15/12/2001
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a timeless classic from Rockstar Games, offers an expansive open world brimming with opportunity, danger, and, for those who dare, the ability to bend the rules to your will. Whether you're looking to arm yourself to the teeth, spawn a specific vehicle, or simply cause a bit of delightful anarchy, cheat codes are your key to unlocking a whole new level of gameplay experience. But before you dive headfirst into the neon-soaked streets with unlimited power, it's crucial to understand how these cheats work and, more importantly, the potential consequences of their use.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using cheats in GTA Vice City, covering activation methods across various platforms, detailing the vast array of available codes, and providing essential warnings to ensure your Vice City adventure remains as thrilling as intended.
How to Enter Cheats in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Entering cheats in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is surprisingly straightforward across all platforms, be it PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. Unlike some games that require you to open a console command or a special menu, Vice City allows you to input cheat codes directly during gameplay. You can even punch them in while the game is paused, giving you flexibility to activate effects on the fly.
For PC players, it's as simple as typing the specific word or phrase associated with the cheat. There's no need to open a dialogue box or a command area; just start typing! For console players, you'll be pressing a specific sequence of buttons. If you're playing on a modern Xbox console, remember that the 'Black' and 'White' buttons from older controllers now correspond to the 'RB' (Right Bumper) and 'LB' (Left Bumper) respectively. For Nintendo Switch users, the button mapping is as follows: 'X' and 'A' on PlayStation become 'B' on Switch; 'Square' and 'X' become 'Y'; 'Circle' and 'B' become 'A'; and 'Triangle' and 'Y' become 'X'.
Once you've successfully entered a cheat, a confirmation message, typically "Cheat activated" or "Cheat deactivated" (if you're toggling one off), will briefly appear on your screen, letting you know your input was successful. It's a clear signal that the world of Vice City is now ready to respond to your commands.
Important Warnings and Potential Risks
While cheats offer immense fun and convenience, it's vital to be aware of the risks involved. Using cheats in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City can lead to several unintended side effects that might impact your long-term game progression and achievements. Here are the key points to consider before you start inputting codes:
- Achievement Disablement: In many versions of the game, especially modern Definitive Edition releases, using cheats can disable achievements or trophies for your current play session or even permanently for that save file. If you're a completionist, it's best to avoid cheats on your main save.
- Hindered Game Progress: Certain cheats, particularly those that alter pedestrian behaviour like the 'Pedestrian Riot' or 'Pedestrians Carry Weapons' cheats, can make missions incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to complete. NPCs might become hostile or flee, disrupting mission objectives.
- Saving Issues: The game will often warn you not to save after inputting certain cheats. This is a crucial warning! Saving your game with active cheats can sometimes corrupt your save file or permanently embed the cheat's effects, especially for the more drastic world-altering cheats. Proceed with extreme caution if you plan to save.
- Criminal Ranking Decrease: The usage of most cheats will decrease your criminal ranking by 1,000 points. If you care about your in-game stats, this is something to keep in mind.
- Permanent Effects: While some cheats can be disabled by simply re-entering the code or reloading your game, others are permanent if you save the game while they are active. The 'Pedestrian Hate' and 'Riot' cheats are notorious for this; once saved, their effects cannot be reversed for that save file.
- Vehicle Spawning: When spawning vehicles, they will only appear on the closest car path node, not necessarily directly in front of your character.
- Wanted Levels: Be aware that entering a car spawned via a cheat can trigger a one-star wanted level if police officers are present, similar to carjacking.
Always consider using cheats on a separate save file or simply for short, chaotic play sessions if you want to protect your main progression.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Cheats List
Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the available cheat codes, categorised for your convenience. Please note that codes highlighted in bold text in the original source are available in The Definitive Edition.
Car Cheats
These cheats manipulate vehicles, allowing you to spawn specific cars, affect their properties, or even cause mass destruction.
