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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories''}}
 
[[File:SpeakerSymbolLogo.png|center]]
 
[[File:SpeakerSymbolLogo.png|center]]
 
<center>[[File:Quotation.png]] '''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Main Theme''' [[File:QuotationReverse.png]]<br>[[File:GTA Vice City Stories - Theme Song.ogg]]</center>
 
{{quote|Not only is this the greatest game on PSP, it also leaves a large percentage of the PS2 back catalogue looking ordinary. Buy it right now.|''Official PlayStation 2 Magazine UK''.}}
 
{{/infobox}}
 
{{Chronology}}
 
{{Quote|Vice City, 1984. Opportunity abounds in a city emerging from the swamps, its growth fueled by a violent power struggle in a lucrative drug trade. Construction is everywhere as a shining metropolis rises from foundations of crime and betrayal. As a soldier, Vic Vance has always protected his dysfunctional family, his country, himself. One bad decision later and that job is about to get much harder. Kicked out onto the streets between glamour and gluttony, Vic is faced with a stark choice...build an empire or be crushed.|Official Description}}
 
'''''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories''''' is the sixth and final game (but first chronologically) in the [[3D Universe]] of the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series. Originally released as an exclusive game for the [[PlayStation Portable]], it was later released on the [[PlayStation 2]] console because of its success. It is the second ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' game to appear on the PSP system (the first being ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]''). The game was developed by [[Rockstar Leeds]], and published and released by [[Rockstar Games]].
   
 
[[Take-Two Interactive]] originally announced the title was to be released in North America on October 17, 2006 and in [[Europe]] on October 20, but early in September, there was an announcement stating the game had been delayed for release until October 31 in North America and November 3 in Europe. It had also announced that the game will be released on November 10, 2006 in [[Australia]].
<center><youtube width="200" height="25">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlMqfY2VB1w</youtube></center>
 
   
 
On February 7, 2007, Rockstar Games announced plans for a [[PlayStation 2]] release. The release dates were March 6, 2007, for North America and March 9, 2007, for Europe. It was released on [[PlayStation 3]] via {{WP|PlayStation Network}} on April 2, 2013, but has since been made unavailable. The PS2 port version of the game has a number of improvements over the original PSP version of the game, including enhanced graphics, new activities and a new [[Easter Egg]].
<center>
 
[[File:Quotation.png]] Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Main Theme [[File:QuotationReverse.png]]
 
</center>
 
   
  +
==Storyline==
{{quote|Not only is this the greatest game on PSP, it also leaves a large percentage of the PS2 back catalogue looking ordinary. Buy it right now.|''Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK''.}}
 
 
[[File:VictorVance-GTAVCS.png|thumb|left|200px|The [[protagonist]] of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'', [[Victor Vance]].]]
 
''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' marks the series return to [[Vice City (3D Universe)|Vice City]], with the game taking place in [[1984]], roughly two years before the events of ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]''. The game focuses around [[Victor Vance]], the brother of [[Lance Vance]], both characters who have previously appeared in ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City''.
   
 
Victor "Vic" Vance, the protagonist, is a U.S. Army soldier whose sergeant, [[Jerry Martinez]], gets him involved in drug trafficking, which is strictly against Vic's morals. Soon, Vic is dishonorably discharged for the drugs found in his room and bringing a prostitute to the barracks, both of which were intended for Martinez. Vic works for [[Phil Cassidy]]. Phil's brother-in-law, Marty Williams, abuses his wife Louise and their baby Mary-Beth. After Marty kidnaps Louise, Vic kills him and begins a relationship with her, then shortly after, Victor takes over Marty's Empire.
{{/infobox}}
 
{{Chronology}}
 
'''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories''' was an exclusive game for the [[PlayStation Portable]]. Because of its success, it was later released on the PlayStation 2 console. It is the second [[Grand Theft Auto]] game to appear on the handheld console as well as the sixth and final game of the [[GTA III Era]]. The game has been developed by [[Rockstar Leeds]], and published and released by [[Rockstar Games]].
 
   
 
Soon after, Vic's brother, Lance Vance, comes into town to join him on his quest to take over Vice City to get the money required to pay for their brother's asthma medication. Together they steal Martinez's cocaine, but tensions arise between the brothers after Vic finds out that Lance and Louise used it for themselves. A short time later, Victor discovers that Martinez was only transporting the drugs for the Mendez Brothers, leaving Lance and Vic with no option but to work with the Mendez Brothers, only to be betrayed after doing a few jobs for them. The Mendez Brothers then kidnap Louise sometime after Vic protects and saves Phil Collins' concert from the Forelli Family, and he and Lance rush to the rescue. Lance gets captured by Armando Mendez and Vic fights his way to the underground room of the Mendez Mansion, where a deranged Armando is waiting for him wielding a Flamethrower, but Armando is quickly killed by Victor during the intense fire-fight that ensues. Although Lance manages to survive, Vic is too late to save Louise. Afterwards, with help from Phil Cassidy and Ricardo Diaz, Vic manages to steal an army helicopter (The [[Hunter]]), and proceeds to gun down some of Diego Mendez's Goons, eventually bringing him to land on the roof of the Mendez Building where he enters inside and continues his killing spree.
[[Take-Two Interactive]] originally announced the title was to be released in North America on 17th October 2006 and in Europe on 20th October, but early in September there was an announcement stating the game had been delayed for release until 31st October in North America and 3rd November in Europe. It had also announced that the game will be released on 10 November 2006 in Australia. The suggested retail price in the United States is $49.99, and £34.99 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].
 
   
  +
Upon Victor's return to the rooftop, there is one final confrontation, which ends when Vic kills Diego and Martinez, who had arrived in a helicopter when Vic was halfway from reaching Diego. Lance arrives to help Vic, but turns up late. Lance offers Victor twenty kilos of cocaine for a deal ahead; however, Victor denies his interest and says that he wants to stay away from drugs. He then says that he would send some money to their sick brother Pete for his medical treatment. By the end of the game, Victor is a very wealthy man.
On February 7, 2007 Rockstar Games announced plans for a [[PlayStation 2]] release. The release dates were March 6 2007 for North America and March 9 2007 for Europe. The game retails for £19.99 in the UK and $19.99 in the US.
 
   
  +
Eventually, Victor is dragged back into the Vice City criminal underworld by his brother Lance. They set up a deal with the Forelli crime family, apparently with the help of Colonel Cortez according to Ken Rosenberg. As the two groups are about to exchange their goods, a small group of hitmen arrives and shoots at them, killing Vic and two of the Forelli family members, whilst the Forelli representative [[Tommy Vercetti]] and Ken Rosenberg drive off and Lance flies away from the scene, starting the events of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City''.
__NOTOC__
 
==Story==
 
[[File:VictorVance-GTAVCS.png|thumb|left|GTA VCS's [[protagonist]],[[Vic Vance]]]]
 
''"Vice City, 1984. Opportunity abounds in a city emerging from the swamps, its growth fueled by a violent power struggle in a lucrative drug trade. Construction is everywhere as a shining metropolis rises from foundations of crime and betrayal.''
 
   
  +
==Development==
<p class="MsoNormal">''As a soldier, Vic Vance has always protected his dysfunctional family, his country, himself.''</p>
 
 
{{Main|End Credits (GTA Vice City Stories)}}
 
''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' was developed by [[Rockstar Leeds]] in collaboration with [[Rockstar North]].
   
