Almost GTA:SA's 10 year anniversary. Did you like playing as CJ?
The Albatross
Member
You're completely right. A lot to do was made about how huge GTAV's world is and how GTA:SA could fit into it X amount of times, and some such garbage, but even despite that, you are right, GTA:SA's world does feel larger and there is a reason for that: the road design.
GTAV's road design is pretty logical, and there aren't "lost" points of the map... Every part of the map is pretty easy to get to via driving, pretty quickly. now, this is intelligent game design... it cuts down on the amount of pointless driving from A to B and that was a big complaint about GTA:SA... That a lot of the game time is simply spent by the player driving on these long road trips from one corner to another. But, back to GTAV, here is the general map for most of the regions of GTAV.
I've marked with colored stars a bunch of points that the player usually finds himself beginning in. And then with similarly colored arrows I've marked roads that allow the player to get to the further regions of the map very quickly. The one in particular to point out is the Red star in the heart of downtown Los Santos, and then the red arrows pointing to that single road. That road is a 2 - 4 lane road that leads directly out of Downtown Los Santos directly into blaine county, a "remote" part of the world map. If you follow the road, you notice that of course, it jogs to the left when you are in Blaine County and that might take a while to drive around... But, I used the anchor arrow to point to a very obvious off-road portion... you can generally maintain a high speed, and go off-road where that anchor arrow is, and that takes you directly into the Grand Senora Desert where Trevor's air port is, and right into Sandy Shores, where a lot of missions begin for Michael and Trevor. This road alone cuts down what could be a very long drive (say, 5-10 minutes) into maybe 90 seconds (give or take, I could be off here I haven't played in ~6 months).
There are a few other stars that I've highlighted and paths that lead out. The highway design is also very logical so you can get from most parts of Los Santos to other parts of Los Santos and Blaine County in 2 - 3 minutes instead of maybe 20+ minutes. The availability of on ramps and large highways leading in and out and around the map make it very easy to quickly travel many in-game miles.
Now, make no mistake, this is intelligent game design and map layout. It's logical and it would be annoying in today's day and age to have to deal with an illogical road layout. Many of the roads in GTAIV were illogical and ultimately frustrating... When you were in Dukes for those handful of missions after your taxi company is burned down, that area is really isolated, with only 2 highways to get to it and a lot of extra driving... It's annoying (the poor individual road design in GTAIV discouraging high speeds made it worse as well).
But, compare GTAV's larger map with quick road design to GTA:SA's technically smaller map but with a much more trecherous road layout. If you are in Los Santos and you need to get to San Fierro, this is a long drive. Even the most direct route, which involves the freeway that runs the exterior of the map, takes a long time to get to. If you are on Grove Street at CJ's house, you have to travel EAst on the map to get West, and that highway takes you through the industrial district of Los SAntos, all the way around the Airport, through the beaches, near downtown, before that small bridge that takes you into the San Fiero part of the map, and then around that long highway. You could try and cut through the wilderness, but there are a couple of spots that are long climbs up hills that are designed to slow you down and keep you from traveling quickly.
I've highlighted the routes and marked a couple of those spots:
Also, with GTA:SA, the highways were not easy to get onto when you're in downtown Los Santos. If you're in the middle of the city, at ground level, the highways above aren't easily accessible even though you are directly below them. you often times have to drive well out of the way to come back and get on the highway.
now, clearly, this road design is worse for game design, but it has a positive effect... It makes the world of GTA:SA feel that much larger. The mission design does this as well, but especially the road layout. I'll get to that.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
Just the pointing out that the avarege GTA protagonist zigzags between both. As there are missions where they break the structure of fetch boy...
Moon_frogger
Member
Thought they handled a mostly black cast amazingly well. Nobody else in the industry has the balls to do it like that and do it right. So much respect for rockstar. I hope they try this again in the future.
The Albatross
Member
Holy shit this old response from the GTA:SA reveal:
- Triads / Yakuza - Integral part of GTA:SA, you're Triad affiliated for most of the game
- Hells Angels - Kind of exist in various ways throughout the story, but also major character from GTAIV, also had specific missions in VC against biker gangs.
- Russian mafia -- GTAIV through and through.
Loved SA. On any given day I'd struggle to choose between it and VC as my favourite in the series, but both are incredible.
One of my biggest regrets about last gen was that the GTA3 trilogy never got a proper HD remaster. I didn't even need a new engine or anything, just a spruce up of the graphics would have been perfect.
I will just stick with the PSN version. Definitely going to replay it sometime soon and see how it holds up after a decade.
One of my biggest regrets about last gen was that the GTA3 trilogy never got a proper HD remaster. I didn't even need a new engine or anything, just a spruce up of the graphics would have been perfect.
I will just stick with the PSN version. Definitely going to replay it sometime soon and see how it holds up after a decade.
ShadowKingpin
Member
I liked him. I can't say he was my favorite, but he was fun to play as. I must say that it's crazy to think it has already been almost 10 years since the release.
I think (for better or worse) GTA:SA was the first GTA to actually try and go for a more complex cast.
