[PSP] Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories - dmac154

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Published by: Rockstar games
Developed by: Rockstar Leeds/Rockstar North
Release Date: US (October 30, 2006)
Europe (November 3, 2006)
Australia (November 10, 2006)
Genre: Third-Person Action
Platform: PSP, PS2


Welcome to Vice City, the wildest place on Earth in 1984. Vice City is home to the most notorious criminals, not to mention loan sharks, pimps and drug smugglers. You play as Victor (Vic) Vance, a soldier in the army who must make enough money to cure his younger brother’s sickness. He does a couple ‘abnormal’ missions for his commanding officer and is eventually kicked of the base for contraband possession. This is where the city opens up to you. Later on in the game, your other brother Lance joins the cast and really messes things up for you.

As with every GTA title, you have to complete many missions in order to proceed with the main storyline. The story itself is pretty strong, and is basically explaining what happened to Vic Vance before he dies two years later in GTA: Vice City.

Many gamers know this is the second GTA game released for the PSP, the previous title being GTA: Liberty City Stories. VCS improves upon what LCS had brought to the PSP in ’05. And in some ways, even surpasses its sister title on the PS2. All I’m saying is: VCS is a hardcore game that every PSP owner should have.

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'Vice Beach, its 1984. Time to get the f**k up out your clothes' - Fresh 105 FM​

Let’s start with the controls. There are a few problems in this area of the game. The camera has been ‘upgraded’ only to be seen as mediocre. There are now up to five different camera angles available, this depends on whether you are in a vehicle or not. But the camera is still a pain. Sometimes it will focus on targets that are unable to be attacked, for example, an enemy hiding behind a tree. Unless you have a grenade or some other explosive weapon, you won’t be able to shoot them without moving from your spot.
Also, sometimes while running away from the cops under a ‘wanted’ level, the camera will zoom in for a close-up of your face. It doesn’t help you in running away, but can be easily dealt with by pressing the L button to re-center the camera. However, these problems do not occur too frequently.

As I stated earlier, VCS improves upon the LCS title in so many ways. The targeting system in LCS was horrible, as it needlessly targeted random people in the middle of a mission. This could be harmful if you are against an army of police officers and have only the slightest of health remaining. The VCS targeting system targets ‘smarter’ – meaning it targets threats first, rather than random people.

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This doesn't look like a rescue mission...​

As usual, GTA games are populated with many vehicles ready for your acquisition. The game boasts over 100 different vehicles ready for your commandeering. However, new vehicles have been added to the line-up. LCS incorporated cars and speedboats, in addition to those, VCS allow you to pilot helicopters and even planes. Yes, you can now fly planes in this portable version of GTA. This is a dream come true for PSP GTA gamers worldwide. Though it is not available at the beginning of the game due to a hurricane shutting down the airport, it is acquirable after a certain number of completed missions.

Could it get any better than that? Heck yes. Very early in the game you meet Marty Williams, a typical redneck who owns businesses of prostitution, protection rackets and loan sharking. After doing a couple missions and saving his wife, you eventually have to ‘deal’ with Marty. After Marty is ‘made’ you acquire his businesses. Introducing for the first time in GTA history, players can now own ALL of Vice City. Rather, all the businesses of Vice City. Now you can smuggle drugs to sell, be a pimp and send out your women to do work, even protect businesses from the rival gangs of Vice City.
Also, in order to acquire other businesses, you must attack the businesses of the rival gangs, and after defeating all of the goons inside and outside, you can finally purchase the property. There is a downside, however, the rival gangs will also try to attack your business, and you must defend it. But the best thing is, you business makes money for you, which means you don’t have to only complete missions in order to make money.

The best aspect of VCS is the graphics. Rockstar did an amazing job with the graphics and it actually comes close to challenging God of War and Final Fantasy on the PSP.
Trees look realistic and sway in the winds, the weather changes every now and then, the sunrises and sunsets are absolutely stunning, and even detailing on people are great. The thing that amazed me though, is what I call the ‘background introduction.’ Basically, this is when you are speeding down the highway and you can see off in the distance the tall buildings coming into the view and not just spawning right in front of you like LCS did.

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Just gorgeous​

Another great thing in the game is the music selection. Players have the option to listen to ten different music stations each with their own unique DJ’s and music genres. Lots of licensed music really does play on the radio as well as some music created for the title. Usually, after completing a mission that attracted the police, you will find that a news bulletin interrupts the normal music sequence and explain to its listeners of some outrageous crime you committed. Trust me, this makes it feel like you are living in Vice City and that you really are Vic Vance.

