GTA3? loved it. Vice city? not so much...which might have somethin' to do with my utter hatred of the 1980's.
My personal rant aside, what the game does it does very well. Still the graphics aren't anything to write home about, but who can complain with everything going on in that game. As per rockstar's m.o. the game map is massive (it took me a week and a half to learn all those streets).
The mission variety is expansive, though as usual grand theft auto leaves you with only a vague sense of purpose and as a result only a mild degree of ambition is instilled in the player.
I had hoped this would be the catalyst that chngd the system for future games, but instead we got gta gangland, bundled with a healthy dollop of sexual controversy. So apparently the need for innovation won't budge rockstar, perhaps now a franchise recall, and threat of federal action will.
Now don't mistake my intent here. I'm a fan of rockstar's ability to push the envelope, and i enjoy t&a (even digital) as much as the next fella. But their purpose-less use of the gratuity, makes the rest of the industry look bad.