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Explosions are still fun.
Explosions are still fun.Explosions are still fun.

The much vaunted character customization offers up an opportunity new to the GTA world - CJ can look how the player wants him to; tattoo's, haircuts and clothing are all changeable as the player sees fit, simply by visiting the appropriate shop. Want to be a fat gangsta with a huge blonde afro? Eat lots of fast food, don't exercise and visit the barbers. Voila! One fat, unfit, blonde gangbanger. Exercise? Why yes - a number of gyms are located through the state which can be visited as and when the player wishes, enabling a number of methods to improve CJ's physique, increase stamina and get rid of unwanted fat; weightlifting, exercise bikes and treadmills all being available for use. The much-talked about system whereby food must be consumed for the upkeep of the player is far more subtle than most would expect, with the practice not encroaching on gameplay in any major way - in more than thirty hours of play we managed to get by on less than ten meals, with health naturally returning at save points and through the old style collectable heart icons. These more in-depth character elements are a welcome addition - they could have very easily overwhelmed the core of the game, but instead they are implemented in such a fashion that they fun to take part in and almost totally voluntary in participation.


If you can go somewhere, nine times out of ten, there will be something for the player to do in the area

Amongst the ridiculous number of additions to the game are stealth kills and stealth missions - obviously something coming from Rockstar's foray into the world of Manhunt. This is another element in the game that is not overused and helps to break up the constant run and gun style that GTA has a reputation for. Along with stealth there is finally the ability to swim, so no more slipping off a cliff at high speeds to fail a mission, as CJ can simply get out of the car and swim to shore. This ability is another thing that isn't simply 'tacked on' as some may have expected, with a number of missions centred on water-based action and secret collectables being available underwater. Arcade games, breaking into houses, jet aircraft, car customisation, girlfriends, gambling and playing pool - these are just a few of the little touches that have been added to make San Andreas a much fuller experience.

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If you can go somewhere, nine times out of ten, there will be something for the player to do in the area - something that doesn't affect the main story of the game, something that may well give the player little or no reward, but something that is undeniably cool and fun to take part in. The little secrets here and there have always been a triumph of the GTA series, and Andreas has them in abundance - the hidden packages of old being replaced by graffiti tags, horseshoes, oysters and secret photographs, along with many, many other elements. Trucking, quarry work and driving freight trains are all included as little earners on the side, and each have many fun and highly addictive qualities in them. Dancing in clubs to a Dance Dance Revolution/Parappa the Rapper style rhythm-action section isn't something that people would likely expect in a GTA game, but it is there.

San Andreas even lets you have a girlfriend.San Andreas even lets you have a girlfriend.

There is just so much to do in the game it's a mini-miracle, and we haven't even mentioned one of the more core elements, statistic upgrades - CJ has a stat for just about everything he does; driving, flying, boating, swimming, shooting (with a different stat assigned to each different weapon), motor biking, cycling and respect, all having bars representing how skilful CJ is at the action in question, and each can be worked on by simply doing the activity - shoot a pistol, get better with the pistol. Drive a car, get better at driving. Help a friend out, gain respect. Simple, non-intrusive and welcome. Drivers react to the player crashing into them, the police chase other criminals, CJ can recruit a crew to follow him wherever and gun down any opposing gangs, gang turf is taken and lost throughout the game, BMX parks can be visited and there is even a two-player mode available at certain parts in the game. So, so much has been crammed in that players will be hard pressed to find they have nothing to do - even more so than in previous incarnations, and that's saying quite a lot.

San Andreas is worthy of nearly all the hype it received, and is definitely worth your attention. The nay-sayers have been coming out of the woodwork for this one, but they are wrong. This is one of the most fun and well-realised games that has ever been released. Everyone should enjoy San Andreas. Everyone over the age of 18 anyway.

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