Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Official Vice City Stories cover art
Developer(s) Rockstar Leeds
Rockstar North
Publisher(s) Rockstar Games
Series Grand Theft Auto
Release date(s) PSP
NA October 31, 2006
UK November 3, 2006
ROI November 3, 2006
AU November 10, 2006
EU November 10, 2006
PS2
NA March 6, 2007
EU March 9, 2007
NZ March 9, 2007
Genre(s) Action
Mode(s) PSP

PS2

  • Single player
Rating(s) BBFC: 18
ESRB: M
OFLC: MA15+
OFLC (NZ): R18
PEGI: 18+
USK: 16
Platform(s) PlayStation Portable
PlayStation 2
Media PSP

PS2
System requirements PSP

PS2
Input Gamepad

    Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is the latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, developed by Rockstar Leeds in association with Rockstar North, published by Rockstar Games for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2. It is a prequel to the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and successor to the previous PSP release, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

    Vice City Stories marks the series' return to Vice City, with the game taking place in 1984, roughly two years before the events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The game focuses around Victor Vance, the brother of Lance Vance, who is thought to have been the one who was gunned down in the drug trade in the opening of GTA Vice City.

    Contents

    [edit] Storyline

    Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

    Victor Vance, the protagonist, is a U.S Army soldier. His sergeant, Jerry Martinez, gets him involved in drug trafficking, which is strictly against Vic's morals. Soon Vic is dishonourably discharged for the drugs found in his room and bringing a prostitute to the barracks, both of which were intended for Martinez. Vic works for Phil Cassidy, who is also featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Phil's brother-in-law Marty, who abuses his wife Louise and their baby Mary-Beth. Vic kills Marty after he kidnapped Louise, and begins a relationship with her.

    Soon after Lance Vance comes into town to join Vic. Together they steal Martinez's cocaine, but tensions arouse between the brothers after Vic finds out that Lance and Louise used it for themselves. They find out that Martinez was only transporting the drugs for Armando and Deigo Mendez. Lance and Vic are forced to work with the Mendez brothers, only to be betrayed. The Mendez brothers kidnap Louise and Lance, and Vic kills Armando while he is trying to kill Vic. Vic is too late to save Louise, although Lance lives. With help from Phil and Ricardo Diaz, Vic manages to steal an army helicopter. He guns down some of Diego's goons with it, and lands to continue his killing spree. Finally there is a confrontation on the top of a building, which ends when Vic kills Diego Mendez and Jerry Martinez. Lance arrives too late to help Vic, but together they agree never to touch drugs again.

    Spoilers end here.

    [edit] Release history

    Take-Two Interactive originally announced the title was to be released in North America on October 17, 2006 and in Europe on October 20, 2006, but early in September, there was an announcement stating the game had been delayed for release until October 31 in North America.[1] It was also announced that the game would be released on 10 November 2006 in Australia. Moreover, in Europe (Excluding the UK) the game suffered another delay, from November 3, 2006, to November 10, 2006, just like in Australia. The suggested retail price for the PSP version in the United States is $49.99, €49.99 in Europe and £34.99 in the UK.

    [edit] PlayStation 2 port

    On February 7, 2007 Rockstar Games announced plans[2] for a PlayStation 2 release. It was confirmed by Rockstar Games that the PlayStation 2 version of the game would be an almost straight port.[3] The port has improvements such as enhanced graphics (including the addition of bloom effects, enabled via a "trails" option), draw distance, and performance as expected, but also includes a few new side activities that weren't in the PSP release such as vehicle side missions, more unique jumps, more rampages and interestingly a new "easter egg". While other Grand Theft Auto ports have had extra features added (such as replays or custom soundtracks), this is the first port of any Grand Theft Auto game to include extra in-game content.

    [edit] Characters

    Main article: List of characters in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

    Like previous GTA games, Vice City Stories features notable voice actors. Gary Busey, Luis Guzman, Philip Michael Thomas, and Danny Trejo reprise their roles as Phil, Ricardo Diaz, Lance Vance, and Umberto Robina, respectively, which they previously played in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Phil Collins also makes a cameo as himself, making him the first famed musician to ever appear in a Grand Theft Auto as him/herself. Also, several cast and crew members of The Opie and Anthony Show were recorded and used as voices of several minor characters.

