Locations

This article or section is Under Construction.

Light & Shadow sets mainly in Vice City and the Bahamas. The player can explore the map without restriction from the beginning, save for the Tequesta Keys and the Bahamas that are unlocked as the story progresses. Unlike most of previous maps, the map of L&S is partially landlocked in the north. The map cuts before Fort Caroline (Fort Lauderdale), Travie (Davie), the northern portion of Evergreen, and Tampico Trail past Calusa. Attempt to cross this border via any vehicle results in the screen fades to black, and a cutscene of the protagonist returning to the map area.

Shown in the gallery are pictures of each neighborhood's equivalent in real-life.

Vice City Metro Area

The Vice City Metro Area covers the mainland Vice City (Miami), Vice Beach (Miami Beach), and surrounding areas, cities, towns, and census-designated places.

Mainland

North Vice City

Playa (Pembroke Pines + Miramar) - Extensive suburb areas with diverse communities. Quiet atmosphere with a homogeneous image of the society: can’t tell the difference between the poor, the mid-class society, the riches, and the criminals.
Vinewood (Hollywood, include elements from Hallandale Beach) - Named after the famous film industry in the west coast, the so-called "Vinewood by the Sea" is built as another dream city of less popular sandy beaches and residential areas. The locals are pleasant, including the European immigrants. Be wary, though, some run gangs underground that link directly to Riviera, and few are psycho celebrity stalkers that have existed since the 80’s.
Vice Gardens (Miami Gardens) - Reportedly to have high crime rates from assaults, burglary, and vehicle theft. This home of Vice City Sharks football team and hip-hop artists of Connor Town is a mixture of mid-class economy and slum with predominantly black population. Local government promised things would change, but only a little in reality.
Cordoba (Opa-Locka) - Named after its Arabic/Moorish architectural buildings and street name. Used to be another crime-plagued African-Americans hood, the gloomy world has changed slowly on account of Christian community.
North Vice City (North Miami) - Middle-class commercial area with presence of Yardies, Los Incendios MC, illegal street racers, and a little bit of Russians. A center of the automotive industry with car dealers, services, garages, and the Auto Museum that keeps iconic collections from Western movies.

Central Vice City

Haiyakpo (Hialeah, include elements from Hialeah Gardens) - Named one of the world's most boring cities in 2009; nearly everyone outside of South Tequesta never acknowledges its existence. Almost zero crime recorded, except in a trailer park that accommodates typical Tequestan's weirdos. Located here is the Seminole Park Racing & Casino, a playground for gambling and horse betting, often sabotaged and fixed.
Verona Shores (Miami Shores) - A bedroom community next to the sea, home of retirees and workers around the metro. Peaceful village under controls of ludicrous regulations, such as prohibition of gardening other than in backyard to maintain "aesthetics".
Wesley (Westview + West Little River) - Cheap neighborhoods, apartments, and industrial warehouses/properties, the latter usually used for covert and guarded drug operations.
Gladeville (Gladeview + Brownsville) - Despite being next to a literal danger zone, it is considered a safe settlement for Black families. Hobos and dark corners are distant memories after a transit oriented development. It's now a community living in affordable housing, few luxury homes, a manor, and the Gladeville station that serves as residential tower and quiet metro station.

Independence (Liberty City/Model City) - The good, the bad, and the ugly of Vice City. Pure African gangsta culture. Setting aside the history of racial riot in 1980, this is a place where legends were born. From pro-football players to bygone Miami Bass musicians, the youths have motivations to find serious careers through legitimate jobs and hip-hop records, but most are unable to leave their street heritage.
D'Amico District (Upper Eastside) - Stretching from Verona Shores to Paramount is a historic single-family housing complex. The oldest houses had stood since the early 20th century. It's a catalog of different architectural styles, ranging from Dutch-styled ranches to modernist Vice City mansions. The cost of purchasing houses here is one of the most expensive in America, but the 100% guaranteed security is worth every penny. Local economy runs in mid-rise offices alongside the ViMo Street, a lesser-known copy of the Versace Boulevard.
Little Gonâve (Little Haiti/Lemon City) - Major homeland of authentic Afro-Caribbean culture, from voodoo worshiping to distinctive vibes brought by the proud Haitian immigrants. Visiting Little Gonâve could be a hit-or-miss, you either chew the underrated cuisine or accidentally pass the "white house", headquarter of the hostile Fratènite gang.
Hermosa (Buena Vista + Design District) - Part of Miami's earliest foundation redesigned into a creative community. Every corner is an eyecandy: colorful art galleries, bizarre artworks, antique dealers, tropical restaurants, Didier Sachs and other luxury stores. Competing against El Barrio in becoming the coolest neighborhood in America. Behind the scene, however, it's an unhealthy conflict between real estate businessmen and designers. Why don't you read this exhibition article to see more?

Floral (Doral) - Tidy satellite city with its own mayor, policy, police. Floral’s community grows to host companies and Venezuelans that missing out the extra spaces in Vice City’s downtown. As elite corporations heavily exploit that metropolitan part, crime syndicates abuse the many shops, firms, factories, and warehouses for money washing. Safer choice than Riviera and David Beach: no street degenerates to ruin the coziness.
Tampico (Tamiami) - Small, uninteresting suburb, goodbye sign for anyone who leaves Vice City to Calusa. This is where the journey across the Evergreen wildlands through the Tampico Trail begins.
Vice Springs (Miami Springs) - Don't mistake this with Mexico because of the Pueblo-like buildings. It has been decided by the founders in the 1920s that this region will be themed after New Mexico. Living here is oddly too relaxing, nothing to do apart from avoiding dense traffic near the airport.
Frank Taylor International (Miami International Airport) - Busiest airport in the Caribbean. Implementing advanced and quick-witted (or sloth-speed) security and custom systems to combat drug/arms trafficking via commercial flights. The system occasionally targets scammed tourists instead of actual smugglers, at least they won’t spend night at harsh prisons like in South America. Has a transit connected to the downtown.