| Effect | PC Code | PlayStation Code | Xbox Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spawn Tank | PANZER | Circle, Circle, L1, Circle x3, L1, L2, R1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle | B, B, LB, B, B, B, LB, LT, RB, Y, B, Y |
| Spawn Bloodring Banger | GETTHEREQUICKLY | ↓, R1, Circle, L2, L2, X, R1, L1, ←, ← | ↓, RB, B, LT, LT, A, RB, LB, ←, ← |
| Spawn Sabre Turbo | GETTHEREFAST | →, L2, ↓, L2, L2, X, R1, L1, Circle, ← | →, LT, ↓, LT, LT, A, RB, LB, B, ← |
| Spawn Hotring Racer | GETTHEREVERYFASTINDEED | R1, Circle, R2, →, L1, L2, X, X, Square, R1 | RB, B, RT, →, LB, LT, A, A, X, RB |
| Spawn Alt Hotring Racer | GETTHEREAMAZINGLYFAST | R2, L1, Circle, →, L1, R1, →, ↑, Circle, R2 | RT, LB, B, →, LB, RB, →, ↑, B, RT |
| Spawn Hearse | THELASTRIDE | ↓, R2, ↓, R1, L2, ←, R1, L1, ←, → | ↓, RT, ↓, RB, LT, ←, RB, LB, ←, → |
| Spawn Limo | ROCKANDROLLCAR | R2, ↑, L2, ←, ←, R1, L1, Circle, → | RT, ↑, LT, ←, ←, RB, LB, B, → |
| Spawn Trashmaster | RUBBISHCAR | Circle, R1, Circle, R1, ←, ←, R1, L1, Circle, → | B, RB, B, RB, ←, ←, RB, LB, B, → |
| Spawn Caddie | BETTERTHANWALKING | Circle, L1, ↑, R1, L2, X, R1, L1, Circle, X | B, LB, ↑, RB, LT, A, RB, LB, B, A |
| Flying Boat | AIRSHIP | R2, Circle, ↑, L1, →, R1, →, ↑, Square, Triangle | RT, B, ↑, LB, →, RB, →, ↑, X, Y |
| Explode All Nearby Vehicles | BIGBANG | R2, L2, R1, L1, L2, R2, Square, Triangle, Circle, Triangle, L2, L1 | RT, LT, RB, LB, LT, RT, X, Y, B, Y, LT, LB |
| Road Rage (Aggressive Drivers) | MIAMITRAFFIC | R2, Circle, R1, L2, ←, R1, L1, R2, L2 | RT, B, RB, LT, ←, RB, LB, RT, LT |
| Pink Cars | AHAIRDRESSERSCAR | Circle, L1, ↓, L2, ←, X, R1, L1, →, X | B, LB, ↓, LT, ←, A, RB, LB, →, A |
| Black Cars | IWANTITPAINTEDBLACK | Circle, L2, ↑, R1, ←, X, R1, L1, ←, Circle | B, LT, ↑, RB, ←, A, RB, LB, ←, B |
| Flying Cars | COMEFLYWITHME | Triangle, Circle, Triangle, ↑, ←, ↓, ↓, ↓, ↓ | Y, B, Y, ↑, ←, ↓, ↓, ↓, ↓ |
| Perfect Handling/Grip Buff | GRIPISEVERYTHING | Triangle, R1, R1, ←, R1, L1, R2, L1 | Y, RB, RB, ←, RB, LB, RT, LB |
| All Traffic Lights Green | GREENLIGHT | →, R1, ↑, L2, L2, ←, R1, L1, R1, R1 | →, RB, ↑, LT, LT, ←, RB, LB, RB, RB |
| Amphibious Cars | SEAWAYS | →, R2, Circle, R1, L2, Square, R1, R2 | →, RT, B, RB, LT, X, RB, RT |
| Invisible Cars (Wheels Only) | WHEELSAREALLINEED | Triangle, L1, Triangle, R2, Square, L1, L1 | Y, LB, Y, RT, X, LB, LB |
| Big Wheels | LOADSOFLITTLETHINGS | R1, X, Triangle, →, R2, Square, ↑, ↓, Square | RB, A, Y, →, RT, X, ↑, ↓, X |
Character Cheats
These cheats directly affect Tommy Vercetti, altering his health, armour, weapons, or even his appearance.
