Game Details
Price
  • $49.99
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Genre
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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox)

common sense media says

GTA continues with more sex, violence & drugs.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

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.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive 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 applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Unapologetic drug use. Some alcohol consumption as well.

More on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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?

What's the story?

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?

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.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox
Not available online
Genre: Role Playing
Developer: Rockstar Games
Released on: October 29, 2002
Price: 49.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Strong Language,Strong Sexual Content, Violence

This review was written by Aaron Lazenby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

 
it is not for cats
is it easy to play but i dont have it if you can give me it will be good

J-dog21
teen, 16 years old
 
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.

eyes in the sky
parent of 7 year old
 
Awsome Game For Kids
This Grand Theft Auto is one of the best and cleanest of them all.If you actually watch your kid play the game,you will realize that isn't all that bad.The only problem with the game,is that theres profanity,but i guarantee that your kid wouldn't copy it. me and my 7 year old play it once in a blue moon. Theres no sex or nudity,just girls in bikinis.The thing that makes it fun, is the cheats and weapons!

long123
kid, 12 years old
 

Scoops
adult
 
While highly controversial, not the least redeemable.
GTA: Vice City has bee a favourite whipping boy of anti-game activists ever since it's release. I find that to be unfortunate. Make no mistake: This game is one of the more extreme games available to the general market, and not appropriate for most kids. However, even in Vice City, there are things you could discuss with kids, should you allow them to play it. Why does a character like Tommy Vercetti (or his film counterpart, Scarface's Tony Montana) become a glorified cult hero? What causes urban gang violence? These questions deserve discussion, though playing this game is still not likely to be wise for most kids.

good parent74
parent of 10 year old
 
perfect for kids!
it's perfect for children! there is absolutely nothing wrong with this game.

 
Warning: this game will make you be a good parent
I'm 18. I play GTA: Vice City. Deal with it. The fact of the matter is, GTA has inspired kids to commit heinous crimes, such as the shooting in Florida where the male-nurse was killed. Why weren't the parents locking up the guns? Why did they purchase the game for the kids? Games have ratings. You should all try reading them. GTA is, at its core, a mafioso wonder that rival the Godfather or Scarface. It's brutal, sex-fueled drug-snatching fun. If you're an adult, it is a great game. If you're a parent, maybe you should not by this for lil' Jonny.

jdbungry
teen, 17 years old
 
Im Just A Kid
My parents, please they wouldn't let me get this game if i begged them to but com-on 7-15 year old kids play GTA for gods sake. My parents are just afraid that i will grow up and shoot people. I love the game but my parents, its just the thought of it they just dont understand.

rockindad
parent of 11 year old
 
It's better than what they have now days
I honestly think this a good game for kids.Me and my son play it whenever we get a chance to.the reason it says strong sexual content is because there is a strip club.but you can't even get into one until you beat the game.and trust me, it takes a really long to beat it.it dosen't have sex nor nudity.it just has girls in bikini's. but hey,it's alot better than what they have now days.

 
not that bad
Well, my son recently begged for this game saying it wasn't as bad as the other titles in this series. I soon found out it really wasn't. It does have violence and a bit of language, but I couldn't find hardly any sex in the game. SO if your child is begging for this game I would just think of how mature they are and if they could handle it first.

Swit Swat
kid, 12 years old
 
A horrible game that can lead to bad decisions in life.
Hey everyone! Remember back in the days when violent games did not exist?! Remember when everyone enjoyed playing pac-man or space invaders? Nowadays, they make these stupid games that rot everyones' brains. I don't get why people like these type of games. Would you like it if someone entered your house and shot you?! Come on people, be smart. This game is for ages 20 and up. But, even people of that age shouldn't play it. No one should. But if you still disagree with me, then you should be at least 20 to play.

 
OMG Violence
OK, I'm 18, and I enjoy playing this game very much so, and so does my 15 year old younger brother. I have been playing violent video games since the age of about 11 I'd say, when my grandfather purchased Doom2 Hell on Earth for me. You know what? that was the coolest back then blowing all the monsters up and stuff. But I NEVER even thought of taking the game out of the game and doing something stupid like shooting a bunch of people cause I could do it on my computer. But back to GTA yes it is violent, but its not as pointless as some think. You don't just go around shooting people and stealing cars. There is a really good story behind it all. To sum it up Tommy just gets out of jail where he has been for 15 years and comes back to Vice City to take it over. The game really is great when it comes to the story so I think you ignorant people should actually play the game before blowing up on it. And another thing, the game is rated "Mature" after all, and most store won't even sell M games to young kids with out parent permission. So you would assume that the parents would be aware if their frail little boy is playing this game.

BranislavDJ
teen, 17 years old
 
My first GTA.I got it when I was 9. I loved that game.But character,besides his sense of humor,doesn't have much of feelings. Other than that,OK!

Yes
adult
 
Unbelievable
As long as your mature teen has some understanding, then he/she/it can play this game, but I don't get why parents are stupid enough to let their kids even under 10 play this. I mean, would a first or second grader be amused by all the violence and people having sex? It shows too much portrayal of it, but as usual, it is likely to be a joke. This is almost on par with Conker's Bad Fur Day.

Videonowcolor
kid, 10 years old
 
this game is for kids
i love this game because chat codes is used for kids of all ages but still for young adults and older maybe for ages 4+ and up is rated m for ages 17+ over not a good older age but you can kill them and more

 
Shame on the makers of this game!!!!
This game should be taken off the shelves of stores!!! i know it says 17 and older that does not prevent some parents from buying this for their children only to let thism play this! this game includeds violence, running people over, shooting people and to get your life replenished you must go out and get a hooker! This is a horrible game and what does it teach our youth?? it teaches them violence and how to disrespect women at a young age. I understand thos is for grownups but what is to stop an older sibleing from letting their smaller sibling from playing it?? It sends a very bad message and only hurts society! Get the GAME off the shelves before it damages our youth anymore!!! Horrible game and should have never been made!!!

westertin
teen, 14 years old
 
perfect for young adults and older.
it is very fun but very violent

IKnowBest12
kid, 12 years old
 
for teens
Its a very fun game. it has alot to it.A wesome gameplay, greatest radio selection of rock songs. The famous love fist In town. doing very fun missions.I am 12 and I play this. just make sure you dont copy any of it.

 
Lets be real about this
This game does not deserve the flak it is getting. I will say this, you MUST be mature and explain things when/if you want to get this game for your kid/teen. Politicans fail to mention that in this game YOU have FULL control of you actions. You can go through the whole game and just do the mission and enjoy the very well written story. Or you can do a murderous rampage or stealing and killing for no reason, thats FREEDOM for you. I've beaten this game and the previous GTA without going on rampages.

FGGF
adult
 
i think this should be viewd by adults before letting your kids watch this stuf should be rated adults for nudity langage blood and gore and drugs but i love these games all of my friends have them

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age