South Vice City

Little Dominica (Allapattah) - Strong Latin melting pot, often ignored by Vice City natives. As the name says, Dominican is the majority in this region, living side-to-side with Central Americans and others. Mom-and-pop businesses, fresh fruits, and big projects from developers around the street. The good news have luckily overshadowed the news of prostitution corner, shooting incidents, and Dominican gang activities.
El Barrio (Wynwood) - More renowned, more grandiose, more everything “version” of Hermosa. The main difference? the vibrant graffiti, murals, works in the walls by worldwide artists; prone to vandalism but recoverable quickly.
Paramount (Edgewater) - Providing condos and offices with the best views at an increasingly high rent price. In the rapid process to be the “next” Brettle, packed with high-rise construction sites. Strategic point for transportation, only minutes away from El Barrio and Downtown.
Encantador (Flagami)
Little Cuba (Little Havana) - Name implies the origin story. Capital of Cuban Americans, cultural and political-wise since Castro regime took office. Music, traditions, rums, cigars, dominoes, too much to be told about this national treasure.
Riverfront (Riverside/East Little Havana)
Broadway (Overtown)
Downtown (Downtown Miami)
Brettle (Brickell)
Tequesta University Complex (Florida University Park)
Ciudad Belleza (Coral Gables)
Craig Road (Coral Way)
Peacock Grove (Coconut Groves)
South Vice City (South Miami)
Pinedall (Kendall + Pinecrest)
Pioneer (Homestead)

Vice Beach

Riviera (Sunny Isles Beach, include elements from Aventura) - Standing next to the calm shoreline is high-rise hotels and condos, 90% owned by Russian millionaires and inhabited by Ex-Soviet states immigrants. Living up American dream is much easier here than in Liberty City. Pregnant foreigners intentionally born their child here to get American citizenship and nobody mind that. It's no secret that European gangs, from small-scale Lubarsky Gang to the opulent Kirikov Bratva, call this place a home, .
Hannover Park (Halulover Park + Oleta River State Park, include elements from Indian Creek) - Loosely connecting the Vice Beach and mainland is an urban park. Complete with invasive Casuarina trees, vast golf course, and some secluded area of nudist beach.
David Beach (Bal Harbour + Surfside) - High concentration of Jewish Latinos and snowbirds. An environment that mixes Riviera’s condos and Millenium Beach’s enclosed housing and go-green areas, plus a historical synagogue. Each family has a personal police officer, double as guardian and cash launderers.
Millenium Beach (North Beach)
Faena Beach (Mid Beach)
Gleason Beach (South Beach) - Ranked by the Overcrowded Earth as #1 America's most overrated destination. To put it simply, it’s one massive tourist trap, no matter how much you’re into gay villages, retro waves, classic cars, Art deco buildings of the Versace Boulevard, and top-tier night experiences. You’ll be penniless by the morning because of overpriced services, pickpockets, and health bills. You’ll lose temper for the traffic jams, street noises, repetitive club music, and careless tourists. Think wisely before vacationing.

Islands

Marina Bay Village (North Bay Village)
Campanili Island (Venetian Islands)
Alphonse Island (Star, Palm, and Hibiscus Islands)
Viceport (PortMiami/Dodge Island)
Ventura Key (Virginia Key)
Vizcaya Key (Key Biscayne)

Evergreen National Park

Inspired by Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Filling up almost two-third of the entire map, in the west is a vast flat area of swamps, prairies, and mangrove forest. The Evergreen National Park is isolated from the blinding lights in the east, bordered by water preserve area and the rural communities of Tampico and Pioneer. A dangerous, rarely-explored areas with alligators, drug stashes, and bandits hideout. Syndicates and elites around the city pay off the wildlife preserve, don't ask what for. Airboat tours and small trails that connect observation towers are available for traversing through this wildland.

Vice City Water Preserve Areas
Calusa (Everglades City, include elements of Marco Island)
Evergreen Jetport (Dade-Collier Airport) - Ambitious but abandoned since 1970. The airport's construction was cancelled over environmental concerns. It's now used for general aviation and flight training freely without scarring the residents of Vice City. Almost empty day and night except for exotic car racers.
Cuthbert (Flamingo) - Ghost town

Tequesta Keys

The Expansionist Bridge, part of the overseas highway

The Tequesta Keys is chain of islands located in the southern portion of the map. These islands are connected by the Overseas Highway, stretching from Pioneer all the way to Cayo Frontera, the southernmost point of the United States. With a calmer atmosphere, it’s an alternative for tourists that's not into the flashy world of Vice City. For illegal racers, the lenghty highway that includes the Expansionist Bridge (Seven Mile Bridge) is something else to pump adrenaline.

Cayo Grande (Key Largo)
Taberna (Tavernier)
Maratha (Marathon)
Cayo Frontera (Key West)

The Bahamas

Serving as secondary setting is the Bahamas. Historically a popular hangout for Caribbean pirates, no much change in the present-day due to its gang violence. The five-star resorts often serve as haven for upper-class criminals who want to lay low outside the US. Many syndicates from Tequesta and other parts of American continent allegedly use the place to store their luxuries. Visitors better watch the weather, though, as the country is prone to hurricane. The Bahamas is accessible through sea and air, and is featured in several missions, mostly in the second part of the story.