Happy 20th Birthday, San Andreas-you're almost old enough to legally drink alcohol in your own country now! Are there any other games (especially older ones) whose narratives and themes are underrated?
Mafia III gets a lot of deserved criticism for its repetitive mission structure. But the themes, story, and the gameplay driven narrative racism are exceptional imo.
@@hayk3000especially with how it shows some racist members are in it for the money and power over their hate with the accountant character or with the old man who was originally a friend of sammy
scarface the world is yours is one of the best what if stories for a video game. what if tony didn't die and he was able to reclaim miami one by one all over again? it's a underrated and underappreciated game.
@@Snorku to be fair, as long as you’re not doing the hard drugs then you should be fine if you’re still balancing your income and needs but they’re always help
@@BlindBosnianno, woozie is the biggest bro, not cesar. cesar helped cj only if he himself profited by helping cj. but woozie really respected and cared about cj
Think SA is where the GTA series really found their own voice, III was really bare bones and the story really only served the purposes of the gameplay, just a little icing on the cake to make doing the missions more interesting, in Vice City the story has more flavor, more interesting characters and a voiced protagonist with some sort of personality, but ultimately the story is just Scarface and most characters are just one dimensional stereotypes. San Andreas has an advantage in many ways, the bigger map not only benefits the open world but also the voice of the game itself, having 3 different cities with their own culture and style means the game can ultimately create its own and original aesthetic, the first part of the game (in LS) is the usual 90's gangster hood movie but once CJ leaves Los Santos it becomes more interesting as the games vibe constantly changes. The countryside is a lawless place, the Catalina missions are basically Bonnie and Clyde. San Fierro is about racing and cars, the triad gangs and their rivalries and also where CJ starts becoming a business man (starts finding his voice). The desert is where the game reaches its peak in action, its about conspiracies and contains the games most outlandish moments, like stealing a jetpack from Area 51 or Riding a bike in a huge cargo plane to blow it up. It is also where you achieve Sweets freedom and release from prison. Las Venturas is more of a gangster movie, involving the mafia and naturally feels something like Casino (the 1995 Scorsese movie), This is where CJ achieves his success and the whole San Fierro/Las Venturas part of the game can be summed up as the Rags to Riches tale. Los Santos is where the heart of the story lies, the other parts of the game are the journey but Los Santos is the start and the finish, where most of the major plot points are set in motion and resolved. The soundtrack also perfectly showcases the games unique atmosphere, in GTA 3 the stations were pretty random, either music from Scarface, techno beats or operatic pieces to give it that Mafia feeling, Vice City of course has a very beloved soundtrack but that is because it managed to get so many 80's hits on its soundtrack, the game purely relies on its 80's aesthetic. San Andreas however, has radio stations that fit each city and the countryside, basically meaning that it has every popular genre that you could imagine existing in the 90's, all of the songs on the stations fit the game and some are pretty unknown, the game really encapsulates the diversity in 90's culture, from electronic music fitting the San Fierro underground racing scene to the alternative rock of the late 80's/early 90's, The country music and the classic rock of the 70's fitting well with the countryside, Gangsta Rap (Radio LS) the classic 80's Hip-Hop (Playback FM), Funk and even Raggae, its insane and all of the songs are memorable and really great. It is easily my favorite soundtrack from any GTA, the radio stations are a work of art in their own right.
I would give this comment a millions like if I could, super accurate and interesting analysis, loved the bit about the music changing based on location, something I noticed but rarely paid attention to.
