Diego Mendez is the tertiary antagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
He is voiced by Ruben Trujillo.
History[]
Background[]
In 1984, Diego and his brother, Armando, are the two most powerful drug kingpins in Vice City, but are also well known for their philanthropist views. The brothers, who are of Bolivian descent, also control their own crime organisation.
Events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
In GTA Vice City Stories, Diego and Armando are first mentioned by Jerry Martinez in Brawn of the Dead, when he informs Victor Vance that the cocaine shipment that he and his brother Lance had stolen from Martinez actually belonged to the Mendez Brothers.
Because of this, Lance and Victor are summoned by the Mendez brothers to explain the disappearance of their cocaine. The Vance brothers pin the theft on Martinez, and provide fake evidence to prove this. Victor and Lance continue to work for the brothers, including taking over a local biker empire site, killing rival drug dealers and retrieving the seized containers of cocaine from the police. Eventually, the Vance brothers outlive their usefulness to Armando and Diego, who order the Vance brothers to surrender their businesses to them and leave the city in exchange for their own safety. Victor refuses to do so, so the Mendez brothers attack the Vance brothers and leave them at a fuel depot in Viceport. A Mendez hitman accidentally starts a fire at the depot, but the Vance brothers manage to escape.
With their ties severed, some Mendez Cartel members unsuccessfully try to take over Victor's businesses. Victor, with the help of Ricardo Diaz, hacks a Domestobot owned by the brothers and uses it to destroy the contents of their safe. In retaliation, the Mendez Cartel kidnaps Victor's girlfriend Louise. Louise later dies, and Victor murders Armando in retaliation. Following Armando's death, Diego goes into hiding in the Cartel's downtown offices. Victor steals a military helicopter and uses it to attack the Mendez Building. After being shot down, Victor enters the building and fights his way to the roof, where he confronts both Diego and Jerry Martinez. Victor kills both of them, wiping out the Mendez presence in the city.
Character[]
Personality[]
In contrast to Armando's charismatic and open personality, Diego is quieter and more reserved, and only communicates in Spanish. Despite being active within the cartel's operations, Diego tends to leave the business matters to Armando. When he is not working, he can often be seen reading alone, and, as shown when Victor tries to engage in conversation with him, can become annoyed if he is interrupted. It is also implied that Diego once had a relationship with Reni Wassulmaier. According to Armando, both he and Diego are utilitarians, with Diego being a fan of Plato's work and Armando being a fan of Aristotle's work. Utilitarism is the theory that mankind should always look towards finding pleasure, which is highlighted by both brothers becoming drug dealers for personal gain.
Influence[]
The Mendez Brothers are possibly based on the character's of the 'Diaz Brothers', a pair of fraternal drug dealers who are mentioned in the 1983 film Scarface. Their names are a reference to Argentinean footballer Diego Armando Maradona. Also he resembles "José Luis Torrente" from the Spanish Torrente films.
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay[]
- The Mugshot Longshot (Boss)
- Unfriendly Competition (Boss)
- Burning Bridges (Boss/Betrayal)
- Last Stand (Killed)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In Diego's artwork, he is holding a Beretta M12 submachine gun, which is absent from the game. This is due to the fact that this artwork was drawn using reference from a frame of Miami Vice second episode "Heart of Darkness" featuring Arthur Lawson (portrayed by Ed O'Neill) holding said weapon in that same pose.
- Like Massimo Torini from Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Diego does not directly talk to the protagonist. Although unlike Toni, Victor actually tried to converse with him in the mission Unfriendly Competition while he was reading a book, although Diego gets frustrated and tells his brother in Spanish to meet with Vic.
- The Mendez Brothers are also depicted much like the Rodriguez Brothers who ran the Cali Cartel, with Diego being like Miguel, much quieter than his brother, Gilberto.