Its a good game. Not the best, but there are hours of fun that come out of it.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Violent, open-world, do-anything mature adventure.
In this game kids can: kill humans (with blood), live vicariously, play in a virtual world, race
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Ease of play:
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was written by Marc Saltzman
Parents need to know that this game is raunchy and violent and portrays just about every deviant act that a criminal could think of in full, living 3-D graphics. Players participate in drive-by shootings, deliver prostitutes to their johns, kill mob bosses, hijack vehicles, and learn to operate within the criminal world. The star rating given to this game is based on quality of gameplay within this adult genre of video gaming and is not an endorsement of the violence within the game.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the presence of adult content in video games. How do you feel when you are doing things that are clearly illegal or immoral? The game is a way to experience criminal life without societal consequences -- is it the "forbidden fruit" aspect that draws so many people to it?
- Why do you think this game is so popular?
- How do you think violent media affects you?
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More on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
What’s the Story?
In GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS, players must run, gun, and drive through a bustling city to perform missions such as knocking off a mob boss or preventing a truckload of ammunition from reaching its destination. Gamers play as Carl "CJ" Johnson, a young man who returns to the slums to avenge his mother's murder with the help of his old gang. New gameplay features to the Grand Theft Autoseries require players to perfect certain skills over time, such as hand-to-hand combat and driving. You must also earn "respect" with each mission; the more you gain, the more likely gang members will help you on missions.
Is It Any Good?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas boasts an exceptional soundtrack, a well-written story line and a slew of plot twists and other surprises. The dialogue between CJ and his crew is raw but convincing, and some big-name celebrities contribute their vocal talent, including James Woods and George Clinton.
Without question, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas isn't for kids because of its graphic violence, sex, and coarse language, but mature fans of this 32 million-unit-selling franchise who want to know if this sequel lives up to its hype, the answer is a resounding yes. Few video games pull off everything successfully, but San Andreas does so in spades. Indeed, this mature-rated game may be deemed offensive for its depiction of life as a "gangbanger," but if taken for what it is -- an interactive action-adventure for adult gamers -- you won't find a title that's more difficult to put down.
Publisher’s Details
Developer: Rockstar Games
Released on: 11/2/2004, Price: $49.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs
Released on: 11/2/2004, Price: $49.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs
Our Members Say
See all 158 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
GTA: San Andreas
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- Safety is an issue
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
Adults Only
Even though I played this: It should be 18+ (like the original rating of "AO") because I have seen the Hot Coffie Minigame and have it. There is strong language, strong sexual content, very violent, blood and gore, alchol usage, and nudity (if you have hot coffie mod). I think it is a fun and easy to play game, but not for kids. (DOESNT INCLUDE ME OKAY?)
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
Perfect for teens, an iffy for tweens.
This edition of Grand Theft Auto is fine. It's violent due to assassinations and all. The language is over-rated, to be exact it's very racist. But that's over-all fine if you can leave the language.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
FUN, like it. play all the time, but hide from my parents
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I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
A iffy game for 17+
awsome but none of my kids are playing this
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Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 33% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 33% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 33% | of parents say it's too violent |
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