Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Added June 13th, 2005 by Serenity Now
Introduction:Last October, PS2 owners experienced what some say was one of the best games released this generation, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Now, here in June of 2005, Xbox owners will be able to experience that same great game first-hand with pumped up graphics, a smooth frame-rate, and custom soundtracks. Put that aside, not much of the core gameplay has been changed, which is certainly not a bad thing.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas puts you in the sneakers of Carl Johnson, or CJ for short. This West-Coast gone East-Coast gone West-Coast thug will try to climb his way to the top of the scandalous underworld of the gang-bangers. Add in some RPG elements, a GTA 2-style respect system, and a whole lot of Grand Theft Auto and you definitely have a game that will appeal to kids and adults alike!
Gameplay:
The best word to describe the gameplay in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is ''open-ended.'' Of course, unless you’ve been living under a rock the past decade, you should already know that. With San Andreas, this whole ‘’open-ended’’ thing is taken to another level. There are three cities in San Andreas: Los Santos, which looks strikingly familiar to Los Angeles; San Fierro, which just by looking at the name you can tell it’s the video game term for San Francisco; and Las Ventura, which is quite frankly, Vegas baby! Each of these three cities is fairly larger than the entire span of Vice City. Unlike True Crime: Streets of L.A., everything in San Andreas is extremely detailed and has character. In the beginning of the game, CJ finds out his mom was murdered. CJ, being in Liberty City at the time, moves back to San Andreas for his mom’s funeral. Soon after, you’ll meet up with some of his old friends from ''the hood.'' Yes, CJ has returned to his criminal lifestyle once again.
To begin, CJ will arrive in the ghetto region of Los Santos. The first missions in San Andreas consist of doing odd jobs with Big Smoke and Sweet, two of your old friends from the hood. Later on, you’ll have more choices as to whom you want to do ‘’work’’ for. If you’ve played GTA III, or GTA: Vice City, you’ll know the drill here. You start out as a small time gangster, kill anyone in your way, and maybe, just maybe, if you’re good enough, become one of the industry’s top businessmen.
San Andreas takes the facet that made GTA 2 unique with its respect system. Respect is everything in this game. Every time you complete a mission, you’ll gain due respect with that particular gang. Of course, this wouldn’t be GTA if you could be friends with everybody. In San Andreas, however, I’ve noticed you don’t actually decide all that much. A great deal relies on whether or not they betray you. Early on you’ll become aware of this. Don’t get me wrong though, you will still have a say in most cases.
Some mild RPG elements have been incorporated here. For example, you can level up (even though you don’t actually level up, rather a ‘’fill the bar up’’ type thing) in five main areas -- respect, which varies depending on where you’re at; stamina, which basically stands for how long your health bar is; muscle, which will determine how efficient your melee attacks are; and fat, which just determines how fast you run and your sex appeal (another attribute featured in San Andreas that varies depending on the clothes you’re wearing). All of these attributes can be built up just as they would be in real life. To lose weight, run instead of drive and eat healthy. To gain strength, work out at the gym. As you can see, there’s a lot to do in San Andreas. GTA III and Vice City, in contrast to San Andreas, feel like empty ghost towns with nothing to do. What I really like about San Andreas is how you don’t even have to be on a mission to be able to do something. With other GTA games, it felt like you had to be on a mission to accomplish a goal. This, thankfully, is not the case with San Andreas. You can go to the gym to lift weights, or go get a hair-cut, or better yet, go out to purchase CJ some new threads. San Andreas is really your one-stop for just about every gaming element known to man -- shooting, driving, biking, swimming (yes, you can actually swim), RPG aspects, simulations elements, etc. This game seems to never end. After you’ve completed all the missions, which takes a good forty hours, there’s still tons more to do. In all honesty, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most feature-packed games on Xbox and plays absolutely fabulously.
Graphics:
The graphics are definitely a step up from the PS2 version. However, as far as character models go, it’s almost a step in the wrong direction. Seriously, CJ looks deformed. The biggest problem I had with this game’s graphics was definitely its textures. San Andreas for the Xbox still looks like a PS2 game in many areas. The game’s visuals are almost identical to the Xbox version of Vice City, and in some cases, Vice City even looks better. The textures in Vice City are unquestionably better than San Andreas’. The three cities in San Andreas are huge though, so I have to give them credit for that.
San Andreas takes the facet that made GTA 2 unique with its respect system. Respect is everything in this game. Every time you complete a mission, you’ll gain due respect with that particular gang. Of course, this wouldn’t be GTA if you could be friends with everybody. In San Andreas, however, I’ve noticed you don’t actually decide all that much. A great deal relies on whether or not they betray you. Early on you’ll become aware of this. Don’t get me wrong though, you will still have a say in most cases.
