Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (1 Viewer)

[LaMarcus]

I was really hyped to play this game but it's only on PS2 and

That reason alone will help me to keep my patence until a xbox version comes out, I can't stand the way 480i games look on my tv. Only problem is when Halo 2 comes out, I don't see me playing anything else for a looooooong time. This game will be a platinum hit by the time I stop playing Halo everyday and night. (I really am into Halo if you can't tell.)

 

[Richard_T]

One thing I noticed though is that they've gone back to using the "smoothed over" graphics that Vice City had and allot of gamers hated. In VC there was a way to shut it off but this game doesn't. Has anyone found a way? I also find the game kinda dark. Brightness-wise that is. I've set the brightness completely up in the game and it still is had to see CJ when he gets his hair cut. Anyone else notice this?

 

[Jim Tressler]

yep.. I noticed it too.. fairly dark compared to vc

 

[Richard_T]

Come on now, Jim and I can't be the only two to notice this are we?

 

[Steve Y]

Yeah - this game is darker than GTA:VC. There is a brightness setting in the game itself, but I haven't really played with it (hasn't really been a problem for me yet).

First off: it's more of the same. Yes. Graphics are better, gameplay is deeper, ... everything is better. But it's still 3D GTA. Right? Right.

Now, OK: is this thread about xbox/h2/hl2, or is it about the awesomeness that is GTA: San Andreas? C'mon, someone else on HTF has to be as enthusiastic as I am about this game. It's all I've played for the past few days. Considering how large the game is, it's shocking how good it looks on the PS2 (I sympathize with you big-screeners, I really do)... with barely any load times whatsoever... I know we're used to Fable and Halo 2, but that's just not possible here, so: what's left?

No one has mentioned the story itself. I find it far more personalized and involving than the previous GTA games. The language is harsher (this one especially is not for kids) but it fits the characters and situations completely. The acting is top-notch... there's a lot of subtlety here. You still have those jangly GTA human figures, but all the movements are refined.

The AI is so much better. You can actually converse (limited) with people on the street. I was jogging on a path near the planetarium-looking place, and someone pulled up alongside me and said, "haven't I seen you at the gym?", so I pressed the left d-pad and said something not-very-nice in return. So they started chasing me down the path, wanting to fight! And has anyone tried to harrass the dancers in the club? (hint: don't) ... and can you believe that bumblebee arcade game in the bar? And the DDR-style rhythm dance-a-thon at the club...?

You often see cops chasing other cars and getting into firefights, which you can choose to join or not... I passed a flaming wreck on the freeway and stopped to gawk, and a big red firetruck pulled from the on-ramp and sprayed a stream of water at the car to put out the fire. (these mechanics were featured somewhat in VC)

I also decided to go for a swim after seeing the casino pyramid in the distance at the north end of Los Santos, across the sound (the bridge was out)... so I took several minutes to swim all the way there, got up on the dock, congratulated myself on cheating the game, then walked two steps and was gunned down asassination-style by a line of policemen waiting for me: "don't try to run!"

I also swam with dolphins in the ocean, who jerked and swam away when I touched them -

And commandeered the railroad, sending it faster and faster until it started coming off the tracks and separating... it turned over in the tunnel, so I climbed out of the wreck and was instantly mauled by the freight cars, which due to momentum were still flying out of control down the track, sparks flying.

There's a lot here to discover - the draw-in and framerate issues are there, but they rarely bother me. I'd say the 9.9 at IGN is a bit much, but 9.6 isn't kissing anyone's butt.

s!

 

[Ike]

Steve, a lot of my thoughts exactly.

To add to the swimming across and getting gunned down, I hopped the fence at the airport, jacked the jet (very cool), then set off for Vegas (or whatever it's called). After crossing the border, I saw an airstrip, so I was going to land, but I got 4 stars, and a couple of jets came and shot me out of the sky.

I think the graphics are drastically improved over GTA:VC. There's a bit of slowdown and pop-up, but it isn't a bad looking game by any stretch.

I like the country-Willie Nelson blairing as I drive-by people on a tractor. Good stuff.

The levels are so huge. I'm still not out of Los Santos and it already feels much larger than Liberty City. I just hope towards the end there isn't any great backtracking or required memorazation of the maps.

 

[Jim Tressler]

Wow.. sounds like I have a lot to do!! I have only played for about an hour and only have done two missions - but your are right.. it is cool, lots more to do.. One question - I read somewhere there is supposed to be an earthquake explaining why the bridges and stuff are out?? I have not explored much beyond the hood yet.

The game is dark even with the brightness setting in the game all the way up - and looks like "crap" on a 51" rptv with the ps2 component output - I think I may move it up to the 35" tv today just to try it. One thing I did notice is that is appears to support widescreen as on the rptv circles and things seem normal in 16:9.

jim

 

[Todd_B]

^It does in fact support 16:9. Go into the options and under (IIRC) Display you can switch it.

I've done nothing w/CJ but up his stats and cause general mayhem

Todd B

 

[Nick Sievers]

I just got it today, I have only done about half a dozen missions but mostly i've just been working on CJ's stats and exploring a bit. This is so much better than the previous GTA games, everything just feels so much more refined. Swimming and Climbing are two of the best improvements but i'm really liking the new fighting system as well.

