The greatest video game playground ever created. San Andreas takes GTA's proven gameplay and improves it exponentially.
San Andreas blows away both of its predecessors. Its game world, consisting of three large cities, several small towns and miles of mountains, farms, rivers and highways in between makes it almost exponentially larger than any previous Grand Theft Auto game.
Vice City was a big step up from Grand Theft Auto III. Continuing the same proven gameplay from III, Vice City added a coat of neon paint, a new setting, and created an incredibly fun game.
The graphics are what you’d expect from Rockstar: there isn’t anything really extraordinary here, though everything works. The focus is where it always has been: the gameplay. Character models are still blocky, but not as much as in previous GTAs.
The concept of skill level applies to many parts of the game, where time spent riding a motorcycle, driving a car, etc., will make you better at that skill. This is a worthwhile addition since it helps improve the experience over time – boost your stamina and you’ll be able to run for a longer period of time, while helps you both chase down people and run away from The Man.
The weapon targeting has been greatly improved, and this definitely enhances the experience, since with a new lock-on system there are fewer frustrating mission failures. This is souped-up even more with the inclusion of weapon-based skill level, where time spent with a particular firearm increases accuracy and in some cases allows you to dual-wield.
From restaurants and vending machines, Carl can buy food and drinks. This is a less interesting option by far. Nothing is really done with the food mechanic, and it adds nothing to the gameplay experience. The restaurants, however, are excellent places to take out a few people to help pay for that super size.
Shopping is fun, but the time it takes to see each piece of clothing really drags down the experience. Most likely, a few hours into the game you’ll find something you like and then just stick with it. It’s still nice to have the option of new clothes and a new hairstyle, if you’re in the mood or something different.
Several new vehicles have found their way into the newest GTA, including bicycles and tractors, while some of your old favorites have returned as well: motorcycles, fast cars, and eventually many types of planes and helicopters.
The game world has been improved from previous entries in the series as well. The dynamic weather from Vice City is back, but it is now area-specific: most days in Los Santos (L.A.’s doppelganger) are sunny and clear, while San Fiero (San Francisco) gets foggy frequently. Additionally, the AI in the game is improved, as random characters on the street not only spew random comments that are as hilarious as always, but will now strike up equally hilarious (if mostly disjointed) conversations with one another.
As you’d expect, the music in San Andreas is top-notch. Since the game takes place in the early ‘90s, there are radio stations with grunge like Soundgarden, as well as gangsta rap, funk, rock, country, even new jack swing. Each station has a memorable DJ, and Rockstar brought in Axl Rose , Chuck D and Dr. Funkenstein himself, George Clinton, to DJ in between the mostly excellent licensed soundtrack. Each station has the same hilarious commercials found in Grand Theft Auto games, though the talk radio in Vice City was arguably much better.
Even if you decide to only stick to the story missions, this game will take anywhere from twenty-five to thirty-five hours. It’s also ideally suited for pick-up-and-play gaming, if you don’t have time or simply don’t feel like advancing the story. With everything else you can do, from idle driving to piloting aircraft to boating to swimming to riding a BMX bike off a mountain, San Andreas is an easy hundred hours of worthwhile gameplay.