Some mild RPG elements have been incorporated here. For example, you can level up (even though you don’t actually level up, rather a ‘’fill the bar up’’ type thing) in five main areas -- respect, which varies depending on where you’re at; stamina, which basically stands for how long your health bar is; muscle, which will determine how efficient your melee attacks are; and fat, which just determines how fast you run and your sex appeal (another attribute featured in San Andreas that varies depending on the clothes you’re wearing). All of these attributes can be built up just as they would be in real life. To lose weight, run instead of drive and eat healthy. To gain strength, work out at the gym. As you can see, there’s a lot to do in San Andreas. GTA III and Vice City, in contrast to San Andreas, feel like empty ghost towns with nothing to do. What I really like about San Andreas is how you don’t even have to be on a mission to be able to do something. With other GTA games, it felt like you had to be on a mission to accomplish a goal. This, thankfully, is not the case with San Andreas. You can go to the gym to lift weights, or go get a hair-cut, or better yet, go out to purchase CJ some new threads. San Andreas is really your one-stop for just about every gaming element known to man -- shooting, driving, biking, swimming (yes, you can actually swim), RPG aspects, simulations elements, etc. This game seems to never end. After you’ve completed all the missions, which takes a good forty hours, there’s still tons more to do. In all honesty, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most feature-packed games on Xbox and plays absolutely fabulously.
Graphics:
The graphics are definitely a step up from the PS2 version. However, as far as character models go, it’s almost a step in the wrong direction. Seriously, CJ looks deformed. The biggest problem I had with this game’s graphics was definitely its textures. San Andreas for the Xbox still looks like a PS2 game in many areas. The game’s visuals are almost identical to the Xbox version of Vice City, and in some cases, Vice City even looks better. The textures in Vice City are unquestionably better than San Andreas’. The three cities in San Andreas are huge though, so I have to give them credit for that.
Frame-rate was the most recognizable issue with the graphics in the PS2 version. This problem, for the most part, has been fixed. The only time I encountered frame-rate drops were when I started a vigilante or taxi mission. It drops for a second or two and then goes back up to a normal rate. Animations, unlike the textures, all flow very well. The visibility (or draw distance) has been vastly improved. When you would look out into the distance in the PS2 version, a fog would cloud your vision. Luckily, this isn’t relevant in the Xbox version. Colors are much more vibrant as well. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas certainly isn’t the best looking Xbox title I’ve seen, but for a PS2 port, its visuals are pretty darn solid.
Audio:
Grand Theft Auto titles have always been known for their awesome audio. To some, Vice City’s soundtrack was considered one of the best video game recordings of all time. With San Andreas, this trend of great music has continued once again. By looking at the screenshots for San Andreas, you may think the entire soundtrack only consists of rap music. Luckily, this isn’t true. Everything from rock to country is featured -- from greats like Hank Williams and Kiss, to household names such as Rod Stewart and Willie Nelson. Some fantastic classic rock is here as well. You’ve got Creedence Clearwater Revival, Heart, Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Boston, and much, much more. And let’s not forget about that good ol’ rap music though! You can listen to 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Public Enemy without even having to use the custom soundtracks feature. Custom soundtracks I say? Yep, if there’s one thing that separates the Xbox version from the PS2 version when it comes to audio, it’s definitely the ability to be able to listen to your very own tunes while driving. Even though the music in San Andreas is great, it can get repetitive at times, and when it does, that’s the moment you'll feel the urge to turn on a custom soundtrack. With outstanding in-game audio, and the option to play your own music, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is without a doubt one of the best sounding games I have ever played.
The voice acting in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is extremely well done. Although, if you don’t like hearing obscenities literally every other second, I suggest you stay far away from this game. They are trying to replicate the lifestyle of real-life criminals, and with that, they did an excellent job.
Grand Theft Auto titles are known for their hilarious DJs. San Andreas is certainly not an exception. Lazlow’s back, back again… and is as funny as ever! Some of his material in San Andreas is ‘’laugh out loud’’ funny. Heck though, all the DJs in this game are. The audio in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a brilliant piece of art.
Controls:
If you’ve played Grand Theft Auto: Double Pack on Xbox, then you should already be familiar with the control layout here. To run, either hold or tap the A button. To jump, press X. To shoot your weapon or attack someone, press B. The only real problem I had with this game’s controls was the targeting system. The problem however doesn’t lie in the button you use to lock-on. You target your enemies by pressing the right trigger, which is completely normal. The problem is it’s hard to switch to another enemy once you’ve locked onto someone. Not really a huge issue, but considering this has been a problem with both GTA III and Vice City, it should have been fixed by now. All in all, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas controls just like any other Grand Theft Auto game you’ve played. No real improvements over past games, but at least they didn’t mess anything up and move backwards.
