I know exactly what you mean, but you have to judge the game based on the context of the time it was made and which console. Of course it's not going to be as good as the newer games made for more capable consoles. For the time it was made, it's certainly one of the best games ever made.At the time, I remember playing that game and thinking that it was the best GTA game I had played. It was revolutionary for video games at the time, but whenever I go back and play it now, I notice that glaring flaws that the game has. I'd give it a solid 7/10.
It's important to put the game into context of the time it came out. Vice city was a revolutionary game at that time. Of course the newer games have bigger worlds and have surpassed vice city, but it was still an awesome game for the time it came out.Given the time it was made, I would rate Vice City an 8/10. It was a great game and the graphics were awesome for the time. The story felt a little "arcady" though at some parts, but overall it was a good game which could give you a lot of enjoyment. I'm replaying it right now on my laptop and I'm still having fun even if it's a really old game.