Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Violent, open-world, do-anything mature adventure.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

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.

  • Gangster lifestyle is central to the storyline, so violence, misogyny, and mayhem are all rewarded.
  • You are a gangster with no moral compass. You kill policemen, hookers, and anyone else you encounter. You can explore just about any deviant behavior.
  • Not applicable.
  • Gang warfare, beatings, drive-by shootings, killing of innocent bystanders, bloody and grotesque deaths.
  • The game contains everything from idle come-ons and sexual encounters to pimping and strip clubs. Partial/near nudity.The infamous "Hot Coffee" hidden scene has been removed by the game makers.
  • You're unlikely to find a video game that uses the "F" word more liberally. Consistent, repeated use of profanity in almost all scenes.
  • Faux radio and billboard ads spoof national brands.
  • Drug use is prevalent and there is some alcohol consumption, as well.

What's it about?

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.


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What families can talk about

  • 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?


This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Teen, 15 years old
May 14, 2010
 
This is a very misunderstood game.
Many people believe that gta san andreas is nothing but smut and trash just for the sake of it. THEY'RE WRONG! In the game, you play CJ, an african american who ran away from home for 5 years. He comes back when his mother is killed, which is where the game begins. CJ ends up becoming a vigilante, doing anything to catch the men who killed his mother, and trying to pull strings to get his brother out of jail. The antagonists are evil, have foul language (c-word is used once), and teach bad messages. But CJ and his "Gang" aren't like drug dealers or anything. In fact, they do anything they can to keep "that trash" out of their lives and off the streets. This game is filled with an EXTREME amount of foul language, but CJ and many others are verygood role models, and I looked up to them in my younger years. I get A's and B's and respect my parents. But, it is only appropriate for 14 year olds and up. This game is the best selling PS2 game of all time. Any PS2 library is empty without it. Make sure you/your kids know about sex and language. There are sexual references, but the closest thing ever to sex is when your car starts rocking with a prostitute in it. PRostitutes are not mistreated in this game by CJ. Cj destroys the Loco Syndicate, the biggest crack-dealer assosiation in all of San Andreas. Now, you have a better grasp on the game. Sit down and talk with your kids, limit their playing time to just 1 or 2 hours a day, whatever. But this game can be beneficial when establishing moral values (as long as you look up to the protagonists).

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Kid, 9 years old
July 20, 2011
 
good
really good i play it all the time

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Adult
May 11, 2009
 
me and my mama went out to eat and it was fun
they don't care wat i think

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Teen, 14 years old
February 26, 2011
 
Give it a Chance
Don't get me wrong this is a fantastic game but there is a lot of exposure to violence and sex as well as drugs. But some kids already understand the fact that drugs and violence is bad and shouldn't be imitated in the real world. With the sex I've found that not many of my friends have discovered that you can pick up prostitutes from the streets and have intercourse with them in your car until I told them so aren't some parents being a little paranoid. I think that even though my parents aloud me to have this game I shouldn't be but I think they made the right choice.If you have concerns as a parent watch how your kid plays the game and if they find it fun to kill civilians in different ways (I know I do) and then make your choice. Sorry that the review is a long one. It's my first :)

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Teen, 14 years old
May 26, 2011
 
Yes.
I Love this game. The only 'Graphic' thing is if u shoot someone, blood goes everywhere and their head might fall off.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
This game is not so bad
I think this game is bad only if you are stupid enough to imitate it. Those kids who write that it's bad they probably get beat up at school a lot.

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Teen, 18 years old
June 10, 2011
 
give them the game..
people whine about this game wayyyy to much. Their are worse games out their that have worse role models and dont belong in the hands of a 10 year old, like Saints Row. But GTA SA is fine. The country is a knockoff of a cliche California with cliche cities, people, cops, and cars and other vehicles that have the front of one car and the back of another. Basically, everything in the game is a knockoff of its real life counterpart. People shouldnt show remorse for anyone in this game. The story is supposed to be good, but I play it for roaming around and doing whatever. Seriously, kids are just going to play it when their older..

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Teen, 16 years old
August 11, 2011
 
Give it a chance
This game is amazing! Give it a chance! Or play it like I do. Just Drive around. Thats what I do. You can miss the sex content that way. JUST DON"T CRASH, OR THE COPS WILL SHOOT YOU.

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Teen, 15 years old
August 25, 2009
 
screw this game
i hate this game not because of the graphics because of the message

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Teen, 14 years old
August 10, 2011
 
Best in GTA series. Highly recommend
My Game Rating, M: Intense violence, blood and gore, strong language, strong sexual content, drug content

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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:Windows, Xbox
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Action/Adventure
Developer:Rockstar Games
Release date:November 2, 2004
Price:$49.99
ESRB rating:M for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs

This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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