User Score
8.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 568 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 25 out of 568

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  1. Oct 25, 2010
    10
    Amazing graphics, beautifully written story. This is a must have game - for those who love the classic mafia wars, the music, the ladies, the buildings of the 1980's. Stunning.
  2. Nov 10, 2011
    10
    Now, gamers and gentlemen, what you see here right now is "GTA: Vice City", one of the world's most epic PC game mankind ever created. The game's a open-world; you could go out and massacre everybody, destroy gangs, steal cars, and call in the FBI and the army and fight till the death. One of the new features is building investments, which is also a great feature that teaches you to stop wasting money on chicks and to get your head into the game. Great graphics for 2003 as well as the game engine. The story's a meh but who the **** cares; it's GTA. A 10 out of 10!!!!!!! Expand
  3. Nov 17, 2011
    10
    This is my very first GTA, so admittedly I hold it in particularly high regard since it was what initially drew me into the series. At first I thought the game was going to be hopelessly stupid, but there is honestly a lot of hilarious and thoughtful satire/comedy in the game that proved my initial assumptions dead wrong. Vice City had some features that were highly lacking in other GTAs to come, like the ability to buy businesses and strip-clubs, and other types of properties such as garages for stolen vehicles, among other things. The game's story and characters weren't especially memorable, and definitely weren't as good as what you'll find in newer GTAs, but they were definitely acceptable quality.

    A more relevant attraction to Vice City, for me though, was the terrific variety of radio stations in the game, and the hilarious nature of the game's social commentary. Rockstar did a terrific job of making the game entertaining to both thoughtful individuals, as well as people who just want some short-term fun going nuts and blowing things up, and the diversity and size of the audience they have attracted to the Grand Theft Auto series is a testament to that fact.

    I highly recommend this game! Granted, the graphics are dated, but if you can look past the graphical flaws, you'll find a gem here. If you can't look past the graphics, give some of the newer GTA games a try. They're all wonderfully enjoyable.
    Expand
  4. Jun 10, 2011
    9
    This is well worth playing from start to finish. Even after you finish the story, just messing around performing impossible jumps or running from the cops and national guard is worth the price of admission. Shooting backwards with the tank while moving forward for some extra nitro: priceless.
  5. Oct 12, 2011
    10
    This is what we called ,,evergreen" in gaming. It's definition of pure, clear, maximum satisfying video game art. Can't wait for the ,,Vice City Rage" - fantastic mode, coming soon!
  6. AdamB.
    May 31, 2003
    10
    Great game.
  7. Michael
    Sep 10, 2003
    10
    This is one of the best games on ps2 it is hard has good graphics and is fun even if u clock it.
  8. HussainJ.
    Oct 30, 2003
    10
    It is super and a classic game i just love the game.
  9. TylerDurden
    May 30, 2003
    10
    Truly amazing game - GTA family has created a game with no equals in this genre. Definitely defrag your hard drive before installing - it will make an incredible difference!
  10. AlexA.
    May 13, 2005
    10
    No way can you give this game anything lower than a 9 in my oppinon gta vice city is the best gta game ever to hit pc.
  11. DjounaidD.
    Jan 13, 2006
    10
    Its so cool game I was playing it from the first day of it bealive me.
  12. R.Dalvi
    May 2, 2006
    10
    Very ahrd but at the same time so entertaining that it is very hard to stop playing it even though you have not completed it.
  13. ArneB.
    Jan 8, 2008
    9
    Fantastic game. The only thing that detracts is the fact that the main character talks. This is why GTA3 is the better game as it is more imersive.
  14. Sgt.Awesomeness
    Jan 24, 2010
    10
    I like many things about this game. The trademark GTA free-roam/sandbox element, the Scarface-style Miami setting, hiding out on the 2nd floor balcony of someone's house staking out and trying to get 6 stars then finally stealing a tank but getting immediately caught because it's far too slow and then shouting profanity after all your hard work goes to waste. But all that stuff combines like all delicious flavors combining to make an awesome new food. A very fun party-ish game indeed. Expand
  15. MafiaGuy
    Nov 1, 2003
    10
    This game's great, and is much more fun than GTA 3.
