Ultimate GTA Vice City Speedrun Strategy Guide

GTA Vice City speedrun remains a highly competitive pursuit within the gaming community, even over two decades since its release in 2002 by Rockstar Games. While the average player takes about five hours to finish the game (assuming continuous play), speedrunners manage to complete it in astonishingly short durations. The current world record for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, according to speedrun.com, stands at a jaw-dropping 8 minutes and 11 seconds, achieved by a player named PeeBee on October 16, 2021.

Given the expansive nature of Vice City, with numerous primary missions and side quests, detailing speedrunning strategies for every mission is nearly unfeasible. Thus, this comprehensive GTA Vice City speedrun guide will outline essential tips and tricks that speedrunners utilize worldwide, helping players expedite their game completion.

GTA Vice City Speedrun Guide: Grasping the Fundamentals

Due to its comparatively smaller scale relative to contemporary video games, completing a GTA Vice City speedrun may seem feasible. However, it’s crucial to recognize that speedrunning is far from easy and especially challenging for newcomers. Players must have a firm grasp of the gameplay and mission structures before embarking on their GTA Vice City speedrunning adventure.

Here are some key points Grand Theft Auto enthusiasts should consider when engaging in speedrunning GTA Vice City:

• Finish the entire game first.
• Skip cutscenes.
• Opt for fast vehicles.
• Have a planned route.
• Utilize bugs and glitches to bypass missions.

Mastering these strategies will significantly enhance your chances of achieving personal record times in your GTA Vice City speedrun. The guide will elaborate on these strategies below.

The Importance of Completing the Entire Game for GTA Vice City Speedrun

GTA Vice City is a cornerstone title that significantly influenced the early development of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. As the second 3D Universe title following the landmark success of Grand Theft Auto 3, Rockstar Games implemented a plethora of innovative changes. Thus, whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, it’s highly advisable to play through GTA Vice City completely and achieve 100% completion before embarking on your speedrunning journey.

The following are the 59 missions required for players to secure 100% completion:

• In The Beginning… (Cutscene)
• An Old Friend
• The Party
• Back Alley Brawl
• Jury Fury
• Riot
• Treacherous Swine
• Mall Shootout
• Guardian Angels
• Four Iron
• Demolition Man
• The Chase
• Phnom Penh ’86
• Sir, Yes Sir!
• Two Bit Hit
• The Fastest Boat
• Supply & Demand
• Death Row
• All Hands On Deck!
• Rub Out
• Shakedown
• Bar Brawl
• Cop Land
• Love Juice
• Psycho Killer
• Alloy Wheels of Steel
• Messing with the Man
• Hog Tied
• Publicity Tour
• Stunt Boat Challenge
• Cannon Fodder
• Naval Engagement
• Juju Scramble
• Bombs Away!
• Dirty Lickin’s
• Trojan Voodoo
• Road Kill
• Waste the Wife
• Autocide
• Check Out at the Check In
• Loose Ends
• No Escape
• The Shootist
• The Driver
• The Job
• Gun Runner
• Boomshine Saigon
• V.I.P.
• Friendly Rivalry
• Cabmageddon
• Checkpoint Charlie
• Distribution
• Recruitment Drive
• Dildo Dodo
• Matha’s Mug Shop
• G-Spotlight
• Spilling the Beans
• Hit the Courier
• Cap the Collector
• Keep Your Friends Close…

Beyond these missions, players can also engage in the following:

Vehicles Sub-Missions:

• Firefighter
• Paramedic
• Pizza Boy
• Taxi Driver
• Vigilante

Off-Road Challenges:

• Cone Crazy
• PCJ Playground
• Test Track
• Trial by Dirt

Side Missions and Activities:

• Ammu-Nation Shooting Range
• Chopper Checkpoints
• Hyman Memorial Stadium Events
• Rampages
• RC Top Fun Missions
• Store Robberies
• Sunshine Autos Import Garage
• Unique Stunt Jumps
• Unique Stunt Jumps

Completing all these objectives will provide a comprehensive understanding of the game, equipping you for your GTA Vice City speedrun.

The Necessity of Skipping Cutscenes for GTA Vice City Speedrun

Rockstar Games incorporates cutscenes to enhance storytelling, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is no exception. The opening mission, In The Beginning…, operates as a cutscene that introduces the protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, alongside characters like Sonny Forelli, Ken Rosenberg, and Victor Vance.

However, since the primary aim of speedrunning is to finish the game quickly, GTA Vice City speedrunners must skip cutscenes as early as possible. These cutscenes can consume a significant amount of time — sometimes spanning over a minute. In speedrunning, every second counts, thus it’s imperative to bypass all cinematic sequences.

While cutscenes showcase some of the most iconic moments in Vice City, for the purposes of a speedrun, they need to be avoided. Players who appreciate the narrative should relish these scenes while playing the game for 100% completion.

The Importance of Fast Vehicles for GTA Vice City Speedrun

Utilizing fast vehicles is crucial for efficiently navigating from one point to another, a key element of speedrunning. The sprawling map of Grand Theft Auto Vice City features 102 vehicles scattered across various locations. Nonetheless, since private vehicles and mechanic services weren’t available during that era, players must steal vehicles off the streets.