    In addition to the gangs previously featured in Vice City, new gangs make a debut in this game: the Trailer Park Mafia, the Sharks, the Cholos, the Bikers, the Vance Crime Family, and the Mendez Brothers.

    [edit] Gameplay

    Vice City Stories is structured similarly to other releases from the Grand Theft Auto series. The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, affording the player a large, open environment in which to move around. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, running, swimming and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand to hand combat. Players can steal and drive a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, boats, airplanes, helicopters, and motorcycles.

    The open, non-linear environment allows players to explore and choose how they wish to play the game. Although storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game and unlock certain areas and content, they are not required, as players can complete them at their own leisure. When not taking on a storyline mission, players can free-roam and create havoc (e.g. drive-by shootings, robberies, etc). However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities. The more chaos caused, the stronger the response: police will handle minor infractions, whereas SWAT teams, the FBI, and the military respond to higher wanted levels.

    Map of Vice City that is included with the game.
    Map of Vice City that is included with the game.

    The player can also partake in a variety of optional side missions. The traditional side missions of the past games are included, but have been moderately upgraded and enhanced compared to previous titles. A new addition to the game is "Beach Patrol", in which Victor must deal with bikers on the beach by jeep (by ramming or shooting to knock them off their bikes) or throwing life preservers to drowning swimmers by boat or by taking a paramedic around to injured people on the beach.

    For Vice City Stories, the combat system was overhauled to feature more depth than ever before. The targeting mechanic has been tweaked to "intelligently target"; enemies posing a threat or attacking the player will be targeted over pedestrians. The biggest changes concern the hand-to-hand combat system, as players can now perform grappling moves and throws, and stand on top of enemies laying on the ground.

    Players are able to bribe policemen or hospital staff when "Wasted"(killed) or "Busted"(arrested) in order to keep weapons that ordinarily would have been lost.

    The standard hidden package system returns in the form of 99 red balloons scattered around the city. This is a reference to Nena's 1980s hit, "99 Luftballons", which was featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

    Improvements to the graphics since the release of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories include new animations, faster load times, a longer draw distance, reductions in clumping of pedestrians and vehicles, more complex explosions, and increases in the density of objects, vehicles, and NPCs.

    [edit] Empire Building

    One of the key gameplay elements in Vice City Stories is "empire building." New to the GTA series, it borrows a few ideas from Vice City's "properties" and San Andreas' "gang wars" systems. In order to make money, the player must open and operate various businesses on property taken over from enemy gangs.

    Empire Building - Robbery
    Empire Building - Robbery

    To initiate an attack on another gang's territory, the player must destroy the gang car parked outside. Attacks on buildings require combat both indoor and outdoor. If the player is able to successfully eradicate the rival business and gang members and damage the building, it will then go up for sale. The player can then purchase the property and set up one of six businesses at the site. These include protection racket, loan shark, prostitution, drugs, smuggling and robbery. The location of a territory in the city will determine the business' success. For example, a smuggling business will perform better when located near the docks or airport than it would if in a residential district. Construction on a business will require two in-game days before completion. Once a business has opened, it will be able to earn the player money, and will additionally, act as a save point.

    The businesses themselves are built up through three growth stages: small-time, medium venture and high-roller, each of which will require an increased amount of investment to provide staff and resources, see table below:

    Venture Type Small-Time ($) Medium Venture ($) High-Roller ($)
    Protection 1500 2900 4400
    Loan Shark 2000 3900 5800
    Prostitution 3000 5900 8800
    Drugs 4500 8900 13300
    Smuggling 5000 9900 14800
    Robbery 6000 11900 17800

    It is possible for a business to be attacked by rivals, sometimes the past occupants. Accordingly, the player is given the option to hire and arm bodyguards to protect the territory. Employees can be recruited in a similar way that gang members are recruited in San Andreas. Each business has its own strand of missions which can be completed in order to improve the business in terms of how much money it makes and cause your respect in the type of business you are improving to increase.