  16. NickV.
    May 12, 2003
    10
    Best game ever but this game was based on the movie scarface. The Music, buildings and most of the characters!
  17. KentO.
    May 13, 2003
    10
    Good.
  18. HectorC.
    May 14, 2003
    10
    Perfect 10 for a perfect game.
  19. TimH.
    Jul 2, 2003
    10
    Can't STOP PLAYING! The only time I stop is when I get an unhandled exception...
  20. Vicecityisgreat
    Aug 14, 2003
    10
    Greatest game i've ever played i cant quit playing it it is awesome.
  21. RobbyA.
    Aug 2, 2003
    10
    I thing this game is the best of all. NO COMMENTS.
  22. RasmusL.
    Aug 23, 2003
    10
    Simply a perfect game. Fantastic entertainment, good graphics, nice motor bikes and so on.. :)
  23. ChrisH.
    May 2, 2004
    10
    This game rocks who in the world would give a number any lower than a 9 get a life if you would!
  24. HidroG.
    Jun 12, 2004
    10
    This game is way better that gta 3 since it has got more things and certainly more blood.
  25. Graham
    Aug 5, 2004
    9
    Amazing fun for a while ... apart from two issues I really wish they'd sorted: 1) you're stuck redoing the same mission time after time because you miss some deadline by 2 seconds. 2) You have to watch all the cutscenes and can't skip them (I can't believe game makers still make this basic error!! Please if you're reading this NEVER enforce cutscenes.) It has so much to it this game - just riding around the city is worth the price of the game imho. My housemate would have a drunken session most nights trying to find the biggest ramp to jump off. I thought he was being daft until I realised you get points for this! I played it for about a week or two, great fun. It's tongue in cheek darkness too, in case you're a worried parent or squeamish or something ;-) Expand
  26. SamF.
    Jun 9, 2005
    9
    Great Game all around. Its open ended gameplay is something to be copied by other games for a good reason, and it works. The third person fighting mode could be a bit easier and better done. But the whole game really sucks you into the immersive gameplay and missions. Hours of lost sleep for sure.
  27. MarcB.
    Mar 26, 2006
    10
    Heyyo, Amazing game. I love it. That's why even I had to mod it. If only GTASA had the same modding capabilities I tell ya...
  28. PhilD.
    May 16, 2003
    9
    9/10 - It could be perfect if there was not that annoying clipping problem.
  29. Jok`RdeMo
    May 19, 2003
    9
    Yeah, this is cool. I like this even better than GTA 3. what to say, radio is very cool and also posibility to play mp3. But the best thing of game is that it can really work on slow PC's (i mean Duron 600 with 128 RAM it goes almost without slowing down). Cool...
  30. RickF.
    May 24, 2003
    10
    This game is better than the original. The game runs faster at the same resolution than the previous game...amazing considering how much better the graphics are in VC. You have to get this game--it's a must have!
  31. MatthewP.
    May 25, 2003
    10
    This game is better then Grand Theft Auto 3 and that in this game the cars and trucks look much more better then before and theft the FBI really use different cars. THIS GAME IS THE BEST IT ALSO A MUST BUY GAME.
  32. SamL.
    Jul 11, 2003
    10
    One of the funnest games out there.
  33. VidM.
    Nov 9, 2004
    10
    10? Try 11. This game somehow manages to be even better than GTA III. The world is even more chaotic and allows even more freedom. The story and characters are given some color this time around. The combat system gets a much-needed kick in the pants, which is good because you'll spend much more time shooting and much less time driving in this game than in GTA III. The combat system still needs work though as aiming is still problematic. Also, I would have liked less emphasis on shooting and more emphasis on driving. But this game is great for what counts most: fun factor. Expand
  34. StuartR.
    Nov 21, 2006
    10
    Truly one of the greats. Fire it up for a speed run and marvel at the congruity of the story and the variety of the missions. Worth getting back into it for joey's nos mod alone. Not as big as San An, but a more concise and directed experience, and probably more intriging.
  35. JackT.
    Apr 15, 2007
    10
    Absoloutely jawdropping game, so innovative (as the GTA series always is).