  +
Discussing the improvements ''GTA Vice City Stories'' would feature over the earlier entry ''GTA Liberty City Stories'', Rockstar Leeds studio director [[Gordon Hall]] explained "One of the biggest technical achievements in ''GTA Vice City Stories'' has been the enormous effort involved in making Vice City this incredibly vibrant, detailed and alive place. The detail seen in the city has been ramped up massively over Liberty City Stories. We now have double the number of polygons in a city block, with new features such as animated textures and neon light effects and an all-new radiosity lighting model. On top of this we had to push for an even greater draw distance, especially now that we have the addition of helicopters and planes -- it's a real blast taking to the sky in these things and seeing the city sprawl beneath you. And just for good measure, ''GTA Vice City Stories'' is even faster and smoother than Liberty City Stories."<ref name="IGN Interview">[https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/09/vice-city-stories-the-interview Vice City Stories: The Interview]</ref>
<p class="MsoNormal">''One bad decision later and that job is about to get much harder. Kicked out onto the streets between glamour and gluttony, Vic is faced with a stark choice...build an empire or be crushed."'' - Game's Desciption</p>
 
   
  +
===Hardware===
Vice City Stories marks the series' return to [[Vice City in GTA III Era|Vice City]], with the game taking place in [[1984]], roughly two years before the events of [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]. The game focuses around [[Victor Vance]], the brother of [[Lance Vance]] who goes on to [[Keep Your Friends Close|betray]] [[Tommy Vercetti]] in [[1986]]. Victor briefly appears in GTA Vice City in the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvVqKhsZf8Y opening cut scene] , in which he is killed during a drug deal gone wrong.
 
  +
Commenting further on the upgrade from ''GTA Liberty City Stories'', Hall noted "that engine just couldn't cope with these demands. Among a raft of tweaks and tune-ups, we've come up with new ways for the CPU and the graphics processor to talk to each other. This has freed up the CPU to do other things, and allowed us to push the graphics processor even harder, bringing the Vice City vibe to life with these incredible views stretching off into the horizon."<ref name="IGN Interview" />
   
  +
He would go on to add "we've compressed and optimized across the board, both by hand in the creation of the art and in the code itself. For example, we've now got a lossless compression system for an animation, which has allowed us to have a greater variety of cars and pedestrians at once, and we have this greater complexity and variety alongside even faster loading times."<ref name="IGN Interview" />
Victor "Vic" Vance, the protagonist, is a U.S. Army soldier whose sergeant, [[Jerry Martinez]], gets him involved in drug trafficking, which is strictly against Vic's morals. Soon Vic is dishonorably discharged for the drugs found in his room and bringing a prostitute to the barracks, both of which were intended for Martinez. Vic works for [[Phil Cassidy]], who is also featured in [[Grand Theft Auto III]], Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and [[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]. Phil's brother-in-law, Marty Williams, abuses his wife Louise and their baby Mary-Beth. After Marty kidnaps Louise, Vic kills him and begins a relationship with her, then shortly after, Victor takes over Marty's Empire.
 
   
  +
Commenting on how the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] would be able to handle viewing an entire city from the skies while flying an aircraft, Hall said "Vice City is a complete city, and we have utilized all elements of the physical space in this game, from the land to the sea to the air. Vehicles have been created with these very different spaces in mind. From a technical standpoint, perhaps our greatest accomplishment has been the issue of draw distance. We have created a system that increases the draw distance to the point where every element in the players view has been created on screen. When you are in the air, pedestrians, cars, and anything on the ground will scale down depending on how close or far the player is to them, much as they would in real life. It really takes the scope of the series -- creating living cities -- one step further, this time for your PSP."<ref name="IGN Interview" />
Soon after, Vic's brother, Lance Vance comes into town to join him on his quest to take over Vice City to get the money for their brother's asthma medications. Together they steal Martinez's cocaine, but tensions arise between the brothers after Vic finds out that Lance and Louise used it for themselves. They find out that Martinez was only transporting the drugs for the Mendez Brothers. Lance and Vic are forced to work with the Mendez Brothers, only to be betrayed, soon after doing a few jobs for them. The Mendez Brothers then kidnap Louise sometime after Vic protects and saves Phil Collins' concert from the Forelli Family, and he and Lance rush to the rescue, Lance gets captured by Armando Mendez and Vic fights his way to the underground room of the Mendez Mansion, and Vic kills Armando while he is trying to kill Vic with a Flamethrower. Vic is too late to save Louise, although Lance lives. With help from Phil Cassidy and Ricardo Diaz, Vic manages to steal an army helicopter (The Hunter), and he then guns down some of Diego Mendez's Goons with it, and lands to continue his killing spree on top of the Mendez Building. Finally there is a confrontation on the top of a building, which ends when Vic kills Diego and Martinez, who had arrived in a helicopter when Vic was halfway from reaching Diego. Lance arrives to help Vic, but turns up late, and together they agree never to touch drugs again. The Vance Brothers then get in Lance's Helicopter and leave Vice City to send Pete the money for his asthma medications.
 
  +
  +
===Gameplay===
  +
Gordon Hall went on to talk about the landscape of Vice City; "Another area that we've concentrated on is the water surrounding the landscape. Vice City itself is surrounded by a whole lot of water, so we've gone to town here. We've enhanced the water and boat physics, programming an improved buoyancy model which really becomes apparent if you mess around with the new [[Jetski]]. What's the point of creating new water physics without putting in vehicles uniquely designed to take advantage of the environment? As always with ''Grand Theft Auto'', the emphasis here is on fast, fun and fluid mechanics (pun intended). With the Jet Ski you can dive under water and come bursting back up, you can really feel it bounce off the waves as the weather conditions change, you can turn on a dime and really send the water spraying. The look of the water has been improved too, with better translucency, wake, spray and wave effects."<ref name="IGN Interview" />
  +
  +
Speaking briefly about how the targeting system would be upgrade, hall commented "Like all of versions, we have tweaked the existing targeting system. I wouldn't call it a complete overhaul, but we definitely have taken a fresh look at it, particularly in regards to how it relates to the hand-to-hand combat system. The combat system has more depth to it than any other Grand Theft Auto game. The targeting mechanic has been tweaked, but the biggest change has been to unarmed combat - you can now perform grappling moves and throws, you can get on top of an opponent on the ground for ground domination, and more."<ref name="IGN Interview" />
  +
  +
===Soundtrack===
  +
Commenting on how players can customize their musical experience in the game, Hall said "Custom soundtracks exist. You'll be able to add new music right away. However, I'm not sure why you would want to -- the soundtrack has over 100 tracks, and is probably the best, deepest collection of songs ever assembled for any one project -- TV, Film, or Game."<ref name="IGN Interview" />
   
 
==Characters==
 
==Characters==
:''See [[Characters in GTA Vice City Stories]]''
+
{{Main|Characters in GTA Vice City Stories}}
Vice City Stories contains many of the characters (and voice actors) from [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]], including Phil (Gary Busey), Ricardo Diaz (Luis Guzman), Lance Vance (Philip Michael Thomas) and Umberto Robina (Danny Trejo)
+
''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' contains many of the characters (and voice actors) from ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'', including Phil (Gary Busey), Ricardo Diaz (Luis Guzman), Lance Vance (Philip Michael Thomas) and Umberto Robina (Danny Trejo).
In addition to the gangs previously featured in Vice City, new gangs make a debut in this game: the Trailer Park Mafia, the Cholos, the Mendez Brothers Gang, and the Stallionz
+
In addition to the gangs previously featured in Vice City, new gangs make a debut in this game: the Trailer Park Mafia, the Cholos, the Mendez Brothers Gang, and the Stallionz. Some of the gangs from the previous game have been renamed: the Streetwannabe's are known as the Sharks, and the Cubans are known as the Los Cabrones.
   
