Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

 Xbox
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Image
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 58 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 146 Ratings

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  • Summary: 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 goFive 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. … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 58
  3. Negative: 0 out of 58
  1. Detroit Free Press
    100
    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.
  2. Gamestyle
    100
    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.
  3. GameZone
    96
    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.
  4. VGPub
    92
    Not everything is so perfect with San Andreas though. First and foremost, the graphics aren't really Xbox quality.
  5. Computer and Video Games
    90
    It's way more savvy than most movies about gang violence.
  6. GamePro
    90
    The most balanced version, combining the best qualities of the PC and PS2 games into one well-rounded offering. [Sept 2005, p.53]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Play Magazine
    75
    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]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 58 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. bradtheman123
    Jun 12, 2014
    10
    This game really brings back some good memories. What I liked the most about this game was that there was so much you were able to do. LikeThis game really brings back some good memories. What I liked the most about this game was that there was so much you were able to do. Like jetpacking around the city or, just going on a complete rampage against the cops. The graphics part of the game were basically amazing because it looked so real at the time and it looked like you were literally in an entire new world (which you kind of were in). It was by far one of the best in the GTA series, and if not the best. The newer ones like GTA5 are still really fun and amazing, and have a lot better graphics (At the time). But I still feel like San Andreas brought back better memories. This game was something very, very special.… Expand
  2. JakeP.
    Jul 3, 2006
    10
    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 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.… Expand
  4. LongSlayer
    Jul 27, 2014
    10
    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas takes the series to a whole new level. All of the missions are exciting and action packed and some are a bitGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas takes the series to a whole new level. All of the missions are exciting and action packed and some are a bit more challenging. The characters are well done each with a unique personality. The biggest aspect of San Andreas is the amount of activities outside the missions. There are so many things to do like racing, buying new clothes and property, turf wars, and just exploring the entire state. It's impossible to get bored from this game even if you have it 100% complete. It was amazing when it came out, it's amazing now, and it will be as amazing in years to come.… Expand
  5. BustaCapInIT
    Jun 10, 2005
    9
    Excellent game. Live the life of a Gangsta in the hood.
  6. evolution98
    Nov 12, 2017
    9
    One of the most influential and overrated video games of all time.

    Here is why: The graphics: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City had the best    One of the most influential and overrated video games of all time.

    Here is why:

    The graphics: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City had the best looking graphics so far of the series. When this game came out, the character models and environment looked so ugly. The graphics were just terrible. On this version the environment, textures for buildings, cars, reflections and character models look somewhat better but that's not saying much.

    The soundtrack: As much as I love this game, the soundtrack just couldn't match the perfection of Vice City. The best radio stations are K-DST, Radio Los Santos and Radio X. The rest are all disappointing.

    The sound is really low just like Vice City and 3 on the Xbox. It just wasn't right.

    The voice acting is fantastic and comes from some of my favorite actors like Samuel L Jackson, James Woods and Peter Fonda. Vice City had more noticeable star-power and fit the game better.

    Other great things about the game: The RPG elements in the game were fun for the most part, it had much more interact-ability than Vice City perhaps too much, it gave us the swim ability for the first time, better fighting mechanics, customization for cars and CJ, gang wars, burglaries, a plethora of mini games and side missions, importing cars, more property assets to buy and a LOT of collectibles to find.

    The combined world of Los Santos, Las Venturas and San Fierro was amazing to explore and so cool. It captures the real world areas of Las Vegas, Los Angeles and California to perfection. The story is so good, you will want to play the game over and over like Vice City and GTA 3.

    The difficulty curve is slightly better than GTA 3.

    The things I can't stand about the game is the emphasis on collectibles in the three cities to unlock weapons, stats and money. The games before San Andreas did it way better by just having one main set of collectibles. The controls aren't great on this version and the interact-ability with the environment and buying properties is very expensive, time consuming and tedious. Money is a big problem which will occur when you get through half of the game to buy properties to progress. The girlfriend activity is fun but will get very annoying quickly.

    Overall it's a fantastic game but I love Vice City more.    … Expand
  7. KyleM.
    Jun 25, 2005
    9
    WTF is Jon and Daz talking about.This game is awsome.Not perfect,but near it,and sure as hell is worth your money$$$$$$
  8. AlecB.
    Sep 25, 2006
    5
    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 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.… Expand

See all 31 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Xbox Game of 2005
17
#17 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2005
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2005