The Game For Wanna-Be Gangsters

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (GTA-SA) is a great game. Its reality based geography pulls you right in. Instead of Los Angeles, it is ‘Los Santos’ plus video versions of San Francisco and Las Vegas. Instead of the Crips and the Bloods, two very real groups, it is the Ballas and the Grove St. gangs. Unlike most of the other Grand Theft Auto games, it has the option of being a two player game, which allows interaction instead of isolation. Also, GTA-SA encourages much more invention and discovery than the other Grand Theft Autos. For example, there are more buildings that you go into than just your safe house. In the other Grand Theft Autos, you can be fine and not have to eat for the enitre game; in GTA-SA, however, you have to eat to keep your strength up and give you energy, just like real life. And there’s side color and action: people on the street can and will talk to your character, make rude remarks, and just say the most random stuff, similar to walking in a big city.

The game is one of the newer Grand Theft Auto games and therefore, it has much better graphics. It may not provide the aggressive glamour of Grand Theft Auto IV that most gamers know and love, but if you only have one of the older systems, such as a PS2 or an Xbox 360 and don’t have the money to get a PS3, then GTA-SA provides the best fun and the most personal movement. Another great thing about this game is that you can use gta 5 mod menu xbox 360 so you can modify some aspects of the game. As a result, you can modify the characters, ad some features and play freely and without limitations. In GTA-SA, your character has the ability to move around while actually shooting. There is the usual encyclopedia of wicked and intriguing weapons: shotguns, rifles, grenades, explosives, double pistols, Uzi’s, TEC9’s, and so on, but only once your character has earned the skill level. The game encourages collective thinking: your character can bring along his “homies” to do “drive-bys” on an opposing gang or for protection. Then there is the subtle ‘do-gooding’ message based in the missions that have to be attempted. For fun, your character has the ability to modify the vehicles offered once you get to a certain point in the game. Don’t worry, it’s only a few missions in. The game also has a very large map, consisting of entertaining riffs of San Fransisco, ‘ Vegas, and LA. Your character can also choose from adult diversions such as bars, dance clubs, casinos, convenience stores, restaurants, monster truck rallys, racecar racing, demolition derbys, motorcycle races, and of course, the ever popular strip clubs. Note that there is an “M” rating to this game but it seems to be largely ignored.

Last time I checked, most electronics retailers were selling the game for about $20.00 to $25.00 brand new and, of course, it can be bought used.