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Most original GTA: Vice City cheats still work in The Definitive Edition, but the lists are not identical: five novelty codes from the original Windows game were removed, and four codes were added for the remaster. The gameplay changed more substantially: the Definitive Edition adds a weapon wheel, GPS routes, mission checkpoints and a 2024 run-and-gun update, while cutting 15 Vice City radio songs. If you use cheats in the remaster, they disable trophies or achievements on that save, so keep a separate clean save.
How do the original and Definitive Edition compare?
The two releases tell the same Tommy Vercetti story in 1986 Vice City, but the remaster is not simply the original game with sharper graphics. Its controls, visuals, mission flow, radio selection and cheat list differ. The table summarizes the main distinctions for the global English-language console and PC editions; some details vary by platform.
| Feature | Original Vice City | The Definitive Edition |
|---|---|---|
| First release | 29 October 2002, on PlayStation 2 in North America | 11 November 2021 on Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S; Android and iOS followed on 14 December 2023 |
| Engine | RenderWare | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Story and missions | Tommy Vercetti’s 1986 story | The same story and missions, with checkpoint and restart conveniences |
| Typed PC cheat inventory | 58 codes in later inventories | 57 codes in later inventories |
| Codes shared between PC versions | 53; five are Classic-only and four are Definitive-only | |
| Radio soundtrack | Original 2002 licenses on the original discs; some later digital re-releases had already lost tracks | Matches the 2014 re-releases; 15 Vice City radio songs are absent |
| Trophies or achievements | No trophy stack on the original PS2 release | 34 PlayStation trophies or 33 Xbox achievements; entering cheats disables them on that save |
The cheat totals are for typed PC phrases, not a count of every controller sequence on every platform. The 53/5/4 breakdown comes from later inventories, including Vandal’s 2026 listing; Rockstar has not published an official cheat-compatibility matrix.
Do original Vice City cheats work in Definitive Edition?
Most do, but “all of them work” is not accurate. Later, more granular inventories identify 53 PC phrases shared by both releases, five original Windows codes that do not work in the remaster, and four codes introduced for the Definitive Edition.
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Some November 2021 console guides described the remaster as retaining all 46 original cheats. That figure reflects a classic console-oriented list and predates later documentation of the PC-only removals and new codes. Vandal’s July 2026 inventory, updated in September, lists 58 Classic PC codes and 57 Definitive Edition PC codes, with 62 unique phrases across the two versions. A 2024 demonstration independently reports the same removals and additions. Treat the later PC counts as the better guide to typed-code compatibility, not as an official Rockstar count.
How do I enter cheats in Vice City?
Enter codes during live gameplay, not through a GTA V-style phone or a command console. The exact input method depends on the platform, and button sequences can trigger ordinary actions while you enter them.
On PC
- Load a save and enter the game world.
- Type the complete phrase while playing. Do not add spaces: enter
ASPIRINE, not “ASPIRIN.” Codes are not case-sensitive. - Do not press Enter. The cheat activates when you type its final letter.
- Look for a “Cheat activated” confirmation. A character-model change may be visible without the usual confirmation.
- For a vehicle-spawn code, stand in a clear place near a road so the vehicle has room to appear.
On PlayStation, Xbox or Switch
Press the listed sequence during normal gameplay. Move somewhere quiet first, especially for a long combination: button presses still have their ordinary in-game effects as you enter the code. Ofzen’s October 2026 guide says console sequences register only when the control layout is set to Classic, the PS2-style layout. Earlier GameSpot, Inverse and Push Square guides do not mention that requirement, so treat it as a current-build caveat rather than a confirmed rule for every version or update.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is also a button-label caveat for the original Xbox and Xbox 360 backwards-compatible versions. Ofzen reports that shoulder and trigger order differs from the Definitive Edition: where a Definitive list says RB, use RT on the original Xbox build; where it says RT, use RB. Likewise, substitute LT for LB and LB for LT. Face buttons and the D-pad remain in the same positions.
On mobile
Entry methods vary between the Classic mobile release and the Definitive mobile port. Classic mobile versions have used an on-screen keyboard, an older Home-button keyboard or, on some Netflix-era and older builds, a dedicated cheat-entry screen; reports also describe a menu opened by tapping the analog stick three times on some builds. For the Definitive mobile version, GameRant’s January 2026 instructions are: open the mini-map, choose Options, open Accessibility, select Enter Cheat Code, then type the phrase.
