Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The Cities

The state of San Andreas is home to three major cities, each one roughly the size of the entirety of Vice City. Each city will be more detailed than those in previous GTAs, with loads more interior environments.

1 Los Santos: Loosely based on Los Angeles, this sprawling metropolis teems with gang warfare and movie deals, all taking place under an oppressive layer of yellowish smog.

2 San Fierro: Based on San Francisco, this is a densely populated, seaside city. Its treacherous hills make getting around more of a challenge.

3 Las Venturas: Based on Las Vegas, Las Venturas is a den of casinos, strip clubs, and organized crime set in the middle of an unforgiving desert.

The Country

San Andreas’ cities are separated by hundreds of virtual miles of countryside, totaling an area roughly twice the size of Vice City. The scenery varies widely, from lush pine forests to forbidding mountains to lonely deserts. Furthermore, sprinkled throughout the country are a double handful of small towns, each with its own unique character.

Even better: The only time you’ll ever get a loading screen within the game is when going into buildings—the exterior setting of the entire state of San Andreas is one seamless location. If you wanted to, you could walk from Los Santos to Las Venturas at the other end of the state and never have a second of load time.

The Main Character

The most interesting thing about Carl “CJ” Johnson isn’t his gang-ridden background on the streets of Los Santos. It’s his future: In a GTA first, CJ will now evolve over time. The more he uses a weapon, for example, the more proficient he becomes with that weapon. Similarly, if he runs a great deal, he becomes faster with better stamina. He can even build up his swimming skills (yes, San Andreas will finally allow you to swim out of vehicles that fall into water).

CJ’s behavior doesn’t only affect his skills but also his appearance. If he fails to get enough exercise, he’ll get flabby, and if he consistently eats badly (eating is, after all, required to keep up his health), he’ll get downright obese. Luckily, physical activity helps battle the bulge, making the new bicycle a dual-purpose vehicle.

The Supporting Cast

CJ begins the game surrounded by his old gang, the Orange Grove Families. These street toughs will accompany him on his early missions. Eventually, he’ll be able to put his own gang together, occupying segments of Los Santos and bringing in a little extra cash on the side. Later, he’ll be able to own property in other San Andreas cities, including a fully functional Las Venturas casino.

Street Fighting

The GTA combat engine is getting a serious overhaul for San Andreas: Auto-targeting, for example, is now much more intelligent, targeting enemies and avoiding civilians. Hand-to-hand fighting is also improved with targeting, combos, and different stances.