by Grand Theft Auto III was arguably the most influential game of the early ‘00s, ushering in a new age of huge open worlds and criminal anti-heroes, and its release on iOS earlier this year was a pretty significant achievement for mobile gaming. Where GTAIII pioneered, however, its sequels refined and perfected — and just as it did 10 years ago, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City improves on its trailblazing predecessor in nearly every imaginable way.
Set in a Miami-inspired, neon-drenched metropolis, Vice City delivers a bigger focus on story, with an actual fleshed-out protagonist — Mafia outcast Tommy Vercetti, voiced by Ray Liotta — who claws his way up through an ‘80s underworld that’s equal parts Scarface and Miami Vice. The city is bigger and more colorful than GTAIII’s, and therefore more fun to explore — something you can do by driving around at high speeds, piloting boats through its waterways, or running around on foot, terrorizing pedestrians with a chainsaw.
