Gta Vice City Stories Review

Atlantic puffin photograph by tony yu. Atlantic puffin photograph by tony yu

Right, so I finally got around to replaying Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories after years of it sitting in the back of my mind, and honestly, it holds up better than I expected. Rockstar Leeds managed to squeeze an entire sunburnt, neon-drenched slice of 1984 Vice City onto the PSP, and then onto the PS2, and even all these years later, it still has that unmistakable charm. Playing as Vic Vance, a bloke just trying to do right by his family before everything goes properly sideways, gave the story a grounded feel that its predecessor never quite nailed for me.

Building an Empire, One Shady Business at a Time

The thing that really hooked me was the empire building mechanic. For the first time in the series, you weren't just doing jobs for other people's benefit. You could take over rackets, set up protection rings, and actually watch your criminal portfolio grow across Vice City. There was something genuinely satisfying about finishing a mission, pocketing the earnings, and seeing your little operation tick over in the background. Sure, defending your businesses from rival gangs got a bit tedious around the third or fourth takeover, but the sense of ownership made the grind worth it. I reckon more modern GTA titles could take a leaf out of this book.

Vic and Lance: A Bromance With a Shelf Life

What surprised me most on this replay was how much I cared about Vic. Unlike most GTA protagonists, he's not a psychopath or a career crim. He's a soldier dragged into the mess by circumstance, and his chemistry with Lance Vance, a walking hype machine with terrible judgement, is genuinely fun to watch. You know exactly where it's all heading if you've played Vice City, and that dramatic irony gives the whole story a melancholy edge. Every time Lance cracked a joke, I couldn't help but think of what was coming down the track.

Even the Little Details Stuck With Me

Here's a funny thing. The other day I stumbled across a gorgeous photo of an Atlantic puffin, and for whatever reason, my brain dragged me straight back to Vice City Stories. Something about that lone bird standing proudly reminded me of Vic himself, a decent sort trying to keep his head above water in a chaotic world. It also got me thinking about how much time I spent just cruising the game's beaches and swamps, soaking in the sunset palette and the synth-heavy soundtrack. The wildlife, the water, the washed-out pastel skies, they all blended into this weirdly peaceful backdrop for all the chaos. That's the mark of a good open world, really. When a random bird photo can pull you back in years later, you know the place left an impression.

So, Is It Worth Your Time in 2024?

Look, the controls are clunky by modern standards, the mission design occasionally leans on cheap difficulty spikes, and swimming, despite being an improvement over Vice City, still feels like a chore. But if you can look past the rough edges, Vice City Stories is a cracking little entry in the series with genuine heart, a brilliant soundtrack, and one of the most underrated protagonists Rockstar ever wrote. I'd happily trade a few shiny modern remasters for a proper return to this one. If you've got a PSP gathering dust or can track down an old copy, give it a burl. You won't regret it, mate.