Title: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Developer: Rockstar Games
Genre: 3rd Person Action
Release: October 26th 2004
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC(2005)

I'm fairly sure there isn't one person with a tv or computer in America that hasn't heard about Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto by now. The newest installment in the GTA series is due to release in just a few days, and there is a lot to talk about...

Briefly, Grand Theft Auto started as a 2d, top down shoot em up game, where you ran around and stole cars, plowed into innocent bystanders, tangled with police, and generally broke every law you could.. After Grand Theft Auto 2 gained niche popularity and success with the addition of gang warfare and some new mechanics, Rockstar broke off into the realm of 3d gaming, and created a 3 dimensional 3rd person action/driving game, that was noted for it's free form style of play, and it's emphasis on a virtual world. After Grand Theft Auto 3 proved to be a massive commericial success, Rockstar built upon the concept and success of GTA3, adding new features, new themes, and new mechanics to the already existing framework of GTA3. It was an even bigger success. Rockstar has again decided to push their abilities to the limit, and to capitalize on what has worked in the past, in their work on GTA: San Andreas.

This is one of 2 articles I'll be writing for GTA:SA. In this article I'll be covering what's different about GTA:SA from previous titles, and what Rockstar has added on, or improved on. And holy crap, have they added on to it... In my next article, I'll give my impressions on the game after cracking out on it for hours with friends.


What's the same?

Everything really. The classic framework of GTA3 and up is still there. A 3rd person(capable of 1st person) 3-d graphic city, replete with people, police, gangs, traffic(oh the traffic), radio stations in the car, and on. The game is still very free form in play, with missions providing scripted content. You'll still be able to buy property, store cars, collect guns, ect...There is nothing from the other GTA titles that isn't in San Andreas.



So what's different already!!!

Well...everything really. For readability sake, I'll break it down into the most major points.

WORLD

San Andreas, unlike GTA3 and GTA: Vice City, isn't just one city, or two cities. It's a whole state. There are 3 major cities, and a multitude of smaller communities. The cities are connected by major interstate roads, and the townships by smaller, more local dirt roads(anyone wanna go for a country cruise? mwhahaha). There are corn fields, oceans, and just about every locale from GTA:VC, plus a few more. Each country community is different, with it's own style, norms, and behaviors. The different cultural groups within the cities are distinct and unique from each other(many landscapes and areas in San Andreas are almost identical copies of San Francisco). China Town being distinct from the Haight-Ashbury look alike section(named Hashbury). Just how much bigger is San Andreas than Vice City? The estimate is 5 to 6 times larger. Reports are that it takes 15+ minutes to cross the entire state. I'm not sure huge is an appropriate description. !@#$ huge sounds better. GTA:SA will make more use of the z-axis than any other GTA to date, with a mountain in game standing well over a half mile(relative) in height, complete with steep windy roads perfect for reckless driving.

STORY

In the other 2 3d Grand Theft Auto titles, you played white guys. Both mafioso looking fellas from New York. In GTA:SA, you play CJ, a brother from the city of Los Santos, who escaped gang violence and a deteoriorating life. He returns when he hears his mother is dying, his family iis collapsing, and everything is going to poop. On his way back to Los Santos, CJ is framed by 2 corrupt policemen, and so the game begins. Little bit different than starting out as a thug with orders to set up a crime ring, eh?


RPG ASPECTS

In other GTA games, you just collected stuff. You bought weapons, bought property, stored vehicles there, bought a new track suit. But you never really grew as a character, as an identity. Rockstar has brought many decidely RPG-ish mechanics to GTA: SA. A whole freaking crap load, to be exact.


In GTA:SA, the main character CJ will have a myriad of traits to "work on", that impact gameplay in a significant way. All of these skills work on use based system, where the more you use it, the better it gets.

Gun play is broken up into weapon types, that you have a rating in. The more you use the weapon type, the better you get. Weapons have 6 aspects that you can improve in. Reload time, accuracy, rate of fire, weapon techniques and dual weapon use. Weapon techniques are weapon specific traits that appear as you learn the weapon, like moving and firing, or faster strafing. Dual Weapon use is a skill that CJ may eventually learn.


