Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Xbox)

For those who appreciate the sophomoric, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the ultimate indulgence. This particular storyline follows Carl Johnson, "CJ", who takes it upon himself to regain his "street cred" in his old Grove Street neighborhood, all the while cleansing his home city of gang violence and building his business empire across the cities of San Andreas. Despite the challenging missions, what makes the game so much fun is that it is truly a cartoon for adults. Character voices include the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Charlie Murphy, and Peter Fonda, among many others. The developers' attention to detail and variety of side-missions will have any gamer discovering new features and laughing at new jokes many months after starting a game. In other words, San Andreas has a very long shelf life before it gets old.

Like its most recent predecessor, GTA: Vice City, San Andreas could be considered a "period piece"--this time for late 80's/early 90's West Coast living. Get into any vehicle, and as you surf the radio stations you may hear Ice Cube, Stone Temple Pilots, or Eddie Money--with George Clinton or Axl Rose as the radio DJ. Whereas previous GTA games focused on one city, San Andreas is a state with 3 major cities--caricatures of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas--with countryside in between, thus making the landscape of this RPG absolutely enormous. The developers' sophomoric sense of humor spares no detail in their creations. Virtual doppelgangers of places like Luxor Las Vegas and Camelot are renamed into much raunchier (and funnier versions). You may ride in a boat called a "Reefer" or a car called the "Bf Injection". As you walk past pedestrians in different neighborhoods, you overhear strange parts of silly (and sometimes nasty) conversations. There is even a "secret" army base in the desert, called Area 69. Needless to say, this game is not for children. Even clean jokes may be over the heads of some minors because of the subjects they parody. All in all, if you like a challenging role playing game and can appreciate the little details in a big world; you will get your money's worth from San Andreas.

Even before GTA: San Andreas’ hidden ‘Hot Coffee’ mod erupted, controversy surrounded the series and its depiction of 90’s Los Angeles and the gangs that frequent it. Though politicians and advocate groups attacked it, no can deny that it’s simply the most free-wheeling and addicting game ever made.

What makes this game so great is that it’s not a game; it’s another world. Almost anything is possible. You want to work out? You can do that. Shoot pool and bet on it? You can do that too. It’s the rare game that serves up unlimited replay potential since the game itself never really ends. The main storyline may wrap up but there’s still a whole world out there waiting for you to stir trouble up.

It would not be a stretch to call GTA: San Andreas the pinnacle of the Xbox. It’s likely to stay that way as we wave so long to the Xbox and welcome the 360 in the coming months.

It boggles the mind how high the expectations will be for the next incaranation. One thing is for sure, Rockstar Games is up to the task and will deliver a phenomenal effort.

I could go on for hours about the game but chances are you already know everything you need to know: this is a must-have for your gaming collection.

San Andreas is by far the crown jewel of the Rockstar Lineup. As Carl Johnson you return to the fictional city of Los Santos after your mother has been murdered. Along the way you meet a slew of characters, voiced by high profile celebrities such as James Woods, Samuel L. Jackson, and many others.

Unlike previous GTA games, San Andreas is a state, with three large cities and miles of sprawling country side. The storyline of this game is great, with a plot that will keep you interested from start to finish. Once you complete the storyline the game remains fresh with plenty of mini games, side missions, and the overall fun that comes with causing random mayhem by gunning down pedestrians, blowing up cars, skydiving, swimming, working out, and more.

Your video game collection is not complete until you own a copy of San Andreas, arguably the greatest game ever to hit any console.

Just buy this Game!!!!!!! It is sick from the First mission! It has alot of jokes too. You must laugh.Just the fact that there is too much foul languages.But it is all worth wild.All the features and activities in the game will cover up all the slacks.From using a parachute to flying learjets and armyjets and so on.The missions are very easy thouth.And the game is very huge.Another awsome feature is that you can play free roam around the state with two players!!!!!!!! And the eating is mad too.You can eat at a burger shot,a clucken bell where they sell chicken and more and a pizza stack.they even sell salads too.