.
Again, this is a hit; a very welcome change from the series’ metro environments. And lastly, this isn’t The Godfather.
It’s, rather eerily, much more like Scarface. The underdog story is enough to make Tony Montana fans swoon. We’re
not in the same cliché mobster story anymore, kids.
Now, nothing is perfect, and you know this. One thing this game totally screwed up in was programming. I can’t even
list the number of glitches I came across in this game. For the most part, it’s nothing dramatic, but at times it can
be a little annoying. So many times while failing I couldn’t help but tell myself “If it weren’t for that
darned glitch I might have had that one!”. Honestly, if it weren’t for these glitches I might have beaten this
game a little earlier, AND with a few less stomach ulcers to boot. Don’t worry though, the game shines through.
Another thing that the developers messed up on was the graphics. It can’t compete with anything out there
on any system at all. It’s blurry; it’s clunky, slowdown galore-- everything about the graphics is wholly obscure.
As you speed along the roads of Vice City the camera chugs along behind you slowing down and making things “choppy”.
Not to mention the LOADS of graphical glitches that show themselves occasionally, But even this terrible of a problem cannot
weigh this game down. It eviscerates its flaws with everything else it offers. So much so that I can’t penalize this
game. I tried, but I just can’t. Sorry folks, this game is just too good.
Along with the 80’s time era comes some great music. We get some awesome tunes, including Ozzy and Iron Maiden, although
there are several radio stations. The developers were able to license some very awesome real-world 80’s music for us.
While inside your car you can change stations and listen to different types of music. Like Wild style for instance: Vice City’s
home of rap. So, now your dream of speeding along listening to Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five will finally be realized.
Voice acting is also great. We get the voice talents of Ray Liotta as our lead character Tommy Vercetti. Liotta is the ultimate
tough-guy and he does a fine job playing Vercetti. Not to mention some very good lesser-known actors who play other characters.
All of them are just as good-- if not better than Liotta in their work.
The word “clunky” comes to mind. The cars control fine, if not a tad too sensitive at times, but the actual
walking and shooting can get a little tedious. It’s nothing major; it’s just going to take some time to get used
to. I really don’t know how to explain it. It’s just different. No worries though, before long you’ll be
doing it like a pro.
This is where the game excels above anything I have ever experienced. There are thousands of things to do in this game:
bonus missions, rampages, hidden packages, just cruising, the list goes on! It’ll have you playing for months before
getting that “100%”.
As you have probably guessed, this game is not for the kids out there. There is swearing, drug use, sexual themes/content,
extreme violence, alcohol use; the list is too long to publish. What does this all mean? Well, quite obviously, it’s
not for everyone. But, in many ways this is good. I can’t imagine a crime game without blood or cussing.
So what do we get here? We get a revolutionary, go anywhere, and do anything Mafia story with terrible graphics and some
nice music. As I said, the game is not without flaws. But, fortunately the rest of the game is so good that you forget all
about those flaws. I think it’s safe to call Vice a champion. This game will go down in history as one of the greatest
videogames of all time and yet it has so many flaws! That’s right people, I kid you not. It’s that good. The series
is going the distance, and it’s doing it well. Videogame nirvana; an absolute masterpiece.
Graphics: 4.2 | Sound: 9.6 | Control: 5.5 | Replay: 9.7 | Overall
Game Score: 10/10
               
|