    [edit] Side Missions

    There are various level based side missions in the game. New for Vice City Stories is the checkpoint level where after a certain level progress is saved and next time the mission is attempted it will restart from that level

    • Rampage: Kill members of a certain gang with a specific weapon or in a specific way (i.e run them over)
    • Vigilante: Kill criminals. Activated in a police vehicle. Earns extended Armor.
    • Air Rescue: Rescue people from land and sea, and bring them to hospital. Activated in a rescue helicopter. Earns Extended Health.
    • Paramedic: Rescue people, and bring them to hospital. Activated in an ambulance. Earns unlimited sprint capability.
    • Beach Patrol: Knock gang members on the bikes, or rescue people from danger, or patrol in a coast guard boat and rescue people from drowning, or chauffeur a medic around the beach to save people. Earns unlimited stamina for swimming.
    • Firefighter: Put out burning cars and occupants. Activated in a fire truck. Makes the player fireproof.
    • Fire Heli: Activated in an Armadillo (fire helicopter.) Gives player a few small dollars, an addition to their completion percentage number, but unfortunately, it does not make you fireproof like its land-going counterpart.
    • Taxi Driver: Bring customers to destination. Activated in a taxi. Makes Taxis jump when the player presses down on the d-pad (L3 on PS2).
    • Vice Sights: Bring tourists to sights and hold them steady to take photos. Activated in Maverick at Airport.
    • Crims On Wings: Beat lap time around first island. Activated in the Biplane at Airport.
    • Crims On Water Wings: Beat lap time around second island. Activated in the Skimmer near the lighthouse.
    • Skywolf: Go through checkpoints and destroy targets in Hunter. Activated in Hunter at airport after "Last Stand" Mission.
    • Playground On the Town: Pass through checkpoints in allotted time. Activated on PCJ-600 behind the Police Station Downtown.
    • Playground On the Point: Pass through checkpoints in allotted time. Activated on PCJ-600 just south-west of the mall, behind the bridge.
    • Playground On the Docks: Pass through checkpoints in allotted time. Activated on the PCJ-600 parked near Victor's first safe house away from the barracks.
    • Phil's Shooting Range:Destroy targets and win money. Activated at the shooting range near Phil's Depot.
    • Crash: Cause $2000 worth of damage to the city before the clock runs out. Activated in the bus, in between the top-left studio and the plane prop.
    • Rush A second crash mission near the docks, at the end of the road that runs next to the impound lot. This one tasks you to cause $1700 worth of damage with a Linerunner.
    • Harbor Hover Race:Race around Vice City Harbor in a Bovver 64'. Activated on the Bovver 64' parked in the City on Water.

    [edit] Weapons

    The weapons (and gunplay) in Vice City Stories are essentially identical to those in Liberty City Stories, with the exception of a few changed weapon models and names (such as the Tec-9 being replaced with a weapon model of the Scorpion, but it is still the same weapon) which were changed to fit the period (such as the M4 replaced with the M16 because the M4 didn't exist in 1984). Another noticeable change is the pistol (originally the Colt 45), which now has a different model and is called a Beretta. The AK-47 also replace the "Ruger" from the original Vice City since most players thought the Ruger was a bad replacement since all the GTA games had AK-47s[citation needed]. However, the weapons remain the same as their Liberty City Stories counterparts. There is also a new version of the rocket launcher.

    [edit] Radio stations

    Main article: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories soundtrack

    Like all other video games from the Grand Theft Auto series, the Vice City Stories soundtrack plays an integral role in setting the game's atmosphere. It features 9 different radio stations that play 105 licensed songs from the 1980s.

    [edit] Custom soundtracks

    Rockstar Custom Tracks
    Rockstar Custom Tracks

    Like its predecessor, Vice City Stories has the ability to play custom soundtracks. Prior to the PSP series, only Grand Theft Auto games on the Xbox and PC were able to implement custom soundtracks.

