Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Last year, the continually ground-breaking folks at Rockstar Games shattered all of the competition by launching the newest edition of the Grand Theft Auto dynasty-- for the Playstation 2. Those lucky enough to have the PS2 system have been able to tour the cities of San Andreas with their imagination being their guide. Sure, there's a cavalcade of missions to accomplish, but you can spend hour after hour just exploring the seemingly endless domain that makes up the world of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Up until now, if you didn't own a PS2, you either had to borrow/rent one or just pretend it didn't interest you. Coming very soon, those of us with a decent PC will be able to assume the role of the pursued Carl Johnson and submerge ourselves in the experience that's swept the world of gaming.

Not just any game, the GTA series is loved and equally despised for its impact on society. To some, its a great single-player action adventure in which you can make your own fun and do some crazy stunts while fulfilling a mission. To others, it's "that cop-killing game that should be banned and not allowed to be seen by children". To the latter crowd, I have to say: There's a clear rating on the game. If you don't want it in the home, don't let it in the home. To the (responsible) rest of us, hang on for your life-- this game got better in the transformation from platform to PC.

If you have a slower or otherwise wimpy system, here's your excuse to get the beef and upgrade. What you liked about it on PS2 has not been tampered with at all. If you wanted just a little extra-- along with some more personal control-- you got it. As good as it is, the Playstation 2 has its limitations. With a good PC, the amazing world in San Andreas gets even better.

There, in the heart of the Big Apple, a select few of us were given a sneak peek at the infamous GTA title from last year. Only this time, high above the city in a swanky complex, Rockstar Games let us experience the new rendition of GTA: SA-- on some nice Alienware computers. Along with excellent hospitality and great New York pizza, the main event was The game. Yes, the game is almost identical in most ways. Rather than tempt fate and reinvent the wheel, Rockstar stayed with what was working and made it a little better. With the expandability allowed with a PC, you can now make it more "personal", as well as appreciate better graphics-- though most things are subtle to the casual gamer.

The rest of us will notice more dust, shimmering water and almost three-dimensional close-ups. The shadows move as they should, and the various vehicles have their own personalities with realistic damage effects. When the sun cuts across the top of a building, you want to reach for your sunglasses out of habit. The music stations can be changed with a simple key-stroke which allows you to not miss a beat of the action. There is a ton of tunes to be enjoyed. Whatever your mood, they've got it covered-- right down to talk radio. Rockstar has a team that is assigned solely with the duties of creating this audio odyssey. They've even got humorous, fake commercials thrown in-- if you get a chance to stop and listen. If their mixed bag leaves you bored, you can inject your own MP3 selections from your own collection; even creating your own goofy commercials that will play when appropriate. This kind of tweak grants you control over a huge portion of the experience.

Being up close and having your nose inches away from the action further draws you in to a world that was already absorbing. After a few hours of play, I was exhausted-- but in a good way. Spending the same amount of time on the PS2 does not have the same effect. If you're several feet away with your feet up and "too comfy", you don't know what you're missing. Though that may be comfortable. I assure you it does not draw you in nearly as much as having to be so close to the action. There are various places to save the game, and a hot key (F1) for instant replay.

The gameplay has some issues here and there. I did not care for using the mouse for motion. When I tried to drive with the mouse, the physics just didn't feel right. I felt like I was not making contact with the road... as if on ice or hovering. A simple switch to arrow-keys and using the mouse for camera angles solved that problem. Once I did that tweak, I was off and (literally) running (though we did not try it, you can jack in your own control pad and use that in lieu of the mouse/keyboard method). I also witnessed some odd graphical glitches that are typical in pre-release. One fellow that I knocked out seemed to melt into the sidewalk-- leaving only 75% of his body showing. Also, I was the first (and only??) one to crash a system just by changing the radio station. Again, things that can be expected prior to final release. We entered some cheat codes to enable some more options, and the world of Carl Johnson grew even more. Unlimited weapons and a fat stash of cash enabled me to do a lot of things that would have taken many (more) hours to obtain. It was just fun to see what could be done "if".

San Andreas for the PC shines more than I thought possible. It was a great game before, but with the power and flexibility that a PC offers, the best gets even better. You can really engross yourself in the game more than ever. You may be having too much fun to enjoy the wisps of dust or the sight of wavy heat coming off the pavement, but you will find other things to make you stop and smile. The tour is endless (except the water!), and I personally had the most fun in the country, which now takes on a golden or purple look-- depending on the weather and time of day. It was great to hop on a chopper and just take off for the rolling hills and bushes. The environment always followed you. If you're in the country, you'll see tractors and trucks. If in Vegas, you're going to see rocket bikes and snazzy cars reminiscent of Miami Vice. It all fits, and fits well.

There's plenty to enjoy, and hours of fun with a high replay value. Still, I would love to see them expand on it with some expansion packs, but I'm not sure if they want to go that route.  Until then, this is plenty of awe-inspiring visual fun with custom tailored flair. Unlike the PS2 version, this is YOUR game. Personalize it and share your creations with others online. It's a whole new game-- without changing the excellent core that made it famous. For the record, Mr and Mrs Consumer, I did not kill any cops! Congratulations, Rockstar. Keep 'em coming............