Being that I never played GTA3, I will not compare the two but review Vice City as an individual game.
First thing that hit me hard was the fact that I can beat the crap out of pedestrians. Now, when you intitially do it, it begs the question of "What in the world are these developers thinking? Lawsuits?!?" BUT it was fun and not to mention, funny, doing it because it gives the player a sense of control and authoritativeness which is exactly why this game is so praised. It gives you freedom to do whatever you want instead following a guidline in which you have to abide by to continue the forever linearity of many games. The backdrop of this game is a deviating one to say the least. Vice City sure looks nice but don't let that front fool you as the city is filled with crooked rackets. There's everything from drug dealings, gang wars, carsjacking, robberies, hired assassins to the black market and you have the opportunity to particpate in every one of them.
There are so many many different missions you can go on depending on who you're working for, who can be anybody from the mob to a gang leader. The missions are so broad and extensive that each and every mission is totally exhilarating and flat-out intense, not to mention you make loads of money while heightening your status as a reliable "handyman." For each mission, you have a choice of transportation to get to your destination. You can ride anything from gang cars, commercial trucks, sports cars, taxis, helicopters, boats, sea planes, motorcycles and stylish Vespas. You can carjack any vehicle to your liking in sight and cruise down Ocean Drive while plowing pedestrians. You also have a good assortment of weapons to choose from: machine Guns, pistols, bats, metal bars, chainsaws, flame throwers, targeting gun, and missle-loaded weapons. As for a typical day in the life of a crook such as yourself includes killing gang leaders, chasing and rampaging getaway cars, gun-showdowns, escaping the cuffs of cops, "resolving" drug-dealings gone awry, and and blowing up anything from boats to buildings. It's all in a day's work.
At a point in the game, you are allowed to purchase assets with the loads of money you made. Your successful completions increase your status and respect in the city, and why not top it all off by buying a mansion, become the proprietor of clubs, studios, and being the head of the central taxi organization.
The graphics in the game are good with a colorful consistency. Car models and character design are overall well-done but all perfect with the distraction of numerous glitches.The characters really come to life with the stellar voice-over cast. The accents/twang or what have you that accompany the characters really give the game a boost of authenticity. The clever dialogue and the convincing conviction in the voices during intense situations are exactly what this game needs and offers. I also forgot to mention the upbeat music offered in the game. While you're cruising down boulevards, you're provided with local music stations that features many popular songs from the 80s. Nothing like grooving to a good song while in an intense situation. It somewhat relieves the tension when you're in a tough spot and it relaxes you.
This game takes the definition of "free-roaming" to a whole new level. You can do whatever the heck you want because, aside from the missions, there are always other things you can find yourself occupied with. You can blow up things, race for fun, drive over ramps for a nice shot of your vehicle cruising through the sky and many other activities your imagination can come up with. The game is a full-blown intense ride with tons of rampaging done all over the city. The mission-based gameplay is relentless in its objectives and leaves no room for a breathe of fresh air.
Create an Account
Member Login
