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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

(2006, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated M, Play it on: PlayStation 2, PSP)
  • 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?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Another brutal, unabashedly adult game.

Why We Rated This not for kids

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Typical of the series: violence is the answer to every problem, ethnic caricatures abound, and crime pays.
  • Violence:

    Contract killings, gang wars, torture, drive-by shootings, and a body count measure (including number of cops killed).
  • Sex:

    Just a sample: houses of prostitution are part of your criminal empire and a sexually ravenous, androgynous character constantly propositions you.
  • Language:

    No restraint is shown here -- prepare for a flurry of F-bombs, a slew of S-words, and assorted variations on the word "ass."
  • Consumerism:

    Part of the GTA series.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Episode featuring homemade liquor pales in comparison to the drug content. Cocaine is central to the plot and characters are depicted snorting the drug.
 

What Parents Need to Know

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

Parents need to know that the content of this game is consistent with previous entries in the series -- brutal violence, smarmy sexuality, drug use, and bad language are all in full effect. Players will be involved in contract killings, gang wars, torture, and drive-by shootings, and are encouraged to kill people, and ethnic caricatures abound. Despite the game's amazing depth and detail, the developers have made another unabashedly adult game that revels in explicit content. It is only for mature players.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the complex ethnic and racial world depicted. Does the revelation that white supremacist bikers are gay somehow mock their hateful ideology? Is the coarsely named "Cholo" gang a lazy use of a Latino stereotype or a reflection of street crime reality? Does the main character's noble motives somehow soften his antisocial acts? Why do you think the GTA series is so popular?
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More on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

What’s the Story?

GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY STORIES takes place prior to the events of its console predecessor, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Players control Vic Vance, brother of a leading character from the earlier game, who enlists in the military to provide his family with some financial stability. But when his corrupt commanding officer forces him to run drug errands, Vic is kicked out of the Army and pursues a life of crime to help his family. Along the way, Vic meets a wild array of characters who populate a dark world of drug dealing, extortion, prostitution, and robbery, to name a few pastimes. Close

Is It Any Good?

The second GTA for the Sony handheld delivers almost everything you'd expect from a console game -- comparable graphics, a sprawling game world, intuitive controls, memorable characters with top-notch voice acting, and a vast array of unlockable extras. The missions and Mini games are the perfect length for quick gaming sessions, extending the game's replay value almost to infinity. Ten multiplayer challenges give you ample opportunity to compete against your friends.

While building your empire is fun, fending off the steady onslaught of attackers becomes tiresome, distracting from the rest of the game. But as with other GTA entries, the shocking content is really what is on display here. Unless you're OK with dropping your kid into a seedy virtual backwater, the PSP's trip to Vice City is an adults-only affair. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 10/30/2006, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs)

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  • What did you think about Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories?
  •  I think this game is

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See all 38 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

    mild for gta

    sex references, violence, blood, strong language, drugs

  2. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    good for 2 year olds!

    my kid plays it all the time, he acts as if he never played it before, he's perfect

  3. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    good for 2 year olds!

    my kid plays it all the time, he acts as if he never played it before, he's perfect

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    dont let your kids play this or they'll end up like my brother!!!

    my brother got crazy on this game. and he learned some cussing words in the game too. he started going to school secretly bringing a weapon and killed everyone at his school. so my mom had to throw it away...dont let your kids play this or they'll end up like my brother!!!

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