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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?
Did this review help you decide?

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).

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.

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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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Easy to play

    just a little to edegy for kids

    great but gets boreing after countied use

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Get that stick out of your butt

    My mom actually bought this game for me when I was 9, under the condition that I wouldn't ever do anything Tommy does in the game. In hindsight, that was a stupid thing to do, but luckily, I was a pretty smart kid. This game was actually a sort of stress ball for me in those pubescent years, shameless fun. I turned out perfectly fine. Go ahead, let your kid play this. Just watch out if he murders his hamster.

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    It actually isnt that bad ( don't hit me! )

    Well, I don't like the message, but it IS fun to play, I played it sinse I was 12. I'd let my kids play it, but I'd watch them play it. I actually like killing the people on there, in real life that would be gross, but on here, I make an excuse. "The people in that game wasted their lives, they deserve it" do not use this quote in real life. The blowing up car thing is actually kinda fun too. I don't really do the gangster missions, I go around getting weapons, go to a mansion, and cause a ranpage, but don't judge me I couldn't do that if I wanted to in real life.. no it isnt the best thing for kids obviously.. I am ashamed of myself for liking it, I truely am... disgrace.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    Kids ages: 12
    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.

  6. 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

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    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

  8. Parent Reviewer
    Kids ages: 11
    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

  9. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    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!!

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    BAD language LOTS of violence fun.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    i love it even got it on my computer

  12. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 15 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

    i love it

  13. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    It's GTA. There's going to be graphic violence, sex, profanity and drug content. Most kids know the difference between games and real life. I played games like this when i was younger, it all depends on the kid.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Onne of the cleaner GTA's

    THis is one of the cleanest GTA's out there but you can search very hard and try to break into a stripclub but unless you try to find it it wont happen, otherwise sex is not in it. if your looking for a 100% sex free GTA get Grand Theft Auto III, it just has mild violence and language.

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0

    Ehh... bad.

    Sure, it contains the message that the other games contain but its not graphic enough for todays viewers to be taken seriously.

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    i love this game but i dont play it any more

    good game nothing scary or NOT FOR KIDS

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 5.0

    Pretty good

    D**n people, its just a game. Sure, a violent one, but your kid should know they shouldn't go outside with a loaded handgun and randomly kill people, or blow up a building with C4, or buy smuggled cocaine from a group of Colombian gangsters. Really. I started playing all of the GTAs when I was 8 or 9, and you don't see on the news "12 year old boy kills family, blows up town, sells blow." If your kid gets violent, don't blame Rockstar games. Blame yourself.

  18. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    Kids ages: 6, 15, 20
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0

    People Put on Your thinking caps

    People keep saying that this gameis horrible.Well think about it if you say the game is horrible then you are insaulting the company who made the series and all the people who like this game.Content is mild but thats the only thing.Lots of companies have made worse and Rockstar is 10/10 for companies that have made graphic games.Thats not bad for rockstar.So if oyu know your kid won't act like that go buy them this game!

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on and give it 4.0

    everyone try it!!

    Bad content just another life going game.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on and give it 5.0

    awsome game

    AAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE GGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE

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