Vice City imo is easily the goat GTA game...
It's the only GTA game which I enjoyed thoroughly...Vice City had the best supporting cast of characters, storyline, radio stations, atmosphere and Tommy Vercetti who is easily the best protagonist of the franchise...
The only things San Andreas had over Vice City was the map and overall content...San Andreas was a massive west coast playground with a lot shyt to do...That said the majority of the missions were way too long...I did not like flying across that big ass map to follow and kill one dude...
My biggest issue with SA though was CJ...Dude was a whiny corny stereotypical street thug with no vision for a future...He wasn't a boss he was a soldier...Always being told what to do whether it be by his brother, Sam Jackson or the white FBI dude...Son took over three cities and the game ends with his brother pretty much telling him that empire you built is mine little nikka now get back to work...