The BEST Way to Play GTA Vice City on PC in 2025

[@colonelvector]

I love this niche of videos covering the best way to play older games on PC, when you have multiple option like native ports and emulation. Great video

[@RetroRenew]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Aaron34328]

Really good video. It’s amazing to have a Chanel dedicated to renewing old games.

[@RetroRenew]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ogto]

cheers on this channel. i've OFTEN had to look up best ways to play a variety of old games that came out on 3 different systems across different generations.

[@retropulse03]

I subscribed on the gta3 video, and I'm glad I did. This episode is just as good. San Andreas is next for me. You communicate this all so concisely for how deep it can go. This just gets straight to playing with all the info needed.

[@MikaHotShot]

I played the REvc port and it almost gets that og ps2 look with more modern type controls

[@smokegaming12898]

But it is taken down by Rockstar

[@Miltiadis_Vouzounaras]

@@smokegaming12898 Just search a bit more. Is the best way to play the game!

[@smokegaming12898]

@@aleksevgeny i don't know

[@aleksevgeny]

@@MikaHotShot Are there any bugs or glitches? I remember I read somewhere that there are some issues during some missions. Is it possible to complete all the missions in the game and finish it 100%?

[@sol-hb8zg]

@@smokegaming12898 you can still find it

[@deathcold_longplaysua4846]

I did this a million times. Installed my vanilla version of PC port of GTA Vice City, downgraded it to version 1.0 via patched exe file. Installed SilentPatch that fixes a lot of issues, added fully interactable menu map, GPS mod, over the shoulder camera for shooting, free vehicle camera movement, VC Stories sprint with weapons in hands, proper aiming with weapons, damage and blood effects on screen when getting shot or attacked. Higher detailed weapons with new and modern gun sounds, wardrobe mod that allows you to store your clothes in savehouses and change them similar to GTA Stories. And last but not least, SkyGFX mod that brings back a PS2 visuals. But this last one is optional, since it impacts performance. And that's it! That is how I replay GTA Vice City with mods on PC. But if you want a PS2 experience on PC then, just install SilentPatch and SkyGFX mods, along with PS2 gamepad support and you good to go.

[@White927]

Or just install PCSX2 and an ISO file of GTA VC, there you go.

[@deathcold_longplaysua4846]

@@White927 If PCSX2 was actually a great emulator, I would have done it long ago.

[@White927]

@@deathcold_longplaysua4846 It's great for other GTA games tho.

[@chicaproblematica99]

Better take a look at GTA: Vanilla Vice because it felt like rediscovering a classic with a completely fresh perspective. This isn’t just a collection of minor tweaks; it’s a profound overhaul that reshapes the entire gameplay experience. From the visual foundation to vehicle mechanics and character controls, everything is thoughtfully designed to transform the way players interact with the virtual world. By adding mip-maps for all the textures, the game now has the option to look even better, especially when you turn on anisotropic filtering in the graphics settings. It's not a groundbreaking change, but it's a small step toward better graphics, bringing the experience closer to more modern rendering standards without losing what made the original game special. On the other hand, the introduction of an auto-save system is a pretty solid improvement in terms of functionality. It makes sure your progress isn't lost in the heat of the moment. This feature kicks in after every mission (under specific conditions like not being in a vehicle or in areas with interactive items), which means the game flow becomes smoother since you don’t have to constantly worry about saving your progress manually. When it comes to the camera controls, there's a noticeable redesign, especially with the vehicle handling system. It takes a page from GTA: San Andreas and updates collision detection based on Liberty City Stories. This isn't just about making things look better; it's about improving how you interact with the game world. Now, there's a lot more freedom when it comes to driving, and it also makes shooting from vehicles easier. You can now just move the camera to aim, no need for extra commands that used to mess up the flow of combat. The character control also gets a substantial upgrade. Tommy is no longer tied to the camera, and manual aiming is now a thing. This is more than just a tweak to the shooting mechanics; it shifts how you, as the player, connect with the environment. With this change comes more fluid animations, similar to those from the automatic reload, which helps create a more immersive experience. Plus, you can now skip phone calls, change weapons, or turn off the radio with simplified commands, which may seem minor but makes the day-to-day in-game interactions feel much more natural. From an audio perspective, the addition of 64-channel DSound3D support shows a clear intention to enrich the game's atmosphere. It makes the soundscape fuller and more immersive. Just like with the textures, this isn’t a dramatic change, but it builds up over time to enhance the feeling of being in the world of Vice City. When it comes to vehicles, the fixes go beyond just fixing bugs. Vehicle names get updated, NPC behavior is corrected (like workers not fleeing from emergency vehicles), and some vehicle spawns are fixed, like the Boxville or Pizza Boy. These adjustments feel like a response to a series of issues that broke the immersion, and they're aimed at making the world feel a little more believable. The Pay'N'Spray fix, for example, wasn’t just a technical tweak but a gameplay fix, allowing previously unrepairable vehicles to be fixed, which opens up more strategic options for the player. The animation updates address long-standing issues, such as poorly synced movements and shooting interactions, while also restoring cut content from the PlayStation 2 version. Reintroducing details like the middle-finger gesture isn’t just about technical fidelity; it’s a deliberate choice that reinforces the game’s irreverent and unapologetic personality, aligning it with the aggressive tone of its world Finally, the missions themselves weren’t left out of these updates. A lot of them got tweaks to their mechanics, indicators, and NPC behavior. Things like the checkpoint radius being increased or specific vehicles no longer respawning at certain moments might seem like small details, but they really help smooth out the experience. Plus, fixes to disappearing characters or objects make the narrative feel more consistent. The changes to lighting, siren sounds, and wet road reflections all contribute to a more cohesive visual experience, adding to the sense that the world is alive and reacts to what you do. So yeah, all these changes-whether it’s in shooting mechanics or AI fixes-are part of a larger effort not just to fix bugs but to really improve the overall experience. The goal is to make sure players aren’t just more immersed, but also feel like the game’s dynamics evolve as they make their way through the missions in Vice City. Link: www.moddb.com/mods/gta-vanilla-vice/downloads/gta-vanilla-vice-ml Have fun!

