GTA is back for a third installment on the PS2. But does it live up to the hyoe.?
For the most part San Andresa is a brilliant game. While it follows very close to it's predossers in terms of gameplay it improves itself in many ways.
For a start the graphics are better. Draw distances have improved, facial animations, voice acting etc. Everything you would expect from a sequal.
There are also new gameplay elements. The most major being "Stealth". You can carry a knife around and creep, then perform stealth kills needed for certain missions. Kind of like a watered down Manhunt. However the stealth is a missed opportunity. You only use it when you have to, because missions seem to be divided between stealth and action. You have little say in the way you want to conduct yourself.
Of course the free roaming is back. You have islands to explore, all of which are MASSIVE. On each island is a urban area and a rural area. On first island it is very "gansta'" style. Lots of ghettos and hooded gangs roaming the streets.
Later this island becomes available for cpature and you have to win territory from rival gangs to earn money. Again, a poorley implemented feature because about three missions after gaining the ability to win territory you lose it. Then you have to wait till about three missions from the end of the game to open the feature up again.
The second island is more of a business destrict. Lots of tall buildings, businesses ad a large airport.
The third island is the entertainment district. Basically Las Vegas this city features plenty of cassinos and hotels.
As mentioned above each island has a large amounf of countryside. The first two islands have forests and the third a desert (another reason it mirrors Vegas).
Unfortunatley this rural land is worthless. And only manages to confuse you . Looking at your map every 10 seconds to find out if you are on the correct road becomes all too common an occurance.
Another major problem is the loading. By having NO loading screens in the game (except for the initial screen when you boot the game up) it relies on streaming form the disc. This would be fine if the PS2 could handle it. But the lack of horsepower is apparent, especially when flying. All of a sunned and tree will appear in front of you, ending your flight early. This also occurs on roads when you drive too quickly and areas you enter can't load quicly enough.
So, overall this is the GTA we all know and love but not quite as good as the previous installemnts.