Which cheats were removed from Vice City Definitive Edition?
Five typed codes from the original Windows release are absent in the Definitive Edition. These are mostly novelty effects, but the invisible-vehicle code is a notable omission if you remember using it.
| Original PC phrase | Effect in the original | Definitive Edition status |
|---|---|---|
WHEELSAREALLINEED |
Makes vehicle bodies invisible while leaving wheels visible; motorcycles are unaffected | Removed. A PlayStation button sequence for the same effect is also marked as not working in Push Square’s Definitive list. |
DEEPFRIEDMARSBARS |
Makes Tommy’s arms and legs thicker | Removed |
PROGRAMMER |
Makes Tommy’s arms and legs thinner | Removed |
CERTAINDEATH |
Makes Tommy smoke a cigarette | Removed |
HOPINGIRL |
Causes a nearby pedestrian to enter Tommy’s current car or motorcycle as a passenger | Removed |
The commonly reported explanation is that some original cheats did not behave well in Unreal Engine. That does not establish a specific technical reason for each missing code. In the original, HOPINGIRL does not work on police officers; using it in a police vehicle gives Tommy a one-star wanted level.
What cheats were added to the Definitive Edition?
Four PC phrases appear in the Definitive Edition inventory but not in the original PC game. The original has no genuine invincibility code: ASPIRINE restores health, but it does not increase maximum health or make Tommy invulnerable.
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| Definitive Edition phrase | Effect |
|---|---|
YOUCANTLEAVEMEALONE |
Invincibility |
EXPANDDOME |
Big Head Mode for Tommy and pedestrians |
FLYINGWAYS |
Spawns a Skimmer seaplane |
AMERICAHELICOPTER |
Spawns a Hunter attack helicopter |
To activate Big Head Mode with a controller, enter the Konami-style sequence during gameplay:
- PlayStation: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Circle, X.
- Xbox: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A.
- Nintendo Switch: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, A, B.
An Inverse launch-era list calls FLYINGWAYS a Dodo spawn. Later Vandal and Ofzen inventories identify the vehicle as a Skimmer, which is the more current description. The original Vice City did not have a GTA III-style Dodo spawn phrase. A 2021 GameRant article also suggested a new weather-control cheat, but later inventories do not substantiate a Definitive-only weather code.
Which useful cheats still work in both versions?
The following typed phrases are listed as shared by later inventories and are corroborated by multiple cheat guides. The platform-specific caveats below matter: a phrase being shared on PC does not guarantee that every platform has the same input or effect.
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Health, armor and weapons
| Phrase | Effect and details |
|---|---|
ASPIRINE |
Restores health and repairs the current vehicle’s mechanical health and tires. |
PRECIOUSPROTECTION |
Fills armor. |
THUGSTOOLS |
Weapon Set 1: brass knuckles, baseball bat, Molotov cocktails, Colt .45 pistol, chrome shotgun, Tec 9, Ruger/Kruger, sniper rifle and flamethrower. |
PROFESSIONALTOOLS |
Weapon Set 2: katana, remote/detonator grenades, .357, stubby shotgun, Mac 10, M4, .308 sniper rifle and rocket launcher. |
NUTTERTOOLS |
Weapon Set 3: chainsaw, grenades, .357, S.P.A.S. 12, SMG/MP5, M4, .308 sniper rifle and minigun. |
ICANTTAKEITANYMORE |
Suicide effect, or about 330 damage. Tommy survives only if his combined health and armor are high enough. |
There is no separate typed phrase for infinite ammunition. GTA Wiki notes that repeating a weapons-set cheat can grant infinite ammo; that repeat effect is different from a dedicated infinite-ammo code.
Wanted level and chase display
| Phrase | Effect and platform notes |
|---|---|
LEAVEMEALONE |
Clears the wanted level. On Android, GTA Wiki says it lowers the level by two stars rather than wiping it completely. |
YOUWONTTAKEMEALIVE |
Raises the wanted level by two stars in typed PC inventories. Some console guides describe a one-star increase, so do not assume the wording is consistent across every platform list. |
CHASESTAT |
Displays Media Attention/Chase Stat. Vandal says the counter appears outside missions only when Media Attention is above 40 and at least 70% of Tommy’s best-ever value. |
Vehicle spawns
These ten vehicle-spawn phrases are in the Classic PC inventory; the Skimmer and Hunter are additional Definitive Edition codes.
