When a deal goes wrong and both the merchandise and the money are lost, Tommy Vercetti is left with only one choice: stay and rebuild from scratch. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is an open-world action game set in the 1980s, where players control Tommy as he rises from a mere henchman to the ruler of the criminal underworld in Vice City.
The game world spans everything from beaches and swamps to high-rises and slums. There are no forced paths; you are free to explore any location right from the start, provided the area is unlocked. Cars, motorcycles, boats, helicopters, and planes can all be commandeered and driven directly.
Basic controls
Tommy works for Juan Cortez and then Ricardo Diaz before striking out on his own. Missions follow a mandatory sequence; you must complete specific stages to unlock the next ones. Each boss changes Tommy's role within Vice City's underworld entirely.
Once you have enough money, purchasing properties like the Malibu Club, Pole Position Club, or Print Works generates an automatic income stream. Each property also unlocks its own unique mission chain separate from the main story. This is a secondary mechanic that many newcomers overlook because they focus too heavily on the main missions.
You can greatly reduce your chances of failing if you know where the weapon shops, hospitals, and save points are before you start your mission. When in combat, take cover rather than standing out in the open firing. Some missions are time-bound and require special vehicles, so make sure you read the goals carefully before you dive in.
To avoid unnecessary loss of progress:
If you prefer a game that doesn't force you down a linear path but instead allows you to decide the order of exploration, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City delivers exactly that. The storyline is clear enough to keep you on track, while the city is vast enough to offer hours of exploration. It is a great fit for both newcomers to the open-world genre and long-time fans of the GTA series.