  36. AnonymousMC
    Jul 16, 2009
    9
    Nice game, enjoyed it. Only problem: the map was too small!
  37. Aug 16, 2010
    9
    This basically takes Grand Theft Auto III adds some new features such as entering more buildings, buying property, and more weapons; tosses it into Florida in the 80's; and lets you take over...literally. The atmosphere is amazing and the story is great too. Definitely would recommend it.
  38. Jul 25, 2012
    9
    Wonderful free-roam action-game made by Rockstar. The game is set in the 80's and brings the neon and colorful suits with it.

    The story is well written and as all Rockstar(and GTA-games) the game makes fun of itself and is very entertaining. There's enough side missions and activities to have you occupied for a long time.
    Buy it, you won't regret it!
  39. Oct 2, 2011
    10
    Another gaming classic from Rockstar. Nothing particularly revolutionary, but in every respect it is fun and engaging. It's better than GTA 3 in every way, and a really special experince. There are numerous Scarface references and easter eggs- from the opening credits to the characters, some buildings and the story. The city is very good, and this game introduces assets- so you can buy businesses. Rampages and getting a high wanted level are the most satisfying here. The weapons are also brutal. Overall, the missions are good quality and they've got a real sense of character and humour. The soundtrack of Vice City- including the chat show VCPR- are the best in all of GTA. Expand
  40. Nov 9, 2011
    10
    Graphics 7/10
    Gameplay 10/10
    Controls 10/10
    Story 9/10
    Characters 10/10
    Level design 10/10
    Presentation 10/10
    User Interface 9/10
    Sounds 9/10
    Music 10/10
  41. Nov 10, 2011
    10
    Where do you start with Vice City. This game is by far the best game in the series,it has everything you could ask for and more. It certainly boasts one of the best soundtracks in any game ever,to cater for all needs. Taking great inspiration from the 1980's drug wars,you find yourself deep in a world of drugs gangs and crime. The city is awesome,albeit a little small compared to San andreas,still is great fun to drive around and has alot of memorable places.
    The biggest thing i enjoyed was the ability to buy your own companies and a vast amount of homes.
    Expand
  42. May 14, 2012
    10
    This game brings back memories - it is essentially the enhanced port of GTA III into the modern era, paving way for the highly acclaimed GTA IV. Must play for any GTA fan with tons of fun.
  43. Mar 10, 2012
    9
    I am very tied emotionally to the roots of 3D GTA, so is difficult for me to say which one is the best. GTA 3 was the very first. Vice City the most vibrant. And San Andreas the biggest and boldest.. And none of them goes below 9, because not only they gained one of the biggest armies of fans, but also punched the industry in the face and showed it where to go.
  44. Jan 25, 2013
    10
    What happens when you take a good game and make it godly? That would be the case of Vice City, the follow-up to GTA III. Rockstar took the game and remade it into nothing but awesomeness fixing all the issues the previous game had and even adding to it. All the problems I had personally with the previous game are long gone and the new additions that I never knew I wanted are incredible, so let's talk about what Vice City has that GTA III doesn't and how Vice City just does everything better than it. The main character this time, Tommy Vercetti actually has a personality unlike the character from the previous game who always kept quiet and nodded his head whenever someone told him to do something, Tommy on the other hand is a really good character with a sense of humor who isn't afraid of anything and will always tend do the most insane **** you'll ever see. The missions this time around are a LOT more fun and aren't as frustrating as the missions in GTA III that would sometimes just make you tear your hair out. The missions are quite challenging sometimes but they are great and even if you fail, you'll always want to try again till you succeed because you'll always be waiting to see what else this game has up it's sleeve, and let me tell ya, this game is just full of surprises in it's excellent storyline. The guns this time are actually affective, you can actually aim with them and the crosshair won't lie to you like it did in the previous game, your shots with the guns in GTA III would fly all over the place and barely ever hit what you wanted it to, that's fixed in Vice City and it's really fun to use the guns, they are all great, the guns are a lot more varied now and there are also more melee weapons now, and they are gory fun! Like Katanas and chainsaws that just leave a disgusting mess full of blood and I love it. There are also a lot more vehicles in the game now, plus the addition of helicopters which are quite hard to control at first but you will get used to it and it can be a lot of fun to fly around. Another great thing about the game and it's storyline is that it's full of humor, the game has really great writing and excellent dialog, and it's actually funny whenever the writers made a joke, I laughed quite a lot myself, especially when I listened to the radio. Lazlow did a great job with the radio in this game, the commercials and stations are hilarious, they make a lot of pop culture references and they make it funny, I really enjoyed this game. I might even agree that this is the best game in the series, but there's San Andreas to compete with the game... Expand
  45. Jan 28, 2013
    9
    Los dos primeros juegos de la saga no habían dado todo lo que podían, pero con la tercer entrega encontraron el camino. Por suerte, la formula ganadora se re-implemento en este juego, y la versión de la ciudad de Vice City es la mejor de todas.