[@HithereJimHerald]

You are not hiding yourself very well as being an ad for this mod, but damnit it does sound good

[@chicaproblematica99]

@@HithereJimHerald Hahaha

[@MKR3238]

I would NOT recommend the 60 fps option for PCSX2. It has a ton of framerate related bugs and issues that are (mostly) fixed on PC through the frmeate vigilante mod. You can also get a modern control scheme in the OG pc port through changing the gInput control set in the .ini I dont know why the mod packs all keep the default classic control scheme out of the box, where you drive with face buttons instead of triggers etc

[@steveclark9934]

Great information in the first 25sec. Nice.

[@RetroRenew]

Glad it was helpful!

[@commanderskittles6558]

I've been playing through Vice City definitive on my steam deck and it plays practically flawlessly and I've been having a blast Also Shameless plug but I'm currently working on a mod that overhauls the more cartoony characters by replacing them with the original PS2 textures upscaled

[@Spoggi99YT]

That’s a great idea for a KZbin channel! You’ve earned a new sub, looking forward to your future content :)

[@RetroRenew]

Thank you so much!

[@Miltiadis_Vouzounaras]

I have the original 2 CDs. I just ripped them, and install the reVC decomplilation port. No CD needed after, smooth, fix the mini-map and gun scope on widescreen. The best way to play the original now.

[@johnphillips4783]

I'm surprised he didn't mention buying the CD ROMs as a way of acquiring the game in the video.

[@hamtheman14]

I have played reViced last year it was a blast to playthrough i only made a couple of changes to it which were deleting the aimsensisabilty and the wanted level editor to remove that 7th star, also looking forward to a mod coming out this month that ports vc to gta 4s engine although idk how good or bad gta vc can feel on 4s engine looking forward to it non the less

[@undergroundcity9789]

i'm playing Reviced rn it's the best way to enjoy Vice City as it was indeed to be no need for emulation where you can play the PC port i know some people want the original to say alive but Rockstar always ruin the experience by removing radio songs

[@elobialy]

What is this mod called? Vice City with GTA 4 physics could be interesting

[@hamtheman14]

@@elobialy gta vice city next gen edition

[@RSNJA]

What's aimsensisability? also how did you remove the 7th star? thank you

[@hamtheman14]

@RSNJA aimsensibility is the mod that slows down your sensitivity when you aim in with a gun its in the game's cleo folder i just dont like it, and for the 7th wanted star go into the game's script folder and delete wantedleveleditorVC

[@audax117]

Great video like always bro, imo The Improved Classic or Updated Classic modpack is the best way overall to play this game, it gives someone the actual OG experience, I'm not a huge fan of the changes ReViced did. I figure the next video will focus on GTA 3? If you keep up the series, some games worth looking onto would be Bully, Manhunt, the OG Silent Hill games and Metal Gear games and Resident Evil, those are all games with multiple PC ports and options to play and each got their own pros and cons (Metal Gear Solid 1 got like, 3 different versions on PC I guess lol).