Here’s a list of some of the fastest vehicles ideal for GTA Vice City speedrunners:

• Infernus – 149.13 mph or 240.00 km/h
• VCPD Cheetah – 142.92 mph or 230.00 km/h
• Cheetah – 142.92 mph or 230.00 km/h
• Hotring Racer – 136.70 mph or 220.00 km/h
• VCN Maverick – 124.27 mph or 200.00 km/h
• Stinger – 124.27 mph or 200.00 km/h
• Comet – 124.27 mph or 200.00 km/h
• Banshee – 124.27 mph or 200.00 km/h
• Sanchez – 118.06 mph or 190.00 km/h
• PCJ 600 – 118.06 mph or 190.00 km/h
• Freeway – 118.06 mph or 190.00 km/h

The Infernus, Cheetah, Banshee, and PCJ 600 are among the most frequently used vehicles by the GTA Vice City speedrunning community, with their spawn points typically found in urban areas.

Additionally, you can look for these vehicles at the following locations:

Hell:

• In front of Diaz’s Mansion or Vercetti Estate.
• Inside North Point Mall.

Cheetah:

• Near Juan García Cortez’s yacht.
• North side of Diaz’s Mansion or Vercetti Estate.

Banshee:

• Starfish Island.
• Near the Pay ‘n’ Spray shop in Washington Beach.

PCJ 600:

• Near the Standing Vice Point building.
• Howlin’ Petes Biker Emporium.
• Near the Pay ‘n’ Spray shop in Washington Beach.

The GTA Vice City speedrun guide encourages players to familiarize themselves with these spawn locations for quickly accessing the fastest vehicles during gameplay.

The Need for Route Planning in GTA Vice City Speedrun

Establishing a pre-planned route for your GTA Vice City speedrun entails not only an extensive knowledge of the map but also understanding the subsequent missions and activities. While casual players often explore the game for enjoyment, speedrunners adopt a different approach.

A dedicated speedrunner memorizes the game mechanics and is well-versed in mission outcomes. Therefore, it’s essential for GTA Vice City speedrunners to allocate adequate time to familiarize themselves with the map layouts and mission sequences. Numerous notable locations can provide shortcuts or weapon pickups, streamlining the mission process.

Moreover, if your objective is to expedite completion of the main storyline — culminating with the final mission (Keep Your Friends Close…) — you need not engage in every mission mentioned in the previous sections of this guide. The game will automatically trigger the final mission once you complete the essential objectives.

This format is known as any % speedrun, and if you’re new to speedrunning, it’s advisable to start here. Conversely, if you aim for a complete 100% speedrun, you’ll need to finish all listed missions and side activities as efficiently as possible. More details regarding this will follow.

The Functionality of Bugs and Glitches in GTA Vice City Speedrun

The Grand Theft Auto franchise is infamous for its myriad bugs and glitches. While they can create obstacles in titles like GTA 5 Online, the speedrunning community for GTA Vice City often exploits specific glitches to hijack missions and expedite objectives.

One of the most recognized techniques is the Diaz Skip, a glitch used during the mission Rub Out. This mission necessitates Tommy Vercetti to take down Ricardo Diaz with Lance Vance’s assistance.

Undertaking the mission through conventional means can demand five to ten minutes, depending on player skill. As the antagonist hides within Diaz’s Mansion, surrounded by guards, players must navigate intricately locked doors, leading to a drawn-out experience.

Utilizing the Diaz Skip glitch allows players to rapidly spam the forward button at the mansion’s entrance. With persistence, the game can glitch, placing you inside the mansion where Ricardo Diaz stands idly, allowing for an immediate takedown and triggering the mission’s completion cutscene.

This GTA Vice City speedrun guide advises players to practice the Diaz Skip glitch during gameplay to conserve valuable time. Following traditional methods requires players to monitor both Tommy’s and Lance’s health, increasing the likelihood of mission failure. Thus, leveraging available glitches is standard practice in the speedrunning community.

Is Completing All Missions Required for the GTA Vice City Speedrun?

No, completing every single mission is not a prerequisite for a successful GTA Vice City speedrun. As noted earlier, if you’re new to this domain, it’s best to prioritize any % speedrun first. This approach necessitates completion of the following story-driven missions:

• In The Beginning…
• The Party
• Back Alley Brawl
• Jury Fury
• Riot
• Treacherous Swine
• Mall Shootout
• Guardian Angels
• The Chase
• Phnom Penh ’86
• The Fastest Boat
• Supply & Demand
• Sir, Yes Sir!
• Death Row
• Rub Out
• Shakedown
• Bar Brawl
• Cop Land
• Checkpoint Charlie
• Spilling the Beans
• Hit the Courier
• Cap the Collector
• Keep Your Friends Close…

Additionally, GTA Vice City speedrunners must acquire six assets and successfully complete related missions:

• The Pole Position Club – Ocean Beach, Cost $30,000
• Sunshine Autos Import Garage – Little Havana, Cost $50,000
• Viceport Boatyard – Viceport, Cost $10,000
• Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory – Little Havana, Cost $20,000
• Print Works – Little Havana, Cost $70,000
• Kaufman Cabs – Little Haiti, Cost $40,000

The missions and objectives tied to these assets include:

• The Pole Position Club – Spend $300 and five minutes in the dance room.
• Sunshine Autos Import Garage – All List 1 cars must be delivered to the garage.
• Viceport Boatyard – Complete the Checkpoint Charlie mission.
• Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory – Finish the Distribution mission.
• Print Works – Accomplish Spilling the Beans and Hit the Courier missions.
• Kaufman Cabs – Successfully complete V.I.P., Friendly Rivalry, and Cabmageddon missions.

For those aiming for 100% completion, the GTA Vice City speedrun guide emphasizes the necessity of performing all listed missions and engaging in every available activity without delay.

Source