The 2002 GTA that created Vice City. Smaller, rougher, set in the past, massively impactful. A companion to the GTA 6 vs original piece.

The map

There are two major islands connected by bridges. The mainland consists of Little Havana, Little Haiti, downtown and the port. Then there's the beach side: Ocean Beach (where the art deco strip is), Vice Point (where the mall is) and Starfish Island, where the mansions are.

Modest from today's perspective. Groundbreaking at the time of release.

Influence on GTA 6

The geographic shape carries over - barrier island and mainland tied by bridges. So does the visual coding - especially the art deco strip motif. The period setting doesn't - the 2002 game was set in 1986; the 2026 one is modern day.