Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Developer: Rockstar North Ltd.
Genre: Racing
Originally on: Windows (2004)
Works on: PC, Windows
User Rating: 8.6/10 - 10 votes
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Game Overview

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an action-adventure game and one of the truly legendary GTA series. Drive around the most murdered ghettoes of prototypical Los Angeles, seize more territory for the gang, punish traitors and become the most respected man on the block.

Homecoming

Carl Johnson has left his hometown of Los Santos and moved to Liberty City, a city familiar from Grand Theft Auto 3. News of his beloved mother's death forces Carl to return to his small homeland. Immediately off the plane, he is pushed into a police car and threatened with offers to cooperate. Carl escapes and arrives in his neighborhood. To the man's surprise, the neighborhood has changed drastically and the whole gang no longer has as much influence. Now Carl's mission is to restore the gang's authority, deal with the traitors, and complete several mob missions.

Reality Through the Game

In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, there are as many as three cities:

Los Angeles-based Los Santos
San Fierro and its famous real-life clone, San Francisco
The gleaming lights of Las Venturas' many casinos remind you so much of Las Vegas, don't they?

All three maps are extensive and filled with various missions and collectibles. The starting location is Los Santos, the rest of the maps can be accessed, but for crossing the border Carl will immediately be rated 5 stars on a five-point scale of dangerous criminals.

Not a step without a story

All missions in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas are divided into story and random. Story missions unlock new cities and opportunities. You can't go get a haircut without a Ryder mission, and you have to steal a car to get dressed up. Random missions are scattered throughout the city and are mostly mini-games.

Hop on a lowrider or rescue a Grove Street Families member from the Ballas gang. All of this gives Carl more respect within the gang, and most importantly, it allows him to earn bundles of money. The money is used to buy food, weapons, and clothing. The hospital deducts a certain amount of money for each death of Carl.

In addition to the missions, the game offers free gameplay. Drive around the city and shoot passersby, try to work as a cab driver or become the most dangerous criminal in town. Freedom of choice and the ability to create chaos - that's what Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is loved for.