Grand Theft Auto Advance (GBA): Characters List & Guide

Mike, a Liberty City-based small-time criminal, initially seeks to escape the crime-ridden life with his partner and mentor, Vinnie. However, after Vinnie's supposed death in a car bomb explosion, Mike dives deeper into the city's underworld to exact revenge and find answers. Employed by criminal bigwigs like 8-Ball, Jonnie, and King Courtney, Mike navigates a treacherous path that culminates in a shocking revelation: Vinnie faked his own death to escape with their money.

Vinnie, the main antagonist in Grand Theft Auto Advance, is a ruthless, cunning criminal who serves as both partner and puppeteer to Mike, a small-time thug he picked up from the streets. The calculating brains behind their criminal operations, Vinnie manipulates Mike into believing they'll escape Liberty City together, all while secretly plotting to take all their earned money for himself. Faking his own death through a car bomb, Vinnie sets Mike on a wild goose chase for revenge, even murdering those getting close to the truth. Though seemingly cold and indifferent, Vinnie does show a complex morality; he dismisses Mike as a "stupid kid," but reveals a darker, greedy nature when his plans start to unravel.

8-Ball, a key character in the Grand Theft Auto series, is a multi-city entrepreneur with businesses in Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas. He specializes in creating fake IDs and bomb-making, providing critical services to the criminal underworld. Born to a hustler father who loved playing pool, 8-Ball takes his name from his roots. He enters the narrative as an old friend of Vinnie, aiding in the creation of fake IDs and later assisting Mike in his quest for revenge. A resourceful and pragmatic man, 8-Ball doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of crime, whether it's disposing of bodies or orchestrating revenge schemes.

Jonnie is a bartender with deep connections to Liberty City's criminal underworld. An old friend of Vinnie's, he offers various illegal jobs to Mike with the aim of settling Vinnie's debt. Operating out of his bar in the Red Light District, Jonnie's assignments range from rescue missions and collecting illicit items to property destruction.

King Courtney is a manipulative and cunning gang leader who heads the Uptown Yardies. He is heavily involved in various criminal activities such as illegal racing, drug trafficking, and assassination contracts. Courtney is adept at playing people against each other for his own gain. Although he initially comes across as a straightforward businessman, his true nature reveals itself as deceitful and self-serving. He is not above betrayal and will go to great lengths to eliminate anyone standing in his way. His charisma and intelligence make him a dangerous adversary, one who can elude capture and manipulate situations to his advantage.

Cisco is a flamboyant and somewhat arrogant individual who leads the Colombian Cartel in Liberty City. Despite his bravado and self-assured nature, he is not above using cunning and manipulation to achieve his objectives. He is deeply involved in various criminal activities including drug trafficking and kidnapping. Cisco sees himself as intellectually superior to those around him, which leads him to simplify tasks for his subordinates. Living in the United States as an "illegal alien," he takes pride in his Colombian roots and manages to navigate the criminal underworld with a mix of audacity and strategic intelligence. However, his self-confidence is also his downfall, making him vulnerable to deception and betrayal.

Asuka Kasen is a complex and powerful figure in the criminal underworld, ascending to leadership positions within the Yakuza following the deaths of her brothers. Born in Japan, she moved to the United States in 1991 and later returned in 1998 to take charge of the Yakuza operations in Liberty City. She has shown both ruthless and calculating tendencies, whether it's in managing her chain of sushi restaurants or engaging in various criminal activities like human trafficking, extortion, and assassination. Despite her ruthless criminal lifestyle, Asuka demonstrates an ability to build alliances, often working with unlikely partners to achieve mutual goals. However, her trust can be misplaced, making her vulnerable to betrayal. She operates primarily out of her condo in the Newport district of Staunton Island.