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Rating: After the success of GTA 3, Rockstar decided to completely flip the dark and urban style of the early 2000s to a cheerful, colorful, and festive style with its new chapter.
Vice City is considered by some to be the most beautiful and charismatic GTA due to its '80s style, the charismatic protagonist (voiced by none other than Ray Liotta!), and the introduction of several important elements for the series' further development, which would later be improved by San Andreas. This includes the introduction of motorcycles, helicopters, the first real airplane (and not the Dodo with clipped wings from the third game, because it was nearly impossible to fly), the purchase of properties, and the greater variety of situations and events.
The story is set in Vice City in 1986, when Tommy Vercetti, the henchman of the Forelli family, is released after 15 years in prison due to a multiple homicide. Sonny Forelli decides to send Tommy to Vice City to finalize a drug deal. Unfortunately, an ambush is set, and some of those present are killed, including Vic Vance (the protagonist of the PSP spin-off), but Tommy manages to escape. With the help of Vic's brother, Lance Vance, Tommy discovers who ordered the ambush and gains his mansion and business, becoming the new drug lord of the city. But Sonny wants the money from the deal and will start losing his patience...
The plot is heavily inspired by the film Scarface, as well as the boss Diaz's mansion and the Easter egg of apartment 3-C, which references the famous chainsaw scene. Meanwhile, the setting and many characters are inspired by various TV series of the period, including Miami Vice (by the way, Lance's voice actor is Philip Michael Thomas!), and the music reflects the style of that period: Flash FM's pop, VROCK's hair metal and hard rock, Wave 103's new wave, etc.
The gameplay is practically identical to the third chapter, but as previously mentioned, motorcycles and property purchases have been added, such as Sunshine Autos, where you have to retrieve certain cars, the Pole Position nightclub, the Cherry Popper Ice Cream factory (which is actually a front for dubious substances), the Malibu club, and many others. Various missions will be activated from these properties, some very similar to the main ones (like the bank heist), and once all are completed, you can earn a certain amount of dollars per day.
At first glance, the map seems smaller than Liberty City, but in my opinion, it's better constructed and contains more points of interest, as the third chapter had just a couple of shops (but with San Andreas, everything will improve even more).
The characters are much more charismatic and recognizable compared to those of the third chapter, and the plot is well told and defined.
In short, this chapter, while maintaining nearly intact gameplay, represents a significant step forward for the series, even though the giant leap will be made with San Andreas :-)!
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