Games Homepage
Best of 2007 | 2006 |2005
Advanced Search
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP
Xbox 360 | Xbox
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64
PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
|
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
|
Five years ago Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, San Andreas... a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs and corruption. Where filmstars and millionaires do their best to avoid the dealers and gangbangers. Now, it's the early 90s. Carl's got to go home. His mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster. On his return to the neighborhood, a couple of corrupt cops frame him for homicide. CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets. [Rockstar]
PUBLISHER: |
Rockstar Games |
DEVELOPER: |
Rockstar North |
GENRE(S): |
Action, Racing |
PLAYERS: |
2 |
ESRB RATING: |
AO (Adults Only) |
RELEASE DATE: |
June 6, 2005 |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
100
Gaming Age
In regards to the gameplay, I'd have to give the overall advantage to the Xbox version, again, mostly due to the better framerate. Being able to smoothly spin around the camera, in the vehicles and on foot, makes a big difference in how the game plays.
100
GameSpy
It looks and sounds better than ever, which more than makes up for the minor control issues. If you've been searching for the best Grand Theft Auto experience around, look no further: San Andreas is the real deal.
100
Stuff
How do you improve on perfection? We’ll tell you how: Take the same genius game that you played last fall on the PS2 and give everything a fresh coat of pixel paint... Then, remove the long load times, allow us to save 30-second replays to the hard drive for those you-won’t-believe-this-booshiz moments and create personalized radio stations by ripping your CD collection to the hard drive.
100
Game Revolution
But unlike the PS2 and PC versions, the Xbox port comes with that rarest of GTA treasures - a replay feature.
100
Detroit Free Press
This is still a four-star title, though definitely not for children. Just don't expect it to be something you can wave in front of your PS2-playing friends' faces.
100
G4 TV
Like Vice City before it, San Andreas features a superb, period-specific selection of licensed music on its many radio stations. And just like Vice City, said selection does a fantastic job of setting the mood.
100
Into Liquid Sky
The guys at Rockstar have really honed their ability to keep the missions fresh. They've managed to make each mission varied and complex without making them brutally hard.
100
Gamestyle
How can Rockstar follow this? San Andreas is a masterpiece; the outstanding gameplay from the first two games has been extended, tweaked and applied to a fresh, original and fascinating setting. There's more than enough meat to keep you going for months, and the sheer variety of gameplay is bewildering.
100
AceGamez
This is arguably the biggest game ever made, and if you were to complete it 100%, it would take you several hundred hours, I'd estimate 400 to 500 at least.
100
Games Radar
What does make it great is that it actually delivers on nearly everything it promises while still being fun to just pick up and play.
98
Game Informer
A fantastic port of a stellar game. [Aug 2005, p.98]
98
Next Level Gaming
Music and sound are probably the best of any of the GTA series. As much as the 80's tunes in "Vice City" were awesome, the sheer number of tunes and the variety of them are incredible in San Andreas.
97
PGNx Media
The game is incredibly fun. It will surely take up hundreds of hours to even the most casual of gamers.
97
Team Xbox
The sheer scope of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is mind blowing.
96
XboxAddict
I cannot think of a game series that does a better job in the sound department. The voice talent is tremendous.
96
GameZone
Not only is it bigger and better, but it looks and feels so good on the Xbox so if you haven’t already bought this game this is the definitive version to own.
96
Xbox Solution
Gamers will see that the load times are fast, the cut-scenes are well done, and the story is filled with twists that you won't see coming.
96
AtomicGamer
It's still quite possibly the best game ever made, and Rockstar's done pretty much all they could to make San Andreas the best it could be on the Xbox.
95
Extreme Gamer
Bigger and badder then ever.
95
Official Xbox Magazine
It's just that brilliant. [Aug 2005, p.76]
95
IGN
No competitor comes close in content, story, or style to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
94
Inside Gamer Online
Individually, the components of GTA San Andreas are very strong. When combined, though, the total package makes for one of the best gameplay experiences that has been seen in the gaming world in years.
93
Armchair Empire
One of the most incredibly engrossing adventures on any system.
93
Talk Xbox
With its almost unbelievable length, incredible depth, fantastic audio, and just about everything else a good game needs, this game is incontestably worth every penny it costs.
93
Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s not perfect – there’s still the odd gripe here and there, and wheeling the same game engine out for the next instalment would be unforgivable – but SA is easily the most polished instalment of the series to date.
92
Electronic Gaming Monthly
But the move to Xbox feels like more of a formality—you don't really notice the slightly nicer environments, and if ever a game didn't need custom soundtracks, this is the one.
92
My Gamer
Marvelous.
92
Gamezilla!
Another major failing of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the Xbox is the unnatural controller layout, and it's a fault that can't be too heavily attributed to the developers.