 
==Vice City in 1984==
 
==Vice City in 1984==
Similar to [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|Liberty City]] in [[1998]] compared to [[2001]], Vice City has many differences including a ferris wheel in the location where [[Avery Carrington]]'s construction site is. There is also a warehouse that doesn't exist in GTA VC though the fate is explained in the game. The Mendez Building and Empire Buildings don't exist. Diaz's Mansion (later the Vercetti Estate) is only partially finished. The Mendez Mansion is newer and still resided in, although the fate of the mansion is explained in the game. Phil Cassidy runs business in [[Viceport]] instead of [[Downtown Vice City]]. [[InterGlobal Studios]] is owned by future [[Flashback FM]] DJ [[Reni Wassulmaier]] instead of [[Steve Scott]], but the reason why this is is explained later in the game. A Trailer Park that is absent in GTA VC is visible near [[Escobar International Airport]].
+
Similar to [[Liberty City (3D Universe)|Liberty City]] in [[1998]] compared to [[2001]], Vice City has many differences due to the different timeline setting, including a fairground in the location where [[Avery Carrington]]'s construction site is. There is also a [[Cholo Warehouse|warehouse in Little Haiti]] that does not exist by the time ''GTA Vice City'' takes place, though the fate is explained in the game. The [[Mendez Building]] and Victor's [[Empire Building]]s no longer exist in 1986. [[Vercetti Estate|Diaz's Mansion]] (later the [[Vercetti Estate]]) is only partially finished. The [[Mendez Mansion]] is newer and still resided in, although the fate of the mansion is explained in the game. [[Phil Cassidy]] runs a business in [[Viceport]] instead of [[Downtown Vice City]]. [[InterGlobal Studios]] is owned by future [[Flashback FM]] DJ [[Reni Wassulmaier]] instead of [[Steve Scott]], but the reason why this is explained later in the game. A [[Vice City Trailer Park|Trailer Park]] is present, that is absent in ''GTA Vice City'' and is replaced by a bigger [[Sunshine Autos]] near [[Escobar International Airport]].
  +
  +
Compared to its [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City|chronological sequel]], Vice City seems to be much more chaotic and crime-riddled.
   
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
GTA Vice City Stories is structured similarly to other releases from the [[Grand Theft Auto]] series. The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, affording the player a large, open environment to move around in. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, running, swimming (an ability last available in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''), and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand to hand combat. Players can steal and drive a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, boats, airplanes, helicopters, and motorcycles.
+
''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' is structured similarly to other releases from the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series. The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, affording the player a large, open environment to move around in. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, running, swimming (an ability last available in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''), and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand to hand combat. Players can steal and drive a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, boats, airplanes, helicopters, and motorcycles.
   
The open, non-linear environment allows players to explore and choose how they wish to play the game. Although storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game and unlock certain areas and content, they are not required, as players can complete them at their own leisure. (However, completion of a certain number of missions is required in order to access approximately half of the play area, although it's possible to circumvent this with cheat codes). When not taking on a storyline mission, players can free-roam and create havoc (e.g. [[Drive-By Shooting]], robberies, etc). However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities. The more chaos caused, the stronger the response: police will handle minor infractions, whereas [[SWAT]] teams, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], and the [[Vice City]] national guard respond to higher wanted levels.
+
The open, non-linear environment allows players to explore and choose how they wish to play the game. Although storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game and unlock certain areas and content, they are not required, as players can complete them at their own leisure. When not taking on a storyline mission, players can free-roam and create havoc (e.g. [[Drive-By Shooting]], robberies, etc.). However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities. The more chaos caused, the stronger the response: police will handle minor infractions, whereas [[Special Weapons and Tactics|SWAT]] teams, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], and the Vice City national guard respond to higher wanted levels.
   
 
The player can also partake in a variety of optional side missions. The traditional side missions of the past games are included, such as dropping off taxi cab passengers, putting out fires, driving injured people to the hospital, and fighting crime as a vigilante. A new addition to the game is "Beach Patrol", in which Victor plays lifeguard on Vice City's beach, saving citizen's lives or dispatching local gangs. One improvement to the PS2 controls with regards to many of these side missions is that exiting a vehicle (accidentally or intentionally) usually does not fail a sub-mission anymore, allowing easier replacement of damaged vehicles, or re-entering a vehicle if the exit was due to hitting the wrong button.
 
The player can also partake in a variety of optional side missions. The traditional side missions of the past games are included, such as dropping off taxi cab passengers, putting out fires, driving injured people to the hospital, and fighting crime as a vigilante. A new addition to the game is "Beach Patrol", in which Victor plays lifeguard on Vice City's beach, saving citizen's lives or dispatching local gangs. One improvement to the PS2 controls with regards to many of these side missions is that exiting a vehicle (accidentally or intentionally) usually does not fail a sub-mission anymore, allowing easier replacement of damaged vehicles, or re-entering a vehicle if the exit was due to hitting the wrong button.
   
One of the key gameplay elements in Vice City Stories is "empire building". New to the GTA series, it borrows a few ideas from Vice City's "properties" and [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]' "gang wars" systems. In order to make money, the player must open and operate various businesses on property taken over from enemy gangs.
+
One of the key gameplay elements in ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' is the "Empire Building" system. New to the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, it borrows a few ideas from ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City''{{'}}s "properties" and ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''{{'}} "gang wars" systems. In order to make money, the player must open and operate various businesses on property taken over from enemy gangs.
   
For Vice City Stories, the combat system was overhauled to feature more depth than ever before. The targeting mechanic has been tweaked to "intelligently target"; enemies posing a threat or attacking the player will be targeted over pedestrians. The biggest changes concern the hand-to-hand combat system, as players can now perform grappling moves and throws, and stand on top of enemies laying on the ground.
+
The combat system was overhauled to feature more depth than ever before. The targeting mechanic has been tweaked to "intelligently target"; enemies posing a threat or attacking the player will be targeted over pedestrians. The biggest changes concern the hand-to-hand combat system, as players can now perform grappling moves and throws, and stand on top of enemies laying on the ground.
   
For the first time in a Grand Theft Auto game, players are able to bribe policemen or hospital staff when "Wasted" or "Busted" in order to keep weapons that ordinarily would have been lost. Also new to the series are icons scattered around the city that allow Vic to purchase vehicles. For example, a bulletproof [[Sanchez]] is available at the first safehouse(only in the PS2 version).
+
For the first time in a ''Grand Theft Auto'' game, players are able to bribe policemen or hospital staff when "Wasted" or "Busted" in order to keep weapons that ordinarily would have been lost. Also new to the series are icons scattered around the city that allow Vic to purchase vehicles. For example, a bulletproof [[Sanchez]] is available at the first safehouse (only in the PS2 version).
   
The standard hidden package system returns in the form of 99 [[red balloons]] scattered around the city. This is a reference to Nena's 1980s hit, "99 Luftballons". Also, extras that have been discovered (Red Balloons, [[Rampages]] and the [[Unique Stunt Jumps]]) appear on the in-game map. Trip skips also return. However, functions such as eating and exercise and skill-level increases, last seen in GTA: San Andreas, remain absent. The game also reintroduces strip club interiors (absent in Liberty City Stories), albeit in a non-interactive form and depending on what Empire Building options the player chooses.
+
The standard hidden package system returns in the form of 99 [[red balloons]] scattered around the city. This is a reference to {{WP|Nena (band)|Nena}}'s 1980s hit, "{{WP|99 Luftballons}}". Also, extras that have been discovered (Red Balloons, [[Rampages]] and the [[Unique Stunt Jumps]]) appear on the in-game map. Trip skips also return. However, functions such as eating and exercise and skill-level increases, last seen in ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'', remain absent. The game also reintroduces strip club interiors (absent in ''Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories''), albeit in a non-interactive form and depending on what Empire Building options the player chooses.
   
Improvements to the graphics since the release of [[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]] include new animations, faster load times (although a load screen is still displayed when travelling between the two major islands), a further draw distance, reductions in clumping of pedestrians and vehicles, more complex and realistic explosions, and increases in the density of objects, vehicles, and [[NPC]]s.
+
Improvements to the graphics since the release of ''Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories'' include new animations, faster load times (although a load screen is still displayed when travelling between the two major islands), a further draw distance, reductions in clumping of pedestrians and vehicles, more complex and realistic explosions, and increases in the density of objects, vehicles, and [[NPC]]s.
   
