Not as famous as the brothers, but still a good game with lots of action and a good story, good gameplay, good music and makes you enter the 80's / 90's in Miami.
13 Reviews
Rockstar i love you
igornveiga30 April 2019
A worthy return
Mr-Fusion10 January 2016
I'll say right now that I've had a LOT of fun with "Vice City Stories", and a huge part of the game's draw is returning to Vice City (it was fun to witness the architectural changes in the prequel setting). A nice new addition was the Empire building feature, which spiced things up but still made it satisfyingly more-of-the-same. The soundtrack is (again) terrific, the satire and talk radio shows are as much fun as ever (I need more Billy Joe and Bobby Ray) and the story's a departure for GTA; sometimes it works, others not so much. But then they had to go and integrate Phil Collins into the actual story - a stroke of brillliance, and I love that Phil was down with this.
What this game really proves is that Vice City is an awesome place in which to set a GTA game (take note, Rockstar).
Many hours of fun.
9/10
What this game really proves is that Vice City is an awesome place in which to set a GTA game (take note, Rockstar).
Many hours of fun.
9/10
Still GTA, but nothing outstanding
PlayerSS25 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I went into this with the mindset that's a PSP port, so I wasn't expecting anything huge like San Andreas. Comparing it to Vice City is fair though in my opinion seeing as how it's almost four years old. It's a good tide over game until GTA IV.
You follow the story of Lance and his brother Vic. Vic is a character that I never could fully like. Unlike CJ and Tommy. Vic is a nice man. Doesn't trash talk and always wants to do the right thing. There are some interesting characters in the game. Louise a redneck female that Vic gets to know adds something new to the series. That being a serious love interest for the main character. I was interested in that. Although it didn't go much of anywhere. All the rest of the characters are mostly returning characters from Vice City. The story was bland for a GTA game I do have to admit. Still passable, but bland by GTA standards.
The gameplay is pretty much the same GTA free roaming gameplay we've come to know and love. There are some limitations with it being on the PSP and being a port of the PSP. Vic can only swim for a limited amount of time at the start and he can't dive underwater. He can't climb up over walls like CJ can. The flying vehicles control terribly. I hated them The gameplay is a mixed bag if you're comparing it to Vice City. There's a lot of stuff I like that's been added like use of the golf course, but some of the vehicles don't control as well as they did in Vice City. Tires pop way too easily that's for sure.
I found the soundtrack to be weak. Vice City has my most favorite soundtrack. I didn't like many of the songs on here and cut off the radio most of the time.
The game actually looks quite a bit better than Vice City. The facial animations move a lot better and gives the characters more life. The city is not so washed out. The graphics are probably the biggest overall improvement over Vice City.
In the end it's still an enjoyable GTA game. It's got all the right essentials to make it a standard GTA game. That being said it doesn't excel above Vice City much and actually falls short in other places.
You follow the story of Lance and his brother Vic. Vic is a character that I never could fully like. Unlike CJ and Tommy. Vic is a nice man. Doesn't trash talk and always wants to do the right thing. There are some interesting characters in the game. Louise a redneck female that Vic gets to know adds something new to the series. That being a serious love interest for the main character. I was interested in that. Although it didn't go much of anywhere. All the rest of the characters are mostly returning characters from Vice City. The story was bland for a GTA game I do have to admit. Still passable, but bland by GTA standards.
The gameplay is pretty much the same GTA free roaming gameplay we've come to know and love. There are some limitations with it being on the PSP and being a port of the PSP. Vic can only swim for a limited amount of time at the start and he can't dive underwater. He can't climb up over walls like CJ can. The flying vehicles control terribly. I hated them The gameplay is a mixed bag if you're comparing it to Vice City. There's a lot of stuff I like that's been added like use of the golf course, but some of the vehicles don't control as well as they did in Vice City. Tires pop way too easily that's for sure.
I found the soundtrack to be weak. Vice City has my most favorite soundtrack. I didn't like many of the songs on here and cut off the radio most of the time.
The game actually looks quite a bit better than Vice City. The facial animations move a lot better and gives the characters more life. The city is not so washed out. The graphics are probably the biggest overall improvement over Vice City.
