GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY
Just a quick aside: When John handed in this review, he gave the game a "pending 9 dead hookers out of 10" because the game is going to be released on October 29th, 2002. Quite frankly, I think the game will be chock full o' dead hookers (a true mark of a great video game), so I'm giving this thing a big fat 10.
Most anticipated game of the year? Yeah, I’d say so. The long-awaited follow up to
GRAND THEFT AUTO 3, last year’s best selling PS2 game (still moving roughly 100,000 units a fucking WEEK!!) is almost here kiddies, and it’s shaping up to be more wonderful than five prostitutes bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat.
Rockstar descends into the decadence of 1980’s Miami in what is being billed as not an “official” sequel to GTA3, but a spin-off of sorts that still takes place in the GTA universe. Improvements abound in this new edition. Probably the most noticeable addition would be the fact that the main character finally has a name and it’s Tommy Vercetti. Not only are we blessed with a name this time around, but one hell of a voice actor to back it up. Ray Liotta will be providing the voicing of the main character adding to an already impressive list of celebs supplying voices this time around. A few confirmed voices are Dennis Hopper (in a game about drugs and murder? You’re KIDDING), Jenna Jameson (another shocker) and the one and only Gary Busey.
Gameplay has undergone a slight overhaul this time around as well. When fighting hand to hand, you’ve got a lot more going for you than just the previous “punch-punch-kick”. A couple of kickboxing like moves have been spotted in screenshots here and there. Remember how you’d be forced to stand in the middle of a firefight like a chump and get murdered? Not this time around. Crouching behind vehicles for cover has been added for your murdering convenience this time around. Aside from these slightly more defensive additions, a bunch of new weapons also await your sweaty, greasy palms. Sorry, no chloroform this time you fucking apes. But…are you ready to stab random people with a screwdriver or perhaps cave a skull in with a golf club? I know you are. There’s even a katana, meat cleaver, machete and CHAINSAW (can you say Scarface?) thrown into the mix. This is all added to the already impressive array of weaponry consisting of shotguns, sniper rifles and Tec-9’s.
The total area of Vice City consists of 4 or 5 islands, each unlockable as you progress through the story just like last time. The big difference though is that the total area this time around is roughly…(hold on to your hats) TWO and a HALF times bigger than Liberty City. I really don’t know how much space that actually is, but it sounds pretty fucking huge.
Finally there’s the soundtrack. Steve’s got it up in
MUSIC HEADLINES right now. We’ve dug up an
ENTIRE TRACK LISTING OF ALL SIX SOUNDTRACK DISCS. The radio stations in the last game were absolutely stellar with some fucking hilarious commercials and personalities. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of shit they can pull off this time around. Oh, who am I kidding…I’m looking forward to running people over and doing drive-bys with fucking Slayer and Ozzy cranked. Yes, I said Slayer. Rockstar inked a deal with a bunch of record labels to actually get REAL bands on the radio stations this time and not just rock stuff. Click on the link above to see the diverse music you’re gonna hear on the stolen radio of the stolen car you’ll be driving.
If you own a PS2 and you’re not a complete fucking pansy, you owe it to yourself to check this game out. Hell, even if you’re a fucking pansy, buy the game and obey the goddamned traffic laws. Be a pizza delivery guy. I’m completely serious. You can REALLY do this. The game is THAT deep. If you don’t have a PS2, I promise you this game is worth every penny you pay for the system. It’s out on October 29th. I have my copy pre-ordered and I suggest you do the same. If any game’s gonna be tough to find come release day, it’s gonna be this.