 
One new feature of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' is that the player can receive a small cash bonus for being a good Samaritan and rescuing pedestrians being attacked by enemy gang members.
Like the game's predecessor, Vice City Stories features a multiplayer mode that can be played via WiFi. Ten different modes of play are offered, and these multiplayer games will incorporate use of automobiles, aircraft, and water-based vehicles
 
   
==Soundtrack==
+
==Multiplayer==
:''See: [[Radio Stations in GTA Vice City Stories]]''
+
{{Main|Multiplayer in GTA Vice City Stories}}
 
Like the game's predecessor, ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' features a multiplayer mode that can be played via WiFi. Ten different modes of play are offered, and these multiplayer games will incorporate use of automobiles, aircraft, and water-based vehicles.
   
  +
==Influence==
Like all other releases from the Grand Theft Auto series, Vice City Stories' soundtrack plays an integral role in setting the game's atmosphere. It features 9 different radio stations that play over 100 licensed songs from the 1980s. Most of the station remain the same as in the settings of ''Vice City'' (1986). But the radio stations Fever 105 and Wildstyle are replaced with Fresh 105 and Paradise FM. Also the talk show, K-CHAT doesn't exist in 1984.
 
  +
Much like the original ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'' game, the look and feel of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' is heavily influenced by the television series ''{{WP|Miami Vice}}''. More specific references include the corrupt [[Vice City Police Department (3D Universe)|VCPD]] detective [[Bryan Forbes]], who dresses in a white suit, loafers and a pastel pink t-shirt, mimicking one of the signature looks of {{WP|James "Sonny" Crockett|Sonny Crockett}}, one of the primary characters in the show. [[Philip Michael Thomas]], who portrayed {{WP|Ricardo Tubbs|Rico Tubbs}}, Crockett's partner and the other main character in ''Miami Vice'', also returns to provide the voice of Lance Vance in the game.
  +
  +
Much like ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'', the game's soundtrack includes several songs that featured in the show, including "{{WP|Relax (song)|Relax}}" by {{WP|Frankie Goes to Hollywood}}, "{{WP|I Want to Know What Love Is}}" by {{WP|Foreigner (band)|Foreigner}} and "{{WP|In the Air Tonight}}" by [[Phil Collins]], the latter in particular having a very strong association with the show after its iconic appearance in the pilot episode "{{WP|Brother's Keeper (Miami Vice)|Brother's Keeper}}". Collins additionally appears in ''Vice City Stories'' as himself, "performing" a live rendition of "In the Air Tonight" (in fact taken from his ''No Ticket Required'' video) during the [[In the Air Tonight|mission of the same name]]. This parallels how Collins likewise appeared in an acting role in ''Miami Vice'', playing a con-artist in the episode "Phil the Shill".
  +
  +
==Soundtrack==
  +
{{Main|Radio Stations in GTA Vice City Stories}}
 
Like all other games in the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, the soundtrack plays an integral role in setting the game's atmosphere. The game features nine different radio stations which play over 100 licensed songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the stations remain the same as in the settings of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'' (1986), though Fever 105 and Wildstyle are replaced with Fresh 105 and Paradise FM, and the talk radio station K-Chat does not broadcast.
   
 
==Vehicles==
 
==Vehicles==
 
:
 
:
{|style="vertical-align: top;" class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align: top;"
 
!Sports and Muscle Cars
 
!Sports and Muscle Cars
 
!Two-Door and Hatchbacks
 
!Two-Door and Hatchbacks
Line 86: Line 109:
 
:* [[Sabre Turbo]]
 
:* [[Sabre Turbo]]
 
:* [[Stinger]]
 
:* [[Stinger]]
:* [[VCPD Cheetah]]
 
 
|
 
|
 
:* [[Blista Compact]]
 
:* [[Blista Compact]]
Line 117: Line 139:
 
:* [[Patriot]]
 
:* [[Patriot]]
 
:* [[Sandking]]
 
:* [[Sandking]]
 
:* [[Walton]]
 
|
 
|
* [[Benson]]
+
:* [[Benson]]
* [[Boxville]]
+
:* [[Boxville]]
* [[Bulldozer]]
+
:* [[Bulldozer]]
* [[Flatbed]]
+
:* [[Flatbed]]
* [[Forklift]]
+
:* [[Forklift]]
* [[Linerunner]]
+
:* [[Linerunner]]
* [[Mule]]
+
:* [[Mr. Whoopee]]
* [[Pony]]
+
:* [[Mule]]
* [[Rumpo]]
+
:* [[Pony]]
* [[Walton]]
+
:* [[Rumpo]]
* [[Yankee]]
+
:* [[Yankee]]
 
|
 
|
:* [[Angel|Biker Angel]]
+
:* [[Angel (motorcycle)|Biker Angel]]
 
:* [[Cholo Sabre]]
 
:* [[Cholo Sabre]]
 
:* [[Cuban Hermes]]
 
:* [[Cuban Hermes]]
Line 151: Line 174:
 
:* [[Fire Truck]]
 
:* [[Fire Truck]]
 
:* [[Hunter]]
 
:* [[Hunter]]
 
:* [[Patriot]]
 
:* [[Rhino]]
 
:* [[Rhino]]
 
:* [[Police Car|VCPD Cruiser]]
 
:* [[Police Car|VCPD Cruiser]]
 
:* [[VCPD Cheetah]]
:
 
  +
:* [[Police Maverick|VCPD Maverick]]
:
 
  +
:* [[VCPD Wintergreen]]
 
|
 
|
 
:* [[Cabbie]]
 
:* [[Cabbie]]
 
:* [[Coach]]
 
:* [[Coach]]
:* [[Mr. Whoopee]]
 
 
:* [[Securicar]]
 
:* [[Securicar]]
 
:* [[Taxi]]
 
:* [[Taxi]]
 
:* [[Trashmaster]]
 
:* [[Trashmaster]]
:* [[Ventoso]]
 
 
|
 
|
:* [[Angel|Biker Angel]]
+
:* [[Angel (motorcycle)|Biker Angel]]
 
:* [[BMX]]
 
:* [[BMX]]
 
:* [[Faggio]]
 
:* [[Faggio]]
Line 175: Line 198:
 
:* [[Ventoso]]
 
:* [[Ventoso]]
 
:* [[Wintergreen]]
 
:* [[Wintergreen]]
:
 
 
|
 
|
 
:* [[Bovver '64]]
 
:* [[Bovver '64]]
Line 186: Line 208:
 
:* [[Reefer]]
 
:* [[Reefer]]
 
:* [[Rio]]
 
:* [[Rio]]
:* [[Speeder]]
+
:* [[Speeder (boat)|Speeder]]
 
:* [[Squalo]]
 
:* [[Squalo]]
 
:* [[Tropic]]
 
:* [[Tropic]]
Line 202: Line 224:
 
:* [[Sparrow]]
 
:* [[Sparrow]]
 
:* [[Police Maverick|VCPD Maverick]]
 
:* [[Police Maverick|VCPD Maverick]]
:
 
 
|
 
|
 
:* [[Baggage Handler]]
 
:* [[Baggage Handler]]
 
:* [[BF Injection]]
 
:* [[BF Injection]]
 
:* [[Bovver '64]]
 
:* [[Bovver '64]]
:* [[Dozer|Bulldozer]]
 
 
:* [[Caddy]]
 
:* [[Caddy]]
 
:* [[Domestobot]]
 
:* [[Domestobot]]
:* [[Forklift]]
 
:* [[Quad]]
 
:* [[Sandking]]
 
 
:* [[Splitz-6 ATV]]
 
:* [[Splitz-6 ATV]]
 
|}
 
|}
   
 
==Gangs==
 
==Gangs==
  +
{{Main|Gangs in GTA Vice City Stories}}
 
*[[Cholos]] <small>(wiped out) </small>
 
*[[Cholos]] <small>(wiped out) </small>
 
*[[Trailer Park Mafia]] <small>(wiped out) </small>
 
*[[Trailer Park Mafia]] <small>(wiped out) </small>
 
*[[Cubans]]
 
*[[Cubans]]
*[[Forelli Family]]
+
*[[Forelli Crime Family]]
 
*[[Vice City Bikers|Bikers]]
 
*[[Vice City Bikers|Bikers]]
 
*[[Sharks]]
 
*[[Sharks]]
 
*[[Mendez Cartel]] <small>(wiped out) </small>
 
*[[Mendez Cartel]] <small>(wiped out) </small>
*[[Diaz's gang]]
+
*[[Diaz's Gang]]
*[[White Stallionz]] (wiped out)
+
*[[White Stallionz]] <small>(wiped out)</small>
 
*[[Vance Crime Family]]
 
*[[Vance Crime Family]]
 
*[[Gonzales Syndicate]]
 
*[[Gonzales Syndicate]]
*[[Leaf Link Golfers]]
 
   
 
==Weapons==
 
==Weapons==
:''See [[Weapons in GTA Vice City Stories]]''
+
{{Main|Weapons in GTA Vice City Stories}}
The weapons in ''Vice City Stories'' are set to fit the time the game is set on. For instance, the [[Tec-9]] is replaced with a [[Scorpion]] and the rocket launcher has the look of an M72 LAW. The [[AR-15|M4]] is switched to the look of a [[M16]] as there were no M4's during 1984. The main pistol in the game was changed to the Beretta 92. Most of the other weapons are the same as the one's from ''Vice City'', ''San Andreas'' and ''Liberty City Stories''. It is unusual that GTA Vice City Stories has the [[AK-47]] whereas GTA Vice City has the [[Ruger]]. Note that the AK-47 was designed and manufactured in 1946. The machine gun in the game was a [[M249]], where as in Vice City the [[M-60]] was used.
+
The weapons in ''Vice City Stories'' are set to fit the time the game is set on. For instance, the [[Tec-9]] is replaced with a [[Scorpion]] and the rocket launcher has the look of an M72 LAW. The [[AR-15|M4]] is switched to the look of a [[M16]] as there were no M4's during 1984. The main pistol in the game was changed to the Beretta 92. Most of the other weapons are the same as the ones from ''GTA Vice City'', ''GTA: San Andreas'' and ''Liberty City Stories'', while the [[Python]] now has a scope, though it's not functional. It is unusual that ''GTA Vice City Stories'' has the [[AK-47]] whereas ''GTA Vice City'' has the [[Ruger]]. Note that the AK-47 was designed and manufactured in 1946. The machine gun in the game was a [[M249]], where as in ''GTA Vice City'' the [[M-60]] was used. The [[Sniper Rifle]] now has the look of a Springfield M12 while the [[Laser Sniper]] is based on a Dragunov.
   
 
==Safehouses==
 
==Safehouses==
*see [[Safehouses in GTA Vice City Stories]]
+
{{Main|Safehouses in GTA Vice City Stories}}
  +
==Accolades==
 
  +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" width="100%"
== Location ==
 
  +
! width="50" class="sortable" |Date
:''Full article: [[Vice City in GTA III Era]]''
 
  +
! width="50" |Award
The game is set in [[Vice City in GTA III Era|Vice City]], similar to ''GTA: Vice City'' but with some minor alterations due to it being set two years before.
 
  +
! width="50" |Category
 
  +
! width="50" |Recipient(s) and Nominee(s)
==Tips & Tricks==
 
  +
! width="50" |Result
*[[The Helicopter Sniping Trick]]
 
  +
|-
*[[Never Stop Running]]
 
  +
|2006
*Go to the second island without mission From Zero To Hero (Go to the search page)
 
  +
|{{WP|IGN}}'s History of Awesome 2006
 
  +
|Best Licensed Soundtrack on {{WP|PlayStation Portable}}
 
  +
|''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories''
== Trivia ==
 
  +
|Won
 
  +
|-
*In GTA Vice City Stories, Victor Vance's dialect is one of an average American, but in GTA Vice City, Victor speaks with a thick Colombian accent.
 
  +
|26 October 2007
*The look and feel of Vice City is influenced by the atmosphere of the 1980s series ''Miami Vice''. Philip Michael Thomas, who provides the voice of Lance, co-starred in that iconic series.
 
  +
|{{WP|Golden Joystick Awards}}
*This is the only GTA game (excluding ''Grand Theft Auto 2'' and mission packs) which doesn't feature or show [[Liberty City]]. (Unless you want to count a pedestrian saying something in spanish that mentions [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_City_(Grand_Theft_Auto) Liberty City].)
 
  +
|Best Handheld Game
*GTA VCS would be the last GTA III Era game to feature swimming, police bikes, motor officers, plane, recruit a [[Vance crime family|gang]] (along with [[GTA San Andreas]]).
 
  +
|''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories''
*GTA VCS is the last game to continue the GTA III Era timeline. [[GTA IV|Future games]] will feature a [[GTA IV Era|new era]].
 
  +
|Won
*This is the farthest set-back game in the GTA III era; taking place in 1984.
 
  +
|}
*This is the third GTA III era game not to feature a former or would-be playable character. Others include ''GTA Liberty City Stories'' and ''GTA Advance''.
 
*This is the only GTA game that lets one play as a character (Victor Vance), even knowing that he has died in a previous game (Victor Vance was killed in a drug deal in the opening of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'').
 
*This is the last GTA game to be released on a sixth generation console (eg, the PlayStation 2).
 
*''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' is the only game where the player works for the army.
 
*GTA Vice City Stories has more melee weapons than any other GTA game.
 
*The "disappearing vehicle" glitch - in which a car driven to a mission trigger point disappears after the cutscene - is at its worst in VCS. Not only do vehicles almost always vanish after the mission cutscenes (often because Victor is required to use vehicles provided for a mission), but they also vanish if the player saves his game in a safehouse with a vehicle parked outside, even if Victor immediately goes back outside (in previous games the last vehicle driven by the player remains parked outside the safehouse after a save as long as the console isn't reset or a game reloaded).
 
*One new feature of VCS is that the player can receive a small cash bonus for being a good Samaritan and rescuing pedestrians being attacked by enemy gang members. (However protecting a pedestrian against attack by a police officer results in a Wanted Level.)
 
*Singer [[Phil Collins]] appears as himself in the game, becoming the first celebrity (other than radio host [[Lazlow]]) to play himself in a GTA game.
 
*The PS2 port version of the game has a number of improvements over the original PSP version of the game including enhanced graphics, new activities and a new [[Easter Egg]]
 
*The PS2 version was made 1 year later in 2007, however in the screen title it says 2006, it is unknown if this was intentional or just an error/developer oversight.
 
*This is the only game to feature checkpoints if you fail or quit the mission and prostitutes with the same model, but in different clothing.
 
 
==Trailers==
 
[[File:GTA Vice City Stories Official Trailer 1|left|300px]][[File:GTA Vice City Stories Official Trailer 2|right|300px]][[File:GTA Vice City Stories Official Trailer 3|left|300px]][[File:GTA Vice City Stories Official Trailer (PS2)|right|300px]]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  +
==Platform Differences==
  +
===PS2 exclusive content===
  +
*5 new [[Rampages in GTA Vice City Stories|rampages]].
  +
*6 new [[Stunt Jumps in GTA Vice City Stories|stunt jumps]].
  +
*6 new side missions.
  +
**[[Playground_Missions in GTA Vice City Stories#Playground on the Park|Playground on the Park]].
  +
**[[Playground_Missions in GTA Vice City Stories#Playground on the Dock|Playground on the Dock]].
  +
**[[Caddy Daddy]]
  +
**[[Rush!]]
  +
**[[Crims On Water Wings]]
  +
**[[Hyman Memorial O.D.T.]]
   