In the end it's still an enjoyable GTA game. It's got all the right essentials to make it a standard GTA game. That being said it doesn't excel above Vice City much and actually falls short in other places.
Much better than Liberty City Stories(Review is for PS2 release of the game)
gangstahippie9 March 2007
Rated M for Violence,Strong Language and Sex and Drug Content.
I am a fairly big Grand Theft Auto fan.I got GTA2 a couple of years back but then about two years ago I got Vice City and loved it! Then I got San Andreas and loved it even more.To me this series is the best game ever.The games have great storyline's,characters and are loads of fun to play.Sure the graphics may not be as good as other games but the gameplay makes up for it and gameplay is the most important aspect of a game in my opinion.I got Liberty City Stories for Playstation 2.For me, that one was the worst in the series.The game had the worst storyline out of all the GTA games and the worst soundtrack.It was still a great game but not as good as the others.I forgave it because it was originally a PSP game(and a good one at that).But then Vice City Stories came out and made this game look much worse.I still like Liberty City STories but Vice City Stories is much better.I got really excited when I heard they were bringing the game to Playstation 2 and I got the game three days after it came out.Now Vice City Stories has the worst graphics out of all the Grand Theft Auto games but the other things make up for it.I got the game yesterday so I am at the beginning but so far Vice City Stories seems to have a much better storyline and much better characters than Liberty City Stories.There are new features in Vice City Stories that were not in any other GTA game such as the ability to buy your weapons after you get busted or wasted.Also the combat system is the second best out of all the GTA games(San Andreas is the best because you can learn new moves).In Vice City Stories you can use new fighting moves on your opponents such as snapping their necks.The soundtrack is very good.Not as good as Vice City's but there are plenty of good 1980's hits to enjoy.The game takes place in the year 1984(it doesn't say in the game but it says on the back of the box).You are Victor Vance(you might remember his brother Lance from Vice City).You join the army to pay for your brothers medication(he apparently has asthma).Your mother and other brother(Lance) are drug addicts.However your superior officer Jerry Martinez asks you to do illegal jobs which eventually get you kicked out of the army.You know must make a name for yourself in Vice City while meeting new and interesting characters.There are some new parts of the city that were not in the original Vice City such as a trailer park.Vice City Stories is only $30 Canadian and is definitely worth the price.
I am a fairly big Grand Theft Auto fan.I got GTA2 a couple of years back but then about two years ago I got Vice City and loved it! Then I got San Andreas and loved it even more.To me this series is the best game ever.The games have great storyline's,characters and are loads of fun to play.Sure the graphics may not be as good as other games but the gameplay makes up for it and gameplay is the most important aspect of a game in my opinion.I got Liberty City Stories for Playstation 2.For me, that one was the worst in the series.The game had the worst storyline out of all the GTA games and the worst soundtrack.It was still a great game but not as good as the others.I forgave it because it was originally a PSP game(and a good one at that).But then Vice City Stories came out and made this game look much worse.I still like Liberty City STories but Vice City Stories is much better.I got really excited when I heard they were bringing the game to Playstation 2 and I got the game three days after it came out.Now Vice City Stories has the worst graphics out of all the Grand Theft Auto games but the other things make up for it.I got the game yesterday so I am at the beginning but so far Vice City Stories seems to have a much better storyline and much better characters than Liberty City Stories.There are new features in Vice City Stories that were not in any other GTA game such as the ability to buy your weapons after you get busted or wasted.Also the combat system is the second best out of all the GTA games(San Andreas is the best because you can learn new moves).In Vice City Stories you can use new fighting moves on your opponents such as snapping their necks.The soundtrack is very good.Not as good as Vice City's but there are plenty of good 1980's hits to enjoy.The game takes place in the year 1984(it doesn't say in the game but it says on the back of the box).You are Victor Vance(you might remember his brother Lance from Vice City).You join the army to pay for your brothers medication(he apparently has asthma).Your mother and other brother(Lance) are drug addicts.However your superior officer Jerry Martinez asks you to do illegal jobs which eventually get you kicked out of the army.You know must make a name for yourself in Vice City while meeting new and interesting characters.There are some new parts of the city that were not in the original Vice City such as a trailer park.Vice City Stories is only $30 Canadian and is definitely worth the price.
Rockstar, Outdoing it's self once again.
