This game is just plain fun
San Andreas takes everything that made the previous two GTAs so good, and expands upon everything one hundred fold. The state of San Andreas is big-no make that HUGE-and is filled with so much to do that it's almost mind boggling that Rockstar could fit so much onto one disk!
Playing as Carl "CJ" Johnson is a new twist, as no other GTA has starred a person of color. He, along with his fellow Grove Street gang members, must take back their hood. But, in classic GTA fashion, it doesn't stop their. Soon, CJ is involved with a whole lot of crazy stuff and people! (Former hippies, Yakuza casino owners, a government agent, that sort of thing)
The way you tackle any mission is up to you, just like always. The missions vary quite a lot also, so you won't find yourself doing the same thing over and over, unless you want to, that is. Like I mentioned, there's so much, it's almost overwhelming. But, even if you just go through the main story missions, and nothing else, there's still plenty to do.
While GTA has always been about the cars, boats, and planes, it's cool to be able to get some new modes of transortation in San Andreas. Parachuting, bicycling, and even jetpacking are all new here. You'll find the old stable of fast cars, slow trucks, and everything else, as well as some new wheeled vehicles (combines, for instance) which mix it up even more.
And let's not for get about the weapons. While there's not too many new guns (the Desert Eagle is my favorite new firearm), the ability to upgrade you marksmanship is new. The more you use a gun, the better you get at it, with the ability to dual wield some (pistols, SMGs) as an added bonus!
All in all, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is truely a masterpiece. If you're a fan of the GTA series, you've probably already beaten it several times over. If you don't yet have this game, get it, and be amazed at Rockstar's PS2 opus. It'll be a treat to see what they can do with this series in the future...