izigame.me

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a game that I was a little young when I first started playing but I fell in love with it, head over heels. I was told the definitive edition was full of issues, bugs, poor optimisation. It was called "The Defective Edition" for a long time, so I left it for 2 years. I have finally played it to 100% and I have to say... what a nostalgia hit and a half. It felt amazing returning to my first ever GTA game and one of my favourite characters - Tommy Vercetti! Before I get into the nitty gritty of Vice City, a quick disclaimer!
This review is MY opinion, MY own personal experience and MY thoughts. I am brutally honest when it comes to reviewing games. If you do not like my opinion, my time or respect my personal experience, please move on.

Say Hello to my Little Friend

We all know the Iconic movie Scarface. It is probably my favourite movie of all time. There is a scene in Vice City during a mission where you actually get the achievement "Say hello to my little friend" and to this day, it still brings joy to me!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3436314727

Pros

⚫Rockstar has fixed a lot of the bugs, glitches and other issues since the launch of the Definitive Edition. Almost all of the bugs and glitches/problems that people reported - I did not encounter a single one.
⚫Rockstar also have optimised the game since it's launch, heavily. Not a single reported issue by others was encountered.
⚫The story is unforgettable. We all know the story of Tommy Vercetti and his tale of betrayal and revenge in 1980's, neon-soaked tropical Vice City and to be able to re-live that on modern platforms... I felt like a kid again.
⚫There is so much to do ranging from - Vigilante missions. You ever wanted to steal a police car and become one of them? Well, you can! Go hunt down those pesky criminals!! I was even able to pretend to be Jason Voorhees and rob a bank!! https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3436275796
⚫Vice City also comes with amazing new high resolution textures (compared to it's launch, its even better now) environmental upgrades and a much MUCH needed lighting upgrade (AGAIN) because when this launched... it was bad. Now it actually has "upgraded" lighting.
⚫You can now immediately restart a failed mission!!! this was needed so much!!!
⚫It has modern controls, an updated mini-map (with better navigation also) and an improved weapons/radio selection wheel!!
⚫New people to meet, helicopters to fly around while the sun is setting or rising... that scene... gorgeous and motorbikes to zip around Vice City at nighttime all while listening to the amazing radio stations Vice city has to offer
⚫Speaking of Radio stations - The DJ/Hosts are hilarious. I don't want to spoil anything but trust me, they got me good!

Cons

⚫2 of my favourite songs are gone - Michael Jacksons - "Billie Jean" and "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles. This made me feel really sad because these were my FIRST ever 2 songs on ANY GTA radio station. I fully understand that music licencing can be a pain but man, without them... it just wasn't the same. (along with 13 other songs).
⚫After I reached 100% complete I tried some OG cheat codes. Some of the ones I tried did not work, I had a look online and they got removed due to "technical issues"?!?!?! I have no words for this.
⚫The pedestrians when they drive feel like they are out to get you. They pull out infront of you. They almost ram you off the road and when they go to make a left hand turn or right hand turn, they do it so sternly that its almost an instant 90 degree turn.
⚫There are Rockstar social club only achievements, why? Why not make them steam ones too?

My Verdict

After all is said and done, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition is finally worthy of the title!! I have waited so long to play this and, I can't lie, I'm happy I did. I had so much fun playing this again with all the new modernisation they have done to it.
Played to 100%. Roughly 30 hours - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3436287969
A game that offers the player so much to do. With upgraded visuals, lighting e.t.c it enhances what Vice City gave us before and takes it to the next level.
If you are interested in following me or want to see more of my reviews, please join my curator page - https://steamcommunity.com/groups/HonestReviewsbyaCompletionist
As of 03/03/25 - I recommend Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition, finally worthy of it's name!

8.5/10! Finally worthy of "Definitive Edition"!