Grand Theft Auto Vice City – Videogame Review

🐾 Review: Grand Theft Auto Vice City Video

Played on: [Steam/PC] · Release: [2003] · Designer/Studio: [Rockstar Games] · Time: [⏱ 60m] · Players: [1] · Store Link : Grand Theft Auto Vice City

TL;DR: A tail-wagging neon crime spree — this 80s sandbox still struts like a cool top dog, even if some of its tricks are a bit long in the tooth.

Would I play this instead of tidying the kitchen? [Absolutely].

What is it?

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is an open-world action-adventure game set in a vibrant, fictional 1980s Miami. You play as Tommy Vercetti, a small-time crook rising through the ranks to become the city’s kingpin, carving out an empire through crime, deals, and plenty of chaos.

How it Plays

The game mixes third-person action, driving, and exploration in a free-roam city filled with missions, collectibles, and side activities. You’ll race sports cars, buy properties, run businesses, and shoot your way through rival gangs while soaking in pastel skylines and a legendary synth-pop soundtrack. The controls and gunplay show their age, but the sense of style and freedom still shine. What makes it stand out is its sheer atmosphere. It captures the feel of 80s crime dramas and excess perfectly, making its world as much a character as its cast. Of all the GTA games, this is my favourite, setting and soundtrack are both the pinnacle for me!

Metric	Rating	Notes (Video)
Tail-Wag Fun 🐾	🐾🐾🐾🐾☆	Despite being dated, its GTA, and a lot of fun!
Fetch-Depth 🎾	🐾🐾🐾☆☆	Plenty of things to do and see, following the traditional GTA formula.
Belly-Rub Accessibility ❤️	🐾🐾🐾☆☆	Controls are a little clunky in this dated version.
Drool-Worthy Presentation 💧	🐾🐾🐾☆☆	A little dated, but still has a style all of its own.
Zoomies & Flow 💨	🐾🐾🐾🐾☆	Plays and scales brilliantly as you work through the story, or do your own thing.
Treat Value 🍪	🐾🐾🐾☆☆	No longer available to purchase on steam, remaster is available & pricy from Rockstar.

Good Doggo (Pros)

• Iconic 80s aesthetic and incredible licensed soundtrack.
• Open-world freedom with tons of missions and side content.
• Memorable story and characters with plenty of attitude.

Ruff Spots (Cons)

• Clunky combat and driving physics by today’s standards.
• Dated visuals and occasional janky AI.
• Mission checkpoints are scarce, making failures frustrating.

Verdict

Still a neon-soaked classic, though its a little dated now, and rough around the edges, but a stylish ride through one of gaming’s most iconic playgrounds.

Recommendation Tier : 🐾🐾🐾 – Solid Sit

Legend: 0 🐾 Ruff · 1–2 🐾 Patchy · 3 🐾 Solid Sit · 4 🐾 Good Doggo · 5 🐾 Chef’s Kiss