The last time Grand Theft Auto was on the PSP it was a bit of a disappointment. I felt that it was hands down the worst GTA game since the series decided to go 3D. It didn't expand on anything from GTA 3 and the story was just more of the same. Now I am a huge, huge GTA fan, and I was not gonna let Liberty City Stories get in my way of having some good ol' fashion gangster fun. I gotta admit I took a risk with Vice City Stories, but it was one of the best risks, that I as a gamer have taken.
Vice City is hands down the best Grand Theft Auto game out there and Vice City Stories is just as good if not better. Many people complained that the layout of Vice City was just too simple, and it was. But since GTA Vice City Stories takes place two years before the events of Vice City there is lots of new stuff to try out and see. Even you are like me and have played the original 100 hours plus, there are still tons and tons of brand new content to sink your teeth into.
There are lots of new things added to the game, but the one thing that sticks out the most would be the empire missions. In the original Vice City, there were businesses that you had to purchase to progress in the game. They took this and went a step further allowing you to create your own empire. See there are gangs with buildings, you destroy the car outside of it and then you start an assault. After an assault is started you must kill every gang member than you can buy the property. You can have protection, loan sharking, drugs, smuggling, burglary, and prostitution. After you beat the missions, you get more money from them. Yes you did this in Vice City, but there are 30 places to buy this time around and each of them you can do as many times as you like. Each of the missions is different in their own way and offer lots and lots of excitement.
Now, onto the story of Vice City Stories. You probably remember Lance Vance from the first Vice City (you know the guy that gets what he has coming in the final mission…) well you play his brother Victor or Vic (you probably know him as the guy who dies in the opening cutscene of Vice City). Vic starts out in the military, he's trying to keep his slate clean and raise some money for his family. Sadly for Vic, but good for us his military captain is into some drugs and you start out on your journey.
The world in Vice City Stories is so much better than it is in the original. One of the biggest and most influential changes (to the story that is) is the addition of the trailer park. This is where Vic meets his love and learns about the whole empire building side of things. The truth is that I found the characters in this game to be so much more enjoyable than any other GTA game. They were down to earth and they seemed pretty realistic. I honestly think that as far as missions and characters go that this is the most realistic GTA game out there. The missions and story plot seem like something that could really happen.
Ok, back to the story. Vic eventually runs into his good-for-nothing brother Lance (or Quentin as some people call him) which leads to nothing good. Vic eventually has to get into the drug buisness and get his hands a little bit dirty before he can get them clean. Trust me by the end of this game, you will be glad that Lance gets what is coming to him in the later years of Vice City.
When it comes to graphics this game looks a little bit improved over Liberty City Stories, but nothing to write home about. The character models look very nice, and there is a vast amount of characters just roaming the streets. The draw distances could be better, but they are what they are. There are some minor glitches like buildings that you're right up against not coming into focus and then you cannot go inside them, but just walking away a couple steps and coming back fix this.
The great soundtracks of Grand Theft Auto are back, but not in their complete form. Even though the soundtrack is a lot better than the Liberty City games, it is no where near as good as the first Vice City and San Andreas. The voiceovers are great, even though I was kind of disappointed because I heard that Ving Rhames was supposed to voice Vic, but he didn't. Oh, and look out for a special musical guest that plays a pretty big role throughout the story.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories helps people forget about the disaster that was Liberty City Stories and brings in what I consider to be the most realistic story that the series has ever seen. The action is fast and the empire building aspect is the best addition to the series, since they decided to make it in 3D.
Concept: 10/10
Graphics: 9/10
Controls: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Replay Value: 10/10
Worth what you pay (based off purchase agreement): 10/10
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