Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - House Arrest

Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasPublisher: Rockstar GamesPlatform: PS2It's a great time to be a gamer. Point in case is Rockstar's magnum opus, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. We missed it at E3 and those lucky bastards in the gaming press were the only ones "in the know" about it. San Andreas takes the franchise beyond all expectations and delivers one of the most engrossing and epic experiences to date.

The sheer bulk of GTA: SA is apparent when you first unfold its enormous paper map. If you were to combine Liberty City (GTA 3) and Vice City into one map, San Andreas would still dwarf it. That's what you get when you cram an entire state into a game. The added elements alone suck up a good week's worth of your time.

When there's this much detail packed in, surely something gets forgotten. This is not the case with San Andreas. Every aspect is crafted and designed in such a manner as to not overwhelm the player and still provide a rich, detailed experience. The graphics are the best in the series; the soundtrack is exceptional, and the sheer depth of the game is unsurpassed, except perhaps by a SquareEnix RPG.

Torn straight from the gritty reels of gangsta epics like Boyz N the Hood and Menace II Society-and thoroughly drenched in wry, witty humor-San Andreas does an amazing job of plunging the player into his own gangsta saga. The lead character, CJ, is convincingly acted out by Young Maylay along with a large cast including well-known celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson, James Woods and even Ice-T. San Andreas offers hard evidence that video games are fast becoming monumental Hollywood-style productions.

Rockstar's lovingly crafted masterpiece also brings in a variety of new elements, such as mini games and side missions. For instance, you can do some side-pimpin' to make some extra cash. Successful completion nets you the benefit of being able to pick up prostitutes and have them pay you for their services. There's also some retro action, pool shooting, dance beat and dating mini games included for posterity.

You can thank Rockstar North's obsessive attention to detail as well as the amazing and convincing efforts of the voice actors. San Andreas makes owning a PS2 a necessity. Sure, there will be a PC version in the future, but don't you want to jump in on the action and start building a criminal empire now?