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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
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?
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.
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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.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 11/2/2004, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs)
Our Members Say
See all 153 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- Safety is an issue
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- Safety is an issue
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
u drive u can plsy it
oringaly rated AO for rape
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
the awesomest game ever
LOVE it
- I rate this title on for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
one of the most violent gtas, good though
very strong language, intense violence, strong sexual content, drug use, alcohol references
- I rate this title off for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Another Grand Theft Auto Game likely to have kids excited and wanting to bash up more helpless civiliains. Amusing enough, but it's a struggle between the outrageous content and players lust to sink a grenade or too into the peaceful streets of San Andreas.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 60% | of parents say kids find it easy to play |
| 60% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 40% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 40% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 40% | of parents say it's too violent |
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For Your Family
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