Growing up in south central LA, im glad there’s a game that captures the vibe so well. Most games tend to veer more towards a Hollywood type of aesthetic. This game will always be a hood classic. Great video 👌🏽
@@TheRealRusDaddy ...the neighborhood of the Dingbat apartments in the Jungle (Baldwin Village?), the black asphalt alleys had white concrete rain gutters running down the center, and the apartments had interior courtyards, maybe with a pool. Found that exact look in a neighborhood in GTA 5, gave me goosebumps.
after 20 years this is still rockstar’s best game, it really is lightning in a bottle in every way. i love the diversity of the map especially and how atmospheric the forest is, that haze in los santos, the fog in san fierro, the neon of las venturas, the quietness of the desert is all just perfect with this and mgs 3 alone 2004 was a crazy year for gaming
time is running man i remember like it was yesterday christmas 2006 my brother and i got the PS2, we had to share it our first games were GTA SA & Tony Hawk Underground those were the times still playing PS2 to this day occasionally
That last scene CJ going out, is him retrieving the bag of money that Tenpenny ran away with in the firetruck, hence after the show of credits CJ received $500,000
This is still nesstled amogst my fingerstyle folk / dream pop / 2014 chill hop / whatver-Grimes-does song rotation. And I love it. I still listen to it at least once or twice a month
More often than not, people overlook how good of an actual story this game has. True rags to riches, with so many Philosophical questions that only ever got matched by GTA IV & the RDR series. A true masterpiece on all fronts. Great video btw!
Same. I just hope that remake finally happens. For Vice City and san andreas. Probably since they get remakes. GTA 3 will need 1 but kind of sucks. Claude doesn't speak.
I’ve played this game so many times that now when I first start all over , I do 3 things first , get all 100 tags to get the weapons in the kitchen. Do the firefighter missions to become “fire proof” for when doing the mission were you kill big smoke ,and randomly go swimming to build up how long you can hold your breath 😂
@@explorinjenkins349 Ambulance Mission is best done in Angel Pine. You can finish it really quickly since that part of the map is small. Vigilante Missions are best in Bone County. You can steal a tank, save it in Verdant Meadows garage or hangar, then do the Vigilante Mission easily.
I played this game on the ps2 while growing up, and never payed attention to the story. I have it on my phone now, and only just realized how bad ass CJ is.
noone would disagree with you. And honestly I'd assume that a proper GTA SA remake would make Rockstar massive paper. But considering that the definitive (dogsh!t) edition is a thing we probably won't even get one sadly :/
Just a week or so ago i watched your previous video on the real life history parallels of GTA san andreas and i thought it’d be cool if there were more detailed videos like your RDR2 ones on San Andreas and this video couldnt have come at a better time!
Thanks mate, Kudos to the video. Brings back those after-school gaming moments, Late nights modding the game and replaying it another few times. Even as a kid, underlining stories had a great impact on us. Internet was not a strong feature of comfort back in Sri Lanka in those days. Yet, we managed Google and saw the resemblance of some of the real-time stories featured in the game. It was definitely way ahead ofitss time and I've a feeling it still does.
As someone who has been playing this game since 2004 and still plays near daily it actually surprises me how many thing i run into regularly where im like huh thats crazy lol
You, RealPixels are a great storyteller. I have not had a scenario for a while where I am able to digest so much, so clearly all within 5 minutes. It felt as if it was at least 30 minutes. I greatly respect you and your work, you deserve some compensation. That may be coming sooner than you think (94.6k) I always look forward to your new pieces of content! Be safe and have a good new years :)
Really good video mate, there’s a lot of his sort of video about it they’re usually someone that likes the sound of their own voice - rambling on about nothing - ultimately leaving one feeling annoyed. This one however, your video, really good!!
I've played all the main 3d gta games, rdr games, bully, max payne, la noire and recently revisited San Andreas as well and I think it it is Rockstar magnum opus and it will never be topped. The game still holds and will forever, it is immortal. The best map in any game ever made, the three cities, the vast countryside and many mini towns breath with life, the art direction, the colors, the sky, the buildings, it's beautiful, more than I remember and much more than GTAs that came after. The characters are iconic, the themes are still relevant. A masterpiece.
I was born the same year this game released ......I replayed the game this year and man oh man I enjoyed the game so so much ...seeing your video rekindled my loe for te game once again .
I used to be aboard the "GTA SA's story makes no sense after you leave Los Santos" boat but not anymore I guess. You connected so much so well, excellent video
San Andreas is my favorite and my Angel’s favorite game since childhood. I played every version of this game including vita port and excluding most Defective Edition ports.
