Sonic the Hedgehog never ran over policemen with a stolen pickup truck.
But Vic Vance, however, had more flexible morals.
11 year old Ravin Manickam was Mike's cousin. And he had the one thing that Mike wished he had when he was eleven: a PlayStation 2. Which is why every time Ravin dropped by the Stone family house carrying the little black sling bag and the bright orange folder full of DVD games, Mike was ecstatic.
And since Cousin Ravin's parents knew nothing about the video game rating system, their kid got to play any game he friggn' wanted, regardless of how profane or violent or gory it was.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
WWE Smackdown vs RAW.
Resident Evil.
The game Mike enjoyed the most was Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Set in a fictional city resembling Miami in the 80's, the player assumes the role of a dishonourably discharged soldier Vic Vance as he performs various 'missions' for several crime bosses - all the while rising through the ranks of the underworld. These missions include repossessing cars, picking up 'packages' and collecting protection money.
One particular day saw Mike furiously thumbing the PS2 controller trying to get Vic Vance back to his hideout as the Vice City Police Department sirens blared close behind him. Cousin Ravin was beside Mike yelling out directions as Mike's sister Patsy watched all the action from the couch.
"Turn left!" Cousin Ravin screamed. "Turn left!"
"Cannot la!" Mike said. "Dead end!"
"Got secret way out la!" Ravin yelled.
"Blardy hell! They shooting at me!" Mike hollered.
Mama Stone pretended not to notice the mayhem in her living room as she walked by with a basket full of laundry.
Finally, having gotten back to his hideout, Vic is shown handing a suspicious looking white package over to his boss Jerry. The 3D characters cussed at each other and discussed further strategy. Jerry is seen cutting open the package with a knife and loud sniffing noises are then heard (off screen, of course).
Curious of whether the boy actually understood what was going on in the game which was obviously designed for adults, Mike elbowed Cousin Ravin.
"Weih," he said. "Whats the fella doing there?"
Cousin Ravin looked at Mike with a blank expression.
"He snortin' coke la!" the 11 year old boy said. "That also you dunno, ah?"
Mike and Patsy exchanged glances.
Neither of them remembered Pacman doing that.