Before SA (i'm talking mainline GTAs, as i haven't played the PSP ones) the previous characters were just unredeemable piece of shit, whereas with CJ, they tried to introduce a conflict, that then went on in subsequent GTAs like GTAIV, GayTony, Lost&Damned, GTAV and even RedDead.
On the one hand, i thought this was a choice that exposed their writing shortcomings more, but i still think the idea at the core is valid, to try and paint the crime world as a bit more complex than just a psychopath violently stacking up cash for seemingly no reason, like Claude Speed and Tommy Vercetti were.
Before SA (i'm talking mainline GTAs, as i haven't played the PSP ones) the previous characters were just unredeemable piece of shit, whereas with CJ, they tried to introduce a conflict, that then went on in subsequent GTAs like GTAIV, GayTony, Lost&Damned, GTAV and even RedDead.
On the one hand, i thought this was a choice that exposed their writing shortcomings more, but i still think the idea at the core is valid, to try and paint the crime world as a bit more complex than just a psychopath violently stacking up cash for seemingly no reason, like Claude Speed and Tommy Vercetti were.
drugstore_cowboy
Member
Didn't enjoy it, didnt like the setting and couldn't understand most of the dialogue. The black gangster shit was corny and boring.
Playing on mouse and keyboard I got stuck on an early mission so gave up.
Playing on mouse and keyboard I got stuck on an early mission so gave up.
poorlonelycomputer
Member
It was viral marketing!
CJ and the surrounding cast were the only reason I kept playing it
I felt San Andreas was far too ambitious for the PS2 hardware (even though I played it on pc). The promise of the entire state was realized but most of it was barren and empty. Your car gets wrecked in the rural areas and its a long walk to anything fun.
I felt San Andreas was far too ambitious for the PS2 hardware (even though I played it on pc). The promise of the entire state was realized but most of it was barren and empty. Your car gets wrecked in the rural areas and its a long walk to anything fun.
BeatResetsTheWorld
Banned
I don't think...but I also can't think of any notable ones before him, which is kind of sad
Evening Musuko
Black Korea
I loved San Andreas and I liked the cast as well. I didn't grow up in 1990's Los Angeles, but I watched a lot of movies, and listened to a lot music from that area, so I found it to be the most "relatable" GTA to date at the time.
Don't forget Sega's Yakuza came out about a year or so later.
Don't forget Sega's Yakuza came out about a year or so later.
Triple Da G.O.D!
Member
I enjoyed playing as CJ more than any protagonist at this point. Claude was silent. Tommy was a Grade A psycho. Niko was Niko for all intensive purposes.
SA was just a great game all around and not a GTA since has topped it. I'll be giving GTA V a real shot when the current-gen versions drop so we'll see.
Still salty that we never got a San Andreas Stories with Sweet or a look at what CJ was doing in Liberty City during the 5 years he was gone. I would've played that all day.
SA was just a great game all around and not a GTA since has topped it. I'll be giving GTA V a real shot when the current-gen versions drop so we'll see.
Still salty that we never got a San Andreas Stories with Sweet or a look at what CJ was doing in Liberty City during the 5 years he was gone. I would've played that all day.
The_Hitcher89
Member
I found 3's Liberty City to be a more darkly atospheric location than any of the citys in other GTA's
Dirty, run down, corrupt, sordid, seedy, dangerous, dismal. It captured that feeling more than the others for me, in large part due to the higher regularity of rain and fog (iirc)
Mastah
Member
My least loved GTA and the worst, weak protagonist. Too wacky with too many themes mixed into one story, huge chunks of map were left unused, it just didn't come together. I'm a huge GTA fan, to this day I know and remember every single street or shortcut in all of their 3D worlds - except San Andreas :/
I wish it had three different protagonists, basically like in IV and V, because that would probably make it better, but as it is, sadly, SA got no love from me.
I wish it had three different protagonists, basically like in IV and V, because that would probably make it better, but as it is, sadly, SA got no love from me.
The Albatross
Member
I think a lot of people forget the load times with III and VC, something that GTA:SA eliminated. That was a huge change. It was so annoying in GTAIII to make a mistake, backtrack a bit, and be hit with another long loading window. In Vice City as well but it was less obvious. GTASA was a marvel that the world was that huge and loads once (save for most interiors)
The_Hitcher89
Member
GTAs IV and V lost a large part of what was so incredible in the 3 PS2 games, and that is the way I learned the entire map of the game from reflex meory almost, every road, freeway, backalley, prominent location, shortcut, special pickup spot etc
Sometimes I think GTAIV and V would be better if they removed the temptation to fast travel
Acquiescence
Member
I didn't notice any hullabaloo surrounding the main character being black when the game was coming out. Nobody I knew cared about that - we were all just hyped as hell that a new GTA was on the way.
Anyway, I never particularly liked playing as CJ. He wasn't as charismatic as Tommy (Ray effin' Liotta yo!), and he didn't have an interesting character arc through the course of the game. He was just a very vanilla protagonist surrounded by an eccentric supporting cast who stole the spotlight from him at every opportunity.