  46. Jul 2, 2012
    10
    This Is the best Game of last years , Mod Vice City : Multiplayer is very good mod for GTA ahh hot 80's years , beatiful girls and sun and Radio Station , This game was not boring for ever !: ) sorry for my ENG
  47. Dec 5, 2012
    9
    Everything is amazing about this game. Its story, its characters, the script and last but not least, the soundtrack. It really takes you back to the 80 s.
  48. Dec 9, 2012
    10
    Grand Theft Auto Vice City is a really good game. It has a beautiful written story, their missions are so funny, the game takes you to 80s in a engaging way, it is not an overstatement give a score of 10.
  49. Jun 12, 2013
    9
    This game is a wonderful play on 1980s Miami. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City contains an overwhelming amount of content, especially considering the fact it was developed in 2003. Although the world is a bit small in regards to Grand Theft Auto IV and Skyrim, for it's time, this game does an excellent job filling the area with lots of content. Almost every spot in the game has some tie in with a quest. There is no empty space. In Oblivion you could ride your horse around for 10 minutes and find almost nothing to do. In Vice City, Everywhere you drive there's something to do. This brings me to my next point; driving. Often times, I found myself aimlessly driving around just for the fun of it, sometimes doing various vehicle submissions (like the Taxi, Vigilante, and Ambulance missions). The stunts in the game are a bit lacking, as it's often difficult to find a proper set up for a super awesome stunt you want to pull off (no flips on a motorcycle). 10 years after Grand Theft Auto: Vice City hit store shelves it's still a hugely successful game and easily regarded as one of the best open world, action shooters of all time. Expand
  50. Mar 2, 2013
    10
    Fiquei com o pé atrás quando meus amigos me falaram da série mas quando comecei a jogar vi que eu podia fazer de tudo e que liberdade esse jogo nos dá para fazer seja bom ou mau e eu disse que você pode até comprar uma produtora de filmes pornográficos e contratar a atriz mais badalada da cidade de uma outra produtora de filmes lógico na base da bala ou salvar todos os carros com acidenteacidentes graves tanto com ambulância como com o carro do corpo de bombeiros, foi aí que percebi o quanto esse jogo bom, fora ser o dono da cidade. Expand
  51. Apr 13, 2013
    10
    10/10, La historia de este juego es muy buena, al final de cada misión, no podes aguantar la intriga de saber que va a pasar después en la historia, uno de los pocos juego que se ambienta en los '80 que realmente te hace sentir en los '80, la música de la radio es perfecta, el voice acting, lo sonidos, el humor, todo es perfecto para mi en este juego.
  52. May 11, 2013
    9
    The game is perfect.Very good and long singleplayer,open world,missions,buildings for missions,and more.I think that the graphic should be a little better,but everything else is perfect
  53. May 25, 2013
    9
    Es un gran juego, es un juego muy emocionante, que te atrapa y no podes parar de jugarlo.Lo mejor del juego es la libertad que tenes en el juego; los personajes tienen un buen papel y ademas la trama del juego es espectacular, un juego con engaños y traiciones.
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. 100
    Best of all, the numerous bugs and glitches that brought the PS2 version down a notch have been cleaned up and eliminated, for the most part. Enemies no longer shoot you through solid walls, you no longer randomly lose health while running, and cars remain in your garage until you take them out.
  2. 100
    Side-missions are just amazingly fun.
  3. It transcends the very genre it once created.