Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 184 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 111 out of 184
  2. Mixed: 53 out of 184
  3. Negative: 20 out of 184
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. WillyOldman
    Jan 22, 2019
    6
    Why is GTA:VCS on PS2 the worst GTA game for me???

    I've just finished GTA: VCS on PS2 and although I believe it is a good game on PSP I can't tell the same thing about PS2 version. Disadvantages: - so many bugs, flaws and nonsenses (Especially when you are on mission this could spoil you fun) - police aggression (Maybe it is just me but It felt like especially when you are on    Why is GTA:VCS on PS2 the worst GTA game for me???

    I've just finished GTA: VCS on PS2 and although I believe it is a good game on PSP I can't tell the same thing about PS2 version.

    Disadvantages:
    - so many bugs, flaws and nonsenses (Especially when you are on mission this could spoil you fun)

    - police aggression (Maybe it is just me but It felt like especially when you are on mission the police was always around hunting you - I believe sometimes it was in purpouse but sometimes it was just stupid coincidence that was ruining my game) I mention this because I didn't have that feeling in other GTA games

    - controls - especially in the beginning could be tough proposition but in the end I got used to it

    - some of the mission were super difficult!! (and from what I read I am not the only one with this feeling)- I am not super good player but I usually don't have big troubles with missions in GTA games.

    - the gang wars - sometimes you are dead before you step out of the car

    - I don't Like Lance Vance even less more after Vice City!

    ADVANTAGE!
    + soundtrack! - as in every GTA game I just love that one!

    + storyline! - not the best one from series but anyway still very catchy!

    + The dialogues, conversations, speeches, talk - good and funny as in every GTA

    + graphics/details - in my opinion similar to SA, especially the details in the game (can't say about LCS)

    + that business thing - very good idea how to earn money and have some fun via gang wars

    Maybe I could write more good things about this game it could deserveit but I am afraid I would find also more bad ones so I rather stop.
    it wouldnť be so bad except the bugs, mistakes and whatever is there in the end. But overall I'd rather choose LCS instead of VCS if should play it one more time - worse graphics but much better story, catchy missions and I kinda like Liberty City more than Vice City.
    Sorry Vic!    … Expand
  2. cronothegamer
    May 29, 2019
    7
    PS2 version suffers from severe framerate drops in some areas, particularly the second island. Technical issues aside it's basically more Vice City. I had fun with it. The missions are pretty standard 3D era GTA. I loved the missions with Phil Collins. I think In The Air Tonight might be one of my favourite GTA missions even though there isn't much gameplay in it. The soundtrack is goodPS2 version suffers from severe framerate drops in some areas, particularly the second island. Technical issues aside it's basically more Vice City. I had fun with it. The missions are pretty standard 3D era GTA. I loved the missions with Phil Collins. I think In The Air Tonight might be one of my favourite GTA missions even though there isn't much gameplay in it. The soundtrack is good although all the best songs are only on two stations so you don't have much choice when surfing through. Vice City Stories doesn't hold a candle to Vice City but it's a good extra helping of that crazy 80s style. And more Philip Michael Thomas is always good.… Expand
  3. Fedelca
    Sep 29, 2013
    7
    "Grand Theft Auto" aprovecha bien el tremendo éxito que tuvieron en Vice City con "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories" si bien pudieron haber echo un mejor trabajo viniendo de Rockstar no está nada mal, por otro lado los gráficos y personajes se quedan medio pobres, pero el juego da medianamente lo que te mereces: acción viciosa y entretenida para cualquier espectador que halla disfrutado"Grand Theft Auto" aprovecha bien el tremendo éxito que tuvieron en Vice City con "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories" si bien pudieron haber echo un mejor trabajo viniendo de Rockstar no está nada mal, por otro lado los gráficos y personajes se quedan medio pobres, pero el juego da medianamente lo que te mereces: acción viciosa y entretenida para cualquier espectador que halla disfrutado de las otras entregas de "Grand Theft Auto".… Expand
  4. PatrykG
    Jan 3, 2013
    7
    The last prequel and last installment in the GTA III universe. Vice City Stories is a prequel that takes place before all the games that came out recently, VCS fails to reach the heights of its predecessors but the thing about VCS that was good was the voice acting, the story and the characters. VCS is a satisfying ending or beginning to the GTA III universe. 7/10
  5. fabiolfpinto
    Jul 5, 2013
    7
    Personally, I did not like this game very much, but being a GTA game, the game always has an interesting story and good gameplay. Not the best game in the series, there's no doubt, perhaps it is one of the worst, but it has a Miami city to explore and lots to do. Including the conquest of territories and the construction of territories, overall, it's a very good game.
  6. FabioLPinto
    Jul 4, 2013
    7
    Personally, I did not like this game very much, but being a GTA game, the game always has an interesting story and good gameplay. Not the best game in the series, there's no doubt, perhaps it is one of the worst, but it has a Miami city to explore and lots to do. Including the conquest of territories and the construction of territories, overall, it's a very good game.
  7. sergio18
    Dec 6, 2015
    7
    Bueno juego, pero hasta ahí, en mi opinión el peor gta en 3D, aun así tiene cosas interesantes, creo que la pega mas grande que le puedo poner son esos horribles efectos "brillantes" en los gráficos... cosa que es molesta y termina cansando, la campaña esta bien pero es la peor de la saga, el personaje es medio soso, pero aun así es recomendable, rockstar siempre hace cosas buenas (Y)
  8. evolution98
    Jan 21, 2018
    7
    The black sheep of the GTA franchise. I really love this game but it has so many flaws.

