GTA:SA is yet another revision of the now aging GTA franchise. For a ruindown of all the new features and options check out all the other reviews, as this user review is geared towards existing fans of the existing GTA games. Just like Vice City was more of an expansion pack to the original GTA3, this game feels like an expansion pack to Vice City. If Vice City is considered GTA 4, this game feels like GTA 4.5. Many of the missions are very similar to the other GTA games, and some are frustratingly difficult, and some are ridiculously easy. You have new contacts, new vehicles, and of course a new city, but the core game play remains the same. The graphics desperately need an upgrade. I think that Rockstar North has pushed as much out of the PS2 as they can but the game is starting to look very poor. Models are blocky and textures are blurry, muddy, and repeated. Sure, this is offset by the non-existent loading times, but to be honest I wouldn't mind a quick load screen if I could get my hands not to look like blocks or my shoulder blades not to have points. There's only a handul of NPC models in each area, with very few color variations. Every time you stop your car you know you'll see the same 2 bikini hookers, a white beat cop, LL Cool J circa 1990, and 3 gangsters in slightly different colors. The usual GTA camera and combat problems persist in this game. The lock on feature is still strange and difficult, as it seems to lock on random civilians during giant gang shootouts instead of obvious targets - even if you're facing the enemy. It's an awkward system that has needed an overhaul since the original GTA3, and the only thing that will make you better in combat is overcoming this system is by constant practice on hapless civilians with the shoulder buttons. Camera controls remain poor, and it's far too easy to crash into everything and anything while riding a motorcycle or a fast car. You'll find yourself using both analog sticks to steer your character, and control the camera. It seems silly because there shouldn't be a reason why manual camera control is frequently faster than automatic. Although mission objectives are easier to discern than they were in Vice City, they can still be frustrating, and you'll find yourself repeating missions over and over again while you figure out the "trick" that you had no idea of knowing before hand. A perfect example comes up in the first act, when you have to kill rival gang members who are perched on the top of a train. You have to jump on a motorbike and speed next to it, and rely on your armed passenger to take them out. The passenger tries to shoot the gang members off of the train, but unless you somehow guess the exact position your bike needs to be in, that passenger will never hit his target. You're provided no feedback as to the success of your passenger until you fail the mission, so many missions boil down to trial and error, or to reading a FAQ. Naturally the unforgiving save game system makes you pointlessly retrace your steps to restart the mission, and this makes the game's length feel artificial. Finally, the game's tutorial system never seems to shut off and you can't skip it, so it's a good idea to do everything as soon as you are able to, just to get rid of the tutorial. For example, I have never officially been to the hospital before, because when I die I reload a save game to keep all my cash, guns, etc. However, if I get Wasted, it sends me to the hospital before I can reload, and wastes minutes telling me "all about the hospital", which I cannot skip. Ditto with most of the other minigames - as soon as you do it once, go back and save immediately so you won't have to go through the tutorial again. The audio and voice acting is top notch, if not a bit excessive on the curse words and racial slurs. Sometimes it sounds natural, but other times all the N's and M-F'ers and whatnot sound forced. The in game music is exceptional as always, and the story is fantastic - if you bother to go through all those same-old/same-old missions to get to it all. All in all this game isn't a major switch from all the previous GTA games, it's really more of an upgrade sequel that reminds me of every year's release of Madden or Tony Hawk. If you love GTA3 and Vice City you'll probably love this game, but for me it left me wanting more.
Other Helpful Reviews for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
I consider this game to be a masterpiece - everything involved; the gameplay, the weapons, the vehicles, everything. From the motorcycles to the Rustler airplane; from the jetpacks to the reference to Grand Theft Auto 3 ... Read Full Review
I've never played all the way through GTA3 or Vice City. I found that, in both games, the characters and missions did not hold nearly enough substance for me to care what happened next. Before San Andreas, GTA was only... Read Full Review
