Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
GTA: San Andreas, GTA SA
Release Date: October 25, 2004
Action, TPP, cars, gangster, sandbox, splitscreen, 90s, multiplayer, singleplayer
Steam
The seventh installment in the controversial Grand Theft Auto series – one of the most popular game franchises in history that brought Rockstar Games company international fame. The series has been letting the player start as a petty criminal and work his way to the top of the criminal underground. This next part of the series is the biggest one so far, featuring world – the State of San Andreas – almost three times larger than Vice City.
Another installment of one of the most popular and controversial game series of all time, in which the player is offered an opportunity to play as a minor thug, and then engage in criminal activities to take the lead over the Mob. This time you play as Carl Johnson, who a few years ago escaped his hometown in pursuit of a better tomorrow. After five years, Carl returns to Los Santos, where he finds a criminal underworld full of murder, drugs, and corruption. However, the unpleasant situation in the city is not the end of bad news; the district where he grew up looks worse than five years ago, and his feuded family mourns Carl’s murdered mother. On top of that the protagonist gets framed for murder by corrupt policemen. Welcome to California of the 90s.
The game world consists of State of San Andreas, along with three cities: Fierro (San Francisco), Las Venturra (Las Vegas) and Los Santos (Los Angeles), where the player can move around. Of course, San Andreas is not made of slums only; apart from that, the metropolises also consist of rich districts, where movie stars, politicians, and millionaires live. So there are enough people to steal from, which Carl is well aware of. What is more, he does not have to perform on his own, as he can recruit people to his gang. Being able to ride and wander around in a group creates many opportunities to engage in fierce battles with rival gangs (e.g. the player is driving a car, while the passengers shoot enemies with machine guns). The game is kept in the atmosphere of the 90s, and the fantastic graphics (realistic fog and light reflections on cars as well as realistic shading) and the music, seem to be nothing next to other novelties that were introduced to GTA: San Andreas as compared with previous installments of the series. The most significant one is probably the introduction of hunger. Feeding the character, however, is not all – the hero may e.g. gain weight through excessive eating. Moreover, you can lose weight, by regularly visiting the gym and doing more sports.
Another thing that increases believability of the game world is improved interaction with buildings. Burglary is an important feature of the game – you need to carefully plan one and carry it out yourself. You can also purchase various apartments that can make money for you. E.g. there is a casino where you can spend some cash. Each city has a size comparable to the whole world of GTA: Vice City, so there is no shortage of various means of transportation that prove to be essential for traveling hundreds of kilometers. Typical vehicles, such as cars, motorbikes, speedboats, helicopters, and airplanes, were joined by the good old bicycle. Apart from driving, Carl Johnson is also able to dual wield pistols, as well as swim – which is at the same time one of the biggest innovations in the game.
Visiting the cities of San Andreas is a great experience not only because of fantastic graphics but also thanks to the intelligence of citizens, who are able to react to your unethical behavior in public, or call you a fatty if you have been overeating. In order to feel the atmosphere of each GTA: San Andreas city the developers, as they admit, personally visited every one of them, and in the game they applied their unique atmospheres. Despite the gangster theme, GTA: San Andreas introduces a dose of humor to the story, thus making it a must-play game for both fans of the series and those who are not yet familiarized with the world of GTA.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Videos and Screens
[0:58] Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas trailer
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Storyline: The game is praised for its deep narrative, featuring well-developed characters and themes of family, loyalty, and betrayal.
- Immersive Open World: Players appreciate the vast, interactive environment that includes diverse cities and activities, making exploration enjoyable.
- Iconic Characters: Memorable and charismatic characters, including CJ and Big Smoke, add to the game's charm.
- Variety of Gameplay: A mix of missions, side activities, and RPG elements allows for extensive customization and character progression.
- Outstanding Soundtrack: The game features a diverse and nostalgic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Nostalgic Appeal: Many players have fond memories associated with the game, contributing to its status as a classic.
The main cons of the game
- Outdated Graphics: While impressive for its time, the visuals and character models are considered dated by modern standards.
- Clunky Mechanics: Some players find the driving and combat mechanics to be cumbersome compared to contemporary games.
- Repetitive Missions: Certain missions and activities can feel monotonous, leading to frustration.
- Technical Issues: The PC port has been reported to have bugs, glitches, and performance problems, especially on newer systems.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Lack of Modern Quality of Life Features: Players noted the absence of checkpoints in missions and save issues, particularly in the PC version.
- Limited Post-Game Content: After completing the main story, some players felt that there were not enough engaging activities to keep them occupied.
- Desire for Original Version Availability: Users expressed disappointment that Rockstar removed the original version from sale, preferring it over the definitive edition.
Summary
- Overall, while Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is celebrated for its rich storytelling, expansive gameplay, and nostalgic value, users have highlighted its technical shortcomings and the need for certain modern features to enhance the experience.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 61515 votes.
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16
GAMES
in Grand Theft Auto Game Series
Game Series
Grand Theft Auto Series
A series of open-world action games, considered one of the most profitable and at the same time controversial in the history of the industry. The fathers of the Grand Theft Auto series are David Jones and Mike Dailly and the DMA Design studio. The publishing rights to the franchise are owned by Take-Two Interactive, and its development is handled by Rockstar Games.
16 video games
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows June 7, 2005
PlayStation 4 December 5, 2015
Android OS December 20, 2013
Apple iOS December 12, 2013
Windows Phone January 27, 2014
PlayStation 3 December 4, 2015
Xbox 360 October 26, 2014
PlayStation 2 October 25, 2004
Xbox June 7, 2005
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium 4 1.4 GHz, 384MB RAM, graphic card 128MB (GeForce 3 or better), 4.7 GB HDD
PlayStation 2
Supports: memory card 8 MB
Xbox 360
Supports: Xbox Live
PlayStation 3
Supports: PlayStation Network
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