    The graphics looked impressive as they were improved over the PSP version in terms of trails and textures. The soundtrack is really good but not as perfect as Vice City. The sound is essentially the same as Vice City but more refined. The gameplay was great and it gave us new elements such as the    The black sheep of the GTA franchise. I really love this game but it has so many flaws.

    The graphics looked impressive as they were improved over the PSP version in terms of trails and textures. The soundtrack is really good but not as perfect as Vice City. The sound is essentially the same as Vice City but more refined. The gameplay was great and it gave us new elements such as the "Empire buildings", police bribes to retrieve your weapons after you got busted and purchasable vehicles with different effects that Vic could use.

    The story is my favorite out of the two "Stories" games. I really liked Vic Vance. It's sad that a lot of people don't like him.

    Now the bad: The AI in the game was unbalanced and felt broken at times, the weapon damage for all the guns was broken, some of the skill activities were crap and shouldn't have been extended to 15 levels, the random business wars are very irritating because the other gangs may have better weapons, many enemies spawn after you defend your business and instantly try to kill you, they may possibly go after another business again if you defend your business and go to attack a business that may be too far from your safe house or your current location in which they destroy it and you lose money, the difficulty level is terrible only in two levels Turn on, Tune In, Bug Out and Unfriendly Competition and the fighting mechanics were broken beyond belief.

    Rockstar could have bothered fixing these problems before releasing the game but didn't.

    Overall a good GTA game. The PSP version is essentially the same and has the same problems but has much worse frame rate and pop up.    … Expand
  9. Mikelol777
    Jul 14, 2017
    5
    Possibly the wort gta game I have ever played. The story is not interesting at all. It's very cliche and boring. Vic sucks dick as a protagonist. I'd rather play as Lance Vance and have Vic become a side character. The map also feels empty.
  10. JohnS.
    Apr 23, 2007
    7
    Not a bad game in its own right, but compared to the others it's pretty poor. It's actually worse than its predecessors. Worth the £20 they charge for it though.
  11. brandfakes
    Aug 28, 2023
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I like this game but the port kind of sucks. sure it adds some extra side missions unlike the ps2 port of liberty city stories, but it lags on the second island, also there are less pedestrians and cars after playing for awhile so you have to run and find a car on foot. also there are some missions that are a pain in the ass, like the one where you first meet lance, the first part you are tasked with shooting the cholos while lance drives, BUT, if the cholos car blows up near your car it will do a tone of damage. and this never happens in these types of missions in San Andreas. the second part isn't as bad but it's still annoying because the enemies are all around you, and have stupid auto aim. but the worst one is "so long schlong". and the first to thirds are not that hard, its the last part that's frustrating because the cars chasing you do so much damage when they are shooting at you and Reni doesn't shoot back and once your car catches fire you're **** because when you and Reni get out of the car he will shoot at the attackers instead of getting away from the car that's about to blow up, and then it blows up and kills Reni, also this mission is on the second island so it also lags occasionally. and when I looked up gameplay of the mission afterwards Reni actually did shoot at the cars so maybe it was a glitch. Overall its a good game but with a decent chunk of issues. i didn't even mention that enemies with the ak47 do an insane amount of damage that make later missions way more difficult, if you didn't pop all of the red balloons for the combat mg like what i did. final score 7/10… Expand

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best PS2 Game of 2007
5
#5 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
5
#5 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    80
    Luckily, the standard of presentation on Stories is as high as it's ever been, from the first rate acting right down to the epoch-defining soundtrack. Try not grinning idiotically as you attempt to time a unique jump in a powder-blue convertible to the chorus of "Easy Lover."[Apr 2007, p.94]
  2. IGN
    75
    While the game stood tall on the PSP, its PlayStation 2 port seems weak in comparison when you look at the other options on the system. It's still fun, to be sure, but it just feels like a sloppy port.
    Read full review
  3. IC-Games
    86
    GTA: Vice City Stories might be more of what we love, but at least love is still the operative word here. And love it you should.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »