Info about Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition:

Official game description:
Experience the genre-defining classic, updated for a new generation with across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, with high-resolution textures, increased draw distance, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more.  
Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile. Grand Theft Auto returns with Tommy Vercetti’s tale of betrayal and revenge in a neon-soaked tropical town full of excess and brimming with possibilities.  
Developed by Rockstar Games, adapted by Grove Street Games.

Release date: 19 Jan 2023

Categories: Action-adventure, Open-World Exploration, Third-Person Shooter, Mission-based Gameplay, Character Progression, Narrative Adventure, Vehicle Piloting, Business Simulation


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Strong Nostalgia and Atmosphere (weight 0.97): The game excels at evoking a powerful sense of nostalgia, especially for players who grew up with the original. The vibrant 80s Miami setting, iconic soundtrack, and overall 'vibe' are consistently praised for their immersive quality, making players feel like they are reliving cherished childhood memories or experiencing a classic era for the first time.
- Improved Graphics and Visuals (weight 0.82): Players consistently praise the remastered version for its significantly improved graphics, textures, lighting, and reflections. These updates enhance the visual experience, making the game more vibrant and appealing while largely preserving the original's iconic aesthetic and nostalgic charm. The 'classic lighting' update is particularly highlighted for bringing the visuals closer to the original's beloved atmosphere.
- Engaging Story and Characters (weight 0.28): The game's story is consistently praised as well-written, captivating, and full of memorable characters. Tommy Vercetti, in particular, stands out as a charismatic and iconic protagonist, with his voiced performance and compelling rise to power being a significant improvement over previous installments.
- Improved Mission Design (weight 0.21): Players appreciate the varied and well-designed missions, noting that they are generally enjoyable and less frustrating than in previous titles. The addition of mission checkpoints and the overall pacing contribute to a more satisfying progression, with side missions also being engaging and not feeling like a chore.
- Excellent Soundtrack and Radio (weight 0.17): The game's soundtrack and radio stations are frequently cited as major highlights, perfectly capturing the 80s atmosphere. Players find the music to be iconic, addictive, and a significant contributor to the game's overall vibe, often considering it one of the best in gaming history.
- Definitive Edition Improvements (weight 0.16): The Definitive Edition is seen as a worthwhile update, especially after patches, for bringing a beloved classic to modern platforms with enhanced visuals, quality-of-life features, and improved stability. It is often considered the best way to experience the game in its current state, with many feeling it successfully retains the original's essence.
- Enjoyable Achievement Hunting (weight 0.1): The addition of Steam achievements is a welcome feature, providing an enjoyable challenge for players. Many found completing the game 100% and earning all achievements to be a satisfying and fun experience, often leading to the discovery of new content.
- Positive Personal Experiences (weight 0.1): Players frequently share personal anecdotes about their enjoyment of the game, often highlighting it as a childhood favorite or a significant entry in their gaming history. These experiences contribute to a strong emotional connection and overall positive sentiment towards the title.
- Excellent Russian Voice Acting (weight 0.08): The unofficial Russian voice acting by GamesVoice is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance immersion. Many players consider it a significant addition that breathes new life into the game, making cutscenes and radio broadcasts more engaging.

Common complaints:
- Numerous Bugs and Performance Issues (weight 0.55): The Definitive Edition is plagued by a vast array of bugs, glitches, and performance problems, including frequent crashes, micro-stutters, and unoptimized gameplay. Many of these issues persist even after multiple updates, significantly hindering the player experience and preventing game completion.
- Dated Gameplay and Poor Remaster Quality (weight 0.46): Players feel the game's core mechanics and design are severely outdated for a modern release, leading to a frustrating and unengaging experience. The remaster itself is criticized for being a superficial upgrade, lacking the polish and improvements expected from a 'Definitive Edition,' and failing to capture the original's charm.
- Frustrating Mission Design and Checkpoints (weight 0.27): Missions are frequently criticized for being boring, repetitive, and overly difficult, often exacerbated by a lack of mid-mission checkpoints. This forces players to restart entire long missions upon failure or death, leading to significant frustration and wasted time.
- Missing Original Soundtrack Content (weight 0.15): A significant number of iconic radio songs from the original game's soundtrack have been removed due to licensing issues. This omission is a major disappointment for many players, as the music was considered a core part of the game's atmosphere and identity.
- Poor AI and Vehicle Physics (weight 0.13): The AI for both NPCs and police is consistently criticized for being unintelligent, aggressive, and buggy, leading to unpredictable behavior, accidental collisions, and frustrating mission failures. Vehicle physics are also deemed unrealistic and irritating, further impacting gameplay.
- Inferior to Other GTA Titles (weight 0.09): Many players feel that this game, particularly the Definitive Edition, falls short when compared to other GTA titles, including its predecessors (GTA 3) and successors (San Andreas, GTA V). It is often described as clunky, less interesting, and having worse missions or mechanics.

