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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Review - PS2

The Grand Theft Auto series needs no introduction.

Ok, so maybe there is someone out there who hasn't heard about Grand Theft Auto 3. Background goes something like this: Grand Theft Auto 3 caused one hell of a commotion when it was released in Australia late in 2001. Unfortunately a lot of the focus wasn't on the quality of the title, but instead on the fact that Take 2 released the game without getting classification, resulting in the game being pulled off the shelves, banned and re-edited to meet OFLC standards. But lets not get sidetracked. It was, without a doubt, the game of the year. So you can imagine the excitement and anticipation when it was announced that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was in development. It's been well and truly stated that this is not a sequel- so is it a case of Rockstar North churning out a money maker or does it kick it to the next level??

STORYLINE

Miami in the 80's. A spin down the main strip would reveal plenty of mullets, roller-blades and indulgences. The powers that be see Vice City, Miami as an untapped source and send down one of their guys, Tommy, to carry out a drug deal and set up the family business. Naturally the deal goes pear-shaped, leaving Tommy with no money, no drugs and an angry associate. It's up to Tony to infiltrate the crime bosses and powerbrokers of Vice City and extract payback, kicking your ass style.

GAMEPLAY

The Grand Theft Auto world grants you the freedom to do whatever you want. Want to steal a car and jump over ramps or drive on the wrong side of the road?? No problem. Feel like starting a fistfight with some punk who looked at you funny?? No problem. Want to hack away at some golfers with a samurai sword?? No problem. Anything goes in the GTA world and nice guys always finish last.
Where to start? The core of the game revolves around completing missions and running errands for the crime bosses. Simple enough- but there is so much more. How you go about completing the mission is totally up to you. Infiltrate a gang funeral by changing in to gang colours and sneaking in un-noticed or drive in all guns blazing. There are countless variations and options at your disposal. Completing a mission successfully earns you a tidy sum of cash, depending on the complexity of the mission. One major improvement over GTA3 is that you can now spend your hard earned dough. By buying apartments, strip joints or ice cream factories and completing their set of side-missions, you can now earn kickbacks as well as create new safe houses for saving or a retreat from the advancing police.

A lot of the missions are completed with the help of an associate. So not only will you have to watch out for your own health- but also keep an ... (continued next page)