7.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Rockstar North (Windows, 2003)
Firstly, sorry about that whole "updating before weekend" thing. Didn't happen, shouldn't have asked since it was too late and I was too tired to type out an update. Also note for those who don't want to really follow the thread that the
first post contains the list with links. Anyway...
Grand Theft Auto. Hell yeah. It's remarkable how many franchises I name in this Countdown are dead our should be dead. Diablo and GTA might well be the only two who have any shot at a long line of proper sequels, and that's only because both have formulas that appeal to the mainstream.
GTA is also probably the biggest reason I included the "one game per franchise" rule for this list. There are other franchises that could well send in two or three entries, but GTA would just crowd out this list: II and III would easily make the top-15 if not top-10, I could probably still make it to the top-15 and even SA and IV would crowd around the #14-15 spot.
However, GTA: Vice City is - for me - where the series peaked, for now, though closely followed by GTA II. That doesn't mean it's best at everything: I prefer the story progression structure of GTA II. I like Liberty City better than Vice City, especially the LC from GTA IV. I think GTA IV and GTA: San Andreas probably both have stronger characterization. GTA III had my favourite GTA vehicle in the bullet-proof
Patriot. The best theme is probably either the one from GTA I (
Da Shootaz - Joyride) or IV (
Michael Hunter - Soviet Connection). Niko Bellic from GTA IV is definitely a stronger main character than Tommy Vercetti.
But that's all small-picture thinking. It's easy to find something minor to criticize in any entry to the GTA, from SA's somewhat hamhanded application of "RPG elements" to IV's restrictive-feeling gameworld. Fact is pretty much every main entry to the GTA franchise is a great game, I just feel GTA: VC best exemplifies why that is.
The sandbox gaming is the most obvious point. Sandbox gaming's become quite the hype lately, but what games like Borderlands fail to understand is sandboxing is not "go anywhere and become bored by repetitive gameplay", it's "go anywhere, do anything". GTA as a series always excelled in this exactly because they understood so well that a rich variety of activities is key. Driving, shooting and walking are only a part of it in a franchise that would expand to include such activities as bowling and playing darts, perhaps to its detriment.
However, Vice City fully exploited some of the random activities elements: it has kill frenzy pickups hidden throughout the game, it has airplanes, helicopters and tanks to drive, it has miniature planes and choppers to control, carjacking or shooting range side-quests, insane jump bonuses, everything that's always worked so well for GTA.
Vice City also incorporated all of this into the missions, and probably does so better than any other GTA, though both SA and IV would add more complexities but with their own flaws (SA is too zany, IV too shooty). Intimidating jury members, protecting a huge yacht as it leaves the harbour, shooting from a helicopter, boat races, hi-jacking a tank, it's all fun and challenging, even if the lacking controls for choppers and planes made Demolition Man and Bombs Away! two of the most frustrating missions in the GTA franchise (but they never got flying right until GTA IV).
The irreverent sense of humour GTA started off with is key to the functioning of this open-world gameplay. Because on some level, a too-serious setting always jars with too-frivolous gameplay even if you manage to turn your brain all the way off. That's what turned a lot of people off in GTA IV, and I think GTA: VC is the perfect example of "doing it right".
Now, personally I really don't like the '80s, and the setting per se doesn't appeal to me, but it is executed so, so well: Vice City is easily the most heavily themed of all GTA games, and its homages to both Miami Vice and Scarface are laid on so thick that even if you barely know the series and film you should still be able to spot them. This is why Vice City - like other GTA titles - manages so well to combine its heavy-handed material of drug-dealing and murder with an irreverent tone that keeps the actual gameplay believable.
And Vice City did a lot of the little touches as well as any other GTA game. It has an enjoyable soundtrack with a good selection of radio channels. It has a large variety of pretty cool vehicles. Its characters from minor to major are well-written and superbly voiced. Also, the
Malibu Club mission arc is probably my favourite mission arc from any Grand Theft Auto game.
Oh, as for discussing the switch from helicopter view to over-the-shoulder between II and III: no thanks. Even though it sometimes sparks some controversy, it's a bit silly; anyone who played I and II could tell you the games are clearly limited by their camera. Sure, the feel is great as the top view gives you a further feeling of freedom in a sandbox game, but shooting or driving at high speed was a nightmare in those games.
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So that's pretty much it. Vice City holds tops of a franchise made up of games any one of which could have well made the top-15. Grand Theft Auto is a great franchise, and it looks to stay that way for some time.
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