Gameplay feedback:
- Varied Missions & Playtime (weight 0.27): The game offers a diverse range of main and side missions, including business ventures and classic GTA activities. While the main story can be completed in 12-15 hours, achieving 100% completion significantly extends playtime to 25-30+ hours, providing substantial content for dedicated players.
- Modernized Controls & QoL (weight 0.19): The Definitive Edition introduces significant quality-of-life improvements, including updated controls (like GTA V-style weapon wheel and aiming), autosave, and GPS navigation. These changes enhance fluidity and make the gameplay more accessible and enjoyable compared to the original.
- Tommy Vercetti's Rise to Power (weight 0.14): The central narrative follows Tommy Vercetti, the first voiced GTA protagonist, as he navigates mafia intrigues and builds his criminal empire in Vice City. Players control Tommy's journey from a street-level enforcer to the city's kingpin, a classic 'path to the top' story.
- Challenging 100% Completion (weight 0.11): Achieving 100% completion and all achievements is a significant challenge, often requiring extensive grinding for criminal rating points (like the 'Godfather' rank) and collecting numerous items. While enjoyable for some, it can be time-consuming and demanding.
- Frustrating Vehicle Controls (weight 0.09): Despite overall control improvements, specific vehicle controls, particularly for helicopters and planes, remain a source of frustration for many players. The mapping of controls for these vehicles is often described as unintuitive and difficult to master.
- Faithful to Original Gameplay (weight 0.05): The core gameplay, including the open-world structure, mission-based progression, and overall chaotic fun, largely remains faithful to the 2002 original. The game preserves the essence of GTA Vice City while incorporating modern enhancements.

Performance notes:
- Significant Bug Fixes Implemented (weight 0.19): Many players report that the majority of bugs present at the remaster's launch have been resolved through numerous updates and patches over time. While minor issues may persist, they generally do not hinder gameplay, leading to a much more stable experience.
- Mixed Performance & Optimization (weight 0.12): Player feedback on performance is varied. While some report smooth gameplay and good optimization, others experience inexplicable FPS drops, stutters, and general performance issues, even on high-end hardware. Locking FPS or using specific launch parameters like '-dx12' can sometimes improve the experience.
- Low System Requirements (weight 0.02): Many players note that the game has relatively low PC requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware, including older or less powerful 'potato' PCs. However, some still report performance issues even with decent setups.
- Linux Compatibility & Stability (weight 0.02): The game reportedly plays well on Arch Linux, with crash avoidance potentially guaranteed due to its operation through Vulkan.
- Audio Quality is Good (weight 0.01): Players generally find the audio quality in the game to be good, with some specifically mentioning improved sound.
- Monitor Display Issue (weight 0): A specific, minor technical issue reported is the game consistently opening on the second monitor, which can be an inconvenience for some users.

Recommendations:
- Original Version Often Preferred (weight 0.4): Many players suggest that the original game, especially with mods, offers a superior experience compared to the Definitive Edition. Some even recommend emulating the original or playing it on older consoles, advising against the remaster for a truly authentic experience.
- Highly Recommended Classic Experience (weight 0.3): The game is overwhelmingly recommended by players, with many giving high ratings and considering it a must-play. It offers a very good experience, is worth the price, and provides hours of entertainment, especially for those looking to complete it 100% or earn achievements.
- Buy on Sale (weight 0.18): A significant number of players strongly advise purchasing the game only when it is on sale, citing that the full price is too high. This recommendation often extends to buying the entire trilogy at a discount.
- Ongoing Bug Fixes Needed (weight 0.04): Despite positive aspects, the game is noted to still have bugs and old mechanics that can be annoying. Players express a desire for more updates to fix these issues, suggesting that a few bugs prevent a higher rating.
- Russian Voice Acting Recommended (weight 0.02): A specific recommendation from a cluster of players is to install the Russian voice acting (GameVoice dub) for an enhanced and more immersive experience, especially for those who do not know English.
- Achievement Hunting Considerations (weight 0.01): Players interested in achievements are advised to be cautious, as pursuing all achievements might reduce fun, and using cheats can impact achievement progress. Specific advice is given regarding the 'Take the Cannoli' achievement.

Other player notes:
- Playtime and Completion (weight 0.24): Players report varying completion times, from 11 hours for a quick playthrough to 50-68 hours for 100% completion, including achievements. Many enjoy revisiting the game to achieve full completion or collect achievements.
- Anticipation for GTA 6 (weight 0.1): A significant portion of players are replaying Vice City to rekindle their excitement for GTA 6, which is confirmed to be set in Vice City. The Definitive Edition serves as a prelude or a way to get into the 'mood' for the upcoming title.
- Impact on GTA Franchise (weight 0.07): The game is widely regarded as a classic and a legend within the GTA franchise, often being a player's first introduction to the series. It's seen as a significant title that influenced the industry and showcased the evolution of Rockstar's development.
- Desire for Further Improvements (weight 0.02): Despite recent patches, players still express a desire for further technical fixes and graphical enhancements, such as volumetric clouds, better ray tracing, and reworked weather effects, indicating that the game's current state is not fully satisfactory for everyone.
- Community-Driven Enhancements (weight 0.02): Some players rely on community mods to restore missing copyrighted songs or to enhance the game experience, such as adding Russian voice acting, highlighting a desire for more comprehensive official content.
- Game Size and Accessibility (weight 0.02): The game is noted for its 'old-fashioned' and manageable file size. It's also accessible through services like GTA+, making it easier for players to experience the classic trilogy.
- Rockstar's Development Changes (weight 0.01): Players acknowledge Rockstar's decision to remove Grove Street Games from the project and transfer development to more experienced studios, which is seen as a positive step towards addressing the initial quality issues of the Definitive Edition.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.3): Players are highly satisfied with the game's engaging story, memorable characters, and immersive 80s atmosphere, often enhanced by the iconic soundtrack. The remaster's improved graphics, performance, and quality-of-life updates (like better controls and bug fixes) contribute significantly to this satisfaction, allowing players to re-experience a beloved classic in a refreshed state. Achieving 100% completion and overcoming challenges also provides a strong sense of accomplishment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Disappointment stems primarily from the remaster's perceived poor quality, including numerous bugs, technical issues, and inconsistent visuals (especially character models). Players are also let down by the removal of iconic soundtrack tracks, the game's short main mission structure, and the feeling that the remaster did not live up to the original's quality or their expectations, often citing the high price as a contributing factor.
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Frustration is frequently caused by persistent bugs, poor optimization, and game-breaking issues that hinder progression or performance. Difficult missions, aggressive AI (especially police), clunky controls (particularly for flying vehicles), and a lack of checkpoints in challenging sections also contribute to player annoyance and repeated failures.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.16): Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, driven by players revisiting a beloved game from their childhood or youth. The game's iconic 80s setting, memorable soundtrack, and overall atmosphere strongly evoke cherished past memories, making the experience a trip down memory lane for many.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Players express excitement for the game's overall quality, its immersive 80s atmosphere, and its engaging story and characters. There's also significant excitement related to the anticipation of GTA 6, especially with its rumored return to a Vice City-like setting, making this remaster a relevant precursor.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Joy is derived from the game's fun and chaotic gameplay, its immersive atmosphere, and the pleasure of replaying a favorite title. The iconic soundtrack, engaging story, and the ability to freely explore the vibrant world contribute to a highly enjoyable and often nostalgic experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed towards the game's status as a classic and its significant contribution to the GTA series, often described as a 'masterpiece.' Players admire its audacious narrative, refined style, memorable characters, and the enduring quality of its atmosphere and soundtrack.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger arises from the game's perceived poor quality, numerous bugs, and technical issues, leading some to feel they wasted money on a 'trash' product. Frustration with Rockstar's handling of the remaster, including delisting original games and issues with the launcher, also fuels this anger, alongside specific game-breaking bugs and perceived developer greed.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoy the game's chaotic gameplay, humor, and the overall experience of revisiting a classic. The vibrant city, engaging missions, side quests, and especially the iconic radio stations contribute to a fun and addictive experience, often enhanced by modern quality-of-life features.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement often comes from the game's humor, quirky NPC behavior, and minor bugs that create funny or unexpected situations. Players also find amusement in revisiting past challenges or observing satirical elements within the game's world.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game stems from its status as a personal favorite GTA title, deeply appreciating its unique qualities, setting, and soundtrack. Players express strong affection for the game's charm, style, and its overall personal significance.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by ruthless police AI, the need to search online for mission progression, and persistent visual bugs. Camera control issues, crazy NPC driving, and the requirement to use the Rockstar launcher also contribute to player irritation.
- Relief (weight 0): Relief is felt when the game's initial issues, such as performance problems or achievement bugs, are resolved through patches or workarounds. Players are relieved when notoriously difficult missions become easier or when the game is found to be more stable and playable than expected, especially compared to other titles in the trilogy.
- Appreciation (weight 0): Players appreciate the game's detailed world, iconic soundtrack, and its ability to evoke nostalgia and provide a good time. The quality of missions, interesting side characters, and the compelling story are also highly valued, along with specific improvements in the remaster.
- Hope (weight 0): Hope is expressed for future improvements, continued bug fixes, and further integration of asset management features in the game. Players also hope for a more satisfying remaster experience in the future, indicating a desire for the game to reach its full potential.
- Surprise (weight 0): Players are surprised by the game's length, often finding it shorter than remembered, or by how much fun it is despite initial low expectations. The transformation of the game through the remaster and the improved experience of previously difficult missions also lead to pleasant surprises.
- Acceptance (weight 0): Acceptance involves acknowledging the game's flaws but finding it decent or 'fine' once adapted to, often viewing the remaster as the best available option. Minor bugs or graphical issues are accepted if they do not significantly impact overall enjoyment.
- Confusion (weight 0): Confusion arises from not understanding the appeal of the game's progression, unclear mission activation mechanics, or the game failing to run despite sufficient hardware. The delisting of the original game and negative reviews about the remaster also contribute to player confusion.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0): Mixed feelings stem from the game being a blend of improvements and regressions, often citing poor optimization despite its nostalgic value. Players acknowledge some positive aspects but are weighed down by overall low scores and persistent gameplay issues.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Gratitude is expressed for the addition of achievements, the reworked graphics, and the overall experience provided by the game. Players also show appreciation for Rockstar Games for creating the original title and for specific enhancements like Russian voice acting.}