Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an open-world
action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar
Games. The game was released on October 26, 2004, for
PlayStation 2 and later ported to Xbox and Microsoft Windows. It is
the seventh title in the Amazing Burglary Auto series
and the development to Excellent Robbery Auto: Bad habit City.
The game is set in
1992 in the fictional state of San Andreas, which is loosely based on California
and Nevada.
The game follows the story of Carl "CJ" Johnson,
a former gang member who returns to his hometown of Los Santos after the death
of his mother. CJ finds his old gang, the Grove Street Families,
in disarray and sets out to reunite them and take control of the city's
criminal underworld.
Gameplay
Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas
features open-world gameplay, allowing players to explore the game's environment
and complete missions at their own pace. The game world is
vast, covering three major cities, Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas,
as well as the surrounding countryside and smaller
towns. The game's map is one of the largest in the Grand
Theft Auto series, offering a wide range of locations to
explore, from urban areas to deserts and forests.
The game's missions are divided into several
categories, including story missions, side missions, and optional
missions. Story missions are the main campaign missions that progress the
game's storyline, while side missions offer additional content and rewards.
Optional missions are non-essential missions that offer additional gameplay and
can be completed at any time during the game.
One of the unique
features of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the player's ability to customize
CJ's
appearance and abilities. Players can change CJ's hairstyle, clothing,
tattoos, and even his body shape by spending time at
the gym or eating different types of food. CJ's abilities can also be improved
by practicing different skills, such as driving, shooting, and swimming.
The game's combat
system features a variety of weapons, including pistols, rifles, shotguns,
and explosives.
Players can engage in melee combat using fists or weapons such as baseball
bats and chainsaws. The game also features a cover system,
allowing players to take cover behind objects and shoot from a safe position.
Soundtrack
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas features one of the most extensive soundtracks
in video
game history, with over 240 licensed songs. The
game's soundtrack includes a wide range of music genres,
including hip-hop, rock, reggae, country, and funk.
Some of the artists featured on the soundtrack include
2Pac,
Public Enemy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rick James, and Willie Nelson.
The game's radio
stations are
an essential
part of the game's experience, providing players with a diverse selection
of music, talk shows, and commercials. The game features eleven radio stations,
each with its unique style and programming. The radio stations also feature
celebrity voice talent, including Axl Rose, Ice-T, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Reception
Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas
was a critical and commercial success, selling over 27.5 million copies worldwide.
The game received universal acclaim for its open-world gameplay,
storytelling,
and soundtrack.
The game
won several awards, including Game of the Year at the 2004 Golden Joystick Awards
and the 2005 BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards.
