PS Vita may have been a bit of a commercial blunder from Sony, but it will go down in history as one of the more revered handhelds ever released. In addition to its likeable hardware and software library, modders got a lot of mileage out of the device, and one prolific piece of homebrew prepared by Rinnegatamante and The Fl0w enabled you to play GTA Vice City on the system.
Fascinatingly, that fan-made port has now been pitted against Rockstar’s own GTA Trilogy on the Nintendo Switch, and the results are quite surprising. While there are clear performance advantages present in the remaster, we’d argue that the artstyle is better preserved on the PS Vita, with the colours and lighting especially being vastly superior on the portable PlayStation.
Clearly the character models and textures are better in the Definitive Edition, and the resolution is also (slightly) higher as well. But given the Nintendo Switch is a more powerful piece of hardware than the PS Vita, and this is effectively homebrew versus an official remaster – well, Sony’s handheld holds up remarkably well, doesn’t it?
Thanks for the tip, Rob_230.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 29
The Fl0w’s an absolute god to be fair. Basically responsible for 99% of the fun I’ve had with my Vita.
I applaud the modders/hackers for giving the Vita the treatment it deserved
The Vita is hands down the best handheld.
Fl0w is keeping the system alive
I still play it from time to time on the Vita and it does indeed look and run beautifully, plus you can play it with the full PS2 soundtrack! The Fl0w are not to be messed with 🙂
@nessisonett so, for research purposes, how easy is it to unlock the Vita and play things like this?
@AFCC As long as you follow a guide absolutely 100% exactly then you should be ok. It’s definitely easier now than when I did it a few years ago. I’ve totally appreciated being able to play imported games and stuff though.
I'm not really sure why this is a thing. Homebrew for sure is awesome, but of course the Vita can handle the non-remastered Vice City. In fact, it could probably handle a specialised port of the remasters. It's not as good as the Switch, though. However, I don't mod any console that is still supported.
@nessisonett Does it in any way mess with the games you own legitimately?
Where can I find a proper trustworthy guide?
This speaks volumes about how trash these remasters are.
It's so disheartening to see even a fan made remaster is better than what the developer made.
Lmao ...... The Disgraceful Edition
@AFCC I’ve never had a problem playing any of my games bought through the PS Store. I just used the guide at Wololo.
The San Andreas port is pretty good as well. It's not perfect on vita, but it probably runs the same if not better than switch tbh.
@pepsilover2008 it really doesn't. The switch ports are really good I have been playing them the last day or 2. People are over reacting to the definitive editions problems. They are 15 year old games but people expected GTA 6 and ps5 level graphics so they are disappointed. I blame the game media for hyping them up as remakes rather remasters and getting a lot of people's hopes up for nothing
@nessisonett thanks bro, I will try it soon! I honestly haven't played it for years...would like to try some of the games I missed
@get2sammyb Ahh thanks for putting up an article about this! The video just served to show me two things:
1) How phoned in the trilogy remasters appear to have been handled by Rockstar
2) How much untapped potential remains in the Vita. It truly was a handheld ahead of its time!
@supergurr I've seen framerate analysis on switch and played both. Vita is very similar even before the overclock you can do. It has a few stutters due to translating Android code to vita code tho. Switch has better graphics, but considering it's running similar to something from the homebrew scene on weaker hardware is sad. If I had to bet it's probably playing at a lower resolution at points on switch.
Just shows you when a bunch of guys at home can do a game better justice than a "professional" outfit.
Rockstar should be ashamed they allowed the clowns that made a mess of the mobile ports do the remasters.
The only way PS could so a Vita type of system again is by doing what Nintendo did: create a hybrid console (handheld and dock).
Creating and releasing a regular system and a handheld system by separate (like they did when they launched Vita) isn't going to cut it, for the simple fact that you cannot maintain/support both systems at the same time in the same manner (equality). I'm sure they already learn that lesson.
Also, having your 1st party studios releasing different games (new IPs, sequels to old IPs, and remakes) from both systems is just not manageable at all. Again, this why Nintendo opted to do what they did with the Switch and not just do 2 different consoles at the same time. Just not manageable, even more nowadays.
@Jayofmaya thank you for saying that, I love my Vita it’s amazing but the switch is obviously a better bit of kit. The issues with the switch version are not related to hardware. The narrative in the comments above yours that vita is better is a joke.
I love the Vita but I know switch is a better bit of kit.
The remaster basically cancelled the entire art direction of the original release and left UE4 realistically take care of what otherwise would have been hand-picked rasterized solutions.
Draw distance on the remaster certainty gives it a different look, you can pretty much see to the end of of the map from any vantage point which allows a clear view. Its different certainly, I quite like it, but a 'definitive' edition should have really allowed you to play with something closer to the original style lighting.
Right, either it doesnt look any different or theyve completely ruined the aesthetic. Which one is it? The game looks great!
My gripe is with the slowdown which seems to happen in the same place every time, which means it is loading. On ps5 i should be seeing NOTHING slow down when it comes to loading!
Apart from that and the ultra aggressive police getting me down im really enjoying it.
@solocapers I’m just reading up on this developer. Apparently they were called War Drum Studios before changing their name to Grove Street Games. Probably to distance themselves from the shoddy work they did on previous ports and the backlash that followed.
It’s crazy that Rockstar hired them again to work on these remasters given their terrible reputation. Fool me once and all that.
If I knew who they were before this debacle I wouldn’t have got my hopes up. What a wasted opportunity.
Just makes you appreciate the genuinely talented studios like Bluepoint even more.
@fR_eeBritney As soon as I heard it wasn't developed by Rockstar I kept my hype in check. And after that tricky obscure trailer with no gameplay it all felt fishy and very unRockstar.
@supergurr It was clear all the versions were going to have issues as so little footage or screenshots were released prior to launch, especially the Switch.
Hopefully people stop buying this remastered rubbish on pre order now or any games in general on pre order. Most journalists are to blame as well as they give games like cyberpunk high scores when it doesn't even run as well. Something going on, either fan Bois giving high scores or they are getting kick backs or editorial oversight because of ad revenue (basically kick backs). Either way you cut it, it's very bad.
@nessisonett this, just follow 100% and you will be fine. It takes some patience but it’s easy. I’m really clumsy and my eye sight is not the best but I managed to do it
Hmm,if the modded Vita version has the old PS2 soundtracks,I know which version I'd play!!👍 Take-two/Grove Street Games can keep their culled soundtracks,weird face textures,& horrid rain effects!😋
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