Learn to fly Carl, learn to fly... Grove Street for life... The sunset as you drive that beat up old VW over the hill, the smell of burning weed filling your senses as you cruise to Freebird... Something special was injected into every copy of this game...

What is there to say? This game is a beast.
Even today, the amount of content it offers rivals many full fledged releases- and much of it rates highly- perhaps not in finesse, but definitely in the fun factor. If you don't like the shooting, you'll probably like the driving, if you don't like the main missions: be a taxi driver, race motorbikes, put out fires, play dress-up...
If you can't find something fun to do in GTA:SA, something's wrong. And not with the game.
Fine, some of the controls are less than intuitive, some of the missions are pretty tedious, and Carl takes some getting used to. But it will be a long time before you can't just pick up this game, jack something fast, and feel like you're really going somewhere. And this transcends demographics- from hard-core gamers, to lazy stoners, this game has plenty of appeal.
Impressive.… Expand

One of the best games I've ever experienced!! Congratulations to the rockstars game team!

I own GTA: San Andreas and I am happy. It is always fun and you never lose interest and there is so much to do. Its wide open space gives lots to explore. Very creative and entertaining, a must buy for all Xbox owners.

Wow......

Excellent game. Live the life of a Gangsta in the hood.

Great game just needs to be longer.

Awesome!!!

I've only played this game for 2 days now, but will say that its probably one of the best games Ive played on the Xbox. Brings back memories of my Vice City days. The map is huge and graphics are awesome. Definitely a well spent purchase and highly recommended.

It always make me depressed to see the lack of objectivity in reviews of big game franchises. Like the rest of the GTAs, this one is a very good game but its by no means perfect. There is a lot I like about this game but to keep this as short as possible, I'll concentrate on where improvements are needed. For me, the real problem with this iteration of GTA is that it's scope and ambition, while being one of its major strengths, are also its downfall in some respects. The game tries so much and succeeds admirably in some areas, but fails in many others. For this reason it feels very hit and miss at times. For example, we have a new aiming system but the aiming controls are terrible - using the white and black buttons to change targets is simply too fiddley; and why can't I look directly behind when driving (especially if I'm being chased) or admire the view in first person mode? It's as though they simply ran out of buttons. Workable controls are the basis of a good game. The games also still contains a lot of old niggles which should have been ironed out by now - for example why the heck can't I park a car somewhere and be sure it won't have disappeared when I return to the spot later (perhaps it's been stolen)? I also agree with the criticisms made of the game save system. A quick save feature is probably needed now that the game world is so big. There are plenty of other ways to be penalised for failing a mission and it's incredibly annoying to have to go through some long missions again from the beginning (particularly if failing the mission was for reasons beyond the player's control). Graphically the game again suffers from its own ambition, which has led me to the conclusion that GTA might really come to life on the next gen systems. There was a fairly significant improvement in the Xbox version of Vice City, but apart from a slightly better frame rate I'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between the PS2 version of San Andreas and this one. The vehicles and scenery details (e.g grass) block in horribly late in places for example, which affects gameplay at times - I can't shoot something I can't see. While good graphics don't make a game they do help to cement the impression of a believable game world in this type of game. Despite all this its a fine game and a series, if Rockstar would start to address some of the fundamental flaws before launching the next cash cow on the world, that really could be one of the highlights of the next gen (if the hype is to believed and the machines are finally up to the task of matching the ambition of the game).… Expand

Whoever down below said this game needs to be longer needs to actually PLAY this game and stop whining about something you have never tried. And play through everything, not just the missions you casual gamer. Saying this game needs to be longer is like saying Legendary on Halo 2 needs to be harder. This is the biggest game ever made outside of The Elder Scrolls 3 and has some of the best gameplay elements from many genres put together to give everyone something to have fun with. The graphics, control's, A.I., draw distance, textures and framerates have been improved upon in the PS2 version, making this one of the best game purchases an Xbox owner could make so far this year. Other than HL2 coming out later, GTASA on Xbox along with SCCT and UC2 WILL BE the games in the runnings for Xbox game of the year. If anyone thinks this game needs to be longer or bigger, I suggest you actually play the damn thing and stop lying.… Expand

WTF is Jon and Daz talking about.This game is awsome.Not perfect,but near it,and sure as hell is worth your money$$$$$$

Yes, it's essentially the same as the PS2, but the x has a huge advatage -- that's the analog triggers. It's not a button for the gas, it's a trigger that much closer allows you a "gas pedal". This along with the better graphics are a big plus. Graphics off in the distance are drawn a lot sooner, a lot farther away. It lets you drive better than the PS2. Yes, there are still problems. It's not perfect, but no game is. GTASA is still the largest, most open, most dynamic game ever created for console. Maybe some MMORP is bigger, but this isn't swords & dice. If you have it for PS2 already, you're probably used to those controls. Don't bother for just the replay mode; save your $50. It's the same game. If you haven't indulged in this game before, you are really, really missing out. Back to the 'hood, 1992 style. Keep Bangin', Big Balla.… Expand

This is the first GTA game I've ever played, and I can see what all the hype is about. The world is huge beyond what I expected, and there are constantly new things to do. It was easy to get lost in this complex world for hours on end, do to the sheer variety of things to do. Unfortunately, the incredible mass of content is probably the reason for a few of the game's flaws. For instance, whenever you die during a mission you have to start from the very beginning. Some of the missions are long and consist of a lot of driving from place to place, making it frustrating at times. You also lose all of your weapons, which is a rather extreme penalty for failing a mission. Maybe I'm too used to RPGs, where you often keep your hard-earned gear after death, or at least have a chance to reclaim it. Finally, some of the controls need could have used polishing. This particularly applies to flying vehicles. There was one flying mission fairly early in the game that was almost impossible due to the controls. This was more difficult than some of the game's final missions. GTA was an excellent game (better even than the over-hyped Halo 2 IMO), it could have been even better if the developers had taken the time to fix some flaws. On the PS2 version these flaws were acceptable, but should have been fixed for the Xbox and PC, especially because a lot of people seem to complain about them.… Expand