| Phrase | Vehicle |
|---|---|
PANZER |
Rhino tank. On Android, GTA Wiki reports that the first use may spawn a Landstalker and later uses may produce random cars. |
GETTHEREFAST |
Sabre Turbo |
BETTERTHANWALKING |
Caddy |
THELASTRIDE |
Romero’s Hearse |
RUBBISHCAR |
Trashmaster |
ROCKANDROLLCAR |
Love Fist limousine |
GETTHEREAMAZINGLYFAST / GETTHEREVERYFASTINDEED |
Hotring Racer variants |
GETTHEREQUICKLY / TRAVELINSTYLE |
Bloodring Banger variants |
Vehicle behavior and traffic
| Phrase | Effect and caveat |
|---|---|
BIGBANG |
Destroys currently loaded vehicles. GTA Wiki lists police-controlled helicopters and the NPC Dodo as exceptions. |
GRIPISEVERYTHING |
Increases vehicle grip and lets cars jump when you honk; GTA Wiki says it disables unique stunt jumps. |
SEAWAYS |
Lets cars drive or hover on water. |
COMEFLYWITHME |
Makes cars fly. |
AIRSHIP |
Makes boats fly. This is PC- and mobile-only, including in the Classic release; it is not available on original PS2 or Xbox according to GTA Wiki. |
LOADSOFLITTLETHINGS |
Enlarges the wheels on some sports cars and changes selected vehicle performance. |
MIAMITRAFFIC |
Makes non-player drivers more aggressive and faster. |
IWANTITPAINTEDBLACK |
Changes newly spawned traffic to black in Classic, but bright green in the Definitive Edition. |
AHAIRDRESSERSCAR |
Makes traffic pink. |
GREENLIGHT |
Turns all traffic lights green. |
Pedestrians, gangs and character models
| Phrase | Effect and caveat |
|---|---|
FANNYMAGNET |
Certain female pedestrians follow Tommy. |
CHICKSWITHGUNS |
Vercetti Gang members become bikini-clad women carrying M4s. Vandal and GTA Wiki list it as working in the Definitive Edition, although Push Square flags the matching PlayStation combo as not working. |
OURGODGIVENRIGHTTOBEARARMS |
Arms pedestrians. |
NOBODYLIKESME |
Makes pedestrians attack Tommy; entering the code again does not reverse it. |
FIGHTFIGHTFIGHT |
Starts a riot; entering the code again does not reverse it. |
STILLLIKEDRESSINGUP |
Changes Tommy into a random pedestrian. Exit the vehicle first. |
IWANTBIGTITS |
Changes Tommy into Candy Suxxx. Exit the vehicle first. |
ILOOKLIKEHILARY |
Changes Tommy into Hilary King. Exit the vehicle first. |
LOOKLIKELANCE |
Changes Tommy into Lance Vance. Exit the vehicle first. |
WELOVEOURDICK |
Changes Tommy into Dick of Love Fist. Exit the vehicle first. |
MYSONISALAWYER |
Changes Tommy into Ken Rosenberg. Exit the vehicle first. |
ROCKANDROLLMAN |
Changes Tommy into Jezz Torrent. Exit the vehicle first. |
FOXYLITTLETHING |
Changes Tommy into Mercedes Cortez. Exit the vehicle first. |
ONEARMEDBANDIT |
Changes Tommy into Phil Cassidy. Exit the vehicle first. |
CHEATSHAVEBEENCRACKED |
Changes Tommy into Ricardo Diaz. Exit the vehicle first. |
IDONTHAVETHEMONEYSONNY |
Changes Tommy into Sonny Forelli. It is a character-model cheat, not a money code. |
Do not save a main game file after activating NOBODYLIKESME or FIGHTFIGHTFIGHT: neither effect can be switched off by entering the phrase again.
Weather, time and game speed
| Phrase | Effect |
|---|---|
ALOVELYDAY |
Extra-sunny weather |
APLEASANTDAY |
Sunny weather or light clouds |
ABITDRIEG |
Overcast weather; the spelling is DRIEG. |
CANTSEEATHING |
Fog |
CATSANDDOGS |
Rain or storm |
LIFEISPASSINGMEBY |
Speeds up the in-game clock |
ONSPEED |
Speeds up gameplay; repeatable |
BOOOOOORING |
Slows gameplay; repeatable. The phrase contains six O’s. |
One extra secret is not a typed cheat: at night, shoot the moon with a sniper rifle to cycle through eight sizes. Each valid hit advances to the next size, then the sequence wraps.