| Effect | PC Code | PlayStation Code | Xbox Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon Set 1 (Basic) | THUGSTOOLS | R1, R2, L1, R2, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, →, ↑ | RB, RT, LB, RT, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, →, ↑ |
| Weapon Set 2 (Professional) | PROFESSIONALTOOLS | R1, R2, L1, R2, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, ↓, ← | RB, RT, LB, RT, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, ↓, ← |
| Weapon Set 3 (Nutter) | NUTTERTOOLS | R1, R2, L1, R2, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, ↓, ↓ | RB, RT, LB, RT, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, ↓, ↓ |
| Full Health | ASPIRINE | R1, R2, L1, Circle, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, →, ↑ | RB, RT, LB, B, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, →, ↑ |
| Full Armour | PRECIOUSPROTECTION | R1, R2, L1, X, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, →, ↑ | RB, RT, LB, A, ←, ↓, →, ↑, ←, ↓, →, ↑ |
| Ricardo Diaz Skin | CHEATSHAVEBEENCRACKED | L1, L2, R1, R2, ↓, L1, R2, L2 | LB, LT, RB, RT, ↓, LB, RT, LT |
| Lance Vance Skin | LOOKLIKELANCE | Circle, L2, ←, X, R1, L1, X, L1 | B, LT, ←, A, RB, LB, A, LB |
| Ken Rosenberg Skin | MYSONISALAWYER | →, L1, ↑, L2, L1, →, R1, L1, X, R1 | →, LB, ↑, LT, LB, →, RB, LB, A, RB |
| Hilary King Skin | ILOOKLIKEHILARY | R1, Circle, R2, L1, →, R1, L1, X, R2 | RB, B, RT, LB, →, RB, LB, A, RT |
| Jezz Torrent Skin | ROCKANDROLLMAN | ↓, L1, ↓, L2, ←, X, R1, L1, X, X | ↓, LB, ↓, LT, ←, A, RB, LB, A, A |
| Dick (Love Fist) Skin | WELOVEOURDICK | R1, L2, R2, L1, →, R2, ←, X, Square, L1 | RB, LT, RT, LB, →, RT, ←, A, X, LB |
| Phil Cassidy Skin | ONEARMEDBANDIT | →, R1, ↑, R2, L1, →, R1, L1 ,→, Circle | →, RB, ↑, RT, LB, →, RB, LB ,→, B |
| Mercedes Cortez Skin | FOXYLITTLETHING | R2, L1, ↑, L1, →, R1, →, ↑, Circle, Triangle | RT, LB, ↑, LB, →, RB, →, ↑, B, Y |
| Random Outfit | STILLLIKEDRESSINGUP | →, →, ←, ↑, L1, L2, ←, ↑, ↓, → | →, →, ←, ↑, LB, LT, ←, ↑, ↓, → |
| Sonny Forelli Skin | IDONTHAVETHEMONEYSONNY | Circle, L1, Circle, L2, ←, X, R1, L1, X, X | B, LB, B, LT, ←, A, RB, LB, A, A |
| Ladies' Man (Pedestrians follow) | FANNYMAGNET | Circle, X, L1, L1, R2, X, X, Circle, Triangle | B, A, LB, LB, RT, A, A, B, Y |
| Candy Suxxx Skin | IWANTBIGTITS | Circle, R2, ↓, R1, ←, →, R1, L1, X, L2 | N/A |
World Cheats
These cheats impact the environment of Vice City, from time and weather to the behaviour of pedestrians and the police.
| Effect | PC Code | PlayStation Code | Xbox Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase Wanted Level by 2 | YOUWONTTAKEMEALIVE | R1, R1, Circle, R2, ←, →, ←, →, ←, → | RB, RB, B, RT, ←, →, ←, →, ←, → |
| Lower Wanted Level to 0 | LEAVEMEALONE | R1, R1, Circle, R2, ↑, ↓, ↑, ↓, ↑, ↓ | RB, RB, B, RT, ↑, ↓, ↑, ↓, ↑, ↓ |
| Suicide | ICANTTAKEITANYMORE | →, L2, ↓, R1, ←, ←, R1, L1, L2, L1 | →, LT, ↓, RB, ←, ←, RB, LB, LT, LB |
| Speed Up Game | ONSPEED | Triangle, ↑, →, ↓, L2, L1, Square | Y, ↑, →, ↓, LT, LB, X |
| Slow Down Game | BOOOOOORING | Triangle, ↑, →, ↓, Square, R2, R1 | Y, ↑, →, ↓, X, RT, RB |
| Quick Clock (Speeds up time) | LIFEISPASSINGMEBY | Circle, Circle, L1, Square, L1, Square, Square, Square, L1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle | B, B, LB, X, LB, X, X, X, LB, Y, B, Y |
| Cause a Riot (Pedestrians fight) | FIGHTFIGHTFIGHT | ↓, ←, ↑, ←, X, R2, R1, L2, L1 | ↓, ←, ↑, ←, A, RT, RB, LT, LB |
| Pedestrians Carry Weapons | OURGODGIVENRIGHTTOBEARARMS | R2, R1, X, Triangle, X, Triangle, ↑, ↓ | RT, RB, A, Y, A, Y, ↑, ↓ |
| Women Carry Weapons | CHICKSWITHGUNS | →, L1, Circle, L2, ←, X, R1, L1, L1, X | →, LB, B, LT, ←, A, RB, LB, LB, A |
| Sunny Weather | ALOVELYDAY | R2, X, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, ↓ | RT, A, LB, LB, LT, LT, LT, ↓ |
| Cloudy Weather | APLEASANTDAY | R2, X, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, Triangle | RT, A, LB, LB, LT, LT, LT, Y |
| Very Cloudy Weather | ABITDRIEG | R2, X, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, Square | RT, A, LB, LB, LT, LT, LT, X |
| Foggy Weather | CANTSEEATHING | R2, X, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, X | RT, A, LB, LB, LT, LT, LT, A |
| Rainy Weather | CATSANDDOGS | R2, X, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, Circle | RT, A, LB, LB, LT, LT, LT, B |
| Buy All Properties | FULLCITYPEOPLEMINES | N/A | N/A |
| Bikes Spawn Everywhere | FREEWAYFORANGELJOY | N/A | N/A |
Specific Cheat Behaviours and Interesting Trivia
Beyond their primary effects, some cheats in Vice City have unique behaviours or interesting quirks worth noting:
- The 'Peds Riot' Cheat: This cheat creates widespread chaos, causing pedestrians to attack each other. Interestingly, the effects extend to gang members, including those from the Vercetti Gang and the army stationed at Fort Baxter Air Base. However, they cause minimal damage to one another, and Tommy himself is immune to damage from Vercetti-affiliated characters. There's a kind of "food chain" dynamic, where some NPCs attack only other NPCs, some target only Tommy, and others attack both. For some reason, police officers are never attacked unprovoked by NPCs.