This one will probably cause more of a shit storm in the media than the other games as well, it really earns the Mature rating. I wasn't expecting that many uses of the word 'fuck' and some of the violence seems more brutal this time around, my personal favorite is coming up behind someone and slitting their throat. I can see myself spending many many hours on this one.

My only gripe so far is not being able to use the D-Pad for driving, i've always found it hard to steer with the PS2 analog sticks.

 

[Ike]

The new violence system seems to be a slightly toned down version of the system from Manhunt, minus the executions. Getting close to someone causes the reticle to lock on their head, and it's one shot one kill. In Manhunt this would have blown the person's head off, but in SA, they just die. However, if you get a shotgun, targeting someone's head will cause it to explode like a beautiful melon. I was actually kind of surprised that the chainsaw didn't seem to dismember this time around.

The one thing that I fault the game for is not more clearly explaining how to do stuff. This makes it where six or seven hours in I'm still discovering new things, but it makes the game world that much more overwhelming. It told me early on I could now run a three person gang. Only later did I find out how to do that, by accident.

And the betting and clubs not being on the radar means that you have to find them, and remember where they are, or unfold the gigantic poster that came with the game and track them down.

I have a sex appeal meter-does this mean CJ can have girlfriends? Or is this strictly a prostitute sex appeal thing? How do I get a girlfriend? The game hasn't laid this out yet, but maybe it will later on.

 

[LaMarcus]

This is just a way for them to make you buy a damn strategy book.

 

[Sam Posten]

NUMBER ONE TIP I CAN GIVE IF (LIKE ME) YOU CANT SEE THE BLIPS ON THE RADAR.


You dont need them anyway and the blips immediately become viewable.

Sam

 

[Steve Y]

The game is fairly good about very slowly introducing you to new modes of gameplay so you won't get overwhelmed. Only when you spend time with the game and advance do you realize how much of an advance it is. I like that I have stumbled across certain awesome abilities and areas by accident ... it's that sense of "discovery" that makes this series so fun. Has anyone played the level where you're gunning down the Russians on the back of Smoke's motorbike? And then the big truck suddenly crashes down through the bridge, T2 style... just awesome.

The targeting system has improved finally to the point where I look forward to gunning missions rather than dread them.

Interestingly enough, the mission that I've found the most difficult so far is "beach party"... I've never been good at those sorts of games. (I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't played it)

s

 

[Rob Speicher]

Yes, you can have girlfriends. I know of one so far, that you get from doing the requisite missions on the first island. You pick her up to go on a date and she wants to do a drive-by , and when it's over you get a "Relationship Progress" meter.

Also, in front of her house is a Man-and-Woman icon, like bathroom signs, and I quickly read a tooltip that said to insert a second controller in the PS2. I don't have one, but maybe there's a limited co-op available in the game?

 

[Ike]

There is. One of these items can be found in Pershing Square, near the water fountain. It's a Kill 15 people in 3 minutes mini-game. Anyone found any others around?

 

[Mike Sogge]

Free-Roam 2-player icon:

Start at the Johnson house. Take Grove Street west, passing under the two over-passes. Just after the 2nd over-pass, hang a right into the dead end block. In the courtyard of the last building on the west side, there is a 2-player Free-Roam icon.

 

[Rob Silver]

I've been playing this game almost every night, but slowly. I do a lot of side missions in between the main plot. Finished Smoke's last mission last night. I love the russian mofia chase scene w/ CJ riding the bike and shooting the pursuers on bikes.

Re: the darkness. Are you guys still in Los Santos or have reached San Fierro already? 'Cause the former's suppose to be smog filled all the time, which could lead to the overall darkness of the game.

Here's a little extra I typed up for all you hardcore PS2 gamers.

From the GTA:SA official strategy guide.

Two player missions are scattered throughout the game. Walking into a 2-player symbol makes a text message appear in the top-left corner of the screen. Then to start a 2-player game, press any button on controller 2. There are two types of 2-player games, 2-player Missions (double skulls) and the 2-player Run-Around (double red stickmen).

2-Player Missions
- Rampage - Pershing Square, Los Santos
- Bike - Montgomery, Red County
- Cars - China Town, San Fierro
- Helicopter - Los Payasadus, Desert
- Pedestrians - The Camel's Toe, Las Venturas
Details: Missions are basically all rampages. In addition, when 2 players are facing each other, they can kiss each other by pressing the L1 button.

2-Player Run-Around
- Los Santos - Idlewood
- Las Venturas - Royal Casino
- San Fierro - Kings
- Desert - El Quebrados
- Red County - Dillimore
Details: The 2nd player can change his character model by tilting the left analog stick left or right. If you have any of the 6 girl friends, they become available as character for the 2nd player. That's 6 more characters!

 

[Anthony Connor]

Great game.

I have been playing for over 50 hours and I just unlocked the second island.

You don't get a lot of money in the earlier missions, but money is not a problem. I have over 100 million in the bank Thanks to the gambling

Just about everything in the game can be used. There is even a paracute located through out the "state" and you can jump out of planes or "Base jump" off buildings.

I can't wait until I get to the flying missions, but I am taking my time. Besides I can fly the dodo anytime I need, thanks to jumping the fence at Los Santos.

This game rocks.

 

[Bryan_ZZ]

GTA Coming to Xbox this summer:

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041216/165815_1.html

 

[Chris Bardon]

Well, now I know what I'll be doing June 7!