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Is there a money cheat in GTA Vice City?
No. Later Vandal and Ofzen guides report that neither release has a built-in money phrase on any platform. Ads promising “unlimited money” either misidentify the game, point to another GTA title, or rely on a trainer or mod rather than an in-game cheat. The similar-looking IDONTHAVETHEMONEYSONNY changes Tommy into Sonny Forelli; it does not add cash.
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Do cheats disable trophies or achievements?
In the Definitive Edition, entering a cheat disables trophies on PlayStation and achievements on Xbox for that save. Inverse reported this at launch, and Push Square’s page, updated in June 2026, advises using cheats only on a separate save. The original PS2 release had no trophy stack, so this particular lockout is a remaster consequence.
Rockstar also warns that saving after cheats can corrupt save data or cause unpredictable results, even if a cheat is later disabled. Some cheat attempts may produce a warning before saving. Make a clean manual save first and do not overwrite it after experimenting. Most cheats also reduce criminal ranking by 1,000 points, according to GTA Wiki.
What gameplay changes matter most?
The Definitive Edition modernizes combat and navigation, and it removes some friction from failed missions. These are practical differences from the original, not just presentation changes.
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The original cycles weapons with triggers, aims with a bumper and fires with a face button. The remaster uses a GTA V-style weapon wheel that slows time, with aiming and firing mapped to the triggers. For drive-bys, the original uses face buttons to look left or right; the Definitive Edition aims with the right stick and fires in the direction the camera faces. The radio also uses a selection wheel, and controller mappings can be customized.
The remaster adds GPS routing: place a waypoint and follow the displayed route. The original has no equivalent GPS line. The original also lets Tommy turn his head when the player looks behind using the analog stick; that small animation is absent from the remaster, as IGN noted in its 2021 comparison.
How do mission failures and difficulty change?
In the original, failing a mission usually means driving back to its start marker and trying again. The Definitive Edition adds mid-mission checkpoints and a restart prompt after Tommy is Wasted or Busted: confirm to retry from a checkpoint, or cancel to leave the mission and do something else. IGN described the checkpoint/restart system as solving many recurring frustrations.
The famously difficult “Demolition Man” mission has an additional 30 seconds on its timer in the Definitive Edition, according to IGN. The remaster’s physics code was copied from the original, so vehicle feel was intended to remain close even though the controls changed.
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Comparisons based only on the 2021 launch build miss a major update. On 12 November 2024, Rockstar released an update for console and PC that added Classic Lighting Mode and expanded run-and-gun shooting; the update reached PS4, Xbox One and Switch after its initial PS5, Xbox Series and PC release.
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What does Classic Lighting Mode do?
Classic Lighting Mode restores an original-style PS2 sky and palette, including orange sunsets, moodier storms and fog that helps obscure distant scenery. It is an option within the remaster, not a return to the original RenderWare build. The Definitive Edition still uses Unreal Engine 4, its remade assets and its other updated systems.
Can Tommy run and shoot with every weapon?
After the update, Tommy can run and shoot with any weapon, rather than being limited to pistols and SMGs. That includes shotguns, assault rifles and flamethrowers. The feature had previously been limited to San Andreas in the Trilogy, according to the update coverage.
What else changed in the remaster’s presentation?
The remaster replaces the original’s RenderWare engine and baked lighting with Unreal Engine 4, rebuilt lighting, higher-resolution textures, improved shadows and reflections, longer draw distance, 3D grass and redrawn plates and signage. Some foliage and interiors use higher-quality assets from Grand Theft Auto V. Wikipedia’s Trilogy coverage says the team used an AI upscaler on textures before manual cleanup; producer Rich Rosado estimated that more than 100,000 textures were changed.
The launch lighting drew criticism for looking flat or washed out beside the PS2 game’s moody sunsets. IGN praised the neon at night but criticized rain rendered as thick white lines that could obscure driving. Later updates iterated on rain, shadows and map accuracy. On PS5, GTA Intel reported loading times of a couple of seconds; PS5 and Xbox Series X target 4K at up to 60 frames per second, and the Windows version supports Nvidia DLSS. These are platform targets or reported figures, not guarantees for every system or scene.
The remaster also carries over Auto Climb from mobile. When Tommy sprints, he may vault an obstacle automatically, which can make him fall; the option can be turned off. Claims about workout changes in the Trilogy apply to San Andreas, not Vice City.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How different is the radio soundtrack?
