Day 36 of 100 Happy Gaming Days: Grand Theft Auto Vice City

I remember just before GTA: Vice City was released in the UK, there was a teachers strike planned meaning schools, colleges and universities were going to be shut for a few days. I like to think the whole thing was an elaborate plot by the Department for Education so everybody could stay home and play GTA.

There was a buzz of excitement as fans were ogling the dedicated Vice City website for details on the upcoming release. Rockstar had made stacks of improvements since GTA 3 with the inclusion of motorbikes, apache helicopters, the ability to wield power tools, multiple outfits and that's only scratching the surface. I must admit I've missed the power tools from later instalments to the series, it was always fun climbing onto someone's car and slicing through the roof with a chainsaw.

I didn't even get to play Vice City when it arrived as I didn't have a PS2. I had to wait until the Xbox version emerged over a year later in a bundle with GTA 3, but the wait was worth it. Rockstar had improved the overall graphics, the car models were overhauled and they included the ability to have your uploaded songs play on the car radios.

In my opinion GTA: Vice City was the best game in the series (pre-GTA V, of course). Vice City was well scripted, the map design was excellent and the stylish 80's setting simply oozed class. 

Sadly, now that GTA V is on its way to next-gen consoles Vice City is starting to look like a bit of a relic due to it's clunky targeting system and ugly character models. It's been great however, to see the series evolve from its humble beginnings as a top-down 2D crime simulator, to a massive open-world action/adventure game and an indisputable gaming phenomenon. 

Hopefully when GTA makes it's valiant return with its sixth installment, we'll be returning to Vice City for more sun, sand and psychopathy that only GTA and Rockstar can provide.