Vice City: from the first jobs to your own businesses

Build a safe starting routine

Use the Ocean View Hotel and later save locations regularly. In the original, a fresh save before a new mission can spare a lengthy recovery drive. Keep some money available too: weapons, armour and eventually properties compete for the same budget. Seeing a property purchase icon does not automatically mean that building is required for your next story objective.

Five habits that make jobs easier

Vice City is open, but story progression initially limits island connections and certain activities. Follow available contact markers and read the current objectives carefully.

1. Learn the road to a contact deliberately. Remember bridge approaches and broad alternative streets before a pursuit turns the drive into a stressful one.
2. Brake before corners. Motorcycles are agile but collisions easily throw Tommy off; a sturdy car often makes a better transport choice for dangerous jobs.
3. Keep clear of quays and swimming pools. Tommy cannot swim, including in the Definitive Edition.
4. Stock up on ammunition before a major shootout and use walls or vehicles to break enemy sightlines. Move away from a car as soon as it catches fire.
5. Practise specialist vehicles without frantic inputs. Helicopters and RC aircraft separate turning, forward pitch and altitude control; pushing every control together usually makes correction harder.

Understand properties when they become relevant

Later, particular businesses contribute to progression through their own mission chains. A simple save property serves a different purpose from an asset business. Track which business assignments you have completed rather than buying every address you encounter. Not every side strand is necessary for the story ending; Avery’s missions are optional. A full 100% playthrough has additional requirements. Button prompts from an old console walkthrough will not necessarily match the Definitive Edition or a PC keyboard. Check the RC bindings in particular before attempting “Demolition Man”.