Physical Traits are important too. First off, CJ will have to eat in San Andreas. If he doesn't, he will lose weight, grow skinny, be weaker in combat, have less stamina....even his CLOTHING will fit different. The reverse is true. You can eat junkfood non stop and become portly, slowing your reaction time, making you pause to catch your breath, as well as making you a bigger target for gun fire! Each piece of food in game has an actual caloric value, so that steak will make you gain weight quickly in large amounts, where as fish and chicken won't so much. But don't worry, you can work off those pounds! There are gyms all over San Andreas where you can work out, and buff CJ up, making him physically tougher. He'll do more damage with his fists, run faster for longer periods of time, and take more damage.

Action traits also require work to improve. Running, while burning calories, trains your max level of stamina. Your ability to swim,(yes SWIMMING, more on this later) gets better the more you do it. Just about everything you can "do" in San Andreas is tied to an invisible skill that is getting better the more you do it.

From what I've read, it's not just as simple as "don't be fat, dont't starve, buff up". Skinny guys run faster, react quicker, but are fragile, and have llittle stamina. Larger guys can take more abuse, have more stamina, but are slower to react and in movement. Rockstar is claiming there are different "builds" you can put together, so maybe you are a skinny gun fighting thug, or a big hulking martial arts master, or a giant kingpin kinda guy. Up to you and how you play, so they claim.

INTERACTING WITH THE ENVIROMENT

Swimming... I've waited 2 whole GTA titles for a gangster that could freakin swim. Rockstar has finally heard my and other's pleas. CJ can swim in San Andreas, and not just simple floating on the surface and paddling along.There are multiple kinds of strokes and manuevers to help you get around in the water, provided you have the stamina and the skill. But wait, Rockstar cared so much about swimming, they allowed CJ to dive underneath the surface, and swim among the fishes! Your lung capacity is a function of your overall fitness level. By all accounts, Rockstar has paid just as much attention to what lies above the water in San Andreas, as what lies below, so expect there to be reasons to go for a swim.

Climbing is another feature new to the Grand Theft Auto line up. To what extent it goes to, I don't really know. The information I've read describes climbing over shipping crates to sneak up on people(more on that later hahaha), so we at least know it plays some part in the game.

Carjacking gets a facelift too in SA, where many of the victims will struggle and fight you, requiring you to "convince" them your need is greater.


VEHICLES

While the list of known "types" of cars isn't that huge, San Andreas brings new kinds of vehicles to the game.

Bicycles...BMX bikes to be exact. The are operated by using 2 buttons to run the pettles. CJ gains proficiency in riding a bike, as it is a skill, and will enjoy increased handling, better fall recovery, and more responsive controls the more he rides it. He can preform specialized stunts and insane stunts on the BMXs as well.

New vehicles include things like 4 wheelers, 4x4 trucks, Semi-Tractor Trailers, Fuel Tanker Trucks(FULL OF FUEL), Trolleys, Combines, and a few others. But what makes all these new vehicles so cool is...

Vehicle Specific Physics. Much work has gone into recreating the actual physics for each vehicle as it relates to the terrain, handling, hang time(hehe), and collisions. 4 cylinders aren't good for getting up 55 degree inclines, massive heavy suspension trucks don't go all that fast on the highway. The vehicle physics of San Andreas reflects that. 4 wheelers have a lower center of gravity, and handles differently than an Isuzu, and the engine reflects that. So expect that Semi to jack knife like a semi. Expect that hatchback econo car to corner like one. Expect the super expensive hot rods to handle the way they should.

Vehicle continuity is something most GTA players don't really consider. In my experience, vehicles in GTA are meant to be driven at top speed, everywhere, til they blow up. They are best used as battering rams, all the time. In SA however, vehicles don't just get damaged. They get dirty if you drive it through the neighbor's lawn, or through the park. If you don't take dirty cars to the car wash, they rust. If they rust, they break easier. Bullet holes remain in the body til you get it fixed. Vehicles in San Andres can be disposable, or maintained, depending on your preferance.

