Grand Theft Auto 3 revolutionized the gaming world when it debuted in 2001. Its vast open world and lawless nature made it unlike anything else at that time. But while it's considered one of the most important games of all time, it simply doesn't hold up today. However, the same cannot be said for its sequel, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. This game, while it has its flaws, drastically improved nearly everything from GTA 3 and is still enjoyable now.
Vice City took the lawlessness of Liberty City and transplanted it to a crime-ridden paradise. The game is based in 1980s Florida, where drug smugglers were king and cocaine was the new currency. Players take the role of Tommy Vercetti as he climbs the criminal ranks in hopes of becoming the next big drug kingpin. Vice City added tons of new features to the series while fixing GTA 3's issues.
People tend to forget that GTA 3 didn't have a map in its pause screen. The game came with a map packed inside its case, but it did little to help players not familiar with the layout of the city. Plus, many people threw away the map, so used copies of the game rarely include it. Vice City is the first Grand Theft Auto game to include a map in the pause menu, making it so players can figure out where they are by pausing the game instead of breaking out a flimsy physical map. This feature has since become standard for all GTA games that followed. The days of wandering around aimlessly figuring out all the twists and turns of the city are over. Now, players simply pull up the map on the pause screen and select their destination.
Vice City was also the first GTA to have voiceovers for the main protagonist, which is one of the reasons Tommy Vercetti is one of the most iconic GTA characters. Actor Ray Liotta did a fantastic job voicing Vercetti, and his performance enhanced the overall experience. GTA's silent protagonist is great, but the lack of voice acting limited the player's connection with the character. Tommy Vercetti has an aura to him that GTA 3's main character doesn't have, and that's a tribute to Liotta's tremendous work.
Rockstar also vastly improved the combat controls in Vice City from GTA 3. Going back and playing GTA 3 now really exposes how subpar the game's combat is. It was amazing for its time but struggles to hold up today. Vice City's combat system is smoother, making it easier to gun down opponents. Players would often shoot wildly towards enemies hoping to hit something in GTA 3, but Vice City has a better lock-on system and improved sight aiming. Players could easily go from target to target without issue, and while it's now dated, it's still a dramatic improvement over its predecessor.
Vice City is one of the most beloved games in the Grand Theft Auto series. The game's epic story and fun gameplay blew gamers away back in 2002, and it still holds up pretty well today compared to earlier games in the franchise. It improved almost everything from the already great previous games, creating it an unbelievable gaming experience that will go down in history as one of the best of all time.