GTA: SA is the best game in the series, but it still has some of the same old flaws.
User Rating: 9.1 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PS2
Its just like the other GTA games just with a new story, bigger area to explore (huge cities and lots of open country side) and lots of new gameplay elements. You have missions, you complete them and get cash or respect (new) or both. It is very open ended (just like the other GTA games) and much bigger than GTA 3 and VC. You have new gameplay elements like climbing walls, working out, eating, customizing your car, getting tattoos, getting a hair cut, swimming, etc. It also has RPG elements, like if you eat too much and don't work out, you get fat, the more you work out, the more muscle you build, you can learn new fighting moves by sparing, you can build up your respect by taking missions, you can build up your stamina by running on a tread mill or riding a bike, etc. You can still buy things like safe houses, clothes, guns, etc. Some of these elements are just added fluff IMO and some of them are very tedious, while others can be fun from time to time. Of course all of the old gameplay is still in the game. You can still kill, steal, rob, etc. until your hearts content. Hell you can even break into peoples houses now and rob them or kill them. The AI, or should I say lack there of, is still dumb on both sides of the field. I could go on and on about the gameplay but you get the general idea. The graphics are about as bad as I have seen in some time, but then again I haven't played my PS2 in almost a year. My advice. Play this game on a regular TV because an HDTV will make you laugh at the games graphics. There are some framerate issues, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as GTA 3 or VC. Load times are quicker also (you don't have these going between cities like you did in GTA 3 or VC. You only have them when you go into a house or when you start a mission). You have those same problems as the older games, like cutting issues where your foot can disappear into a stairway while going up it or if you climb a wall, half your body could disappear into the wall, but of course it comes right back out. The cars have a little more detail on them than the other games, mainly because of the customization part. Planes, boats and other vehicles also seem to have more detail. Voice acting is top notch and the music is kick a$$. The cars, guns and other sounds are ok. You can now respond to people. Like if some one talks crap to you, you can answer in a negative or positive way. People around are also always having conversations which is a nice touch. There is a lot more dialogue in GTA: SA. Just the overall sound of the game is impressive IMO, like you hear gun fights while your in the hood or crickets chirping/cows mooing while your in the country. The story of the game is very shallow. Your mother is murdered so you, your brother and friends go around and try to find out who killed her and why. There are other things, like your sister is going out with a latino and your brother doesn't like it. Obviously the story is not the driving force of the game. The one thing that has impressed me the most about the game is the size of it. You may have seen the map on the internet, but you won't realize just how big this game is until you play it. It is HUGE!!!! So far I have had a great time with GTA: SA. Although it is a lot like the older versions, it also brings new things to the table. I'd say it is a must buy for any action fan. Overall I give it a 9.2 out of 10.
