Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a bit of an obscure game in the series that came out for the PSP and was also the last GTA released for the PS2. Most people probably never really played it since it wasn’t re-released for the PS4. As such, there are a lot of things fans may have missed about the game.
The game stars Victor Vance, older brother to Vice City’s Lance Vance, as he tries to make enough money to heal his sick brother Pete in 1984 Vice City. The game itself is a prequel to the first Vice City. Just like its predecessor, there are a number of Easter eggs and references that serve as both cool nods and ways to tie the series together.
10 A Certain Egg Is Under Construction
Veterans of Vice City will note how towards the northern part of downtown Vice City is the VCN building that can be jumped through to access a room. A room that has an actual chocolate Easter egg in it that reads “Happy Easter”.
If you go to the same exact place in Vice City Stories, you will find the same exact egg under construction with a mini crane beside it. An overall nice reference to something some players might have missed in the first Vice City.
9 Sunshine Autos Is Under Construction
Towards the southern edge of the Little Havana district, players can find a car dealership under construction. Fans of the previous game will note that this is actually Sunshine Autos.
Sunshine Autos was a business that could be owned in the first game where players could deliver specific cars in exchange for some quick cash. It is also a nice homage to Vice City in the sense that it pays homage to the game that introduced owning a business. That is used in the series today with GTA V and Online having this mechanic.
8 The Moon’s Size Can Be Increased Or Decreased
This one is a pretty weird thing you can do in the game. In all of the PS2 GTA games, Vice City Stories included, the size of the moon can be increased or decreased.
With a sniper rifle equipped, aim at the moon and shoot it to increase and decrease its size. How this happened is anyone’s guess but it is a fun thing to do if you find yourself too bored.
7 A Rockstar Constellation
Sometimes it’s nice to take a break and just admire the stars of the night sky. This is something not often done in video games, especially in Vice City Stories, but do so in the game and you’re in for a nice Easter egg.
Look into the sky at night and you may have the chance to see a star constellation make out an R for Rockstar Games, the publisher and developer of the GTA series. Like the moon Easter egg, this Easter egg is also present in the other ps2 GTA games.
6 Two Mission Names Reference Pop Culture
References to pop culture in GTA games are nothing new and Vice City Stories is no exception to this. Eagle-eyed fans will notice how two of the game’s missions reference something from pop culture.
The Brown of the Dead mission references the popular zombie flick, Dawn of the Dead. The other mission is the Domo Arigato Domestoboto which references the popular 80s hit song, Mr. Roboto by Styx.
5 A Restaurant Is Named After A Godfather Character
It’s no secret that crime gangster films have had an impact on GTA in major ways. Vice City Stories pays tribute to the Godfather by naming the Barzini Italian Restaurant, a business in the game, after a character from that movie.
The character in question is Don Emilio Barzini. In The Godfather, he was one of the bosses that made New York’s Five Families that were associated with the mafia and was the main antagonist of The Godfather novel. There are two of these in the game, one in the North Point Mall and the other in Downtown Vice City.
4 An Umberto Robina Mural Resembles “Che” Guevara
Umbreto Robina is the leader of a Cuban gang in both Vice City and Vice City Stories. In the Little Havana section of Vice City, based off of Miami’s Little Havan district, is a mural of the guy, next to the words Libre Havana, that bears a striking resemblance to murals of Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Guevara was an Argentine communist revolutionary who played a major role in the Cuban Revolution and inspired countries in Africa and South America to do the same. Though he was eventually captured and executed, he still remains a strong symbol of rebellion to this day. Something the Robina mural alludes to.
3 All The Past Vice City Characters
As the game is a prequel to Vice City, there are a number of cameos from characters in that game. Robina was one such character but there are others, as well.
Some of the more notable ones are crazy war veteran Phil Cassidy, Ricardo Diaz before he acquired the Scarface-esque mansion and Lance Vance who appears quite nerdy looking at first before engaging in the drug trade with his brother.
2 The Trailer Trash Outfit Resembles San Andreas’ CJ
A cool homage to a different game is the trailer trash outfit in Vice City Stories that can be acquired after completing the D.I.V.O.R.C.E. mission. The outfit itself consists of Vic wearing a white tank top, blue jeans and sneakers.
This outfit is clearly an homage to San Andreas’ CJ, who wears the same outfit as his default outfit in that game.
1 You Can Watch A Phil Collins Performance
Perhaps the most memorable thing about Vice City Stories is the appearance of singer and former Genesis frontman, Phil Collins. Collins actually plays himself and appears in a few missions where you try to stop mafia hitmen from assassinating him.
After completing the In The Air Tonight mission, players can actually see Collins perform the song of the same name at the Hyman Memorial Stadium for the price of $6,000. Now you can see PS2 Collins perform for you whenever you want.
