Guide To Playing PS2 Grand Theft Auto (GTA) Vice City
Parental Warning: Grand Theft Auto Vice City is not a game for children. The rating is MA which is meant for adults over the age of 18. The review for this game is loaded with language and suggestive words and also not meant for those under age 18. The reality is many children under the age of 18 do in fact play this game and are probably reading this review right now. That is between them and their parents. I cannot supervise children who read this review nor can I be in your living room to stop them. That is your job.
If you are a parent, at least be aware if your children are playing this game and set down boundaries for them. If you choose to let them play, make sure they know the difference between fantasy and reality, most children do understand the difference and would never do these things in real life. A handful of disturbed individuals, regardless of age, may be unduly influenced by this game. If you are responsible for such a person, please make sure they are not playing it.
Grand Theft Auto is a game that glorifies killing and general bad behavior including drugs and illicit sex. It is a game for sick degenerates who think it is funny, myself included. All of the Rockstar series of the Grand Theft Auto Games are rated MA.
This is the non-spoiler page. For those who want the spoilers, scroll down to get the link to the next page. For now, these are just the facts for those who have not played it and want to brace themselves for what's ahead.
It's the 1980s, some time after Vice City Stories (even if this game came first). Tommy Verceti is the hero in the game. He was just released from prison and his boss son has plans to keep him busy along with Ken Rosenberg while they try and take over the drug trade in Vice City. Met at the airport to make his first deal, everyone is gunned down except Tommy and now even the money is gone. His boss is not happy and wants to know who has his money. Tommy had better come up with it quickly.
If you were spoiled on GTA: San Andreas, this will seem quite frustrating. However, if you moved up to this one from GTA:2, then this one is high-tech. Tommy can drive and get a relatively good 2-D view of things. He can't swim or climb, but he can kill, kill, kill.
Like all games of the GTA series, it is composed of main storyline missions and side missions. You don't necessarily need to do the side missions to get to the end of the game, but you need them for 100%. You don't even necessarily have to do any missions if you like to kill and cause mayhem.
Getting Started
In playing any GTA game, I strongly recommend having a set of printed maps nearby so you can easily locate certain items you will need along the way. Here are some places online to print up the best copies of the following maps:
The Controls
The controls are pretty much the same for all the Rockstar Games, but here is a general run down. Start button will always pause the game and bring up your menu where you can do various things like check the map, check your stats, set your controls to your liking, load or start a new game, and change stations. The Select button is your camera mode where you can change your view perspective both on foot and in a vehicle.
You also have four buttons on the backside of the control - R1, R2, L1 and L2. You have an analog stick referred to as R3 and L3. Then you have the Directional Pad (D-Pad) with four directions - up, down, left and right. And then the trademark Play Station buttons, X, Circle, Triangle and Square. Becoming familiar with the location of these buttons so they are second nature makes these games easier to play.
On Foot
- Move Around: D-Pad or Left Analog Stick
- Look Around: Right Analog Stick
- Run: X Button
- Jump: Square Button
- Enter Vehicle: Triangle Button
- Look Forward: L1 Button
- Look Behind: R3 Button
- Zoom In: Square Button
- Zoom Out: X Button
- Take Picture: Circle Button
With Weapons
- Move Around: D-Pad or Left Analog Stick
- Look Around: Right Analog Stick
- Look Forward: L1 Button
- Run: X Button
- Jump: Square Button
- Enter Vehicle: Triangle Button
- Target Someone: (Hold) R1 Button
- Free Aim: R1 + L3 Buttons
- Aim rocket launcher and snipers: Left Analog Stick
- Attack: Circle Button
- Zoom In: Square Button
- Zoom Out: X Button
- Next Weapon: R2 Button
- Previous Weapon: L2 Button
By Vehicle
- Turn Vehicle: Left Analog Stick or Directional Pad (D-Pad)
- Wheelie (bikes and motorcycles): Pull Left Analog Stick Back + X
- Stoppie (bikes and motorcycles): Push Left Analog Stick Up + R1
- Accelerate: .X Button
- Brake R1 Button
- Reverse: Square Button
- Look Left: L2 Button
- Look Right: R2 Button
- Look Behind: L2 + R2 Buttons
- Drive-By: Circle Button + L2 or R2 Button
- Exit Vehicle: Triangle Button
- Activate Horn/Siren: L3 Button
- Change Radio Stations: L1 Button
- Activate Vehicle Missions: R3 Button
By Helicopter
- Move Forward: Left Analog Stick Up
- Move Backward: Left Analog Stick Down
- Lean Left: Left Analog Stick Left
- Lean Right: Left Analog Stick Right
- Turn Clockwise: R2 Button
- Turn Counterclockwise: L2 Button
- Ascend: X Button
- Descend: Square Button
- Hover: L3 Button
- Fire Guns: Circle Button
- Exit Vehicle: Triangle Button
- Change Radio Stations: L1 Button
- Activate Vehicle Mission: R3 Button
The Rhino
- Turn Vehicle: Left Analog Stick
- Accelerate: X Button
- Reverse: Square Button
- Brake: R1 Button
- Look Left: L2 Button
- Look Right: R2 Button
- Look Behind: L2 + R2 Buttons
- Turret Control: Right Analog Stick
- Main Gun: Circle Button
- Exit Rhino: Triangle Button
- Use Horn: L3 Button
- Activate Vigilante Mission: R3 Button
The Hunter
- Move Forward: Left Analog Stick Up
- Move Backward: Left Analog Stick Down
- Sidestep Left: Left Analog Stick Left
- Sidestep Right: Left Analog Stick Right
- Turn Clockwise: R2 Button
- Turn Counterclockwise: L2 Button
- Ascend: X Button
- Descend: Square Button
- Hover: L3 Button
- Fire Machine Gun: R1 Button
- Fire Rockets: Circle Button
- Exit Hunter: Triangle Button
- Activate Vigilante Mission: R3 Button
100%
Main Missions
- The Party
- Back Alley Brawl
- Jury Fury
- Riot
- Treacherous Swine
- Mall Shootout
- Guardian Angels
- Sir, Yes Sir!