    In the application, songs from a CD are ripped, compressed, and converted to files that can be read by the game. Rockstar Custom Tracks (RCT), based on Exact Audio Copy, only allows the ripping of songs that are from a store-bought CD. However, fans have found a way to compress and convert MP3 files that are not burned onto CDs.[4] RCT can also look up and use the names from the FreeDB server if there are no names for the song(s). There must be at least one save file in order for RCT to work. It is thought that this will be used for other games Rockstar will release on the PSP from the name. More details can be found in the PDF in the file downloaded from the official site. Although not completed, Rockstar is working on being able to convert Itunes songs to psp format as well.

    [edit] Multiplayer

    Like the game's predecessor, Vice City Stories features a multiplayer mode that can be played via the PSP's WiFi feature, in ad-hoc (local) mode. Ten different modes of play are offered, and these multiplayer games will incorporate use of automobiles, aircraft, and water-based vehicles. The multiplayer modes are as follows:[5]

    • Vice City Survivor - a regular deathmatch mode which you can play as a free for all or in teams.
    • Street Rage- A standard street racing mode, with a sub-mode known as the "Quadathon", much like a triathlon but with 4 forms of transport; bike, car, sand buggy and helicopter.
    • Taken for a Ride - This mode is most similar to Capture the Flag in other multiplayer games. You have to steal the opposing team's car and return it to your base. The team with the most cars captured when the time runs out is the winner
    • Protection Racket - A team based, conquest style game. When you start out you'll either be attacking or defending. If you're defending you'll have to prevent four vehicles inside your base from being destroyed and if you're attacking you'll have to take out the opposition's cars. The quickest assault on the base wins.
    • Tanks for the Memories - There's one tank somewhere on the map. The team that spends the most time inside the tank is the winner but it's not all that simple - the opposition will carry heavy weaponry in order to take the tank out, like the game's new Rocket Launcher.
    • Grand Theft Auto - A simple steal cars, sell cars mode. You'll have to grab specific vehicles off the street and return them to a location. The better condition the car is in when you deliver it, the more cash you'll receive. The winner is the player with the most money at the end of a given time
    • Hit List - One player in the game is designated as "The Mark" and they must stay alive for as long as possible with every other player in the game chasing after them. However, the Mark cannot see other players on the radar (unless they are in a certain range) nor can they stay in any vehicle for a length of time (it will explode after a period). Killing the mark results in someone else taking on that role. The winner is the player who stays alive as The Mark for the longest.
    • Empire Takedown - Two teams, each with their own building or site. There's one set of explosives located somewhere on the level and the aim is to be the first team to grab them and deploy them at the opposing team's site. Once you're successful in rigging their building up to blow you'll have to prevent the other team from defusing the bombs while a timer counts down. When the timer reaches zero the building will explode and the winner will be declared.
    • Might of the Hunter - Very similar to Tanks for the Memories but the aim is to score the most kills and there's a Hunter (aka the "Army" helicopter) rather than a tank. Once again players will be equipped with heavy weaponry.
    • V.I.P. R.I.P. - Two teams - attackers and defenders and one player on the defenders' team is the VIP. The VIP must collect five briefcases, one at a time (when one is picked up another will spawn somewhere else) and then make their way to the escape point. While this is happening the attackers must try to kill the VIP. If the VIP escapes, the defending team wins but if the VIP is killed the attackers will win.

    [edit] Reception

    The game has received an 86% on Metacritic[6] and 85% on GameRankings.[7]

    The Playstation 2 port of the game got a 7.2/10 from Gamespot.