OK OK i think my last review may have been a little harsh. Since posting the review i've tried the game again and really got into it now. I think the problem was that the first 10 to 15 missions were relatively boring but as soon as the action goes west or north then the missions are so much better. This game will NOT be going back to the shop for a refund.

they still havent improved on using weapons, when multiple enemies aproach you from different direction while pressing right trigger to draw your weapon and then press B button to fire , it locks on to a target, and then after you killed one of the five enemies approaching you the aiming swings badly to diff. direction wildly, from auto-target to manual aiming , doesnt anyone else gets pissed when this thing happens( it also happens often when other gang member tries to beat you up with melee combat, being beaten onesided even when your down they still beat you up, also works other way around when you beat them up) it still rely on old school shooting which by the way was so 2001, it already passed the days of it glorious g.t.a3 (move on, for gods sake those days were fargone already, many games already improve the controls for shootings yet g.t.aS.A still suffering from previous gta syndrome. Lets talk about the new stuff in San Andreas, muscle , during the beginning of the game i go to the gym everyday to built up those biceps and i did built it up to maximum limit, but when i explored the game it didnt really changed how you play the game. it more of a gimmick thing even the gaining of respect does not really affect how you play the game. The explorations in the game though is so massive finding oysters,photos, horshoe will take a whole month or two , to have the 100% of the game, thats about the only compliment i can give. It still a very flawed game glitches from ps2 version is still there , draw distances still suffers, heavy slowdown during the fog effect during changes of weather, they put volumetric shadows on the character and cars which added to the slowdown during gameplay. Look at the explosions in merceneries, g.t.aS.A could have been better with the weapons and game engine of merceneries. It was flawed and frustratingly difficult game begging to played with a cheat code and strategy guide(they should fire whoevers in charge of weapons and aiming) The coffe mod is both lame and useless. the dumb australians thinks its pornographic, it wont even be categorized into softcore. while terminator 2 s violent nature is ok( by the way theres also a sequence in the G.t.aS.A) theres also an appearance of tommy vercetti in farewell my love mission. Anyway the game is fast becoming cartoon violence, other games flourish with the latest game engines, while g.t.aSA suffers on bad engine.… Expand

Phenomenal this game is Awesome n Crazy in a good way.The freedom that you have is very cool.Plus the features in this game (working out,eating,go to barber shop,)feels like you are in a real life situaiton fighting your rivals to take control over the land and to gain respect is just phenomenal.Every GTA fan or better said everyone needs to play this REAL GTA GAME.

All i have to say is good game.

Awesome game just about pefect. Cant wait till xbox 360 comes out and we see this kind of game with photo relestic grafix.

Graphics could have had abit more of a boost for the xbox but this is still the best current generation game by miles. bring on the xbox 360!!!

I thought it was a decent game but I like others a lot more. To me this GTA stuck out because every other GTA game is with the mob and real gangs. This one is all about street gangs that nobody has heard of.

Another Nostalgic Review by Me. The Joy. Ok, so I first got this game at Christmas 2005, and almost spunked my prepubescent pants. I was 12, and this game is an 18; I know right, what were my parents thinking? Now I murder taxi drivers in my free time, and shout the word **** at the end of every sentence in every day speech. ****. Satire aside, GTA SA was the second GTA game that I had ever played; the first being GTA 3. The game is set in a fictional trio of cities (all of which I forgot) in which gang activity is rife. You take on the role of literary genius and ex gang member CJ, who gets thrown back into the world of gang violence the second he visits home for a funeral. The story see's CJ progress through some outrages missions and tasks as he rises from petty criminal to rich mass murder, and along the way, meeting a colourful cast of characters traditional to the GTA series. I must say, I liked CJ as a character, as he seemed like the only character who realised that everything in this gameworld is batshi* crazy. In addition to that, he isn't a monotonous hard nut that you would find in most action games today. Aside from the story, there are plenty of missions to do just for a giggle or two. One set of missions, which was my personally favourite see's you recreate Ocean's 11 in a much more brutish manner. Joy. These all add to the massive 25 hours of gameplay. Another gameplay element that make the game such mindless fun, is the vehicle handling (and what you can do with it, a little creativity, and some satchel charges). However, there are a few issues I take with the game; namely the control assignment. In a game where the difficulty curve gets quite steep in later missions, it helps to have a robust combat system that works. The auto aiming works perfectly well in this type of game, where there is just too much going on to have the ability to differentiate from a gangster and an assortment of explosions, fires and corpses et cetera; but why the fork would you assign the aiming button to that which is traditionally the button to shoot, and why would you then assign the button to shoot to a button on the d-pad, when the thumb that is used for this task, is needed elsewhere; Namely the right analogue stick, to navigate the camera, to make moving through the chaos easier. You don't even get the option to change the controls. Regardless, I finished the game and it's ending was very good. One of my favourite sandbox games of all time and definitely worth buying, even in it's old age.… Expand

You will suffer a ton of cheap deaths through out and a few missions are rather frustrating but overall, The satisfying gameplay and storyline make is worth checking out.