- All Hands on Deck
- The Chase
- Phnom Penh '86
- The Fastest Boat
- Supply & Demand
- Death Row
- Rub Out
- Shakedown
- Bar Brawl
- Copland
- Cap the Collector
- Keep Your Friends Close...
Side Missions
- Four Iron
- Demolition Man
- Two Bit Hit
- Stunt Boat Challenge
- Cannon Fodder
- Naval Engagement
- Trojan Voodoo
- Love Juice
- Psycho Killer
- Publicity Tour
- Alloy Wheels of Steel
- Messing with the Man
- Hog Tied
- Gun Runner
- Boomshine Saigon
- Road Kill
- Waste the Wife
- Autocide
- Check Out at the Check-In
- Loose Ends
Properties
- 3321 Vice Point - $2,500
- 1102 Washington Street - $3,000
- Links View Apartments - $6,000
- Ocean Heights - $7,000
- El Swanko Casa - $8,000
- Skumhole Shack - $1,000
- Hyman Condo - $14,000
Assets
- Boatyard - $10,000
- Cherry Poppers - $20,000
- Pole Position Club - $30,000
- Kaufman Cabs - $40,000
- Sunshine Auto's - $50,000
- Film Studio - $60,000
- Print Works - $70,000
- The Malibu - $120,000
Cars For Sunshine Auto's List
List 1
- Landstalker
- Idaho
- Esperanto
- Stallion
- Rancher
- Blista Compact
List 2
- Sabre
- Virgo
- Sentinel
- Stretch
- Washington
- Admiral
List 3
- Cheetah
- Infernus
- Banshee
- Phoenix
- Comet
- Stinger
List 4
- Voodoo
- Cuban Hermes
- Caddy
- Baggage Handler
- Mr. Whoopee
- Pizza Boy
Races
- Terminal Velocity
- Ocean Drive
- Border Run
- Capital Cruise
- Tour!
- V.C. Endurance
Stores To Rob
- Bunch of Tools - Washington Beach
- Jewellery Shop - Vice Point
- Corner Shop - Vice Point
- Pharmacy - Vice Point
- Jewellery - North Point Mall
- Bunch of Tools - North Point Mall
- Gash - North Point Mall
- Music Shop - North Point Mall
- Donut Shop - Little Havana
- Screw This - Little Havana
- Café Robina - Little Havana
- Laundromat - Little Havana
- Ryton Aide Pharmacy - Little Haiti
- Jewellery Shop - Downtown
- Pharmacy - Downtown
Vehicle Missions
- Pizza Boy (Complete level 10)
- Fire Truck (Complete level 12)
- Paramedic (Complete level 12)
- Vigilante (Complete level 12)
- Taxi (Complete 100 Fares)
- Cone Crazy
- PCJ Playground
- Trial By Dirt
- Test Track
Chopper Checkpoint Missions
- Ocean Beach
- Vice Point
- Little Haiti
- Downtown
Top Fun
- RC Baron - Top of North Point Mall
- RC Bandit - Vice Point
- RC Raider - Escobar International
Hyman Stadium Events
- Bloodring
- Dirtring
- Hotring
Miscellaneous
- Shooting Range
- 35 Rampages
- 36 Unique Jumps
- 100 Hidden Packages
If you get all of the above, you can have 100% completion that gives you the extra reward of improved health and body armor, a new outfit in your mansion's office, every vehicle you drive is now twice as durable, and you cannot run out of ammunition. Plus you will get 3 bodyguards who will follow you around and give assistance located in the main staircase in the lobby of your mansion and the small lounge on the west side.
Now for those who want the nitty gritty details, here is the in depth guide to GTA: Vice City:
