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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    GTA continues with more sex, violence & drugs.

Why We Rated This not for kids

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Stealing, killing, and shooting are all a part of this gangster lifestyle.

  • Violence:

    The object is to shoot, kill, and beat up as many people as possible. There is gang warfare, beatings, drive-by shootings, killing of innocent bystanders, bloody and grotesque deaths.

  • Sex:

    Explicitly sexual -- you can be serviced by hookers.

  • Language:

    Constant swearing is a part of this world.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Unapologetic drug use. Some alcohol consumption as well.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was written by Aaron Lazenby

Parents need to know that this game features all manner of violence, drug use, and foul language. Kids who play this game will be able to steal cars, kill a prostitute after having sex with her, shoot cops, and sell drugs. While clever pop culture references to the 1980s make the game creative and appealing, the graphic nature of its storyline makes it shocking. Parents also need to know that the star rating given to this game is based on quality of gameplay within this adult genre of gaming and not an endorsement of the violence within the game.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about the presence of adult content in video games. Does the interactive nature of the experience make it more influential than books or movies? Is it appropriate for game developers to address such mature subjects as drug use and prostitution in what was once considered a children's medium?
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OK for Your Kids to Play?

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More on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

What’s the Story?

The controversial Grand Theft Auto series continues with GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY. And while it changes locales from the previous entry, it doesn't abandon the series' trademark recipe of drugs, sex, and violence. Players control Tommy Vercetti, a recognized member of a big-city crime family, recently released after time in prison. Rather than returning home, Tommy settles in Vice City, a near-perfect replica of mid-1980s Miami. With a surging drug trade, profitable prostitution rings, and brutal violence, Vice City looks like a perfect fit for a guy like Tommy. Sure enough, it's not long before players are pimping women, selling drugs, and strong-arming rivals with the help of shotguns, AK-47s, Molotov cocktails, and a deadly chainsaw (among other weapons).
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Is It Any Good?

If you've heard of the Grand Theft Auto series, it's likely you have formed an opinion on whether it's a fun, groundbreaking, and popular game, or if it's exploitative, x-rated schlock. The game's contents are so objectionable -- and nevertheless well-made and engaging -- that it can't help but be polarizing.

But as offensive as the scenarios presented in Vice City may be, the game's amazing detail, ease of play, deep story, and sprawling game environment make it easy to spend hundreds of hours exploring and exploiting in this adult-content world.

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Publisher’s Details

Developer: Rockstar Games
Released on: 10/29/2002, Price: $49.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Strong Language,Strong Sexual Content, Violence

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Plague
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    GTA: Vice City

    Not as good as GTA 3, but still fun. As long as they have the Rino tank in the game, im a happy guy.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    jojobinx
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Easy to play

    good for teens

    i was a great game to me and my friends

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    jeffirwin
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • Safety is an issue
    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    bad

    16

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Parent Reviewer
    J C
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • Safety is an issue
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    JCRDTH
    I rate this title off for age 11 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Safety isn't an issue

    Bad for kids but... Who cares?!

    I don't care how old I am, I play games like this. My mom lets me because I have 2 older brothers. I love this game!!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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