I first rend the game for a week from a local store which rents video games. I had a PSP console in my hands that my father had bought for me as a present for my name celebration, at August 30 the year 2007. I like gifts and gaming. I had to buy a game one day and from all those I had rent in the past, I most liked the game with the title: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The game is exciting! Evolve Vic Vance, a character that in his past had problems with his dysfunctional family, he must protect now in a virtual city where the crime is growing everywhere. The story looks like it has get out from a Hollywood movie, with video cuttings between the side drops. The missions are continuously harder in every stage and you had to finish them to go to the next. There is also an open world to explore with other missions, like racing between gangs. You must first end the game story and beat all the big gangs to take their Empires and build your own and be the Top shark of the Vice City. It is not so hard to finish it and the game control gives you very good assistance to made it. I am still playing that game, because I like the cars and the shooting and this stories involves both, in a city that streets are free to explore for hours if you want and mess with everybody in the town.
Some of review are as same as you described. Love GTA game! It got every thing racing,shooting, hard missions! Best Game!