I actually had street gangs covering the entire map. Because of a cool glitch, you can do. And it will put games all over every single inch of the map. Including some red and blue ones. They are just normal gangs, though. You have to take a jet to a certain area and fly out over the water and tell it mirrors itself. And then I'm pretty sure you drown yourself. And when you respawn, you look at the map and Every island will be covered. If done correctly, but the longer you fly, the more areas are covered. I can't remember the exact area. You are supposed to do it and you're supposed to do it right when the gangs show up.
Never been this early to anything in my life. I was just rewatching all your Red Dead 2 videos too as I'm replaying the game for the first time since release.
Yo this was a beautiful video for real everything relating to real life events, the music & the whole story about the hood & it's a bigger world out there but not to forget where you came from idea. 5 stars man
The San Andreas storyline is so underrated, honestly playing a ton of the definitive edition showed me how vast the world is, it was so ahead of it's time for open world games
Last week I had some days off so I broke out the PS2 and started GTA SA from the beginning. Having a ball with it. In my 30's I'm able to appreciate how awesome it truly was...way more than when I was a kid.
Still the best GTA game overall imo. At least open world wise. The game is a lot more fun to play without the story mode. Just flying jetpacks, having gang shootouts, customizing cars, racing cars, boats, flying planes, helicopters etc. going to casinos, looking for easter eggs and literally so much more to do outside the storyline. It might not have the best storyline but its the most entertaining game to play
They should really make a modern day version replica of this game, but with today’s technology and graphics and just apply all the storyline and details that would be so fucking amazing
hit a nerve on this one - in a good way I remember how I didn't need the map anymore to drive in Los Santos. I knew that city by heart. I became a multi millionaire without cheating codes. I bought all the properties that were on the market. I found all the tags, conquered 100% of the gang territories. I spent so much time not doing the missions 😂 My love for this game was deep but I could've never explained why so eloquently 2004 is so close to the 90's too! That level of achievement is like if a video game now in 2025 captured the whole vibe of planet Earth during the Covid era perfectly!
I love the fact that you used danzig's song mother i was surperised when i recognized the guitar, currently playing SA in my android for the 7+ time, the first time i completed the main story of the game i was also surprised of how deep it was and not just car theft, shooting people and getting chased by the police
When cj is at the airport 11:49 of the vid u can see when he picks up his baggage u can see in the back ground it says arrivals and it’s says the time and from liberty city, vice city, carcer city, Leith, Tokyo and Johnson
I played this game mainly when I was 6-8 years old and I’d get these cycles of intense nostalgia related to it long after I was separated from my ps2. There truly aren’t any other games like this in its themes and mechanics. The environmental design despite being old is still pretty to take in as well. Also, now that I’m old enough (24) and decided to take a look at its story and all again this video broke it down nicely for me and I have a newfound appreciation of it for sure. I may pick it back up again sometime soon and replay it.
Played it when I was 8 and got stuck on racing Woozie. Got back at it at 28 years old with fully matured and experienced self. The game suddenly feels brand new. Not to mention I appreciate the game a lot more coz of the missions. Can’t believe I finished gta v first before SA 😂 playing it in ipad with xbox controller
I just completed this masterpiece for the first time on the definitive edition with the boosted graphics and it looks absolutely spectacular! It’s almost like you’re going into a different world. Like you’re living a different life. I find it funny when people ask why isn’t there a ton of games like this? It’s a huge undertaking to produce a game like this! Sit through the ending credits and look how many people are involved. Those credits roll longer than any movie that I’ve watched.
Man it’s crazy how much we all loved two Scottish school boys dream of make a game wish they didn’t sell up they had imagination and vision now gta is only good for mods anyone remember freedom fighters was one of the best game ever released underrated I miss the good old days gamer crew boys all we got now is dayz 😢
I remember being young and the last mission would NEVER load for me no matter what I tried. My disc copy. My mates and the rental stores copies were scratches so badly!! A few months later I bought another copy just to finish the last mission and OH MYYYY WAS IT SO SATISFYING!!
You just can't explain that gut feeling, that vibe when playing gta games, especially san andreas Good times I hope I will get that feeling back someday
Great perspective, although I still find Sweet to be insufferable by the end of the game. I can't remember the exact line but what really set me off was when he said, "You've always been looking at for yourself," when CJ says everything he's done was for his family, which discounts just about everything CJ worked his ass off for the entirety of the game. Not only does he ignore the fact that CJ practically turned the Grove by himself at the beginning of the game, and worked hard to prove to that he's loyal to his family, he doesn't acknowledge once, everything CJ has worked for outside of the Grove, providing for his family so that the wouldn't have to struggle with finances like they were before CJ came along. Instead he insults his younger brother and drags him down with him because he refuses to see that there is more than the hood. I get what Sweet is saying, family is important and always will be but that also means security is important, because of CJ's work they won't have to steal things off the street anymore but Sweet ignores this, ignores what Kendl has achieved and continuously berates Carl for daring to see things from a broader perspective.
Sweet taught me that some people are never satisfied. CJ’s weakness is chasing Sweet’s respect and validation and Sweet has done nothing to improve the gang’s situation. what did Sweet do for the gang all those 5 years, let it go to crap and CJ did more for the family in less time. Sweet is a crab in a barrel.
I wish CJ pushed back more cause family's important but also to Sweet family is just two-bit gangsters flinging shit at each other and he's got some sense of loyalty ingrained into his head by, I imagine, the people who raised them. I think it does happen a lot irl. That's the type of lifestyle that took their mom and brother
The game touched on a LOT of what was going on in the 80s into the early 90s. MIke Toreno, for example, represented the Federal government's _alleged_ part through the CIA with the drug trade in California - and other parts of the country as well, but California was a focal point. (It's never said what agency he works for, but if you know the relevant history, it's obvious.) And Toreno's role also showed the lengths the CIA was willing to go to keep their part under wraps, so much so the DEA didn't know what was going on. Toreno and the CIA were using the Loco Syndicate, along with Smoke and Ryder, to funnel drugs into Los Santos and funnel money from the sale and trafficking to various... friendly organizations in South America and elsewhere...
It was the music. Every radio station was just dropping bangers. "FreeBird", "White Wedding", that one song about the man and the desert" GTA helped expand my music palette from more than just HipHop
Dude I remember when a friend stayed all of 2 weeks playing that game. His older brother painted the cover on a wall in their apartment, not his room in the living room.
Most of the plot is the devs making fun of Sweets obsession with the hood. They try to portray it all serious and stuff but you can see how stupid and useless it is all after pulling in millions in Las Venturas and then getting dragged back to monke, I mean, gngbanging for scraps, CJ even says so himself. Eventually CJ conquers LS but does so himself. Sweet is quite content jakng off in his little groove street cul-de-sac while CJ is expanding the business.
I'm the only person I know who actually complete this game. The friends I have that played this never even made it to San Fierro. I can imagine this is why it's deeper than most people remember
Your friends aren't traditional gamers huh. Getting to San Fierro isn't even difficult. If you said you have friends that never beat the game cause the Toreno plane missions or conquering enough territories to unlock the final mission, then that'd be more understanding lol
@@chrisdubay02 yet most of us were just abusing cheat codes and messing around in LS, and I do think that SA's reputation for silliness stems from there
When he says this coin has waited 23 years for this moment I feel that whenever I play with 1923 coin with my fingers always take it with me on road trips for good luck
I’m not American but 1) when I went to LA, it really was a “holly shieet” moment: I was able to recognize entire areas just by playing the game. Instead of creating fantasy worlds that require a huge amount of creative work, Rockstar really are masters of depicting reality into video games, including the vibe of the people. That gives them a natural coherence, plausibility and they can focus on the details. It’s honestly mind blowing and it really hits you when you remember the controversy of their titles. I was at the pier and could visualize playing “yep, I killed a lot of cops here.” 2) 17:15 I feel is an important lesson although I disagree about the whole identity journey, he was able to go through all this because he stayed true to his values, the chaos was around him and the journey was to rescue all of those who are important to him. Even if you still consider CJ a gansta by the end, he really is a good example whoever you are. Traveling and seeing other realities with an open mind really builds character and gives you opportunities that will take you where you thought it wouldn’t be possible, as long as you stay humble and keep good core values. 3) Vice City and SA really cultivated in me an openness, appreciation and love for the most diverse types of music while presenting my little digital world with a top tier music selection. I wouldn’t be the musician I am today if I hadn’t played those games. An excellent game but THAT is what I’m most thankful for.