  +
===Other changes===
  +
*Trails option added on the PS2 version.
  +
*Button pressure sensibility support for the DualShock 2.
  +
*The [[Squalo]] is called Squallo (with two "l") on PS2 and Squalo (with one "l") on PSP. However, in the [[Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound]], it's called Squallo with two "l" on PSP.
  +
*Some palm trees were added at a house in east [[Starfish Island]] on PS2.
  +
*[[Multiplayer in GTA Vice City Stories|Multiplayer]] was removed on the PS2 version.
  +
*Victor is immune to bullets when attacked by the hitmen in the mission [[Soldier]] on the PS2 version.*
  +
*A rampage in the [[Easter Egg Building]] is located near the dirt track on PS2.*
  +
(*) Change also applied on the Japanese PSP version.
   
  +
===Bug fixes===
  +
*A bug that reset Victor's health to 100% after completing [[Air Rescue]] when reloading a save was fixed on PS2.
  +
*A glitch that vanished vehicles from the garages was fixed on PS2.
   
  +
===Sound effect differences===
  +
There are some sound effect differences between the PSP and PS2 version. The PSP version recycles the sounds from ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]'', whereas the PS2 version has some differences:
  +
*Several vehicles have their engine sounds in a higher pitch. In addition, vehicles that share the same sound as the [[Perennial]] will emit the [[Sentinel]]'s engine sound while idling and revving.
  +
*The explosion of [[Grenades|grenades]] and the [[Rocket Launcher]] shares the sound with vehicle explosions, similar to that of ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]''.
  +
*The [[Stubby Shotgun]] emits the same firing sound as the [[Combat Shotgun]].
  +
*All firearms have louder and stronger reverberation after firing.
  +
*The footstep sounds when running and jumping is slightly different.
  +
*The [[Hunter]]'s helicopter blades sound different.
   
  +
==Glitches==
  +
{{Main|Glitches in GTA Vice City Stories}}
 
The "disappearing vehicle" glitch - in which a car driven to a mission trigger point disappears after the cutscene - is at its worst in this title. Not only do vehicles almost always vanish after the mission cutscenes, but they also vanish if the player saves their game in a safehouse with a vehicle parked outside, even if Victor immediately goes back outside (in previous games the last vehicle driven by the player remains parked outside the safehouse after a save as long as the console isn't reset or a game reloaded).
   
 
==Trivia==
 
*In ''GTA Vice City Stories'', [[Victor Vance]]'s voice is one of an average American, but in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City|GTA Vice City]]'', Victor speaks with a thick Colombian accent.
 
*Singer [[Phil Collins]] appears as himself in the game, making him the first real-life celebrity to appear physically in a ''Grand Theft Auto'' game.
  +
*This is the only [[3D Universe]] game to feature checkpoints. ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City|Episodes from Liberty City]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]'' (from the [[HD Universe]]) would continue this idea.
  +
**However, the final mission of ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' ([[A Revenger's Tragedy]]/[[Out of Commission]]) features a single checkpoint where the player can start from if they fail the mission.
  +
**The same mechanic was also featured in the mobile versions of 3D Universe games.
  +
*Unlike its predecessor, this game was not ported for mobile.
  +
*The game shares its pedestrian pain sounds with ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]''.
   
  +
==Further Reading==
  +
*[[Beta Releases in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]
   
  +
==References==
  +
{{Reflist}}
   
 
==Trailers==
  +
{{#ev:youtube|mlUGHfwG9FQ|275px|center|'''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Trailer #1 (PSP)'''}}
  +
{{#ev:youtube|vEZzUMjSl8E|275px|center|'''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Trailer #2 (PSP)'''}}
  +
{{#ev:youtube|MzyANPlyOJ0|275px|center|'''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Trailer #3 (PSP)'''}}
  +
{{#ev:youtube|T0Q34opxheU|275px|center|'''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Official Trailer (PS2)'''}}
   
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
<!-- DO NOT ADD SITES TO THIS LIST WITHOUT DISCUSSING FIRST -->
 
 
{{wikipedia}}
 
{{wikipedia}}
 
*[http://www.rockstargames.com/vicecitystories/ Official Website]
 
*[http://www.rockstargames.com/vicecitystories/ Official Website]
  +
*[https://www.rockstargames.com/games/vicecitystories Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on the Rockstar Games website]
*[http://www.gtapsp.com GTAPSP]
 
  +
{{Clr}}
*[http://www.gtavicecitystories.com GTAViceCityStories.com]
 
*[http://www.gtavcs.net GTAVCS.net]
 
*[http://gtagames.hu Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories]
 
*[http://www.gtavice.com GTAVice.com]
 
*[http://www.indiroyunu.com/gta-indir/gta-vice-city.html Gta Vice City indir]
 
*[http://www.gtaindir.gen.tr/gta-san-andreas/ GTA San Andreas indir]
 
<!-- DO NOT ADD SITES TO THIS LIST WITHOUT DISCUSSING FIRST -->
 
   
  +
==Navigation==
 
{{GTA}}
 
{{GTA}}
   
  +
[[Category:GTA Vice City Stories| ]]
   
 
[[ar:غراند ثفت أوتو: فايس سيتي ستوريز]]
 
[[ar:غراند ثفت أوتو: فايس سيتي ستوريز]]
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[[ro:Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]
 
[[ro:Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]
 
[[ru:Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]
 
[[ru:Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]
  +
[[uk:Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]
[[Category:Games]]
 
  +
[[zh:侠盗猎车手:罪恶城故事]]
[[Category:GTA Vice City Stories]]
 
[[Category:3D Universe]]
 

Latest revision as of 09:46, 18 March 2024

SpeakerSymbolLogo
Quotation Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Main Theme QuotationReverse
Not only is this the greatest game on PSP, it also leaves a large percentage of the PS2 back catalogue looking ordinary. Buy it right now.
Official PlayStation 2 Magazine UK.

Grand Theft Auto series chronology of events
1961London 1961
1969London 1969
1984Vice City Stories
1986Vice City
1992San Andreas
1999Grand Theft Auto 2 (possibly)
2013Grand Theft Auto 2 (possibly)
Vice City, 1984. Opportunity abounds in a city emerging from the swamps, its growth fueled by a violent power struggle in a lucrative drug trade. Construction is everywhere as a shining metropolis rises from foundations of crime and betrayal. As a soldier, Vic Vance has always protected his dysfunctional family, his country, himself. One bad decision later and that job is about to get much harder. Kicked out onto the streets between glamour and gluttony, Vic is faced with a stark choice...build an empire or be crushed.
— Official Description

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is the sixth and final game (but first chronologically) in the 3D Universe of the Grand Theft Auto series. Originally released as an exclusive game for the PlayStation Portable, it was later released on the PlayStation 2 console because of its success. It is the second Grand Theft Auto game to appear on the PSP system (the first being Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories). The game was developed by Rockstar Leeds, and published and released by Rockstar Games.

Take-Two Interactive originally announced the title was to be released in North America on October 17, 2006 and in Europe on October 20, but early in September, there was an announcement stating the game had been delayed for release until October 31 in North America and November 3 in Europe. It had also announced that the game will be released on November 10, 2006 in Australia.

On February 7, 2007, Rockstar Games announced plans for a PlayStation 2 release. The release dates were March 6, 2007, for North America and March 9, 2007, for Europe. It was released on PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Network on April 2, 2013, but has since been made unavailable. The PS2 port version of the game has a number of improvements over the original PSP version of the game, including enhanced graphics, new activities and a new Easter Egg.

Storyline

VictorVance-GTAVCS

The protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Victor Vance.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories marks the series return to Vice City, with the game taking place in 1984, roughly two years before the events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The game focuses around Victor Vance, the brother of Lance Vance, both characters who have previously appeared in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Victor "Vic" Vance, the protagonist, is a U.S. Army soldier whose sergeant, Jerry Martinez, gets him involved in drug trafficking, which is strictly against Vic's morals. Soon, Vic is dishonorably discharged for the drugs found in his room and bringing a prostitute to the barracks, both of which were intended for Martinez. Vic works for Phil Cassidy. Phil's brother-in-law, Marty Williams, abuses his wife Louise and their baby Mary-Beth. After Marty kidnaps Louise, Vic kills him and begins a relationship with her, then shortly after, Victor takes over Marty's Empire.