Replay:
As I said earlier, this is one of the most feature-packed games on the market. There’s almost an unlimited amount of things to do. You can play a game of pool, go ride a boat, get a tattoo, or commit Grand Theft Auto! Of course, you could just do the main missions and you would still have at least forty hours of gameplay to keep you busy. If you’re looking for a game that you will want to play the ENTIRE summer without getting bored, San Andreas is it. Not only is this game the longest GTA title, it’s one of the longest games ever (MMORPGs not included, since they never end). Don’t rent this one guys, buy it. With Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the ice can’t even be broken in a day or two, let alone be completed. This game is definitely worth its full purchase price.
Audio:
Grand Theft Auto titles have always been known for their awesome audio. To some, Vice City’s soundtrack was considered one of the best video game recordings of all time. With San Andreas, this trend of great music has continued once again. By looking at the screenshots for San Andreas, you may think the entire soundtrack only consists of rap music. Luckily, this isn’t true. Everything from rock to country is featured -- from greats like Hank Williams and Kiss, to household names such as Rod Stewart and Willie Nelson. Some fantastic classic rock is here as well. You’ve got Creedence Clearwater Revival, Heart, Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Boston, and much, much more. And let’s not forget about that good ol’ rap music though! You can listen to 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Public Enemy without even having to use the custom soundtracks feature. Custom soundtracks I say? Yep, if there’s one thing that separates the Xbox version from the PS2 version when it comes to audio, it’s definitely the ability to be able to listen to your very own tunes while driving. Even though the music in San Andreas is great, it can get repetitive at times, and when it does, that’s the moment you'll feel the urge to turn on a custom soundtrack. With outstanding in-game audio, and the option to play your own music, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is without a doubt one of the best sounding games I have ever played.
The voice acting in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is extremely well done. Although, if you don’t like hearing obscenities literally every other second, I suggest you stay far away from this game. They are trying to replicate the lifestyle of real-life criminals, and with that, they did an excellent job.
Grand Theft Auto titles are known for their hilarious DJs. San Andreas is certainly not an exception. Lazlow’s back, back again… and is as funny as ever! Some of his material in San Andreas is ‘’laugh out loud’’ funny. Heck though, all the DJs in this game are. The audio in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a brilliant piece of art.
Controls:
If you’ve played Grand Theft Auto: Double Pack on Xbox, then you should already be familiar with the control layout here. To run, either hold or tap the A button. To jump, press X. To shoot your weapon or attack someone, press B. The only real problem I had with this game’s controls was the targeting system. The problem however doesn’t lie in the button you use to lock-on. You target your enemies by pressing the right trigger, which is completely normal. The problem is it’s hard to switch to another enemy once you’ve locked onto someone. Not really a huge issue, but considering this has been a problem with both GTA III and Vice City, it should have been fixed by now. All in all, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas controls just like any other Grand Theft Auto game you’ve played. No real improvements over past games, but at least they didn’t mess anything up and move backwards.
Replay:
As I said earlier, this is one of the most feature-packed games on the market. There’s almost an unlimited amount of things to do. You can play a game of pool, go ride a boat, get a tattoo, or commit Grand Theft Auto! Of course, you could just do the main missions and you would still have at least forty hours of gameplay to keep you busy. If you’re looking for a game that you will want to play the ENTIRE summer without getting bored, San Andreas is it. Not only is this game the longest GTA title, it’s one of the longest games ever (MMORPGs not included, since they never end). Don’t rent this one guys, buy it. With Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the ice can’t even be broken in a day or two, let alone be completed. This game is definitely worth its full purchase price.
Summary:
True, this may be a port of a year old game, and true, not much improvements have been made over the PS2 version, however, if you haven’t experienced this masterpiece before, this is a must-have title. With its almost unbelievable length, incredible depth, fantastic audio, and just about everything else a good game needs, this game is incontestably worth every penny it costs. Be warned though, this definitely isn’t one for the kids. Simply put, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a work of art that should be played and enjoyed by every gamer that is mature enough to handle its content.
True, this may be a port of a year old game, and true, not much improvements have been made over the PS2 version, however, if you haven’t experienced this masterpiece before, this is a must-have title. With its almost unbelievable length, incredible depth, fantastic audio, and just about everything else a good game needs, this game is incontestably worth every penny it costs. Be warned though, this definitely isn’t one for the kids. Simply put, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a work of art that should be played and enjoyed by every gamer that is mature enough to handle its content.
