The Legendary: Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

GTA San Andreas | Genre: Action | PC Game | {675MB}

San Andreas introduced a number of significant gameplay changes. For the first time, the main protagonist has the ability to swim, thereby rectifying one of the key complaints lodged against previous iterations of the series. This has opened up a number of new opportunities; with several of the game's missions featuring swimming as a critical element.

In addition to this, San Andreas allowed for major character customization. Clothing,hairstyles, and even the build of your character can all be changed, with a greater selection of stores being unlocked as you progress through the game. Players are required to eat food regularly to maintain their health, but eating too much junk food will cause the character will gain weight. This can be avoided by working out in a gym, which also has the effect of improving the character's strength and stamina.

Players are also able to customize their cars. To modify a car, you merely have to take it to a garage that caters to such a type of car, and then select various modifications to be installed. These could include things such as the availability of Nitrous, Hydraulics, as well as some minor cosmetic tweaks, such as the addition of rims and fenders.

In order to make customization of CJ and vehicle usage more valuable, you will slowly improve with different stats. If you use one weapon repeatedly, you will advance your skill level with it. Earning a higher skill level means that you can do more with the weapons you carry. The levels move from Beginner, to Gangster, and finally to Hitman. Generally, getting the Hitman level means that you are able to move while reloading. With some weapons, however, you can also dual wield them, as a bonus for reaching the Hitman level. Dual wielded weapons are much the same as the standard weapons, but with double the firepower. Some special weapons, such as the RPG-7 and the Flamethrower, do not have skill levels, so you cannot advance your abilities with them. Driving cars for long periods of time will increase your driving skill, and this will make vehicles more useful. Higher driver skill levels mean that cars will handle more responsively, and you won’t be fishtailing on a turn as often. Not only this, but a talented driver can also travel at higher speeds. CJ can also improve with his flight abilities, boating, and biking abilities too.

San Andreas added in a ‘girlfriend’ feature, which did not appear in any previous game in the series. This system was somewhat revamped for its second appearance, in 2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV. As you played through the game, you would occasionally meet a character who did not look like any other NPC. Chatting to them, and fulfilling certain criteria meant that you could take them on a date. The different girlfriends all have different criteria; for example: the police officer in the desert town likes overweight men. Once you had found a character to act as a girlfriend, you simply arrive at their home, and take them to where they request. Characters may want to eat, or go out dancing. One of the girlfriends has a request where you simply have to let her kill someone. Once you have completed the criteria, you return the character home, and your relationship with them will increase. Once you reach different milestones you will get different gifts from your chosen girlfriend. For example, getting to 50% will allow you to take their car, and getting to 100% will earn you a piece of exclusive clothing. Once you reach a milestone you will be invited into their house for some ‘coffee’ (see: “Hot Coffee” at the bottom of this wiki for more information).

CJ is a member of the Grove Street Families, one of the various gangs featured in the game. CJ has the ability to recruit fellow gang members who then will follow him to support attacks on enemy gangs. CJ can also instigate gang wars, either by himself or with others, by going to an enemy gang territory and killing three gang members. After doing so, three waves of gangs will spawn one after the other. If CJ defeats all of them, the territory will go under the control of the Grove Street Families. The more territories that are under their control, the more money that is generated.