Soon after, Vic's brother, Lance Vance, comes into town to join him on his quest to take over Vice City to get the money required to pay for their brother's asthma medication. Together they steal Martinez's cocaine, but tensions arise between the brothers after Vic finds out that Lance and Louise used it for themselves. A short time later, Victor discovers that Martinez was only transporting the drugs for the Mendez Brothers, leaving Lance and Vic with no option but to work with the Mendez Brothers, only to be betrayed after doing a few jobs for them. The Mendez Brothers then kidnap Louise sometime after Vic protects and saves Phil Collins' concert from the Forelli Family, and he and Lance rush to the rescue. Lance gets captured by Armando Mendez and Vic fights his way to the underground room of the Mendez Mansion, where a deranged Armando is waiting for him wielding a Flamethrower, but Armando is quickly killed by Victor during the intense fire-fight that ensues. Although Lance manages to survive, Vic is too late to save Louise. Afterwards, with help from Phil Cassidy and Ricardo Diaz, Vic manages to steal an army helicopter (The Hunter), and proceeds to gun down some of Diego Mendez's Goons, eventually bringing him to land on the roof of the Mendez Building where he enters inside and continues his killing spree.

Upon Victor's return to the rooftop, there is one final confrontation, which ends when Vic kills Diego and Martinez, who had arrived in a helicopter when Vic was halfway from reaching Diego. Lance arrives to help Vic, but turns up late. Lance offers Victor twenty kilos of cocaine for a deal ahead; however, Victor denies his interest and says that he wants to stay away from drugs. He then says that he would send some money to their sick brother Pete for his medical treatment. By the end of the game, Victor is a very wealthy man.

Eventually, Victor is dragged back into the Vice City criminal underworld by his brother Lance. They set up a deal with the Forelli crime family, apparently with the help of Colonel Cortez according to Ken Rosenberg. As the two groups are about to exchange their goods, a small group of hitmen arrives and shoots at them, killing Vic and two of the Forelli family members, whilst the Forelli representative Tommy Vercetti and Ken Rosenberg drive off and Lance flies away from the scene, starting the events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Development

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories was developed by Rockstar Leeds in collaboration with Rockstar North.

Discussing the improvements GTA Vice City Stories would feature over the earlier entry GTA Liberty City Stories, Rockstar Leeds studio director Gordon Hall explained "One of the biggest technical achievements in GTA Vice City Stories has been the enormous effort involved in making Vice City this incredibly vibrant, detailed and alive place. The detail seen in the city has been ramped up massively over Liberty City Stories. We now have double the number of polygons in a city block, with new features such as animated textures and neon light effects and an all-new radiosity lighting model. On top of this we had to push for an even greater draw distance, especially now that we have the addition of helicopters and planes -- it's a real blast taking to the sky in these things and seeing the city sprawl beneath you. And just for good measure, GTA Vice City Stories is even faster and smoother than Liberty City Stories."[1]

Hardware

Commenting further on the upgrade from GTA Liberty City Stories, Hall noted "that engine just couldn't cope with these demands. Among a raft of tweaks and tune-ups, we've come up with new ways for the CPU and the graphics processor to talk to each other. This has freed up the CPU to do other things, and allowed us to push the graphics processor even harder, bringing the Vice City vibe to life with these incredible views stretching off into the horizon."[1]

He would go on to add "we've compressed and optimized across the board, both by hand in the creation of the art and in the code itself. For example, we've now got a lossless compression system for an animation, which has allowed us to have a greater variety of cars and pedestrians at once, and we have this greater complexity and variety alongside even faster loading times."[1]

Commenting on how the PSP would be able to handle viewing an entire city from the skies while flying an aircraft, Hall said "Vice City is a complete city, and we have utilized all elements of the physical space in this game, from the land to the sea to the air. Vehicles have been created with these very different spaces in mind. From a technical standpoint, perhaps our greatest accomplishment has been the issue of draw distance. We have created a system that increases the draw distance to the point where every element in the players view has been created on screen. When you are in the air, pedestrians, cars, and anything on the ground will scale down depending on how close or far the player is to them, much as they would in real life. It really takes the scope of the series -- creating living cities -- one step further, this time for your PSP."[1]

Gameplay

Gordon Hall went on to talk about the landscape of Vice City; "Another area that we've concentrated on is the water surrounding the landscape. Vice City itself is surrounded by a whole lot of water, so we've gone to town here. We've enhanced the water and boat physics, programming an improved buoyancy model which really becomes apparent if you mess around with the new Jetski. What's the point of creating new water physics without putting in vehicles uniquely designed to take advantage of the environment? As always with Grand Theft Auto, the emphasis here is on fast, fun and fluid mechanics (pun intended). With the Jet Ski you can dive under water and come bursting back up, you can really feel it bounce off the waves as the weather conditions change, you can turn on a dime and really send the water spraying. The look of the water has been improved too, with better translucency, wake, spray and wave effects."[1]

Speaking briefly about how the targeting system would be upgrade, hall commented "Like all of versions, we have tweaked the existing targeting system. I wouldn't call it a complete overhaul, but we definitely have taken a fresh look at it, particularly in regards to how it relates to the hand-to-hand combat system. The combat system has more depth to it than any other Grand Theft Auto game. The targeting mechanic has been tweaked, but the biggest change has been to unarmed combat - you can now perform grappling moves and throws, you can get on top of an opponent on the ground for ground domination, and more."[1]

Soundtrack

Commenting on how players can customize their musical experience in the game, Hall said "Custom soundtracks exist. You'll be able to add new music right away. However, I'm not sure why you would want to -- the soundtrack has over 100 tracks, and is probably the best, deepest collection of songs ever assembled for any one project -- TV, Film, or Game."[1]

Characters

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories contains many of the characters (and voice actors) from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, including Phil (Gary Busey), Ricardo Diaz (Luis Guzman), Lance Vance (Philip Michael Thomas) and Umberto Robina (Danny Trejo). In addition to the gangs previously featured in Vice City, new gangs make a debut in this game: the Trailer Park Mafia, the Cholos, the Mendez Brothers Gang, and the Stallionz. Some of the gangs from the previous game have been renamed: the Streetwannabe's are known as the Sharks, and the Cubans are known as the Los Cabrones.

Vice City in 1984

Similar to Liberty City in 1998 compared to 2001, Vice City has many differences due to the different timeline setting, including a fairground in the location where Avery Carrington's construction site is. There is also a warehouse in Little Haiti that does not exist by the time GTA Vice City takes place, though the fate is explained in the game. The Mendez Building and Victor's Empire Buildings no longer exist in 1986. Diaz's Mansion (later the Vercetti Estate) is only partially finished. The Mendez Mansion is newer and still resided in, although the fate of the mansion is explained in the game. Phil Cassidy runs a business in Viceport instead of Downtown Vice City. InterGlobal Studios is owned by future Flashback FM DJ Reni Wassulmaier instead of Steve Scott, but the reason why this is explained later in the game. A Trailer Park is present, that is absent in GTA Vice City and is replaced by a bigger Sunshine Autos near Escobar International Airport.

Compared to its chronological sequel, Vice City seems to be much more chaotic and crime-riddled.

Gameplay

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is structured similarly to other releases from the Grand Theft Auto series. The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, affording the player a large, open environment to move around in. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, running, swimming (an ability last available in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas), and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand to hand combat. Players can steal and drive a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, boats, airplanes, helicopters, and motorcycles.

