Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar North wisely recognizes that among all of its games' most memorable characters--Tommy Vercetti, 8-Ball, and all the rest--the biggest stars, both literally and figuratively, have been the cityscapes in which your criminal hi-jinks take place. Think back on your experience with previous games and you'll first recall the New York-style back alleys of Liberty City or the multicultural flair of the Miami-like Vice City. The Grand Theft Auto games are defined by style, and the urban landscape is a crucial element--perhaps the crucial element--that defines this style.
For its next instalment in the vaunted crime drama series, Rockstar is thinking big--real big. As you may know, the developer isn't stopping at one city, because you'll be able to explore three of them (not to mention the countryside in between them) as you make your way through the fictionalized California that is San Andreas. All told, the game world is purported to be five times the size of Vice City, and we wanted to know all about it. So we've been fortunate to secure new information on the neighbourhoods that will make up Los Santos, the Los Angeles-styled capital city of San Andreas and home to the game's lead character, Carl "CJ" Johnson. From the looks of what we've seen, Los Santos alone could make up an entire chapter in the series on its own, so the fact that there are two more cities yet to be revealed is frankly a little mind-boggling.
So what are the areas that compose Los Santos? In our previous look at the game, we've only seen a small sampling of what this bustling metropolis will offer, but let's take a look at what we know now...
The Grove
Orange Grove, known affectionately to its residents as simply The Grove, is the neighbourhood where CJ grew up, and naturally it will become his home base after he's escaped the mean streets of Liberty City. Not that Los Santos' streets are any less mean, mind you; after all, The Grove is home to the Orange Grove Families, the gang CJ will return to and eventually take control of as he rises to power among the criminal underworld of the city, and eventually, the state. CJ's experience in The Grove will be intensely personal--he returns to a home that's minus one mother and one younger brother, and he'll have to reconcile the loss of his family while running the streets with his older brother Sweet.
Vinewood
Far from the crime-ridden neighbourhood of The Grove is the glamorous, fast-paced lifestyle and the dirty sidewalks of Vinewood. On the Vinewood strip you'll find tourists by the dozens eating up the rich history of this glitzy district. Keep an eye out for such landmarks as the Cathay Theater, the walk of fame, and the famous Vinewood sign, nestled high up in the Vinewood hills. And if you want to visit the real Vinewood aristocracy--and perhaps some prime robbery targets--you can head up into those hills to find the truly impressive mansions and estates of the Vinewood elite. Vinewood's population runs the gamut from the poor and destitute to the rich and famous.
The preceding are just some of the districts of Los Santos. Keep reading to learn about the rest of them--as well as about some brand-spanking-new rapid transit options for navigating between them. Plus, we've got the good word about CJ's inability to instantly drown when he touches water!
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Va5que2
20/07/2008, 07:07 AM
rating
5/10
Codes 4 grand theft auto.
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the man
10/04/2008, 05:24 PM
rating
10/10
im getting it. yay
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jose ortega
04/11/2007, 04:19 PM
rating
9/10
are you selling it
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GTA king
26/01/2007, 05:07 PM
rating
10/10
its an awesom game
Pros: realy addicting
Cons: not enough mods for cars and cars to mod and some levels are a little iratating oh yeah and no SEX
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pasci34
31/12/2006, 03:45 AM
rating
4/10
come on put some cheat codes and by the way gta san andreas is the best game in the world
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JKT84
29/12/2006, 08:29 PM
rating
10/10
If you own only one video game for the rest of your life-- make it this one.
Pros: Incredibly detailed cities
Great Storyline
More stuff to do than you can possibly have time for
Great sound effects/voice acting
Missions are varied and hold your attention
Classic GTA gameplay
Cons: Graphics (which i could care less about) are a bit sub-standard. A few minor glitches appear in PC version.
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GlidingRon
06/11/2006, 11:42 AM
rating
10/10
BEST GAME EVER!!!!
Pros: Big Map, Huge selection of Vehicles
Cons: Cant stop playing it!!!
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14/04/2006, 11:47 PM
twas awsome
i had it and i lost it, never the less it was the best game i ever played!!!
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Womp
09/12/2005, 03:47 PM
oh baby!
GTA: San Andreas is definately the greatest game I have ever played, sure its not for the kiddies and maybe goes over the top sometimes, but this game rocks!!! You totally have the freedom to do what you want; do up your car, play some pool, bet on the dogs, go clubbing,,, its awsome! although perhaps there should be a limit to how much you can keep pounding a guy on the sidewalk after he's dead??
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23/11/2005, 07:58 PM
Best game in the world
GTA SA is the best game ever created, there is so much to explore and so much to do, after you finish the main missions you still have alot of things to do, if you do not have this game then run to the shops and buy GTA: SA right now GO!!!
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