Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

THE BAD:
- RPG system can be frustrating
- Graphics
- Glitches at its worst
- Some missions/challenges are very hard

SUMMARY:
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PS2 is simply the best game I have ever played on the PS2. Everything about it is superb and nicely done. Mainly everything is good in this game, with the odd couple of exceptions. Glitches are, I am sorry to say, at its worst. It can cause a major problem during storyline missions and I being a person who hates glitches, was very annoyed. Graphics are not bad, but they could have been improved.

You won't take any notice of the graphics that much, though, because the gameplay is just spectacular. You can (deep breath): skydive, fly a plane, drive over 70 vehicles, ride bikes, swim, recruit gang members, have gang wars, change your clothes, eat food and there are many, many more. Speaking of eating, there are RPG elements that are added to the game to make it realistic. My question is: Why does San Andreas need to be realistic, when it is not meant to be realistic? The whole game is pretty much unrealistic. I don't understand why Rockstar put the RPG system in the game. It can get frustrating at times. Let's say you are on a mission and your health gradually decreases because you have not ate in days. Other RPG elements include your lung capacity (for swimming), health, stamina, muscle and sex appeal. Drive modified cars to raise your sex appeal to the max.

While some missions are very challenging, some are fun and interesting. One mission has you doing a James Bond style motorbike jump onto a plane, killing everyone on board then jumping back out with a parachute. How better can it get? I am thrilled with the storyline missions and even the storyline characters. The characters you meet are very interesting.

The soundtrack is brilliant, with hip hop, rock n roll and country songs at its best. The traditional chatshow is also funny with Lazlow and there is even a news channel to keep you updated on all the missions you have done, like if you have just blown up a building, it will be on the radio. Cool, huh?!

The map is literally GIGANTIC. There are three cities where you can explore: Los Santos, the place where you first start off the game, where all the gang wars, crime and drugs take place. Then you have San Fierro, which is a nice break from the gangs. Lastly, Las Venturas, which is like Las Vegas with all the gambling activities you can do. There is also a countryside and a desert. You also have various "schools" scattered across the map where you go to get a licence which lets you in airports to drive aeroplanes. To get a "pilots license", you must complete "Pilot School" in the desert.

Finally, the lasting appeal. There is so much to do in this game. Too much. I still haven't completed it yet but you will never, EVER get bored of this game. You will play if for months - years even. There are side missions, collectables, the storyline missions and a whole lot more.

So this is the game to get on your PS2. You should definitely pick this up. It is truly a magnificent game, despite the couple of flaws, and you should buy this NOW if you do not have it.

THE BAD:
- The graphics are a bit of a letdown.
- Glitches are at their worst.

SUMMARY:
Well, in my opinion, I think that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the one of the best games I have ever played in my life. There are lots of new features added and tons more stuff to do. The missions are great, challenging but fun and leads a very interesting storyline with some surprises along the way. You will be able to meet previous characters from the past GTA games and you even get to race with one of them - but I am not telling who! Also, the map is humongous, with lots of land, sea and air to explore. You will never get tired of travelling, whether it is in the desert with your Monster Truck or in the countryside on your Quadbike, performing stunts. You can explore 3 cities in the state of San Andreas, and two little areas in between (desert and countryside). The vehicles you get from the game are truly outstanding and there are so many cool ones that you encounter. You can even mod them in 3 places. Weapons in this game are just like the weapons in the previous GTA games - outstanding. You have a lot of weapons that you can store in your inventory and even some environmental weapons like a baseball bat, shovel, spray can and a chainsaw.

The soundtrack is very entertaining and Lazlow comes back in the chatshow, WCTR. Other radio stations have the music genres of Rock, Country, Hip-Hop/Rap and many more. You can change your clothes regularly, whether it is a cheap t-shirt from Binco or a new designer suit from Didier Sachs, it's entirely up to you. New features are built in like parachuting of a plane, or swimming in the middle of nowhere, starting gang wars, cruising in a JETPACK and much more. Now on to the bad things about the game. These are, what I call, major bad things in the game. The first one is, graphics. Yeah, we all know that gameplay > graphics and this game proves the point well. The graphics are little rusty around the edges, but still, expect some great cutscenes. Another thing is the glitches. I hate glitches. They are so annoying. In San Andreas, I am sorry to say that the glitches are at their worst. Still though, some are quite rare to achieve and others are just accidental. All in all, I love San Andreas and Rockstar. This game is a must-have, seriously, it will bring a shine to your gaming stand.