Nitrous Oxide also makes it way into GTA for the first time. GTA has never really been that "fast" of a game, compared to say, Need For Speed.
But reports are that San Andreas achieves that "blinding" level of speed, which makes me all weak in the knees just thinking about it. Not all cars have NOS of course, but you can put have it installed at one of the Auto Shops around town if it qualifies... Did I say you can put stuff on cars? Hrm...


CUSTOMIZABILITY

In the other GTA games, the amount of customization you were allowed was what gun you carried, and in Vice City, a meager selection of outfits.
In San Andreas, Rockstar is ready to blow your mind with what you can do to yourself.

Clothing gets so much more attention in San Andreas. We're not talking "a track suit", "a cop uniform", "a leisure suit". We're talkin basketball jerseys, multiple basketball jerseys. We're talking wife beaters, t-shirts, pimp suits, gang colors, jeans, basketball shoes, sports equipment, and ON. And of course you can buy yourself some BLING. Not only are there different types of clothing, but different BRANDS of clothing. Multiple accessories to go along with your threads...I've no doubt only scratched the surface with what I've mentioned here.

Haircuts range from bald, to afros, to corn rows, and other unique styles.

Tattoos are also included, from gang mottos and logos, old englishscript, to straight up biker tattoos.

You might be asking by this point...why all the focus on buying yourself stuff and playing dress up, other than the obvious? Because it all has a real impact on the game. More on that in a sec, one last thing I wanna talk about.

Customizing Vehicles is another one of those things GTA players have wanted to do forever. And it is our day. There are multiple mechanics around town that specialize in pimping out your ride. Each speciializes in doing a certain kind of car, like making a phat low-rider, a sic import racer, or a dope SUV with 21"s. I'm not sure if all the work you can do is cosmetic or not, but you can put NOS on the thing! Who cares about about engine work, strap that thing up and lets DRIVE! HAHAHA!!!!... Sorry. Anyways, you can paint it up, add graphics, rims, spoilers, bumpers, do custom paint combinations, and on. I guess this means I'll have to mind my driving...nah screw it, granny 60 points, 12' oclock!


THE PEOPLE AND THE AI

People in GTA games usually react to what you DO, not who you ARE. Which was fine for the most part. But Rockstar wanted to take it a step further, to get NPCs to react to the way you dress, your hair cut, your car, you're tatoos, you're weight, your prowess...and they did. All the clothing and customization choices, the physical choices you make, affect how people react to you. They might call you fat, or cower in fear of what you could do to them. They may buddy up to you, or try to put a cap in your ass. Gang colors will set off certain gangs, and police will much more readily identify and harass you with notable gang colors on. It's funny, GTA seems to be doing something Fable and Bluebox tried for 4 years to pull off. But the NPC AI also got a face lift in another area, detection. Previously, enemies knew you were there because the script said so. You've got 5 stars, every cop knows where you are...you're on a mission and all these banditos know exactly where you're coming from....In San Andreas, NPC AI will rely on sound and visual checks to find and detect the player...this allows for a few new ways to play GTA that weren't possible in earlier builds.

The Fuzz in GTA games, or the bad guy AI, has always been brutal, predictable, and easily avoided and undermined. Even when they got tire spikes, helicopters dropping swat teams,, tanks, the FBI and the army, the AI was never really smart or challenging. It was more lethal in an uncoordinated and over the top way. Rockstar has made some changes to the AI, so that now cops will do things like shoot at you from their vehicle, whenever they can. People will duck behind cover to fight instead of just standing there blasting you. The Helicopters won't give up the chase just because an alley looks like a tight squeeze for it to fit through. Motorcycle riders will have figured out they can shoot from the vehicle too.

The gangs are another part of the GTA player wish-list that finally got noticed. "Gangs" before San Andreas consisted of guys who stood around your buildings, wouldn't get mad if you killed them, packed heat, and had some pretty terrible AI. That was pretty much it. In San Andreas, you will be able to to recruit members to your gang, and choose a select number(reports say 3) to join you. They will follow you around, react to threats, and while your driving around, do drivebys while you man the wheel! What are homies for!


