Grand Theft Auto 3 redefined video gaming. There's no doubt about it. It, more like he, stomped through the industry with a puffed up chest, a pissed off attitude and a really big gun. He proved that in a game, you could do absolutely ANYTHING, and not worry about the consequences, because there was always the little green button that said "reset." He was a game that created memories, a game that gave us experiences we talked about with our friends. He was a game that put video games on the map (i bet your girlfriend at least hear about it). In ten years, We'll look back and say "there he is, GTA3, the game that changed games forever." when it had been out for a mere six months, it had already made a place for itself in history, and become an instant classic.
Needless to say, this is quite a reputation for Vice City to live up to.
Fortunately for all of us, Rockstar has succeeded. the first words i heard about this game were "my god, it actually lives up to the hype!" and believe me, it does. The Main character, Tommy Vercetti, has more style, charisma, and by far a better voice (Ray Liotta of Goodfellas fame) than our nameless hero from GTA3. The city, Vice City, is bigger, more complicated, and a lot tougher than Liberty City. In fact, pretty much every aspect of GTA3 has been expanded and upgraded, making Vice City on helluva sequel.
Surprisingly, Sound is one of the things that made GTA3 spectacular. normally sound effects and music aren't too noticeable, but here they are a wonderful icing on what, here, is a very tasty cake. the music stations have hours and hours of music, much of which I haven't heard (listening mainly to VCPR and Vrock, the best stations of course). you might here some familiar names and voices as you play through this game, including the brit obsessed with being spanked, Fernando martinez, and everyone's favourite smart-ass: LAZLOW!!! remember his comments about being kicked off the rock station?
As far as sound effects, each and every engine sounds different. wait, let me repeat that: each and every engine of the one hundred plus cars sounds different. the Stinger hums, the Cheetah purrs, and the Oceanic... coughs.
As far as sound goes, this game lacks nothing at all.
Gameplay is, of course, a games single most important aspect. The sound can rock you, the story can make you cry, and the graphics can make you wet your pants, but if the game isn't any fun to play, you won't put in enough time for any of the above to happen.
This was my biggest worry for Vice City. Would Rockstar try to change 3's perfect formula? A formula that had stolen my life for an entire summer of complete video game bliss? or, perhaps worse, would the gameplay remain the same? would Vice City come off as GTA3 with a fresh coat of eighties paint? Or maybe, just maybe, Rockstar would somehow keep the flavour of GTA3, and create spectacular new angles to play the game with? Well, get down on your knees and praise the great Video Game god Googamooga, they did! Basicly, Everything you hoped this game would do it does.
The cars handle spectacularly. some slight physics upgrades have made all the difference. the cars never feel like they're doing something they shouldn't. The car never pull up on two wheels at odd moments, and when a cop starts shooting at you randomly and a bullet hits your tire, it blows out with a loud explosion, sending your skidding off at frustrating and odd angles. Also, speaking of cops, they can actually think this time around! Apparently, during the eighties in Miami cops new how drive their cars fast, pursue criminals, take cover, and aim their weapons. the cop chases get far more challenging this time around, especially when FBI SUVs start slamming you against walls.
The cars aren't the only thing that have been reworked. while on foot, your new *duck* button (R3) is used a lot more than you might think, not to mention it is spectacularly intuitive. the new weapon system, in which only one kind of weapon from each class can be carried at once, is also beautifully executed, as there is not always a clear "best" weapon. I, personally, liked the M4 better than the Ruger, the Remington pump action shotgun to the SPAZ automatic, and the M60 better than the mini gun. Did I mention the guns are all real this time around?