- "iwantitpaintedblack": The PC cheat for black traffic, "iwantitpaintedblack", is a direct reference to The Rolling Stones' 1966 song "Paint It Black," which famously includes the line, "I see a line of cars and they're all painted black."
- Character Skins in Cutscenes: If you activate a "Play as" cheat (excluding the "Play as a pedestrian" cheat) before starting a mission, Tommy will assume the appearance of that character during cutscenes, adding a humorous twist to the narrative.
- Pedestrian Reactions: When the "Play as a pedestrian" cheat is active, if you attack an NPC, their reaction (fighting back or running away) will depend on the pedestrian model you are currently using.
- 'Hopingirl' and Police: The 'hopingirl' cheat, which allows you to make pedestrians enter your vehicle, will not work on police officers. Attempting to use it while in a police vehicle will instantly result in a one-star wanted level.
- Deactivating Speed Cheats: Although many cheats are persistent, the cheat that speeds up gameplay can be completely deactivated by simply entering a mission, even something as straightforward as a Vigilante mission.
- Exploding Vehicles Repeatedly: Using the 'explode all vehicles' cheat multiple times in quick succession from the pause menu can cause nearby vehicles to not just explode, but to keep exploding repeatedly, sending them soaring upwards in a spectacular display of destruction.
- Basic Weapons Persistence: If you activate the 'Basic Weapons' cheat (THUGSTOOLS) and then use one of the other two weapon set cheats, the Brass Knuckles will remain in Tommy's inventory until he is killed.
- Handling Buff: While the 'GRIPISEVERYTHING' cheat can provide perfect handling, some players find that cars become very hard to manoeuvre with this cheat active due to the extreme grip.
- Tire Repair: If your vehicle's tires are popped, they will only be repaired automatically if the vehicle is a car. If you're riding a bike, the tires will remain popped, requiring you to find a new bike or a Pay 'n' Spray.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vice City Cheats
Here are some common questions players have about using cheats in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City:
Are cheats in GTA Vice City permanent?
No, not all cheats are permanent. Many can be deactivated by re-entering the cheat code or by simply reloading your game. However, specific cheats, such as the 'Pedestrian Riot' and 'Pedestrian Hate' cheats, are permanent if you save your game while they are active. It is strongly advised not to save your game with these particular cheats enabled, as they can severely hinder mission progress and cannot be reversed on that save file.
Can I save my game after using cheats?
The game will often display a warning advising you not to save after inputting certain cheats. While you technically can save, it carries the risk of corrupting your save file or permanently embedding the cheat's effects into your game world, especially for world-altering cheats. It's best practice to avoid saving if you've used cheats you don't want to become a permanent part of your game.
Do cheats disable achievements or trophies?
In many modern versions of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, particularly the Definitive Edition, using cheats will disable achievements or trophies for the current play session. For some, it might even permanently disable achievements for that specific save file. If earning achievements is important to you, it's best to play without cheats or use a separate save file for your cheat-filled antics.
What happens if I try to enter a cheat incorrectly?
If you enter a cheat code incorrectly, nothing will happen. There's no penalty or negative effect, nor will you get a "Cheat activated" message. Simply re-enter the code carefully to try again.
Can I use cheats during missions?
Yes, you can input cheats during missions. However, be aware that some cheats, especially those that affect the behaviour of pedestrians or traffic, can make missions significantly more challenging or even impossible to complete due to unforeseen interactions with mission objectives. Use them at your own discretion during missions.
Why does my criminal ranking decrease when I use cheats?
Most cheats in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City are designed to decrease your criminal ranking by 1,000 points upon activation. This is likely an in-game balancing measure or a subtle way to signify that you are "cheating" the system, thus affecting your standing in the criminal underworld.
Ultimately, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's cheat codes offer an unparalleled way to experience the game, whether you're looking for pure unadulterated fun, a quick escape from a tricky situation, or simply to marvel at the game's hidden mechanics. Just remember the consequences and play responsibly to keep your Vice City adventure as thrilling as ever!
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