The fact that this game came out just a year after GTA III is absurd, while originally meant to be a DLC for GTA III, this game feels like an entirely different beast, with so much content and personality of its own. I think this game is a big player in why so many in my generation feel such nostalgia for the 80s despite never actually being a part of it. The Vibes are just immaculate, sure it follows the 80s cliche playbook to a T, but it handles the era with such reverence and passion that it just works instead of feeling like a cliche. The soundtrack is absolutely killer, the map despite being small checks all the boxes and feels like it has all the important spots it needed to recreate a 1980s Miami. Honestly despite being a relatively short story, it doesn't feel like it moves too quick, it says all it needs to say and doesn't leave you feeling like you were missing anything. I'd say the 100% is a must for this game as there's so much fun, great side content I can't imagine me playing this game and not engaging with, and honestly why wouldn't you? I didn't want to leave, but I had nothing left to do. The Definitive Edition definitely was (and still is) a flawed release, but with the updates made since launch I think they are very enjoyable ways to experience these games, give or take some iffy character models. But with the classic lighting update it only enhances the games even more as they now feel more like faithful recreations of the original, and it only adds to the immersion of the era, the sunrises and sunsets man...absolutely gorgeous. I also love when its stormy, or the nice mid day blue of the sky. That combined with the QOL updates to try to make some of the more tedious parts of the gameplay of the original easier to deal with and I think it's a fair way to enjoy the games in current year.