GRAPHICS: 3.5/5 - A little rusty around the edges, but still, expect some great stuff.

VOICE ACTING AND MUSIC: 4.5/5 - Great soundtrack from the 90's and the voice acting is just brilliant.

GAMEPLAY: 5/5 - Stunning gameplay, you will never get bored of GTA: SA.

LASTING APPEAL: 5/5 - There are tons of things to do if you want that special 100% completion like odd jobs, collectibles and much more.

OVERALL: 4.6/5

An amazing game. Buy it. Now.

THE BAD:
Bad traffic glitches. Bad aiming system.

SUMMARY:
You play as Carl Johnson, going back to the hood for your mothers funeral. As you try to avoid getting back into criminal life, too many problems show up. You do a lot of missions, and move from Los Santos to San Fierro. Then to Los Venturas. The environments are pretty good. You'll find yourself just driving around at 100mph for the fun of it. The aiming system is a lock on aim. So you get instant shots at people. I would have liked to see manual aiming, or at least a switch from auto aim to manual aimer option. You have many little extras to keep you entertained. You can go to the gym and bulk up on muscle, go the the burger shop and fatten up. Go to casinos and gamble your money, and play arcade machines. Burgle houses. Take over hoods. Buy houses, get girlfriends. And many many more extras. It's a very fun game to spent lots of time on. Grand theft auto san andreas is voted as the best PS2 game of all time by many gaming websites. Although it is a very good game. I wouldn't agree with the websites that rate it 9.9 out of 10. 10 is perfect. San Andreas isn't perfect. If you stand by a road, you'll notice cars just crashing into the back of each other. It's one of the annoying things about the game. But overall, it's a game no gamer should not buy.

THE BAD:
Street Racing missions suck on this game.

SUMMARY:
This game has caught a lot of attention from the media. The explicit f-word language, the strip clubs, prostitution, brutal violence, drug usage, bad cops, and innapropriate/dark humor. But, despite all the controversy, this game is EXCELLENT. Where do I begin? It's like having your own gangsta virtual pet. You can dress him up, feed him, work out, and recruit your own gang members. The weapon system is incredible. The soundtrack is superb. Newer weapons make for more brutal deaths. Good graphics. Huge cities. Get a girlfriend, take her on dates, and HAVE YOUR WAY WITH HER. Steal cars, trucks, suvs, motorcycles, even dunebuggies and AIRPLANES. Swim, Run, and Ride your way to the local tattoo parlor and get a tattoo. Complete missions, buy houses, and earn gang territory. Go to the Casino, and get lucky at the bar. Enjoy strip clubs. Even complete mini missions like bmx, vigilante, and pimp. Unlock special suits and gain street respect by killing opposing gangsters. Get points by doing things like burglaring. And the rediculous amount of cheats makes it all 10 times funner. To Rockstar North: Superb. Bravo. Pat on the back. You've done it. Now, do it again. Only better.

THE BAD:
There are only a few bad aspects to the game. The graphics could of been done with a little room for improvement. They ARE very good, I must say, but if Rockstar spent a little bit of time on this then it would of been most definitely perfect. The glitches are very big in this game, it can happen a lot which is rather disappointing to me. Some of you may like seeing glitches, but I do not.

SUMMARY:
Well, I could tell you heaps and heaps of things to do with San Andreas but now, YOU take it from here and buy this absolutely extraordinary game that Rockstar have created. YOU explore the different paths in San Andreas, discover and most of all, enjoy it. As my review title says, this is Probably One of the Greatest Games Yet. I'd give it a 9/10. I rarely give anything a 9 or 10 out of ten, mostly an 8. But I just HAD TO give this a 9, as it is truly an amazing game. If it wasn't for the two bad points then I would of given it a straight 10. But still, 9 is just as good, so I want you to beg your parents or guardian to buy this game. This game will no doubt bring a shine to your gaming stand. Trust me.

THE BAD:
-Still Lot's Of Glitches.
-Not A Very Good Soundtrack.
-Still Bad Graphics.

SUMMARY:
Well there numerous good things about San Andreas, you get to travel the huge map. The vehicles you get to travel through the map with are awesome. There's lots of guns to cause mayhem with. You get to control your gang and to fight other gangs for territory. There are lots of clothing you can purchase to make CJ look just the way you want. Once you beat the game there is still lots of things to do. Moving on to the bad things about San Andreas. There still are multiple annoying glitches, for example when you go to pick up your girlfriend they'll come running out of there house but might hit something, and keep running into it for about 10 seconds then she'll fly behind you and will then proceed to run into your vehicle. The soundtrack isn't to good as well. The graphics are still not to good, there still using the same graphics engine as they were with GTA III So in conclusion I'd say pick up this game if you have the change or go out and rent it.