The open, non-linear environment allows players to explore and choose how they wish to play the game. Although storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game and unlock certain areas and content, they are not required, as players can complete them at their own leisure. When not taking on a storyline mission, players can free-roam and create havoc (e.g. Drive-By Shooting, robberies, etc.). However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities. The more chaos caused, the stronger the response: police will handle minor infractions, whereas SWAT teams, the FBI, and the Vice City national guard respond to higher wanted levels.

The player can also partake in a variety of optional side missions. The traditional side missions of the past games are included, such as dropping off taxi cab passengers, putting out fires, driving injured people to the hospital, and fighting crime as a vigilante. A new addition to the game is "Beach Patrol", in which Victor plays lifeguard on Vice City's beach, saving citizen's lives or dispatching local gangs. One improvement to the PS2 controls with regards to many of these side missions is that exiting a vehicle (accidentally or intentionally) usually does not fail a sub-mission anymore, allowing easier replacement of damaged vehicles, or re-entering a vehicle if the exit was due to hitting the wrong button.

One of the key gameplay elements in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is the "Empire Building" system. New to the Grand Theft Auto series, it borrows a few ideas from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's "properties" and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' "gang wars" systems. In order to make money, the player must open and operate various businesses on property taken over from enemy gangs.

The combat system was overhauled to feature more depth than ever before. The targeting mechanic has been tweaked to "intelligently target"; enemies posing a threat or attacking the player will be targeted over pedestrians. The biggest changes concern the hand-to-hand combat system, as players can now perform grappling moves and throws, and stand on top of enemies laying on the ground.

For the first time in a Grand Theft Auto game, players are able to bribe policemen or hospital staff when "Wasted" or "Busted" in order to keep weapons that ordinarily would have been lost. Also new to the series are icons scattered around the city that allow Vic to purchase vehicles. For example, a bulletproof Sanchez is available at the first safehouse (only in the PS2 version).

The standard hidden package system returns in the form of 99 red balloons scattered around the city. This is a reference to Nena's 1980s hit, "99 Luftballons". Also, extras that have been discovered (Red Balloons, Rampages and the Unique Stunt Jumps) appear on the in-game map. Trip skips also return. However, functions such as eating and exercise and skill-level increases, last seen in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, remain absent. The game also reintroduces strip club interiors (absent in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories), albeit in a non-interactive form and depending on what Empire Building options the player chooses.

Improvements to the graphics since the release of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories include new animations, faster load times (although a load screen is still displayed when travelling between the two major islands), a further draw distance, reductions in clumping of pedestrians and vehicles, more complex and realistic explosions, and increases in the density of objects, vehicles, and NPCs.

One new feature of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is that the player can receive a small cash bonus for being a good Samaritan and rescuing pedestrians being attacked by enemy gang members.

Multiplayer

Like the game's predecessor, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories features a multiplayer mode that can be played via WiFi. Ten different modes of play are offered, and these multiplayer games will incorporate use of automobiles, aircraft, and water-based vehicles.

Influence

Much like the original Grand Theft Auto: Vice City game, the look and feel of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is heavily influenced by the television series Miami Vice. More specific references include the corrupt VCPD detective Bryan Forbes, who dresses in a white suit, loafers and a pastel pink t-shirt, mimicking one of the signature looks of Sonny Crockett, one of the primary characters in the show. Philip Michael Thomas, who portrayed Rico Tubbs, Crockett's partner and the other main character in Miami Vice, also returns to provide the voice of Lance Vance in the game.

Much like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the game's soundtrack includes several songs that featured in the show, including "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner and "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, the latter in particular having a very strong association with the show after its iconic appearance in the pilot episode "Brother's Keeper". Collins additionally appears in Vice City Stories as himself, "performing" a live rendition of "In the Air Tonight" (in fact taken from his No Ticket Required video) during the mission of the same name. This parallels how Collins likewise appeared in an acting role in Miami Vice, playing a con-artist in the episode "Phil the Shill".

Soundtrack

Like all other games in the Grand Theft Auto series, the soundtrack plays an integral role in setting the game's atmosphere. The game features nine different radio stations which play over 100 licensed songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the stations remain the same as in the settings of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (1986), though Fever 105 and Wildstyle are replaced with Fresh 105 and Paradise FM, and the talk radio station K-Chat does not broadcast.

Vehicles

Sports and Muscle Cars Two-Door and Hatchbacks Four-Door Sedans and Saloons SUVs, Pickups, and Vans Commercial/Industrial Gang
Government/Emergency Public Service Bikes Boats Aircraft Misc./Fun

Gangs

Weapons

The weapons in Vice City Stories are set to fit the time the game is set on. For instance, the Tec-9 is replaced with a Scorpion and the rocket launcher has the look of an M72 LAW. The M4 is switched to the look of a M16 as there were no M4's during 1984. The main pistol in the game was changed to the Beretta 92. Most of the other weapons are the same as the ones from GTA Vice City, GTA: San Andreas and Liberty City Stories, while the Python now has a scope, though it's not functional. It is unusual that GTA Vice City Stories has the AK-47 whereas GTA Vice City has the Ruger. Note that the AK-47 was designed and manufactured in 1946. The machine gun in the game was a M249, where as in GTA Vice City the M-60 was used. The Sniper Rifle now has the look of a Springfield M12 while the Laser Sniper is based on a Dragunov.

Safehouses

Accolades

Date Award Category Recipient(s) and Nominee(s) Result
2006 IGN's History of Awesome 2006 Best Licensed Soundtrack on PlayStation Portable Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Won
26 October 2007 Golden Joystick Awards Best Handheld Game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Won

Platform Differences

PS2 exclusive content

Other changes

  • Trails option added on the PS2 version.
  • Button pressure sensibility support for the DualShock 2.
  • The Squalo is called Squallo (with two "l") on PS2 and Squalo (with one "l") on PSP. However, in the Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound, it's called Squallo with two "l" on PSP.
  • Some palm trees were added at a house in east Starfish Island on PS2.
  • Multiplayer was removed on the PS2 version.
  • Victor is immune to bullets when attacked by the hitmen in the mission Soldier on the PS2 version.*
  • A rampage in the Easter Egg Building is located near the dirt track on PS2.*

(*) Change also applied on the Japanese PSP version.

Bug fixes

  • A bug that reset Victor's health to 100% after completing Air Rescue when reloading a save was fixed on PS2.
  • A glitch that vanished vehicles from the garages was fixed on PS2.

Sound effect differences

There are some sound effect differences between the PSP and PS2 version. The PSP version recycles the sounds from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, whereas the PS2 version has some differences:

Glitches

The "disappearing vehicle" glitch - in which a car driven to a mission trigger point disappears after the cutscene - is at its worst in this title. Not only do vehicles almost always vanish after the mission cutscenes, but they also vanish if the player saves their game in a safehouse with a vehicle parked outside, even if Victor immediately goes back outside (in previous games the last vehicle driven by the player remains parked outside the safehouse after a save as long as the console isn't reset or a game reloaded).

Trivia

Further Reading

References

Trailers

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Trailer #1 (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Trailer #2 (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Trailer #3 (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Official Trailer (PS2)

External Links

Navigation

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Grand Theft AutoProtagonists | Liberty City (and New Guernsey) | San Andreas | Vice City | Characters | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Cheats
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Grand Theft Auto AdvanceMike | Liberty City | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Soundtrack | Cheats
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City StoriesToni Cipriani | Liberty City | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Cheats
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City StoriesVictor Vance | Vice City | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Cheats
Grand Theft Auto IVNiko Bellic | Liberty City | Alderney | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
Episodes from Liberty City
The Lost and DamnedJohnny Klebitz | Liberty City | Alderney | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
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Grand Theft Auto VMichael De Santa | Trevor Philips | Franklin Clinton | Southern San Andreas (Los Santos (County) | Blaine County) | State of North Yankton (Ludendorff) | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Weapons | Vehicles | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
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