GTA Vice City beginner guide: the map, wanted levels and hidden packages
Start GTA Vice City well: the two islands and bridges, wanted levels, Pay 'n' Spray, hidden packages and side jobs.
Original 2002 PlayStation 2 release; button codes are for the PS2 controller. The PC version (typed codes), Xbox and mobile ports and the 2021 Definitive Edition handle cheats differently and are outside this guide.
The map
Vice City is two main islands with smaller islands between them. The eastern beach side, including Ocean Beach and Washington Beach, is where the story starts; the mainland opens later.
Shaking off the police
Drive through a Pay 'n' Spray to lose a wanted level, or collect police badge pick-ups to lower it by one star.
Hidden packages
One hundred hidden packages are scattered around the city. Collecting them rewards weapons that spawn at your safehouses.
Side jobs
Taxi, ambulance, fire truck and vigilante missions start from the matching vehicles and give rewards such as extra health, armour or fireproof status.
Do the ambulance missions early: the higher maximum health makes the rest of the game easier.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.