THE BAD:
Storyline can be predictable at times
Never lived up to all the hype
Many good features that were expected to be in here were cut out
You can no longer steer with the arrow buttons
Some missions can be very challenging and tiresome

SUMMARY:
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was the most awaited game of the whole series. maybe even of all the games ever released. The storyline is excellent, however predictable. A young OG returns to his hood, to find his family and his gang have fallen into disarray. His friends that he once rolled with are all heading for disaster.

GAMEPLAY

The guys at Rockstar really out-done themselves when it comes to authenticity in this game. Not always in a good way though, as when CJ is riding a motorcycle, trying to get somewhere in a certain space of time, he gets knocked over by a car, and the bike goes flying away. But unlike the other games in the series, CJ can actually improve his skills at certain things by speding more time doing them. These skills range from riding a BMX to flying an airliner. Stamina to sex appeal. Almost all of the virtues of normal people's strengths get a look in here.

GRAPHICS

Players of the GTA series will notice a certain style of animation in these games, it's a kind of jagged-edge animation, with no smooth circles. Take a look at the steering wheels from Vice City, they were pentagons! This is not to say that it is low-budget, or that there is any lack of attention to detail. Glass windows smash when you shoot at them. Water will splash onto the screen, and is even tracked along sidewalks when pedestrians walk through puddles. Most of the cars in this game bear a close resemblance to cars that exsist in real life. Most apparent though, is the shocking resemblance that the cities have to thier real life counterparts. Los Santos is based on Los Angeles, San Fierro is based on San Francisco, and Las Venturas is based on Las Vegas. Personally, it is the best and most convincing city replicating game ever.

OVERALL

Although San Andreas didn't live up to the hype it built up, it does not disappoint. The gameplay is realistic, the cast list is impressive, and the realistic feeling of the game make San Andreas a true classic. With plenty to do in this game, and plenty of replay value, it is a must-have for any lover of the GTA series.

My rating - 9/10.

THE BAD:
Nothing...

