An ode to the 80s
The game is a huge improvement over GTA 3, in style, graphics and scope. One thing that's really fun and unfortunately removed from newer incarnations of the franchise are the rampage mini-games. They understood that sometimes you want to divert from the main storyline and just create some mayhem and destruction. They should have kept that in some way. The story is one of the simplest, lightest and most fun of the franchise. The missions are varied enough to keep the game interesting to the very end. The bank robbery at the end is epic, and it's an idea they implemented on further titles. The race missions are hard, but the handling of the vehicles is superb. The difficulty is challenging, but not so much that it doesn't discourage you from wanting some more.
Vice City is a fun place you don't want to leave. This is the only GTA game I've completed 100% and I still get to play it once in a while. If you haven't played it and you're older than 30, give yourself a favor and pick this one up.