Anyway, I never particularly liked playing as CJ. He wasn't as charismatic as Tommy (Ray effin' Liotta yo!), and he didn't have an interesting character arc through the course of the game. He was just a very vanilla protagonist surrounded by an eccentric supporting cast who stole the spotlight from him at every opportunity.
Methamatics101
Member
Loved SA. Put almost 300h into the game. CJ was great as well the rest of the cast.
Fat CJ was the greatest. I didn't want to turn it into muscle in any playthrough, because he looked like such a boss. He was right up there with the most charismatic leads in any game, and I still remembering seeing the first screenshots leak with him on a bike by the LA Convention Center around E3, and every time I see this Grove street shot- nostalgic paralysis.
I really loved the long road trips, the RPG-lite mechanics, the amazing vehicle/outfit customization and CJ's personality. Zero's missions were the absolute worst though! I think I played "Hold the Line" by Toto nearly a million times, trying to clear flight school!
I really loved the long road trips, the RPG-lite mechanics, the amazing vehicle/outfit customization and CJ's personality. Zero's missions were the absolute worst though! I think I played "Hold the Line" by Toto nearly a million times, trying to clear flight school!
Polioliolio
Member
CJ was cool, but I didn't care for the setting or the other characters.
I wish these games about crime wouldn't be so focused on aggressive idiots.
I'd like to see a smarter kind of criminal that isn't just interested in drugs and money and whacking people.
Haven't played GTA V yet.
I wish these games about crime wouldn't be so focused on aggressive idiots.
I'd like to see a smarter kind of criminal that isn't just interested in drugs and money and whacking people.
Haven't played GTA V yet.
Ingueferroque
Banned
Thats not the impression I got from CJ, at all.
kerotan_eater
Banned
Never understood the love for Vice City, and I even got to the last mission (where you have to own some property or something before progressing)
San Andreas though? That game is miles better in every department. Only the music is debatable (but I still preferred Radio Los Santos over anything in Vice City)
San Andreas though? That game is miles better in every department. Only the music is debatable (but I still preferred Radio Los Santos over anything in Vice City)
I hated it when they referenced that in GTA V
Acquiescence
Member
You absolutely should play GTA V. It's the best entry in the entire franchise, and that's coming from someone who's been there since the very beginning.
As if you didn't already know... *side eye*
In any case, I didn't care for CJ much. After the opening cut-scene he becomes... kinda... "bland." I guess you could say. It isn't just exclusive to him, Tommy and Niko were pretty much the same. I don't think Rockstar does "characterization" well over the course of their sandbox gameplay.
kerotan_eater
Banned
As opposed to the not corny Italian mafia shit in GTAIII and Vice City?
bean breath
Member
San Andreas was absolutely fantastic, and I loved playing as CJ. Starting my GTA addiction back when I mas merely 6 or 7, I've loved every release from Rockstar -- this one especially. I didn't look up to CJ by any means, but playing as him in corrupted gang territory was magnificent.
The PC version just isn't the same, but whatever.
The PC version just isn't the same, but whatever.
Although I probably shouldn't mention it in this topic, myths were also a very neat part of this game. I still remember going to location after location in my attempt to find Bigfoot and Leatherface. Anyone remember that abandoned wheelchair on the end of the dock in Fisher's Lagoon, or Shady Creek? lol, I've went way too far into this.
10 years was quite some time ago. Not everyone here, myself included, was old enough to be tuned in to what the Internet was saying.
drugstore_cowboy
Member
Oh I didn't like them much either. I can't remember a thing about GTA III.
I find mob movies more entertaining in general though. Maybe my preference comes from there.
The whole train mission in GTA V gave me bad flashbacks.
Yes it was an awesome post...lol. Just looking the map, it looks like its more water separating areas which would mean more bridges. To this day I forget some areas were in SA and think it was from another game. That plus they put so many options in the game made it feel so massive. That didnt happen with 5. IMO 4 is just forgettable, sorry.
I didnt have a problem with the character or story, it felt like someone tried to represent the 90's urban, inner city areas on the West Coast. I liked playing as CJ. It was nice to start in the 'hood and move up and/or away to different areas. I thought I accomplished so much when I finally made it to the Vegas area. (Las Venturas)
I also liked that about playing as Franklin.
Hell, since my PS3 finally bit the dust (2008 Metal Gear model) I might fire up my PS2 and play SA...
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
I'm not from the US but I could understand most of the dialogue when it first came out...
OrlanisWorks
Banned
CJ was cool, the whole game was cool. Icing on the delicious cake wasn't even the game itself, but Multi-Theft-Auto.
Racing in multiplayer was a blast, with something like 60 to 100 people clamoring over the hills outside Las Venturas in those big-ass trucks. It was so goddamn fantastic. Some of the best high school gaming memories came from MTASA.
Racing in multiplayer was a blast, with something like 60 to 100 people clamoring over the hills outside Las Venturas in those big-ass trucks. It was so goddamn fantastic. Some of the best high school gaming memories came from MTASA.