The original has the advantage if preserving the full licensed-radio selection matters. GTA Intel lists 15 Vice City songs removed from the Definitive Edition because licenses could not be reacquired. Named omissions include Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark at the Moon” and Lionel Richie’s “Running with the Night,” alongside tracks associated with Kate Bush, Gary Numan, Quiet Riot, ABC, The Buggles, Herbie Hancock, Joe Jackson, Afrika Bambaataa, The Fixx, Aneka and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
The remaster’s soundtrack matches the 2014 re-releases. Rockstar-related coverage refers to more than 30 missing songs across Vice City and San Andreas together, not more than 30 from Vice City alone. Original 2002 discs, and some complete older PC copies, preserve the fuller radio selection. Rockstar delisted the digital originals on 13 October 2021 and later restored them on its store after backlash.
Which is better, original or Definitive Edition Vice City?
There is no single winner for every player. Choose based on what matters most: the original preserves more of the old radio and its five removed PC novelty cheats; the Definitive Edition offers more convenient controls, GPS, checkpoints, modern platforms and trophies, alongside its four added cheats.
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| If your priority is… | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Radio completeness and the original presentation | Original | Its 2002 discs retain more licensed radio tracks, and the original PC version has five codes absent from the remaster. |
| Less mission backtracking | Definitive Edition | Checkpoints and restart prompts reduce the need to drive back to the mission marker after failure. |
| Modern aiming and navigation | Definitive Edition | It adds the weapon wheel, GTA V-style aiming and GPS waypoints. |
| Classic-looking skies with modern conveniences | Definitive Edition | Classic Lighting Mode, added in November 2024, restores an original-style palette within the remaster. |
| Trophies or achievements | Definitive Edition | It has trophy and achievement sets, but cheat use disables them on the affected save. |
| Modern console, PC or mobile access | Definitive Edition | It is available on current consoles and PC, with Android and iOS versions released in December 2023. |
For the remaster, judge the current patched game rather than relying only on November 2021 launch coverage. If you want the smoothest controls and retries, the Definitive Edition with Classic Lighting Mode is a reasonable compromise. If the fuller soundtrack and the specific original PC cheat list are decisive, the original is the better match.
How did the Trilogy launch affect access to the original?
The launch history matters if you are trying to find the original rather than choose between two editions already in your library. Rockstar announced the Trilogy on 8 October 2021 as a set of “across-the-board upgrades … while still maintaining the classic look and feel of the originals.” The digital originals were removed from sale five days later, a move Eurogamer’s Wesley Yin-Poole called a “blow to video game preservation.”
The Windows Trilogy launch was disrupted by a Rockstar Games Launcher outage, and the PC build was pulled before returning on 14 November 2021 after files that should not have been included were removed. Rockstar apologized on 19 November, acknowledging that the games “did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect.” Original versions were later offered as a bundle through the Rockstar Store: they were provided free to Definitive Edition owners on 3 December 2021 and bundled with purchases through 30 June 2022.
Physical Definitive Edition copies arrived later than the digital launch: 17 December 2021 for PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, and 11 February 2022 for Switch. The collection reached Steam on 19 January 2023 and the Epic Games Store on 15 February; the cited Trilogy timeline does not make the latter year explicit. Mobile Definitive editions launched through the App Store and Google Play on 14 December 2023, with Netflix subscription access and individual purchase options at launch. GTA III and Vice City left Netflix in December 2024, according to the Trilogy timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the vehicle handling feel completely different in the remaster?
The Trilogy’s physics code was copied from the original games, with the stated intent of keeping vehicle feel close. You may still notice the changed controller mapping, and the original’s analog steering was removed from the Definitive Edition.
Do cheat codes lower your criminal ranking?
GTA Wiki reports that most successful cheats reduce criminal ranking by 1,000 points. The amount is not presented as a platform-by-platform Rockstar specification.
How many achievements are in Vice City Definitive Edition?
GTA Intel’s 2026 tally lists 34 PlayStation trophies, including one Platinum, five Gold, nine Silver and 19 Bronze. Its Xbox tally is 33 achievements worth 1,000 Gamerscore.
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Can I play the original Vice City on a modern phone?
The original mobile release and the Definitive mobile edition are separate versions with different cheat-entry methods. The Trilogy timeline says the Definitive mobile versions launched for Android and iOS in December 2023; it does not establish that the original mobile app remains available in every region.
Quick Recap
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