1. Grove Street was the real home for a lot of us growing up. 2. Vice city and San Andreas had soundtracks so good that GTA V soundtrack doesn’t even stand a chance. 3. Tommy Vercetti and CJ as protagonist spoke to the player way more than the three characters of GTA five ever did and that is why those two games will forever be gold. S tier classics.
I'm just grateful I got to experience GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas in such a short time span and that doesn't count other titles from Rockstar 🙏🏾 maybe we were a little spoiled but 12 years between 5 and 6 is nuts
Happy 20th Birthday, San Andreas-you're almost old enough to legally drink alcohol in your own country now!
Are there any other games (especially older ones) whose narratives and themes are underrated?
Mafia III gets a lot of deserved criticism for its repetitive mission structure.
But the themes, story, and the gameplay driven narrative racism are exceptional imo.
@@hayk3000especially with how it shows some racist members are in it for the money and power over their hate with the accountant character or with the old man who was originally a friend of sammy
After five years in the east coast it was time to go home
scarface the world is yours is one of the best what if stories for a video game. what if tony didn't die and he was able to reclaim miami one by one all over again? it's a underrated and underappreciated game.
❤😂🎉
San Andreas taught me that drugs were terrible for me and the whole country better than my schools anti-drug meetings.
How D.A.R.E. you! 😂
big cluckin problem mayne./
Ya for all the heat San Andreas took back in the day, it is Very VERY ANTI DRUGS, hard drugs atleast lol. Once you get past the sex and murder lmao
geez man, and me watching this essay high AF, also making some big conclusions, it hits man. I'm glad you're clean tho..
@@Snorku to be fair, as long as you’re not doing the hard drugs then you should be fine if you’re still balancing your income and needs but they’re always help
Its crazy Caesar and woozie care about cj more than sweet they always cheered him up whenever he feels down
Cesar is probably one of the biggest bros in any media ever. It's insane what he had done for CJ's sake, all of it
Well Sweets relationship is more like tough love.
That's why brothers aren't considered bros
Those are more brothers than Sweet ever was.
@@BlindBosnianno, woozie is the biggest bro, not cesar. cesar helped cj only if he himself profited by helping cj. but woozie really respected and cared about cj
Think SA is where the GTA series really found their own voice, III was really bare bones and the story really only served the purposes of the gameplay, just a little icing on the cake to make doing the missions more interesting, in Vice City the story has more flavor, more interesting characters and a voiced protagonist with some sort of personality, but ultimately the story is just Scarface and most characters are just one dimensional stereotypes. San Andreas has an advantage in many ways, the bigger map not only benefits the open world but also the voice of the game itself, having 3 different cities with their own culture and style means the game can ultimately create its own and original aesthetic, the first part of the game (in LS) is the usual 90's gangster hood movie but once CJ leaves Los Santos it becomes more interesting as the games vibe constantly changes. The countryside is a lawless place, the Catalina missions are basically Bonnie and Clyde. San Fierro is about racing and cars, the triad gangs and their rivalries and also where CJ starts becoming a business man (starts finding his voice). The desert is where the game reaches its peak in action, its about conspiracies and contains the games most outlandish moments, like stealing a jetpack from Area 51 or Riding a bike in a huge cargo plane to blow it up. It is also where you achieve Sweets freedom and release from prison. Las Venturas is more of a gangster movie, involving the mafia and naturally feels something like Casino (the 1995 Scorsese movie), This is where CJ achieves his success and the whole San Fierro/Las Venturas part of the game can be summed up as the Rags to Riches tale. Los Santos is where the heart of the story lies, the other parts of the game are the journey but Los Santos is the start and the finish, where most of the major plot points are set in motion and resolved.