COMBAT

Hand-to-hand combat has been spruced up from the Vice City Version as well. There are multiple combat "stances" CJ can take, which will allow him attack moves. These moves can be comboed together to create other attacks. These combinations must be learned from different dojos in the city, where you will choose what attacks you wish to learn...and you'll get to practice them beating the crap out of your sensei in sparing matches.

The targeting system has also undergone a few changes. When using the R1 button to auto target, CJ will first target hostile NPCs. If there are none, he will target the nearest NPC. If there are no npcs period around, R1 takes you automatically to 1st person perspective aiming. In this mode, the game can be played like a 1st person shooter, with the left stick moving you forward, left, right and back, while the right stick controls your look. Should be intresting to see how this game plays as a FPS. The game can still be played exactly the way you are used to in other GTA games.
ALL weapons can autolock on to targets in SA, unlike previous titles. And yes, you can shoot more than one gun out the window of your car. Which guns exactly I'm not sure.

Stealth attacks are also a new additon. Rockstar is the same company that produced the brutal, vicious, and graphic game Manhunt, which focused on stealthing up to your enemies and attacking them from behind for instant kills. San Andreas uses a limited version of this where CJ can stand in shadows, or duck behind objects to avoid NPC's attentions. After slowly sneaking up on NPCs(because they can hear!) when CJ is close enough, he'll shift his weapon to a new position, and you can silently dispatch your enemy. If you sneak up on an opponent with a silenced weapon, your shot will be a killing one.


GRAPHICS

The engine for GTA, while tried and true, has constantly evolved with each new title. San Andreas is no different, and it is pushing what the engine(and my tired ass PS2) is capable of. The console versions of GTA 3 and VC made generous use of vertex and edge blurring to save the frame rate during busy periods. And GTA for the consoles wasn't even that high a resolution to begin with. Rockstar has cranked up San Andreas in virtually all areas. Real time shadows, real time reflections, around 25% more polygons on the screen at one time, and an increased draw distance allowing for more spectacular views, of which San Andreas will have many. Coming from someone who has played GTA for a while, I'm intrested to know how my playstation will deal with this, as I can regularly crash it playing a few hours of GTA VC without dying.


And what do I think?

I'll be honest, I can see why some people thought Vice City, and most GTA games, were not that great of games. I really enjoyed watching GTA games more than I did playing them. It's always been that simplistic, physics driven entertainment that comes from being a racing game(loosely defined as a racing game, more like a crashing game). The AI was always pretty sloppy, the controls rough to say the least, there wasn't A LOT of stuff to do besides the missions and some easter egg hunts, and the graphics were "so so". Many of us forgave these short comings because the games were huge for their time, the driving was fun, and you got to kill stuff in a way no developer ever had the guts to try before...putting as many innocent bystanders in the way as possible.

Anyways. GTA has always had it's good points, and it's weak points. But in this build Rockstar improved on everything, the good and the sub-standard, in this latest title. Nothing was taken away, as so often happens with newer builds of the same game. The rough bed rock of the GTA property has finally been sculpted, after years of reworking and improving the same idea, into a robust, detailed game. The game has enough "superficial depth" to keep people playing it....probably til the next GTA comes out Smile. Suffice to say, I'm pretty damn excited about this one. GTA has been a fall back game for me and my friends since it came out. It looks like San Andreas could be with us for quite a few years, with all that's been added.

It's always good to keep an open, but cautious attitude about games today. Having said that, Rockstar has never put out a product I didn't enjoy. The reports about San Andreas are coming in, and the way the game has changed, yet stayed the same, is blowing my mind. It's goodness, backed by super double goodness. I'm pumped for this game. As I'm sure every censor in the country is.

A little verse, to get people into the spirit of GTA...

Die mutha f******,
Die mutha f******,
Steel steal foo!



Thanks for reading.

Justin "Nenjin" Wheeler
Safehouse Staff Writer


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