An absolutely stellar game, GTA: San Andreaa improves on the series' winning gameplay formula by adding in 2 more huge cities, expanding the scope IMMENSELY, a much more refined fighting/shooting system, character customization, and tons more. Turf wars and the idea of owning territory is extremely satisfying, it's a surprise and shame this idea wasn't thought of or implemented earlier in the previous entry to the series.
Graphics wise, character models and overall art direction is up a few notches from vice city, which wasn't too different from GTA3...but suffers when it comes to image clarity and technical quality. This is most commonly seen when cruising along in a fast vehicle, where the screen will start blurring out and objects popping into view in the distance becomes more obvious. To its credit, this lends a sense of speed to the driving, and it offsets the techinal incapabilities of the PS2. Xbox port please??
I gave this game a 9 instead of a 10 because sadly, bugs and glitches are still quite rampant. Then again, a game of this scope can hardly be without its share of faults...but it can get annoying at times. Your henchmen sometimes get stuck way too easily, mission crucial partners refuse to follow you due to some reason or another, and tons of small bugs and glitches pop up fairly frequently with thorough or stupid playing. It doesn't marr the overall experience San Andreas too much, thanks to the relative AWESOMENESS of the rest of the game.
Sounds on the whole is pretty impressive, with voice acting being the series best. Cut scenes are now much more involving and believable, unlike the all too brief or atmospherically distant ones in Vice City, and the mute ones from GTA3. The voice talent Rockstar managed to secure is simply amazing, with my personal number #1 Samuel L. Jackson putting on an amazing performance with his role of Officer Frank Tenpenny. Brings back memories Jules in Pulp Fiction...anyways, the sound suffers a bit in other areas, most noticably in the SFX. Gunfire doesn't sound very convincing at times, and the sudden shot when you're passing by enemy turf almost burst my speakers and my eardrums at one point; and to sort of make up for that the game seems to lower all surrounding sounds for a moment thanks to that sudden loud ear popping shot. maybe it's just my TV, but i've never experienced this with any other game before...
Moral issues are arguably even more controversial in San Andreas. How is that possible, right? Well, TWO WORDs. Stealth kill. Try taking a knife and doing it to every passer by, then proceed to violently stab their cold, lifeless corpses and you'll see what I mean. So far I've only seen the knife stealth kill, so i dunno if it applys to other melee weapons as well.
Final word, and I haven't even touched on the miles and miles of wonderful countryside, GET THIS GAME. Just don't bring it into real life, and you'll have a bliss-filled eternity with this gem.
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