The game is set in the fictional city "Vice City", which is based on Miami in the 1980s. In this game you will play as Tommy Vercetti, a former member of the Forelli crime family, who is released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence. Tommy is sent to Vice City to close a drug deal for his former boss, Sonny Forelli, but the deal goes wrong and Tommy is left to pick up the pieces and build his own criminal empire.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City gameplay is open-ended, allowing players the freedom to explore the city and perform a variety of missions, including story missions that advance the game's plot and side missions that reward players with money, weapons or other benefits. The game has a variety of vehicles that can be driven, including cars, motorcycles, boats, and helicopters.

Combat in the game includes both melee and long-range attacks, and players can use a variety of weapons, including pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, and explosives. The game also has a wanted level system, where the level of police attention increases as the player commits more crimes, and the police become more aggressive in hunting down the player.

The game's story is told through interludes and in-game dialogue and features a cast of characters that includes gangsters, drug lords, corrupt politicians, and other colorful characters. The game's soundtrack features music from the 1980s, including popular songs from that era and original music composed for the game.

Overall, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is known for its immersive gameplay, compelling storyline and colorful characters, and is widely considered one of the best games in the Grand Theft Auto series.

The main character of the game is Tommy Vercetti, an ex-gangster released after serving 15 years in prison. The game begins with Tommy being sent to Vice City by his boss, Sonny Forelli, to oversee a drug deal. However, the deal goes wrong and Tommy loses the drugs and the money. Tommy then sets out to retrieve the drugs and money and build a criminal empire in Vice City.

The game is divided into different missions, which can be accessed by entering certain locations marked on the map. These missions usually involve stealing cars, killing people or delivering packages. Completing missions earns you money that can be used to buy weapons, vehicles and property.

The game also features a "wanted" system that tracks the player's criminal activity. As players commit more crimes, their wanted level increases and the police become more aggressive in hunting them down. Players can lower their wanted level by avoiding the police or using various hiding spots.

In addition to the main missions, the game features various side missions and activities such as cab driving, vigilante missions, and rampage. Players can also explore the city and interact with various non-game characters.

Overall, GTA Vice City offers an expansive open-world experience where players can immerse themselves in the fictional Miami environment of the 1980s and participate in a variety of criminal activities.