Grand Theft Auto Vice City (PlayStation 2 )

By JON MINIFIE

(Herald rating: * * * * * )

After the unparalleled success of last year's GTA III, the gaming world has been waiting to see what innovations Rockstar would make to their winning formula. Somewhat surprisingly, the game looks (and even feels) different but apart from setting the game in the 80s, most of the changes are subtle.

Visually it's not a lot sharper. The familiar soft textured look remains intact but Vice City features lots of neon and new lighting effects and the streets and buildings have more detail.

GTA III's Liberty City, with its trio of islands and fleets of
yellow taxis, was based on New York. Vice City looks more like Florida in the 80s, complete with flamingos, speedboats and spiky-haired women.

To Rockstar's credit, they have built on their most successful title, adding a new engine, new story and a talking new lead character, Tommy Vercetti.

His voice is provided by Ray Liotta who played real-life mob snitch Henry Hill in Scorsese's classic film Goodfellas — Liotta appears with a crowd of Hollywood personalities, including actors Tom Sizemore, Burt Reynolds and porn star Jenna Jammeson.

Vice City is bigger than Liberty City but players can access all areas from the start. A new targeting system makes it easier to steady your aim, and in Vice City, there can be as many as 9000 pedestrians wandering the streets at one time.

There are twice as many
missions, three times the amount of weaponry, more than 100 vehicles and more than nine hours of assorted 80s hits from acts as diverse as Michael
Jackson, Hall & Oates, Slayer, Grand Master Flash and REO Speedwagon.

The soundtrack is available on nine CDs and as far as 80s compilations go, it's pretty good.

Grand Theft Auto Vice City hasn't lost any of its clout and the 80s angle is a touch of genius.

$129.95

jon@tenthplanet.co.nz