Miami Vice: The Game
Miami Vice is a third-person shooter for the PlayStation Portable. It was released as a tie-in with the movie of the same name, which is indirectly based upon. Therefore, the likeness of the Narcotics Officers Crockett and Tubbs are based on that of Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, respectively.
Plot
Set before the film, the focus of the game is bringing down a South American Drug Lord whose guilt cannot be proven by the authorities. As the player advances through the levels, they get deeper and deeper into the drug operation, and closer to bringing down the man running it.
Gameplay
Combat
Whilst going through levels, the majority of the gameplay is combat, with enemies who must be killed to advance the level. Emphasis is put on taking cover, with health running out quite fast if player remains in the open during a shoot-out. All fire-arms have laser sightings, which acts as an aiming reticule.
Hacking
Throughout each level, FlashRams can be recovered and later "hacked" at the police station. "Hacking" resembles that of an arcade game, in which a certain score must be obtained through destroying boxes, which often fire at the player icon. Each FlashRam contains three levels, which increase in difficulty. Completion of hacking a FlashRam unlocks stated extras, such as the ability to upgrade firearms, and locate drug dealers.
Drug Dealing
The player may also deal drugs amongst other suppliers, both buying and selling. Drugs can be bought at one point and kept for several days, in which they may increase in value, thus making a profit for the player. Additionally, varying drugs can be obtained throughout each of the levels, and sold for a profit once the level is complete. Drugs can also be sold to informants for information.
Money System
Money earned can be spent on buying and upgrading weapons, buying suits (thus building a reputation for the player) and buying armour (thus protecting the player).
Firearms
The guns in the game can be summed up into three basic categories:
- Pistols
- Shotguns
- Machine Guns
Each of these weapons can be upgraded, giving them larger magazines, better accuracy, and higher power, thus killing enemies more effectively.
Reception
Miami Vice: The Game was met with positive reception, praising it's gameplay and being quoted as "a rare commodity: a PSP action game that can actually hold your attention for longer than the first half hour"[1].
GameSpot rated the game 7.3 (Good)[2] while IGN gave it a lower mark of 6.6 (Passable)[3]. The game received only few criticisms, the main one being on the shortness of the game, with many being able to complete it in under 6 hours.