Grand Theft Auto San Andreas 3D is the most highly regarded and arguably the best game in the GTA series. I have spent over twenty hours of consecutive game play in various trials to come to this conclusion. If sales are any indication the PlayStation 2 is the best selling video game console of all time grossing 150 million units worldwide and the best selling game for this console is GTA San Andreas with 17.33 million units in sales. By 2011 GTA San Andreas sold 27.5 million across all platforms.
The map was way bigger than its predecessors ie; GTA III New York 2001, and GTA Vice City Miami 1986. In GTA San Andreas 1992 it encompasses three fictional versions of the cities: Los Angeles (Los Santos), San Francisco (San Fierro) and Las Vegas (Las Venturas). Although the setting offers much to explore in regards to navigating terrain, it pales in comparison to the plot/storyline. It features a playful satire on early 90’s “Gansta Culture.”
Although Gangsters are generally criminalized this game brought a level of humanity, camaraderie and sympathy to a culture that has always been negatively stigmatized. It also diverges into sillier territory referencing Area 51 Aliens and secret government jet packs.
Setting:
It’s 1992 in San Andreas, California and corrupt police officer Frank Tenpenny (Samuel L. Jackson), heads up CRASH a police drug bust task force, which allies with the Los Santos street gangs to distribute crack cocaine to inner city youth inciting gang wars. Whistleblower and fellow officer Pendleberry threatens to leak information to internal affairs which earns him a bloody death orchestrated by Tenpenny. Meanwhile Grove Street Families gang leader “Sweet” refuses to pollute the streets with drugs standing firm in his resolve despite losing profits and territories to other gangs. This prompts Tenpenny and his cohort police cronies Eddie Pulaski and Jimmy Hernandez to hire rival gang Ballas putting a hit on Sweet. The hit fails and winds up killing Beverly Johnson, Sweets mom instead.
This is where the game begins Carl Johnson (CJ) who is living exiled in Liberty City for letting his younger brother Brian die, receives a phone call from Sweet informing of his mothers untimely murder. He asks CJ to return home after his five year exile on the east coast. Upon arriving back in California CJ is apprehended by Tenpenny and his boys who threatens to frame CJ for the murder of Pendleberry if he doesn’t cooperate and work for him. CJ is then ditched in the middle of rival Ballas gang territory. It doesn’t take CJ long to figure out that the Grove Street Families Gang has become the weakest link in the local gangsta community. After reuniting with his family and friends he decides to stick around to improve the gangs reputation and status.
While reuniting with his a brother Sweet and fellow gangsters “Ryder” Lance Wilson and “Big Smoke” Melvin Harris, he befriends his sisters boyfriend Caesar Vialpando creating an alliance with the Los Varrrios Los Aztecas gang. CJ also picks up some unlikely allies along the way including Woozie a Las Venturas Casino owner and The Truth a hippie living on the outskirts of a Los Santos. Zero a computer nerd living in San Fierro, Ken Rosenberg a lawyer and repeat character from GTA Vice City along with Kent Paul a rock band manager rounds off the pack. There are several cameos from prior GTA III characters as well Catalina (Caesar’s cousin), Claude the mute protagonist, and Salvatore Leone GTA III mob boss all make an appearance. This makes the storyline span multiple GTA games a pleasant surprise for returning serial GTA players.
This game features superb voice acting, one would harp even thought it difficult to trump the voice acting in GTA Vice City which featured Ray Liotta as Tommy Vercetti the protagonist along with several others, but GTA San Andreas far exceeded my expectations with Samuel L. Jackson as Tenpenny. An all star cast additionally features Chris Penn as Pulaski, James Woods as Mike Toreno (federal agent), Ice Tea as Madd Dog (a rapper), David Cross as Zero, Peter Fonda as The Truth, Charlie Murphy as Jizzy B (Loco Syndicate drug lord), Frank Vincent as Salvatore Leone, and William Fichner as Ken Rosenberg.
The in game radio stations serve as a form of musical entertainment while the players engage in missions featuring era appropriate 90’s tunes. In my opinion the best soundtrack ever featured in a video game. Radio stations are diverse so even for a discerning player wouldn’t have difficulty finding at least one type of music to enjoy. Music spans Hardcore Gangsta Rap, Classic Hip Hop, Classic Hard Rock, Alternative, Dance, House, Reggae, Country and even talk shows that feature current events which primarily revolve around CJ and his antics.
The games events are in inspired by real life scandals like, the LAPD corruption scandal, LA Riots, and the crack cocaine epidemic. From start to finish it takes just under twenty hours to complete the storyline guaranteeing hours of pleasure.
Game Difficulty:
The story vacillates back and forth to various settings resulting in numerous degrees of difficulty throughout the game. Though some missions are harder to navigate then others overall I give the game an easy to moderate level of difficulty.
Game Play Features:
New features to GTA San Andreas CJ was able to crouch to improve aim and take cover. He was also able to climb ledges and small buildings a nice improvement from past games. Perhaps the biggest addition was that CJ was given the ability to swim and dive underwater. In prior games characters would just drown as soon as they made contact with water. New weapons including silencer pistols, desert eagles heat seeking rocket launchers, sticky C4 charges, and blunt objects such as pool sticks and shovels make an appearance. Unconventional dual purpose projectile weaponry is also introduced such as spray paint cans and fire extinguishers which can be used for gang tag graffiti and firefighting. However the most effective new weapon is the knife which enables the user to stealthily sneak up behind intended victims.
San Andreas introduces RPG (Role Play Game) elements to acquire skills such as respect (street creed), weapon skill (accuracy), stamina, muscle, fat and sex appeal. Each of these skills is affected by game play. Weapon skill can be improved by going to the shooting range, respect can be attained by helping out your gang members, stamina can be enhanced by working out at the gym, fat can be acquired by eating fast food and sex appeal can be attained by going on successful dates.
This game includes many new vehicles, parachutes, skydiving and flight/ driving schools to hone your skills. Players can take part in illegal street, air or water races, for respect and monetary gains. They can choose the vehicle of their preference and even participate in demolition derbies. There are low rider dance offs (making low rider cars bounce) and regular dance offs at clubs. Each player can purchase up to two properties at a time with twelve different options including residential and business real estate.
Players can initiate gang wars with rival gangs to reclaim or acquire gang territory for the Grove Street gang. If you get tired of these activities there are midnight burglaries, pimping, train delivery, truck delivery, vigilante, taxi driver, paramedic, firefighter, and even pizza/ newspaper delivery action. If a player wants to change up their image they can go to various clothing shops, hair salons and tattoo parlors for character customization. Not to mention customizing vehicles to your liking. You can also learn new fight moves in each city.
In conclusion this is a game that does not disappoint. It attempts to do a ton of different things, far more than any previous GTA game and delivers a powerful fun filled ride. It has a strong storyline, with terrific voice actors, amazing graphics (for the time it was released), sound, and unlimited customization. This game came out in 2004 and I still love playing it. If you are a thrill seeker, this game should not be missed.
