GTA Vice City Guide: Story, Characters, Missions and Cheats
This GTA Vice City guide covers the 1986 Florida crime game from Rockstar North, from its story and cast to missions, vehicles and cheats. Vice City is the sixth installment in the Grand Theft Auto series and the second game in the 3D Universe, built on a tweaked version of the RenderWare engine used by GTA III.
Key facts
- Developer and publisher: Rockstar North and Rockstar Games.
- First release: October 27, 2002 on PlayStation 2 in North America, followed by Europe, Australia, Japan, PC and Xbox.
- Setting: Vice City, Florida, in 1986, based heavily on Miami.
- Protagonist: Tommy Vercetti, voiced by Ray Liotta.
- Later versions: iOS and Android on December 6, 2012, and the Definitive Edition on November 11, 2021.
Story and setting
The story follows Tommy, recently released from prison, whom his old boss Sonny Forelli sends from Liberty City to Vice City. A drug deal is ambushed on arrival, leaving him with no money and no merchandise, and he sets out to take over the city himself. Biker gangs, Cuban gangsters and corrupt politicians stand in his way.
Vice City is a fictional city modeled on Miami, with beaches, swamps, hotels and skyscrapers. The 1980s look borrows from Scarface, Carlito’s Way and the television series Miami Vice, and the game sold more copies than any other title of its year.
Main characters
The cast is full of known voices. Tommy Vercetti teams up with Lance Vance, while lawyer Ken Rosenberg points him to Kent Paul and property developer Avery Carrington. Colonel Juan Cortez, drug baron Ricardo Diaz and mafia boss Sonny Forelli shape the plot, and one-armed Phil Cassidy, nicknamed The Shootist, lives in Little Haiti. Browse all of them in the lexicon character section.
Missions and walkthroughs
This GTA Vice City guide links every story mission through the GTA Vice City missions category. Early on, start with In The Beginning…, An Old Friend and The Party, then continue with Back Alley Brawl, Jury Fury and Riot.
In the middle of the story, try Mall Shootout, Guardian Angels, Four Iron and The Chase. For the late game, see Gun Runner, Checkpoint Charlie and Cap the Collector.
Vehicles, gangs and places
The vehicle list runs from the Infernus supercar to helicopters, boats and bikes. The gangs and factions include the Cubans, the Haitians and the Vice City Bikers. Landmarks such as Hyman Condo and Little Haiti are in the places section, and weapons like the Minigun are in the weapons section.
Cheats and tools
For invincibility, weapons and vehicles, use the GTA Vice City cheats page. After the final mission, the end credits article lists the team and the voice cast.
Other GTA editions
The previous game is covered in the GTA 3 guide, and the next one in the GTA San Andreas guide. For the whole series, open the GTA lexicon.
FAQ
When is GTA Vice City set?
The game takes place in 1986 in fictional Vice City, Florida, a city based heavily on Miami.
Who is the main character?
Tommy Vercetti, an ex-convict sent to Vice City by Sonny Forelli. Ray Liotta voices him, the first series protagonist with a voice actor.
Which platforms can I play it on?
It launched on PlayStation 2, then came to PC and Xbox, and reached iOS and Android in 2012. A Definitive Edition followed in 2021 on 8th and 9th generation consoles.
Which game came before Vice City?
It is the second game of the 3D Universe, after GTA III, and its events follow on from Vice City Stories.