Last year saw a gaming phenomenon hit levels not seen since a certain double-d sized adventurer hit our screens on Psone. Last year Rockstar games decided to mix together their risqué GTA 1 and 2 and add in some 3D visuals. GTA 3 went on the become the biggest ever selling PS2 game. Until now.

For those of you who have never played GTA 3, I will briefly explain the concept. You play a lone ranger type criminal, Tommy Vercetti. The game does not have several levels, instead opting for one large city, Liberty City. The game then pits you against this city in a series of exciting missions. Now back to the review.

We all knew a sequel was inevitable, but nobody could have possibly anticipated a game of such genius. GTA : Vice City, is more disgusting, more satirical, more stereotypical,more controversial and even more fun than it's predecessor. The storyline takes place before GTA 3, set in a mockup 1980's Miami, known as Vice City.

After the initial feature length loading screen, when you see the appearance of Vice City for the first time, you fall instantly in love. The game is so different, with new and improved graphics, a groovy Michael Jackson soundtrack blaring on one of the radio stations along with some clever control innovations. However, the game instantly feels the same to GTA 3 veterans (and let's face it, who isn't a GTA 3 veteran?).

The clever control innovations I talked about earlier, involve all of the things that you wanted to do in number three, now possible. Except flying the jets. Damn. You can, however, bail out of a moving car, enter buildings, buy real estate and beat up cars.

The graphics have also seen a notable improvement since the last title. When you take time from the action around you to admire the scenery, what you see is in fact a gorgeous replica 80's city, so stunningly accurate that you'll find yourself craving a new bandana. That said, the graphics can be a little rough around the edges at times, but are still incredible for a city THREE TIMES the size of Liberty City.

What about the city? Well, one major selling point of the entire Grand Theft Auto series has been the fact that you can just completely ignore the missions. Whilst still having fun. Thankfully this is just as true in Vice City, which actually encourages you to have fun away from the missions. Be it in the Hyman Memorial Stadium ,on a dirtbike track, at the Leaf Links Golf Club, in an illegal street race or even at the Pole Position Strip Club. If you read the manual, which takes the form of a rather entertaining travel guide to Vice City, you can learn of many great places to visit. Then follow the useful map to get there.

Of course, it's quite possible to have a huge amount of fun just simply driving around the vast city. Now, though, you can do that on bikes as well. Yep-BIKES! Brilliant!!! That means you can also kill a bunch of time trying to land "just one more" wheelie or stoppie. The good thing is the bikes serve more purpose than just riding for fun, it is possible to use the bikes to access previously untouchable places, by using outside staircases as ramps. Also, it is possible to out run the fuzz down small alleyways that only bikes will fit down.

When inside a car, or on a bike, it can be possible to get bored. No problem on Vice City. Just flick on the radio, tune into your favourite channel, and listen to some of the great 80's tunes.

So inside a vehicle awaits a whole load of fun. Don't let that fun stop you from getting out and walking, though. You would be missing out on all the great little anecdotes all the great little people in the city tell. Plus, more importantly, you would miss out on starting a fight with these people.

Once in the fight situation, you could try and go all bravado and fisticuffs. But why bother? Vice City offers all the weapons of it's predecessor, along with many, many more. The most noticeable addition, is the increased number of melee weapons. Previously, your only choice was the humble baseball bat. Now, though, you get the meat cleaver, the machete, the knuckle duster, the baton and most importantly, the CHAINSAW!!!! The reason you will come back to this weapon again and again, is not just the fact that you can pinpoint a limb and saw it off, but the fact that you can now saw the doors off locked cars.

So to sum up, "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" is superb. By copying all the countless successes of it's predecessor, and adding a few innovations, the game has fully earned the popularity it will no doubt receive.