A Mod That Modernizes Vice City Better Than Others

The idea of porting GTA: Vice City to the GTA 4 engine is hardly groundbreaking (one such attempt). However, for the Revolution Team, it has remained relevant. A full-scale effort has been underway for over a year, though it’s known that the team has been working on related projects for years. Finally, on Saturday, January 25, GTA: Vice City — Nextgen Edition was released.

This global modification not only transfers Vice City map but also all the features of the original game: storyline missions, side quests, local NPCs and characters, radio stations, vehicles, and more. The visuals are enhanced by ENB series graphic add-ons.

The community quickly dubbed GTA: VC — NE a true remaster. Undoubtedly, it looks better than what was originally released under the name GTA: Vice City — Definitive Edition. But like any project, it has its drawbacks and shortcomings. Let’s highlight a few — not to diminish the creators’ efforts, but to point out weak spots and possibly even spark new ideas.

The first impression is spoiled by some interface decisions that, subjectively, kill the atmosphere. The pause menu, which fully replicates the layout of the fourth generation, simply does not allow you to feel like you’re playing that legendary game, even if it’s more technologically advanced. The loading screen texts could also have been warmer, using VC distinctive font and colors.

Then we rewatch the reassembled intro, and everything seems to return to normal. But immediately afterward, we encounter some inconsistencies, such as a parking spot at the Ocean View Hotel. In the original game, it didn’t exist, which makes sense — at the start of the story, the protagonist begins from scratch, and earning a garage for your favorite vehicle requires some progress. In Grand Theft Auto IV, where this feature was first introduced, it fit perfectly — justified by the dense city layout, lack of interior space, and an elegant solution overall. Here, however, it feels out of place. Similarly, there’s Tommy’s inability to drown. Not for the reason you might think, but because he can now swim. Upon reflection, this skill makes the game less challenging than originally intended.

Some bugs, found within the first hour of gameplay, can be described briefly. For instance, there are areas on the map where the terrain doesn’t match what’s shown on the radar. In the mall (this doesn’t happen in other interiors or outdoors), a strange bug occurs: when colliding with any pedestrian, they disappear into thin air.

Of course, there are countless such nuances, but they can and should be fixed, especially since the hardest part of this monumental work has already been completed. We assume the team will continue their work. Their small custom launcher, which appears when starting GTA: Vice City — Nextgen Edition, already includes options to check for updates alongside settings, FAQs, and other information. Achievements from the Definitive Edition or even custom ones created by the modders themselves would fit in perfectly here.

You may ask: what about the copyright holder? We’ll answer: two days before the release, Take-Two representatives had already taken down the Revolution Team YouTube channel, where the story trailer had amassed over 100,000 views. Most likely, the same will happen soon with their new channel. However, the creators did not cancel the release of this global modification and will likely continue improving the product. A lawsuit doesn’t threaten them, as they are located in a sanctioned territory that is de facto outside the international legal system.

More news on the topic File DB: