PGC NEWS

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. Released in 2002 by Rockstar Games, it defined an era. In November 2021, Rockstar, alongside Grove Street Games, sought to revitalize this classic for modern platforms with Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. This review examines the Vice City installment, specifically version 1.03, assessing whether the remaster successfully delivers a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Vice City Remastered

The story unfolds in 1986, reintroducing Tommy Vercetti, fresh out of prison after a 15-year stint for murder. His boss, Sonny Forelli, dispatches him to Vice City to oversee a crucial drug deal. The deal goes south, leaving Tommy tasked with retrieving both the lost product and money, under threat of dire consequences. Thus begins his rise through Vice City’s criminal underworld.

Visual Enhancements and Gameplay Improvements

Grove Street Games has replaced the original RenderWare engine with Unreal Engine 4, breathing new life into Vice City. The upgrade delivers a significantly more detailed and visually appealing environment, whether cruising under the neon lights at night or soaking up the sun-drenched beaches by day. Improvements extend to lighting, reflections, shadows, and environmental details, from the bustling streets and towering buildings to the lush vegetation and lingering puddles after a rain shower. Character models, particularly for main characters, have also received an overhaul, showcasing enhanced textures and details like clothing wrinkles.

Several quality-of-life improvements have been incorporated, aligning the gameplay with more modern GTA titles. A GPS-enabled map streamlines navigation, while the weapon and radio station selection wheels from Grand Theft Auto V offer increased convenience. Autosaving after missions and the option to instantly restart failed missions eliminate frustrating trips back from the hospital or police station.

Vice City Remastered

Subtle additions enhance the in-game world. Gun shops now feature 3D weapon models instead of the dated 2D sprites, and a wider variety of NPC clothing adds to the city’s vibrant atmosphere. The updated shooting mechanics, incorporating aiming and firing buttons, modernize combat. Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly at 60 frames per second on capable PC hardware.

Lingering Issues and Missed Opportunities

Vice City Remastered

Despite the improvements, the remaster falls short in several areas. Tommy Vercetti still can’t swim, a glaring omission for a game set in a coastal city. Changing clothes requires visiting specific locations, rather than simply accessing a wardrobe at a safehouse. These shortcomings are particularly disappointing given that modders addressed these issues years ago with limited resources.

Vice City Remastered

While patch 1.03 addressed many technical glitches, design flaws persist. Examples include the overly bright neon signs at Rafael’s, misaligned aiming animations, and low-detail character models in certain outfits. Occasionally, police AI exhibits erratic behavior, ignoring the player even when wanted.

Conclusion

Vice City Remastered

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Remastered offers a visually enhanced trip back to the 80s, with welcome gameplay improvements. However, lingering bugs and questionable design choices prevent it from being the definitive edition it could have been. While the remaster captures the essence of the original, it also highlights missed opportunities to fully modernize and refine the experience.