GTA: Vice City

About GTA: Vice City

GTA: Vice City was released in 2002 and developed by Rockstar North as an open-world action-adventure game. Set in a fictional version of 1980s Miami, the game puts players in control of Tommy Vercetti as he works through missions, builds his criminal business, and explores the city. The gameplay mixes driving, shooting, exploration, story missions, and free-roaming, so there is usually something to do even when the main challenge is not the priority. Rockstar describes Vice City as a large urban world stretching from beaches and swamps to busy city areas.

Player Controls

WASD / Left Stick: Walk around and move Tommy.
Mouse / Right Stick: Look around and aim.
Left Click / Attack Button: Shoot or attack.
Space / Run Button: Run faster.
Enter a car: Walk up to a vehicle and use the vehicle button.
Driving: One set of controls handles the gas and steering, so it does not take long to get used to.
Mobile: Touch buttons sit on the screen for walking, driving, shooting, and changing the camera.

Core Gameplay Features

Missions give the game most of its direction. Some are quick jobs, while others turn into long drives, shootouts, or police chases.
Cars are a big part of getting around. Steal one, drive across town, ditch it, and grab another when things go wrong.
The wanted level can change things pretty fast. A few mistakes can leave police cars following everywhere.
Weapons become important once missions start getting harder. It is worth checking what is available before heading into a fight.
Money starts opening up more options as the story moves along. Properties also become useful instead of just being places to look at.
The city is fun to drive around even when there is nothing waiting on the map. Different streets, beaches, shops, and traffic make the trips between missions less boring.
The 1980s setting is a big part of the game. The cars, clothes, buildings, and radio stations all fit the period without needing much explanation.
On mobile, the same basic gameplay works with touch controls, although driving and aiming can take a little practice.

A Few Tips

Save before starting a difficult mission. Some missions can take a few tries.
Keep a decent car nearby when heading into a longer mission.
Grab body armor before missions where you know there will be a lot of shooting.
If the police are after you, find a Pay ‘n’ Spray instead of trying to outrun them forever.
Learn the main roads. Once the city starts feeling familiar, getting around becomes much easier.
Try different cars and motorcycles. Some are much easier to handle than others.
On mobile, move the touch buttons around until the controls feel comfortable.
If a mission gets annoying, leave it for a bit and explore. There is plenty to do around the city without following the story.