The game takes place in 1986, when player character and protagonist Tommy Vercetti is released from prison and dispatched by Sonny Forelli, head of the Forelli Mafia family in Liberty City, to Vice City for the establishment of a narcotics deal. Unfortunately, as the deal was almost complete, gunmen attack the meeting and kill several other men, while Tommy flees, leaving the drugs and the Forelli-supplied money behind. Together with lawyer Ken Rosenberg and with no money, Tommy is forced to find the party responsible for the attack, and eventually seize power of the city. You, the player, will take the role of Tommy Vercetti after he arrives in Vice City.