[@RetroRenew]

GTA3 is next yeah! And those are some great suggestions. Thank you for watching and commenting, much love

[@GaseousSnake]

This video made want to beat Vice City for the 1000th time.

[@yellohammer8571]

Personally, I'd go with the PS2 version, since I've got both a PS2 and the PCSX2 emulator running on my laptop. I would, however like to bring up all the reverse engineering projects related to GTA since those have made it possible to turn any copy of the game into its source code, and then recompile it into running on any hardware, which is how we got homebrew ports on the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS. While Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar issued C&Ds and DMCA takedowns, there might be the tools still available somewhere on the internet, making it possible to port the console versions of the games onto PC.

[@Rafay_qayyum]

You should've included "Vice City Extended Features" mod in too It adds a lot of quality of life additions and also some good addons like map expansion,more vehicles including air,land and sea I think you should check it out

[@brianwalker7771]

If looking for the original pc version remember it did come out on disc. The disc is a better solution than steam anyway since when you buy it you own it.

[@olimphus26]

I'm just waiting on the next gen edition mod to play this game again. It looks amazing.

[@-Tris-]

reVC is one of the best options 😉

[@RetroRenew]

I'm sad I missed covering this way! I didnt make the same mistake and covered RE3 for my GTA3 vid.

[@billandzoey]

i love your channel

[@seajay0726]

really useful and informative video! just subbed 😊

[@RetroRenew]

Thanks for subbing!

[@daumian]

I think you really should take a look at modding The Definitive Edition. I've been playing with the mods that restore Tommy original look and the one that restores the original radio + adds more new songs that fit the vibe of the game. There are also reshade mods for it but I didn't try those.

[@V._Snake]

-GTA:VC - Next Gen Edition has left the chat

[@danielThe1980sLover]

7:37 How funny that the characters behind are still frozen in the definitive edition😂

[@Ciaran500]

Good video and great idea for a channel. Subscribed

[@kimisha19]

The best way to play GTA Vice City on PC in my opinion is to find the taken down reVC as it works excellently and has a lot of convenient fixes.

[@RetroRenew]

I’m going to look into RE3 for the GTA3 vid I’m working on

[@kimisha19]

@@RetroRenew It's great, that's how I finished GTA 3 too lol

[@undergroundcity9789]

best way to play Vice City is the Reviced Mod on PC it adds way more songs to the radio, you can run & gun with only 1 handed weapons like the 911 Pistol & Mac-10 SMG, there's way more outfits to wear, Classic Axis & additional vehicles like the Beta Infernus & Sentinel models

[@hamtheman14]

@undergroundcity9789 you see thats the one thing i dont like about reviced the new songs i just dont feel like eye of the tiger really belongs in vrock or the other songs that it adds that might be my one complaint

[@undergroundcity9789]

@@hamtheman14 Carless Whisper & Beat It perfectly fit the vibe of Vice City as both songs were released during the Era before 1986 any song older then 1976 doesn't really belong on the radio stations Eye Of The Tiger is on V-Rock as well as Beat It, Master Of Puppets by Metallica Back In Black AC/DC The Final Countdown so many good songs for the station even if you think it's too much or doesn't fit the vibe it makes the immersion while driving splendid &, relaxing to hear so many songs so some don't get boring sorry if it's too much for you

[@hamtheman14]

@undergroundcity9789 you make a really good point but its just that i like the vanilla radio as is you know

[@undergroundcity9789]

@@hamtheman14 fair enough

[@Spider-f2n]

The xbox port is also pretty good, it has enhanced vehicle models and the characters have individual finger that move during cutscenes. However i think the best version gameplay-wise is a mod called Vice Extended. It it based on reVC and includes modern GTA V styled controls, enhanced vehicles, lod lights, an autosave + the ability to save anywhere, new vehicles, like the VCPD motorbike and brand new driveby controls, which allow you to shoot in any direction while driving. This mod also includes a modloader, so you can replace the mod's hud elements with higher quality ones, and because it is based on reVC you also get modern gamepad controls, bugfixes and multiple graphics options to recreate the game's original atmosphere. Edit: i forgot to mention you can SWIM :O

[@tylerfreal6472]

good take on the def edition

[@dentureadventure1490]

Just found your channel. love the content. i subbed!

[@RetroRenew]

Welcome! Glad you like it!

[@jesushope2421]

Bro look into revolution's GTA IV vice city remake. All missions.