Lastly, there is a vast amount of unlockable content to be acquired. Extra vehicles like quad bikes and helicopters, not to mention a Phil Connors concert. Also there are places on the map called ‘insane jump’ spots. Here you speed off a ramp to get some major air and must land perfectly on the other side in order to complete the stunt and acquire some money. What’s cool is that the camera angle changes to a stunt-like view where you see yourself in a movie-like fashion, with the overblown slow-motion and some special effects like certain vehicles catching on fire after the jump.

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That's my ride!​

Scores:

Presentation: This is a game to remember. Great ideas created by Rockstar to make a back-story for Vic Vance. A GTA game always delivers to its faithful fans. 9/10

Graphics: These are just plain awesome. As I said earlier, great engine, realistic movements, and awesome detailing make this game worthwhile graphically. 9/10

Sound: Great effects, lovely music and soundtracks, 10 different radio stations, and realistic vehicle engine sounds is just simply amazing. 9/10

Gameplay: If you want to play out the storyline, you can do that. If you want to go about killing random people, stealing cars, flying planes and helicopters, riding speedboats and jet skis, or if you just solely want to run your businesses, you can do that too. This game has too much potential, and it’s up to you to exploit it. 9/10

Lasting Appeal: So many unlockables, insane jumps, costumes, vehicles, missions, businesses to acquire, this game will keep you occupied for days to come. I guarantee it, or your money/download back. Plus you can play several game modes in Ad-hoc mode with your friends. 9/10

Total: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories receives 45 out of 50. It also receives the ‘Game of the Month’ award that I created - Best game I have played this month

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Closing Comments:
VCS is game worthy of playing for hardcore and soft-core gamers alike. Too many things to do, and so much of time. Exploration of games is taken to whole new level with this on the PSP. Great graphics and an amazing storyline make this game superb. Get it and have fun, you’ll make many memories and have an awesome time.

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The brothers: Vic and Lance​

Happy gaming – dmac154

 

"Llater on in the game, your other brother Lance joins the cast and really messes things up for you."

Typo.

Good review. I have this game, but I just don't have the attention span to play it.

 

Thanks, fixed the typo.

Go play it, its too awesome not to, doesn't matter about attention span, just go around killing people or ride a bike or something

 

it was ok but the game had too many annoying glitches that needed fixing, was rushed :

 

Nice review dmac! Winter has already posted for July, although this one counts for August, hehe.

 

But I submitted this July 31, 2008 12:04 PM, why does it count for August?

 

My bad, thought winners of July were already announced.

 

Good review, but I would'nt appreciate the score, This is probably the most boring GTA I have played till this time, I would likely give it a score 35-40, guess that's just me.

 

I have this game on my PS2 and thought it was a great game. Great review dmac! I loved the game too. I love the empire thing and taking over other business enterprises. Good work.

 

Im not sure if i bought this on PSP or PS2 but i just rember getting to a point where i could no complete any of the missions with out cheating. I dont feel that is right to happen in a game. There was litarly no way of beating a few of the missions with out stock pileing armor and rockets. I might be wrong and thinking of Libery City Storys. 8/10 for me tho still fun to just cruz around .

 

PS2 is just Vice City.

 

its cool but i Think for PS2 More Better

 

There is vice city stories for ps2 and it is the same game as the one on psp.

 

They made a Vice City Stories for the PS2?

I know that the storyline between the Vice City on PS2 is different from the Vice City Stories on PSP.

 

Not too sure about the storylines but I own Vice City Stories on PS2! It also has the brothers Vic and Lance and I don't see why they would go through the trouble of making a different storyline as I am pretty sure its just a port. I'm sure its the same game.

 

It is. My friend who owns the ps2 version once saw me playing it on the psp and he said it was exactly the same. Also if you did not know, there is also a Liberty city stories for both PSP and PS2 as well.

 

I have GTA3 for the PS2 and Liberty City Stories for the PSP.

I didn't even know those were released for the PS2.
My last videogame purchase for the PS2 was FFXII so yeah. I haven't really been keeping up with an old system.

 

Yeah Vice City Stories came out about a year ago and Liberty City Stories shortly before that. I have Vice City and Vice City Stories on PS2.

 

sweet!!