    Awards

    [edit] Trivia

    • The Wintergreen motorcycle introduced in the game is a reference to the 1973 movie Electra Glide in Blue whose protaganist is a motorcycle cop named John Wintergreen.
    • In the mission Kill Phil, the character Barry is an reference to the character Barry Taylor in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The mission's title is based off of the of Qeuntin Tarantino's two part film Kill Bill.
    • In the mission Domo Arigato Domestoboto, Domestobot looks almost identical to Nintendo's R.O.B. for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The mission name also derives from the Styx's song Mr. Roboto.
    • In addition, when "driving" Domestobot, DOS-like messages appear at the top of the screen saying humorous things such as "ANNOYING VOICE CHIP CHECK". An interesting one is "FLUX CAPACITOR AT 110%". This is an obvious nod at the Back to the Future DeLorean which used the flux capacitor to travel through time.
    • Although Ken Rosenberg does not appear in the game, in the breaking news report that is heard on the radio after Umberto Robina's first mission "Nice Package", it is announced that the station is working with "legal company Rosenberg and Company".
    • In Viceport there is a billboard for a movie called Full Moon, which consists of a picture of a full moon that is designed to resemble a person's buttocks. However, there is also a unique jump that takes the player directly in front of the billboard. If hit right, the camera will focus on the player and the vehicle as the vehicle flies above the street, with the moon graphic behind, in an homage to the famous scene in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
    • The zombie character model in multiplayer is named 'Bub', this is a reference to George A. Romero's Day of the Dead.
    • Sound clips from the game and the theme tune are available as ringtones, as well as four pieces of artwork for wallpapers, at the Vice City Stories Mobile website.
    • Several billboards in the game parody popular movies and actors of the time, including Los Santos Fop and The Secret of my Shortness.
    • A sign in Little Havana is named "Electric Boulevard," in obvious parody of the popular hit song, Electric Avenue (song).
    • In the game there is a mission titled 'Brawn of the Dead' in which you have have to fight off zombies in the North point mall. This is clearly inspired by George A Romero's film Dawn of the Dead.
    • When you purchase/upgrade a loan shark racket up to the level of a "High Roller Venture” the outfit "Repo Man" becomes available in your safe house. The outfit, as well as the name (and the racket's use) is a unique reference to the 80's cult movie Repo Man; which also features Emilio Estevez wearing the clothing within it's exact likeliness to the outfit in which you unlock (dress shirt, striped thin tie, slacks, and Italian shoes).
    • In Little Haiti, and possibly at other parts of the game, there is a store named Fidl. This is probably a homage to the European discount supermarket chain Lidl. The store also presents yellow interiors in the lieu of it's real-world counterpart.A Fidl store also appeared in Liberty City Stories on the Portland island.
    • In Little Havana, there is a boatside restaurant called "Benny's Restaurant". This may be a play off of a scene in the Miami Vice pilot in which Crocket uses a payphone outside of another boatside restaurant called "Bennay's Cafe". During the scene, Phil Collins' hit In the Air Tonight is playing, and the song is featured many times throughout the game.
    • The billboard for the movie "Ray the Otter" is a reference to famous actor Ray Liotta, who voiced Tommy Vercetti, the main protagonist of GTA Vice City.
    • Any gamer that played GTA Vice City may have found the "easter egg" which is hidden behind a false wall. If the player goes theyre in Vice City Stories (PS2 version only), they may find the egg again, but with a crane beside it as if it was still in construction. (Due to the fact that alot of Vice City was in construction in 1984) there is also a picture of a smiley face with a number 11 on it below the stand the egg is on. This is possibly in reference to "GTA: IV" being the 11th GTA game in the series.
    • The number 11 could also be a nod to the other easter eggs found in the game, which are all labled 1-10. Near the Stadium there is a sign with a picture of a car which reads "Have you found the 10 easter eggs"
    • There might be a GTA: San Andreas Stories, due to the trilogy of the past games, like GTA III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas to Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, although this is unlikely for the PSP, as San Andreas is too big to fit on a single UMD, which only holds 1.8GB of data. Compression techniques may be used to help fit San Andreas on a UMD.

    [edit] References

    1. ^ http://www.gtaportable.com/news/6228/vice-city-stories-delayed-globally
    2. ^ http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=229033
    3. ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=73054
    4. ^ gamespot.com
    5. ^ gtavcs.com
    6. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/grandtheftautovicecitystories?q=grand%20theft%20auto
    7. ^ http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/933097.asp?q=grand%20theft%20auto
    8. ^ http://bestof.ign.com/2006/psp/24.html

    [edit] External links

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    Grand Theft Auto (London, 1969 • London, 1961) • GTA2 • GTA III • Vice City • San Andreas • GTA Advance • Liberty City Stories • Vice City Stories • GTA IV
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