Thirteen_BloodLine27 January 2007
When i put this game in to play, as I've done with all the other "Grand Theft Auto" series, i said, "ok here we go" And as soon as game play began i immediately knew that this was it. "Grand Theft Auto" was back with a vengeance!!! If you loved Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, then you will definitely love Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, hands down. It delivers the same brilliant atmosphere and feeling as the original Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Set in 1984, just two years before the events of (GTA: Vice City, set in 1986) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, captures the essences of the 80's just as well as the original GTA: Vice City. Rockstar did and amazing, and outstanding job with the hardware of the Sony PSP, (PlayStation Portable) The graphics are fantastic, and tweaked just a tad bit better than Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, which is also a PSP title, and also available for the PlayStation 2. The action delivers, "big time" It's a spectacular masterpiece on a Portable Hand-Held that can all fit in your pocket. So if you're looking for a little fun on the run, any time and any where, pick up a copy of this Game for the Sony PSP. There's nothing more satisfying then having "Grand Theft Auto" at you're side. Nothing has been left out. A true Fan of the "Grand Theft Auto" series will know that this is the real deal. What you get with the "Grand Theft Auto" Games on the PlayStation 2 Console, is what you get with the PSP. And i am truly impressed with RockStar Games, for pulling this off....again. So i strongly recommend, without a doubt, that you buy this title. And even if you don't own a PSP, my advice would be to go out and invest in this, for ones own pleasurably, and leisurely fun. This Game alone is wroth it, pure bliss...i guarantee it. Enjoy.
One of the most underrated game of the GTA Saga.
raikkox6 November 2020
Beautifully done, a great storyline, characters well developed, awesome music and the best decade. It's a shame that only came out for PSP and PS2 (I own it for this last one), because you can tell that it has a lot of effort in it and not so many people played it. Even so, it never had any remaster or a planned one is on sight. Only con: it's so glowy. I'm going to be blind. Definitely worth it. Play it, for Pete's sake. It has Phil Collins in concert.
A worthy addition to the Ps2 and PSP
The_Light_Triton24 September 2009
The Grand theft auto series is simple, straight up, Guilty fun. If you've played one grand theft auto game, you'll know what to do in the next one. you play a character who goes from nothing to owning everything on the map. in Vice city Stories, this is truer than ever.
Victor Vance is a soldier posted at Fort Baxter in vice city. He joined the army not to make something of himself, or to kill people for fun, he did it so he could support his dysfunctional family. after being kicked out of the army for helping his commanding officer, His younger brother lance Vance (who appears in Vice City, a game released in 2002, but takes place in the year 1986) eventually joins him, and the two of them plan to take over vice city and become 2 of the richest men that ever lived.
There's not many faults about this game, except for the tough controls on the Psp (i have yet to get used to the joystick) and the annoying gang attacks once you've got your criminal empire built up. but other than that, the game is pure silver.
9/10
Victor Vance is a soldier posted at Fort Baxter in vice city. He joined the army not to make something of himself, or to kill people for fun, he did it so he could support his dysfunctional family. after being kicked out of the army for helping his commanding officer, His younger brother lance Vance (who appears in Vice City, a game released in 2002, but takes place in the year 1986) eventually joins him, and the two of them plan to take over vice city and become 2 of the richest men that ever lived.
There's not many faults about this game, except for the tough controls on the Psp (i have yet to get used to the joystick) and the annoying gang attacks once you've got your criminal empire built up. but other than that, the game is pure silver.
9/10
not at good as San Andreas but still good
asim34522-112 July 2008
I got two GTAs-GTA San Andreas on ps2 and this on psp and I have to say this is quite a good game. I mean the car stealing isn't as aggressive as in San Andreas and in San Andreas you can scale walls, you can't in this one but it still good. One thing I have noticed is some of the missions are similar to San Andreas for instance the mission 'Jive Drive' is just like the San Andreas mission 'Just Business' and in this the las mission 'Last Stand' is like the first half of the last mission in San Andreas 'End of the Line'. It is quite funny, I think this is more funny than San Andreas. This game is quite good so to any GTA fans buy Vice City Stories. (Oh by the way Vice means corruption so really they should call in Corruption City)
Way better than Liberty City Stories.