The soundtrack also perfectly showcases the games unique atmosphere, in GTA 3 the stations were pretty random, either music from Scarface, techno beats or operatic pieces to give it that Mafia feeling, Vice City of course has a very beloved soundtrack but that is because it managed to get so many 80's hits on its soundtrack, the game purely relies on its 80's aesthetic.
San Andreas however, has radio stations that fit each city and the countryside, basically meaning that it has every popular genre that you could imagine existing in the 90's, all of the songs on the stations fit the game and some are pretty unknown, the game really encapsulates the diversity in 90's culture, from electronic music fitting the San Fierro underground racing scene to the alternative rock of the late 80's/early 90's, The country music and the classic rock of the 70's fitting well with the countryside, Gangsta Rap (Radio LS) the classic 80's Hip-Hop (Playback FM), Funk and even Raggae, its insane and all of the songs are memorable and really great. It is easily my favorite soundtrack from any GTA, the radio stations are a work of art in their own right.
Very good analysis!
I would give this comment a millions like if I could, super accurate and interesting analysis, loved the bit about the music changing based on location, something I noticed but rarely paid attention to.
And definitely has great songs and Hits, unforgettable soundtrack. I started listening to some songs on the radio station on my own 🤣🤣
👍👍👍
Dont forget about the New Jack Swing station!
Growing up in south central LA, im glad there’s a game that captures the vibe so well. Most games tend to veer more towards a Hollywood type of aesthetic. This game will always be a hood classic. Great video 👌🏽
Grew up in the Jungle, when it was white. Love this game.
Seen Rockstar's Sao Paolo Brazil? So fresh to see
@@chrishelbling3879okay great grandpa dont remind me of the good old days youll make me sad
@@TheRealRusDaddy ...the neighborhood of the Dingbat apartments in the Jungle (Baldwin Village?), the black asphalt alleys had white concrete rain gutters running down the center, and the apartments had interior courtyards, maybe with a pool. Found that exact look in a neighborhood in GTA 5, gave me goosebumps.
Youre
after 20 years this is still rockstar’s best game, it really is lightning in a bottle in every way.
i love the diversity of the map especially and how atmospheric the forest is, that haze in los santos, the fog in san fierro, the neon of las venturas, the quietness of the desert is all just perfect
with this and mgs 3 alone 2004 was a crazy year for gaming
out of all of rockstars games it's the only one that perfectly fits the description of a RPG
Not to mention World of Warcraft debuted in 2004!
@@TheRighteousDawnCan't forget Half-Life 2, either
Star Wars Battlefront in 2004 was crunk as F%$# too
2004 was just an innovative year for the medium as a whole
20 years…. God help us all
86 likes, year I was born.
Can't change that 😮
time is running man
i remember like it was yesterday
christmas 2006 my brother and i got the PS2, we had to share it
our first games were GTA SA & Tony Hawk Underground
those were the times
still playing PS2 to this day occasionally
@@ergolin I somehow convinced my grandma to buy the trilogy PS2 set, I learned how to cuss out Ballers lol Grove for life
yea that one hurt…
Fuck..For real, I just had an existential crisis…literally…
That last scene CJ going out, is him retrieving the bag of money that Tenpenny ran away with in the firetruck, hence after the show of credits CJ received $500,000
$250,000 not $500,000
All my exes live in Texas..
And Texas is the place, i truly love to be.
And that's why I hang my hat/ in Tennessee
This made me smile
This is still nesstled amogst my fingerstyle folk / dream pop / 2014 chill hop / whatver-Grimes-does song rotation. And I love it. I still listen to it at least once or twice a month
Mixed with the sound of a dirtbike engine 🥹
Yes! I'd love to see every GTA dissected like this series.