[@Lippeth]

2:32 Excellent, it's perfect thank you 2:36 Nooooo but whyyyy

[@GUN1T123JR2]

Great vid

[@petrosMgr]

Oh well since I watched this video might as well play my part. For those of you that want the original experience with the Playstation 2 graphics. You have to go with the PS2 version. Alongside all the missing songs you getting back, there is also some broken animations in all other versions of the game that work fine in the PS2 version. PlayStation 2 version is the only one that Tommy has a working idle animation while holding two handed weapons and rocket launchers. In all other versions of this game Tommy stands completely still. Like his paused. It's a very minor detail but still.

[@Sierra_Vice]

PS2 all the way, but I'm also a big fan of the improved classic mod for PC. I have never heard of reViced, but I give it a whirl, even tho I found the mechanic changes a bit... interesting. Huh, maybe it will give me a new experience to the game. If I don't like it, I might switch back to the improved classic. Great video.

[@PabloB888]

The PS2 version isnt very good to be honest. It runs like crap, it has extremely limited draw distance, and low res textures. "Definitive edition project" (now called "project reborn") is way better way to play ALL three classic GTA games. You get PS2 / xbox effects and assets, perfect gamepad support, better textures and other improvements, basically a true definitive edition. This mod also has "neo" real time car reflections from xbox version. In order to use them, you will need to edit the skygfx ini file (in the mods folder) and select the "neo" reflections option.

[@Sierra_Vice]

@@PabloB888 Just picked it first for nostalgic reasons :) I'm fine with what I have atm but I appreciate your comment! 🫡

[@PabloB888]

@@Sierra_Vice I played PS2 version recently on PCSX2 because I wanted to see how it will look like with CRT emulation on my LCD. The game was more playable compared to rael PS2, and looked much better too even at native resolution.

[@PabloB888]

I'm using "definitive edition project mod" (now called project reborn) for all three original GTA3 VC SA games. It used to be the most popular mod pack for these games since rockstar started chasing moders it's more difficult to find this mod packs. This mod pack has the best improvements from the PS2 / xbox version and a proper gamepad support. It even has support for Xbox car reflections, but you have to edit the skygfx ini in the mod folder and select "neo" reflections. As for PCSX2 version I prefer to play it at native resolution + integer scaling and with reshade CRT phosphor mask. When configured correcty even native resolution in this game look perfectly sharp and clean (like 640x480 would look on a CRT), IMO way better even compared to my real SD CRT. Textures start to look stretched and blurred at higher resolutions. Also LOD transition and low poly models arnt as noticeable when you play at 640x480.

[@da1writer1985]

I was going to say the same thing, as I use the "Definitive Edition Project" mod. When Rockstar had their third party port group screw up their "Definitive Edition", many pointed to modding the OG titles (which I happen to have on Steam) with the Definitive Edition Project. It's a simple drag and drop and works exactly like the mods mentioned here. They've even been updated/renamed to avoid Rockstar's wrath, I would suggest others to check it out.

[@Manic_Panic]

Best way to play it is with my mod "The Ultimate Asset Fix" which is a fully vanilla mod pack that fixes the map and models, while also including all the script fixes. And most importantly, has no added bugs unlike most of those other mods.

So basically we need a Vice City Definitive Edition ReViced :D

[@ssj2rhandy]

Good video ps2 still slaps And doesn’t PC version have a physical release?

[@RetroRenew]

It does yeah!

[@Alpha_Swiper]

“The Getaway” poster 🤩

[@gamerinsaan1794]

now that next gen edition is avaivlable that is best way to play

[@KainDeified]

Great video! I was having an issue saving the game with the ReViced mod, but that might be because I didn't throw the files into my installation of Vice City?

[@GhoulRUSva]

I just wish somebody would finally put original models for characters (with upscaled textures for them maybe too) to DE I would gladly try the it then.

[@som614]

GTA vc NextGen edition is the best please look into it Itna gonna release this month

[@Digitaldelboy]

Great video, will you cover GTA 3 next

[@RetroRenew]

Yes I will

[@Alvipro008]

Next: Need for speed games.

[@LNCRFT]

Is it just me or are the sounds effects at 0:17 from Vanishing Point or is it from Gran Turismo?

[@nii17g]

Maybe aesthetics are the best on pc version but controls are definitely superior on native pc version which makes it the best option.

[@White927]

The best way to play GTA games is on console.

[@mrguplaygames]

I play 1.4 version of GTA Vice City on PCSX2 and didn't get any of the bug you mentioned, and I checked, Running with the Night was on Flash FM and weapon icons

[@arthurmorgann199]

Where da hell did you get the ISO for VC?

[@Qa_mook]

in this year planed is Vice City in GTA V engine. 3.00 version on pcsx2 suport retroachivments, but you need patch iso to get 60 fps.