sinisterdrecc8828 March 2009
After the horrible letdown of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Rockstar Games decides to release a better version of Vice City, which is the portable Vice City Stories. This game is much better, and the graphics are improved. Also, the city in Vice City Stories seems a lot bigger than it was in Vice City, and the game-play doesn't get boring as easily as it did in Vice City and Liberty City Stories. The only cons I can think of are aiming your gun, and weak missions. Otherwise it's pretty fun, and it makes Vice City look super boring, which it kind of is. If you are a fan of Grand Theft Auto, you should definitely check this game out.
empire building
keane147129 December 2006
the one thing that really struck me about this game was the attention to detail to fussiness for example with the empire building which basically has you attacking a fussiness similar to the gang wars engine on san andreas then once it has been wiped out of any remaining gang members you are able to buy it. then you are able to choose what fussiness type you want from protection, loan shark, prostitution, drugs, smuggling and robbery then you choose if you want it to be a small fussiness medium or large. this is a great add on to the game and i hope is used for future games overall i would give this game an eight out of 10
Sad addition to a fine franchise
repo_jake-118 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I have bought this on PS2, and I am sadly disappointed with what I have purchased. I thought the first Vice City ruled. So the thought of having another go with new missions etc would be fantastic! But no.
The first thing I noticed was the glitch level was beyond a joke. The no of times walls would appear out of thin air, or would render into my car and I would be stuck etc was just pathetic programming.
The story was rubbish - the guy who gets kicked out of the army, wants to be a nice guy but goes on a blood killing spree and drug selling etc - its like wtf? Tommy Vercetti was a cold blooded killing nut job and so it was justifiable to do what he did. But Vick Vance - was rubbish and hypocritical! Lance Vance - he deserves a whole section - yes the annoying guy who annoys you and eventually betrays you in Vice City - giving you the pleasure of blowing him away - is back - this is a prequel! And he is more annoying than ever. Every mission you do for/with him - is awful. Its tedious, stupidly hard and he is more annoying than ever. You want your character to shoot him.
The fact that when you bring a vehicle to a mission, then the mission starts and your vehicle is gone is very very annoying, especially when there is a timer and your stuck driving some rubbish car. The good ones hardly show unlike the original! The turning and breaks and impacts etc are shoddy and all over the place.
The one decent thing in this which is an extension of the turf wars in San Andreas is the empire building. You build on sites various criminal organisations etc. That was fun to do and build them all into thriving drug cartels etc and defending your turf was great. It took vice city's assetts and san andreas's turfs and mixed them together. this was a good point for this pile of S**t.
The Police have been cranked up even worse. They are everywhere and I mean everywhere. Sometimes the city is deserted except for police. Gangs attack you and the police come after you! You can get stars in seconds! I went from 1 to 4 by only scraping a police bike and trying to get to a star (which are badly hidden about and almost impossible to get to in emergency. They should of fixed the police AI and even had them going after gangs etc too. I walked out my front door and was attacked by bikers, I defended - but as soon as I did - I got 2 stars and endless cops chasing, ramming into me and running me over! If you want to play a decent Vice City game - just go back to 2002's quality original. This one is lame. I spent more time shouting and chucking the CD around every time one of the many glitches or stupid thing beyond your control happen.
The first thing I noticed was the glitch level was beyond a joke. The no of times walls would appear out of thin air, or would render into my car and I would be stuck etc was just pathetic programming.
The story was rubbish - the guy who gets kicked out of the army, wants to be a nice guy but goes on a blood killing spree and drug selling etc - its like wtf? Tommy Vercetti was a cold blooded killing nut job and so it was justifiable to do what he did. But Vick Vance - was rubbish and hypocritical! Lance Vance - he deserves a whole section - yes the annoying guy who annoys you and eventually betrays you in Vice City - giving you the pleasure of blowing him away - is back - this is a prequel! And he is more annoying than ever. Every mission you do for/with him - is awful. Its tedious, stupidly hard and he is more annoying than ever. You want your character to shoot him.
The fact that when you bring a vehicle to a mission, then the mission starts and your vehicle is gone is very very annoying, especially when there is a timer and your stuck driving some rubbish car. The good ones hardly show unlike the original! The turning and breaks and impacts etc are shoddy and all over the place.
