"I waited until i beat the game to write this review."

All over the Gamefaqs review page, you see scores varying from a whopping 4/10-to the perfect 10/10. I read each and every review, took into consideration the fact that there are fanboys on this website, and came out with a score of 10/10 as well.

Intro: The Grand Theft Auto Series has come a long way from its 2d days. We welcomed new features and new faces. GTA: SA though, satisfied everyone. The Mafia loving, Triad loving, and of course the people who like the whole gangster persona. It brought back many old faces and yes it even lets you go back to Liberty City for a mission. If tripling the number of cars was not enough, they tripled the number of helicopters and planes and bikes, even including a hover car and jetpack. This is how far Rockstar went to make a legendary game.

Graphics-10/10: If you consider the fact that the PS2 is an average system and GTA:SA is 6 times the size of Vice City, AND there are no loading times while you are traveling around the city AND, the loading times for entering a building is 3-6 seconds AND, The loading time to load the game once you start it is 1/4 of what Vice City's was this game was a graphical masterpiece. I mean look what they had to work with! I did not encounter a graphical glitch until i entered Las Venturas and had to do a mission for Ken RosenBurg and the place i had to take him to had no fence, it was invisible. Thats all i encountered. I have yet to see the "walk through walls" or getting stuck glitch. I myself thought that when Rockstar gave you the ability to climb it would not be good because Id find myself falling through a roof or something. But no. It perfect. Well, as close to perfect as you can get.

Gameplay Sound-10/10: GTA:SA also doubled the number of weapons and the sounds of the bullets impact and of the gun itself leaves me in awe. The sounds of a car burning out and of a motorcycle speeding by are just like in real life. The fighting sounds of punching and kicking have not been improved though, leaving it the same as in Vice City. The panting and heavy breathing of a FAT CJ is funny and the comments he gives to rude pedestrians are hilarious as well. So much is going on in GTA: SA you do not feel as if all eyes are on you anymore. The horns honking, the pedestrians laughing with eachother, the cops talking to eachother, the gangsters leaning on your car talking, its all a sound masterpiece.

Music-10/10: Many people hate rap music. They hate hip hop. They hate it with a passion. I don't im actually a fan. So I give this a 10/10. Im not judging it by the music itself but by the quality, and how it varies. I sat there in my car stalking someone, listening to every radio station while doing it. The selection is great. Those of you who expected Nirvana or Metallica just get over it. If you care so much about the music to give the game a 4/10 or a 5/10 you are out of your mind and need to get a FANBOY sticker on your forehead. The Quality and variety is just great.

Features-30/10: Yes dangit you read right a 30. This is where the game sets itself apart from the previous GTA's, True Crime, DRIV3R, HALO2, I mean the features are unbelievable. Eating, working out, swimming, controlling a gang of up to 8 people, i mean its great. I can't name you all of the features here but trust me when i say that all of them have been worked on 100% and they do not disappoint:

Eating- CJ must consume food at least once a week. Then a little menu pops up and says he must eat or he will lose health.

Fitness- Gives you sex appeal, and power to lift stuff or punch someone.

Robbing Houses- This is how I got money in the early stages of the game. I was pimped out until I lost all my money in:

Gambling- I entered LV with 6,000k, and left owing the casino 95,000k. I soon though won it all back in BlackJack, and Roulette.

Swimming- Basically you do not drown. I have not at least. AT ALL. Its a good feature but teh 70 seashells you have to find under water are nearly impossible to find.

Gang Control- As you gain respect you can go up to gang members and ask them ro "roll with you" which allows them to follow you anywhere.

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A.I.-10/10: A.I.=Artificial Intelligence. By this i mean how the pedestrians and the police act around you. Let me say it like this:

1- You commit a crime the cops come after you , no change in that, except they are smarter and cut you off on alleyways or grab your car etc...
2 - You walk into BALLAS or VAGOS turf wearing green they ask you a question "Where are your color" or "Are you down with the Ballas/Vagos" or "Grove Street Sucks" or "Are u Down with Grove Street" etc... you press left on the DPAD to reply no or right to reply yes. They shoot you if u give them the answer they do not like.
3. Pedestrians make fun of you if your fat or skinny. Period. You can kill them or do whatever they will be back to make fun of you. They live there own lives, you see them around the area parking there cars and walking home.

Controls 10/10: all these controls for all these new features!! Confusing right? WRONG. They explain it beautifully throughout the game. Except for the Fighter Jet, Its confusing but thats 1 out of 150 some vehicles. A couple of controls have been changed from the VS days but its all for the best. Just think: NO ANNOYING XBOX CONTROLELR!!. When and if this games go there it will be horrible because you really need to have comfort while playing this game. Sometimes you need up to 4 controls simultaneously in this game. Good Luck XBOX fans.

Story 10/10: Young Maylay did a great job of CJ you felt like if HE WAS CJ. Literally. All of the characters where great. The Story went from Gangster Life, to Triad Life, to Mafia Life, To Countryside Life, and the transitions were beautiful. The Final Mission leaves you wanting more. You meet up with many characters from GTA: 3. You can now make a couple of connection where characters came from. It made me turn on my old GTA: 3 and replay a couple of missions.

Outro: Ok this game is worth 100$ this game is worth buying a new PS2 if you sold your ITS WORTH IT. For those people who rated it 4/10 and said its worth the buy they sound hypocritical because 4/10 is Britney's Dance Beat NOT GTA: SA. Go out and buy this game. This is the greatest game that has ever been programmed, for any system, for any genre, and it will be until R* decides to work on GTA: 4/5 it does not matter what hte name is it will be great.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10 | Originally Posted: 11/04/04

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