[@Moe_Lester_fromUptwn]

Love mods. Didn't the pc game have a custom online multiplayer mode too? Or was that San Andreas? I was in community college then, I forgot

[@RetroRenew]

I think you're talking about SAMP (San Andreas Multiplayer). Still to this day has a crazy huge following

[@Moe_Lester_fromUptwn]

@@RetroRenew there you go! Crazy times man.

[@postnutvibes1750]

Ah man I remember playing samp all throughout quarantine

[@magnoliy08]

both had one. VC player count is in the double digits these days sadly.

[@johnbowen7314]

After the recent patch including classic lighting I actually really like the definitive edition, but the loss of around 15% of the music is a huge downer. I can’t believe R/S were too cheap to re-licence the missing tracks.

[@RetroRenew]

It's actually decent now I agree!

[@audax117]

If you rly care about the DE and is playing on PC, then there's a mod that restores all the cut music back into the game

[@johnbowen7314]

@@audax117 unfortunatelyb I’m a console person, so ps5, but yes, otherwise that would be pretty great.

[@AlexBell1991]

For the DE version, the music can easily be restored. Some saint created a simple mod. It's literally just a simple drag and drop. I same on the same page as the DE version, I am not keen on how the characters look.

[@Holanduzo]

So what were the bugs of 1.40? they just were things to be changed, but not bugs.

[@RetroRenew]

There was 3 bugs, one being a stat bug in a mission I can’t remember the name for, Detonator bug and Cherry Poppers save glitch.

[@undergroundcity9789]

Can you do Best Way to play GTA IV or San Andreas next??

[@RetroRenew]

I’ve already done San Andreas, but GTA 4 and 3 are on the radar!

[@magnoliy08]

gta 4 is a bit more convoluted. if you want multiplayer you need to downgrade to 1.0.8.0. then just get fusion fix and a radio downgrader. dxvk might help with stutters but its hit or miss for me. runs decent on xenia for me, but no real reason to play there.

[@muhtasimmahin5057]

The improver classsic isn't working. when I launch the game it shows mss32.dll file missing error. I download the mss32.dll file copy paste into game folder but now after launch game just doesn't starts.

[@acceptable1609]

Reviced won't load in I can launch the game and everything works but when I chose to start a new game it gets to the loading screen with Tommy and just sits there. Is there anyway to fix this issue?

[@John-mv8bq]

well made video

[@RetroRenew]

Thanks!

[@itskebiksons]

ReViced aiming is so slow, way slower than when not holding RMB to aim. How to fix that?

[@Chris_Ramsay1]

Didn’t they just patch in the original lighting to the definitive editions, or was that just for San Andreas?

[@RetroRenew]

That's for all of them I'm pretty sure. The Definitive Edition I played here has the Vice City lighting back

[@Chris_Ramsay1]

@ That’s what I thought, wasn’t sure.

[@נאורטיטנצי]

Honestly, the original xbox version is the best i played. Perhaps in the near future xemu would improve their performance enough for my pc to play it.

[@Flahvio]

How do I remove the extra star in ReViced?

[@saadanis6820]

How I can open this side 2:42 ?

[@RetroRenew]

I just press ESC or Double Click works for me too.

[@saadanis6820]

@RetroRenew thanks can you make video for bully and ac1 too.

[@smokegaming12898]

Please you can make a video about best way to play gta 3

[@RetroRenew]

Yes!!

[@smokegaming12898]

@RetroRenew thank you

[@filipmartinez1162]

How do I play it in SBS on a 3DTV?😗

[@_patrick58_]

GTA ReViced is the best way to play GTA VC

[@Ninetails94]

just play the pc version or download the pcsx2 emulator simple as that, theres no best way, but we all know ps2 version is the best one since it was originally made for the ps2 first.

[@caslloveer]

next gen is the best way to play rn but they should fix some stuff the gameplay is so boring and slow

[@AQXDG5911]

I play the mobile version by far the worst version I never play too many glitches the cars slow the boat challenge have annoying glitch that I can't beat it everything worst in this version but i complete the story mode

[@imjustselva]

best way to play gta sa?

[@RetroRenew]

Already up on the channel :)

[@milenschneewei6754]

Best way is on a windows xp computer

[@nonototote]

ps2 all the way

[@BrawlinEntertaintment2K]

PC port with mods better

[@madhunter6420]

reviced changed a lot of things 😂😂 its not the best. only if u modify it plenty

[@Lol_Boring]

meow

[@DangusBoom]

Best version is original PS2 hardware.

[@RebornAudio]

PCSX2 with the original release, 100% the best way.

[@adriantrusca1245]

Legal copy. Haha. Funny stuff.