SUMMARY:
The game that was easily the most awaited of the year and which now sits with the honour of being one of the best games ever played.
As CJ a young 'gangsta' returns from Liberty City to attend his Mom's funeral, you end up being framed for the murder of a Police Officer by three bent cops, this spirals out of control and is the long term cause that forces CJ to traipse across the State of San Andreas for some new and familiar faces.
You start of in Los Santos (Los Angeles) where you complete missions to help bring the Grove Street Gang back to life after most of the members are now just pathetic addicts, you must kill dealers, kill enemy gangs and frankly whoever you want with your brother Sweet and your friends Ryder and Big Smoke. Along with that you complete favours for people like 'OG Loc' and other 'hardcore gangstas' which is fun. In between this you can do the traditional free roaming, stealing cars and mugging innocent people. With the added extras of being able to mod your car, go to night clubs, (take your girlfriend with you if you want) pop to the local takeaway while all the people along the way call you a variety of different names some what you could call friendly, 'big boy' and others that are far from friendly, people saying you need a shower is probably the nicest and most polite thing they say.
The usual addition of the in-car radio is welcome with the usual stupid but incredibly funny comments in between music-music that if you are old enough will recognize. Eventually you realise that most of the leading gamg members are working with the cops it's just you and Sweet and Sweet has been caught in Ambush. When you get there there is an all out war between the Grove Street Families and the Ballas eventually the cops arrive and everyone runs away however CJ remains with his Brother who has been shot in the leg and they both get arrested.
This is when you end up in Red County (Orange County) the traditional countryside where Tenpenny (the bent cop) has you run an errand for him. After this you are contacted by Cesar your sisters boyfriend who tells you to got to his cousin a crazy Mexican called Catalina, with her you complete four robberies. Then The Truth contacts you. He is a comical drug addict/dealer who buys a farm which he plans to grow cannabis on you do things to help him like steal a Combine Harvester to help him complete this rather far fetch'd scheme. During this you must complete a race, when you win a blind Chinese guy tells you his name- Wu Zi Mu and tels you to contact him. Then The Truth contacts you it's urgent the Police are paying a visit to his farm! With a Flame-thrower you must burn the canabis to the ground and the fumes make you abit dizzy to say the least then you have to drive to San Fierro (San Francisco.) Here you have managed to come into possesion of a garage and you go around completing missions to get your garage the best in San Fierro, (one of which you have to bury a man alive under cement) and you aso contact Wu Zi Mu where you do little favours for him. One of the additions in San Fierro is the Driving School which one of your mechanics reccomend and also it was here I realised you could hijack trains. Along with that you are able to commandeer cranes and begin to export cars.
Then it comes to the final mission in this area, one where you get your revnge on Ryder... By killing him. After a shootout on 'Pier 69' you must chase Ryder on about while doing drive-bys until you eventually blow up the boat. You then are contacted by a mysterious voice which turns out to be a bloke called Toreno he tells you help him and he will help release Sweet and after a load of missions some including the new variety of fully flying aeroplanes he dissappears so you forget about him and Wu Zi Mu contacts you. After a Brief meeting you become part of a three way partnership in which you own The Four Dragons Casino. Wu Zi Mu asks you to go around doing things to help the casino make business, as some rivals are doing their best to stop this from happening you have to deal with them to.
Then you hear from The Truth again, he has managed to lose a pair of English tourists in Bone County desert surrounding Las Venturas (Las Vegas) when you pick them up you meet the two most funny characters in the game, one you should have met before. Paul and Macker- Paul was in the Malibu Club Vice City. Macker is also very funny, a young Geordie who has a little obsession with masturbation. You take them to see Lomaz- the Lawyer in Vice City who is under Stress so you help him out. Also one mission you find Mad Dog the Rapper preparing to commit suicide- you save him and become his manager. You also prepare for a big robbery at a rival casino. Eventually you are rang by Toreno who has managed to secure the release of your Brother. This is when you return to Los Santos.
By now you have killed one of the bent Police Officers and the one that is left has been found out but no one does anything about it- so Los Santos goes into full scale riot. People throw random things like televisions at you. Once again one of the marvellously funny additions to the game. Eventually you kill Big Smoke and Tenpenny and are free to take control of all the 'Hoods'.
Along with the main missions, (above is a brief overview of them... Yes brief!!!) there are little side missions. The usual Taxi, Paramedic, Police and Fire Service ones but you can also now complete missions on a train. Complete delivery Misssions for businesses. Get you and your (many) girlfiends relationship to 100% along with collecting horseshoes and other hidden items.
Enough of the missions lets talk about the game engine itself. To begin with the graphics are good, people mistake Rockstar's choice of making the Graphics 'rugged' for poor animation IT IS NOT. With the cars drawn well and similar to those we know in real life (they weren't allowed to use real names.) The buildings are interesting and one thing I have always loved about the GTA games- everywhere is accesible. Every back alley, every roof, every garden and the inside of the majority of buildings and houses.
The enemy Al is clever- using cover, crouching and approaching from different ways to box you in. Along with the incredibly funny Al of normal civilians it provides a unique view on life. Although far from realistic, (who cares this is a game!) they have made it comical and great fun. Well Done Rockstar!! www.neoseeker.com gives you a 5/5.

THE BAD:
I am talking very minor faults here:
Maybe too much swearing for some.
An 18 Rating is very strict! (Play Manhunt and you'll see what I mean.)
A few minor glitches.
The graphics need a little improvement.

SUMMARY:
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most eagerly anticipated games ever, and Rockstar have delivered yet another masterpiece. Forgetting the normal trend, even in the second mission, you get thrown straight into the action with the Ballas gang chasing you trying to execute a drive-by while you are on your bike.

CJ's image can be transformed, from a scrawny, poorly dressed man, to a muscly "don't mess wit' me" dude, to a fat slob. The state of San Andreas is brilliant, with the LA based city Los Santos in the south-east corner, with all the landmarks of LA. Head west and you will travel through the countryside, going towards Mount Chilliad, a tall mountain which is climable. Head north and you'll get to the city of San Fierro, based on San Francisco, complete with all the bridges and hills. Head east from there, and you will go to the sierra land of tierra robada, then into the desert, and to the final city of the game, Las Vegas copycat Las Venturas, with Casinos and the like. A trip south through lush countryside will lead you back to los santos.

Graphics-- 6/10 - Could be a lot better.

Sound-- 10/10 - Brilliant music and voice acting.

Gameplay-- 10/10 - Technically excellent.

Lifespan-- 9.5/10 Get this into your head: 6 times the size of Vice City and 100 missions, not including side missions.

Overall-- 4.9/5 San Andreas is an excellent game which I definitely reccomend. GO BUY IT NOW!!!!