In Paradise City, the player takes on the role of a young, ambitious gangster with the single goal of becoming the most successful and influential criminal in the entire city. Move through the city, robbing, intimidating and killing all that stand in your way, gaining notoriety and cool cash. As the player becomes more and more notorious, his influence grows and other criminals flock to him and become the core of this gang, his own criminal organization. Leading his small but vicious crew of hardcore criminals, the player begins to take over the neighbourhoods of the city, forcing the innocent citizens to pay him tribute and the local criminals to serve him, fighting against his rivals and defending his territories.