The one decent thing in this which is an extension of the turf wars in San Andreas is the empire building. You build on sites various criminal organisations etc. That was fun to do and build them all into thriving drug cartels etc and defending your turf was great. It took vice city's assetts and san andreas's turfs and mixed them together. this was a good point for this pile of S**t.
The Police have been cranked up even worse. They are everywhere and I mean everywhere. Sometimes the city is deserted except for police. Gangs attack you and the police come after you! You can get stars in seconds! I went from 1 to 4 by only scraping a police bike and trying to get to a star (which are badly hidden about and almost impossible to get to in emergency. They should of fixed the police AI and even had them going after gangs etc too. I walked out my front door and was attacked by bikers, I defended - but as soon as I did - I got 2 stars and endless cops chasing, ramming into me and running me over! If you want to play a decent Vice City game - just go back to 2002's quality original. This one is lame. I spent more time shouting and chucking the CD around every time one of the many glitches or stupid thing beyond your control happen.
destroys liberty city stories in every aspect (review is psp release of the game)
v-1566916 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I am a big fan of grand theft auto also known as gta. I got gta 3 in pc like 6 years ago and i loved pretty much every aspect of it. After 1 year i got vice city and it was way better than the previous title. It had bikes, scooters and helicopters and various gameplay fixes and a way better story and most important of all a talking protagnist. I got liberty city stories recently and it was a huge letdown from the big title Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The story was similar to very much of gta 3 and there was not that much foreshadowing in the story comparing to gta 3. When i played vice city stories on psp the charactar was very moral and wanted to avoid crime in all cases. The game has an amazing story and is very 80"s miami, it takes place in 1984. The antagonist jerry martinez is very crooked and is considered as an evil antagonist. The game has a new mechanic that makes us take over businesses which combines the vice city"s asset missions and san andreas"s gang war mechanic. It is a revelutionary mechanic and i dont know why it is not on other open world games. They are very funny (querky) lines from charactars from vice city like umberto robina, lance vance (protagnist"s brother), Ricardo Diaz etc.. The gameplay is very nice overall. And the best part of this game is that we can swim (temporarily). The 2nd best part there is there is an actual celebrity from real life. PHIL COLLINS! One of the best missions (In The Air Tonight) where he plays his famous song in the air tonight where we have to defend him from georgio forelli"s guards because his stupid manager didnt pay the money back to georgio forelli. But there as some things i dont like about this game like (not being able to buy houses like san andreas and not being able to swim underwater). But i understand the original vision of the game because it was a portable game and to reduce the budget of the game. Outside of that , the game is outstanding. Thereby, i conclude this review saying that this game is a great representation of miami in 80"s.
Disappointing
zanewilkinson0612 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Well first thing first. I don't want to go into all the usual bla bla bla about how I'm such a big fan and own every copy since Vice City. The Franchise of GTA is undoubtedly the best Video Games out there. So after the boredom I endured playing a terrible Liberty City Stories I had high expectations for this game. Suffice to say they failed.
The storyline is terrible. You play as Vic Vance a say no to Drugs type person but with the easy availability of them he quickly relents to the pressure. First few missions are the worst I've played in a GTA game. Not exciting and add nothing to the story apart from meeting old timers like Phil Cassidy and new characters like Louise. No revelation yet. When you meet Lance and try to escape form a gun shoot out with the cholos the game goes up a notch. Gonzalez, Diaz also make a return.
Perhaps the main downfall is the empire building. Great idea executed badly with the repetitive missions. The cameo of Phil Collins and the concert is a smart addition. Overall nothing new in this game. Don't buy it
The storyline is terrible. You play as Vic Vance a say no to Drugs type person but with the easy availability of them he quickly relents to the pressure. First few missions are the worst I've played in a GTA game. Not exciting and add nothing to the story apart from meeting old timers like Phil Cassidy and new characters like Louise. No revelation yet. When you meet Lance and try to escape form a gun shoot out with the cholos the game goes up a notch. Gonzalez, Diaz also make a return.
Perhaps the main downfall is the empire building. Great idea executed badly with the repetitive missions. The cameo of Phil Collins and the concert is a smart addition. Overall nothing new in this game. Don't buy it
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