Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: The Kotaku Review

August 12, 2026 - 21:59

Rockstar Games has done it again, delivering another sprawling, ambitious, and utterly absorbing open-world experience. While the follow-up to the beloved Grand Theft Auto III had massive shoes to fill, Vice City steps out of the shadow with a style all its own, trading the grim concrete of Liberty City for the sun-bleached, pastel-soaked streets of a fictional 1980s Miami.

The shift in atmosphere is immediate and intoxicating. This is a world built on excess, from the pounding synthwave soundtrack to the hot pink convertibles and the endless parade of questionable fashion choices. It is a loving, satirical homage to the decade of greed, and the game wears its influences on its sleeve, pulling heavily from the iconic film Scarface.

You step into the snakeskin loafers of Tommy Vercetti, a freshly released convict sent to Vice City to oversee a drug deal that goes spectacularly wrong. What follows is a classic rise to power, a tale of betrayal and ruthless ambition that sees Tommy carving out his own criminal empire from the ground up. The narrative is a step up from its predecessor, anchored by a fantastic voice performance from Ray Liotta, who brings a weary, volatile energy to the protagonist.

But the real star is the city itself. Vice City is a vibrant, living playground that feels more alive than anything Rockstar had crafted before. The addition of motorcycles and helicopters changes the flow of movement, and the ability to purchase properties and take over the city's criminal enterprises provides a satisfying sense of progression and ownership. The radio stations are a masterpiece of curation, filled with hilarious adverts and DJ chatter that make cruising the boulevards an essential part of the experience.

There are moments of frustration, to be sure. The aiming system can feel clunky by modern standards, and some missions, particularly the infamous remote-controlled helicopter sequence, demand a level of patience that borders on the unreasonable. Yet, these flaws are easily overshadowed by the sheer scope and confidence of the package.

Vice City is more than just a game; it is a time capsule and a masterclass in world-building. It is a bold, confident, and endlessly entertaining crime saga that solidified Rockstar's reputation as the undisputed kings of the sandbox genre. It remains an essential experience, a vibrant and violent trip back to a decade of big hair and bigger explosions.