92
GameSpot
With its strong story, well-written dialogue, terrific voice cast, impressive graphics, and extremely entertaining and varied gameplay, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a stupendous thrill ride that shouldn't be missed.
92
VGPub
Not everything is so perfect with San Andreas though. First and foremost, the graphics aren’t really Xbox quality.
91
Worth Playing
This is the definitive chapter in arguably one of the most popular game series of all time. If you haven't ever played a Grand Theft Auto game… well, first of all, shame on you, but more importantly, this is the one to get you hooked.
91
Gaming Target
Literally one of the biggest games ever created and it will take you weeks or even months just to see everything it has to offer.
90
Gamenikki
To award a 10 on this well-crafted but by no means revolutionary game would be a disservice to titles that are out there really trying to rewrite our preconceived notions of videogames, but to go for a 9 also seems like lowballing a title that should be a must-own for so many.
90
GamePro
The most balanced version, combining the best qualities of the PC and PS2 games into one well-rounded offering. [Sept 2005, p.53]
90
Game Chronicles
While I still prefer "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" to this title, I will say that this is in no way a lesser offering.
90
Pelaaja (Finland)
Despite the niggles and the fact that the game could be so much more expansive and technically improved on the new platforms, Carl Johnson and his homeboys epic odyssey is something everyone interested in games should check out. [July 2005, p.74]
90
3DAvenue
Rockstar have captured the lifestyle of the streets perfectly, adding a few colourful characters along the way, humour, plenty of cars and things to do, making this a must have title.
90
AltGaming
What San Andreas does is take every element from the previous two games and amplifies it. Everything good about the series has become even better, while the bad aspects have become mind-numbingly dire.
90
Computer and Video Games
It's way more savvy than most movies about gang violence.
90
DarkStation
San Andreas is still San Andreas, and although the visuals failed to impress the gameplay is still as solid and engaging as ever.
90
Cheat Code Central
As you can see, the improvements are basically cosmetic and do not affect the gameplay other than to make it look and sound better. If there was ever a reason to replay the game one more time this is it.
90
WHAM! Gaming
A great game made even greater through its translation to two more powerful platforms. But Xbox owners might be miffed that the long-anticipated improvements are in reality so minimal.
90
Yahoo! Games
By far the biggest game in the series. Gamers who aren't turned off by the nefarious and illegal activities will find this to be one of the most engrossing games ever produced.
90
MS Xbox World
I like San Andreas as it offers so much to mess around with on an unprecedented level.
90
Xbox World Australia
It’s not perfect, and it certainly is beginning to show its age, but the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series is well worth breaking a few laws to acquire!
90
Xbox Evolved
If you already have the PS2 version or you can find the PS2 version for cheaper, your probably better off buying that, as the game doesn’t really take much advantage of the Xbox hardware.
90
Kombo
It can’t quite capture the flavor of the previous two. While nothing could be done with the Xbox version to remedy that, the attempts to add new features to the port like instant replay and custom radio stations fall completely flat.
90
GamerFeed
Although the modifications are great, the game just seems to have some signs of wear and tear with its shift to Xbox. But don't let the minor downgrade fool you. This is still a gangster's paradise.
90
EuroGamer
Divisive though its hip-hop ideology may be, and under-furnished some areas may feel, it still edges close enough often enough to be worthy of one of our highest marks.
90
Total Video Games
Of course there are improvements, the draw distance and lighting models have received subtle enhancements, more importantly the frame-rate maintains a smoother pace throughout.
88
Xequted
With only the control system as a let-down, San Andreas still delivers a quality experience you simply can’t find anywhere else.
86
TotalGames.net
Xbox owners will always be left with the bitter feeling that this game should have been so much more on their console.
85
GameBiz
There is the slight hint that it may need a bit of a fresh direction if the GTA series is not to become just another set of endless and ever-increasingly bland sequels.
85
PALGN
The best GTA experience and the best open-ended console gameplay experience you can have offline.
85
1UP
The experience is still amazing... and that the gameplay is still really, really broken in many areas. Each new port brings with it a handful of new features, yet none of them are anything more than mere tweaks.
80
Boomtown
It's good, and will hold your interest, but with some slightly frustrating controls that aren't customisable, driving Duke owners to desperation, or a new controller S (effectively making it into a £55 game) it's only really slightly improved over the PS2 version.
78
Gamer's Hell
An absolute blast to play, if you can forgive it for not offering anything especially new to the franchise, and only if you can truly invest the time that it requires.
75
Play Magazine
There's a ton of mission variety, but whatever your pleasure, you're going to be doing a lot of driving to specified points on the map and entering a lot of red circles to initiate a lot of scripted events. [Aug 2005, p.48]
The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 51 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Read more user comments...
Discuss this game in our forums |