The absolute documentary that IV would be 😅
@@SkydrawnIViv -meatriders- fanboys trying so hard not to mention iv for 0.0000023 seconds:
@Livinghopefulandhonest **twelvie saying**
@@SkydrawnIV I’m 14 genius, try again next time you waste of unprotected sex
@Livinghopefulandhonest r/woosh
More often than not, people overlook how good of an actual story this game has. True rags to riches, with so many Philosophical questions that only ever got matched by GTA IV & the RDR series.
A true masterpiece on all fronts. Great video btw!
IV didn't have the saame progressive story and lagged in many places
@@hellomate2405you’re genuinely smoking dick if you believe this take
I need to get back into San Andreas, loved it but got stuck on that annoying plane lessons bit
Were you on m&kb
@@710DJ What?
I was stuck at the mission with Zero and those annoying litle planes ^^
@@Guitaristmalakianthose aren’t required to complete the story dude 😭 unless ur trying to complete the game 100% or do the heist mission.
@@itsovert Really ? I though back then that you needed this mission in order to complete the story ^^'
Now I know you blind man, but you gotta see this
very good
I'm blind not stupid
@@hellomate2405 he talking about woozie
@@hellomate2405I'm stupid Carl not blind
Does the pope shit in the woods
I always knew it was deep. I've played it to completion probably 20 times. It's one of my favourite games.
It's arguably the best game ever
Same here mate, completed this game several times but I still have a lot of fun with it
Same. I just hope that remake finally happens. For Vice City and san andreas. Probably since they get remakes. GTA 3 will need 1 but kind of sucks. Claude doesn't speak.
If only it came out now so I can see San Fierro again on a grander scale. The fact they pulled off SA on a ps2 is crazy
san fierro was always my favorite part of SA
And now it's on mobile 😮
@@tony62197 there are games like genshin impact already , this thing dosen't require 20% of those resources as of other high end games.
I hope if there's ever a GTA 7 it'll be set in San Fierro
@@tony62197 Kids these days probably don't even realise how insane it is that you can play GTA on a goddamn telephone.
Welcome to The Jungle was absolutely perfect for this game
All the songs where straight bangers even the country music 😢
Every station was pure gold!
I remember playing the game at a friends crib and seeing the people riot. I always thought “why are the npc’s acting so strange”
This made me laugh 😂
I’ve played this game so many times that now when I first start all over , I do 3 things first , get all 100 tags to get the weapons in the kitchen. Do the firefighter missions to become “fire proof” for when doing the mission were you kill big smoke ,and randomly go swimming to build up how long you can hold your breath 😂
Lol yes I'd practice holding breath for that specific mission where you need to swim under water for long duration of time to stay hidden
Police and ambulance missions sure help out, too. You can cheese them in the bone county towns.
iirc you need to train your diving anyways at some point. Because Woozie won't let you attempt his mission without upgrading your swimming
@@explorinjenkins349 Ambulance Mission is best done in Angel Pine. You can finish it really quickly since that part of the map is small.
Vigilante Missions are best in Bone County. You can steal a tank, save it in Verdant Meadows garage or hangar, then do the Vigilante Mission easily.
I played this game on the ps2 while growing up, and never payed attention to the story. I have it on my phone now, and only just realized how bad ass CJ is.
Lmao same here
yea same dude i just played the game because it was another gta game for me i started with gta 3
Vibe and a half
All you had to do was follow the damn TRAIN!!
This dude just outdoes himself with every new video essay he posts. Truly one of the most well researched video essays out there.
Spent so long in SA on PS2.. Loved the story! And appreciate you highlighting this side of it 🤜
Best console. Best game. Best of times.
This game deserves a proper remaster. GTA San Andreas has such an incredible story, it even deserves to leave the realm of games and become a movie.
Yea, I want this same game with better models and graphics
noone would disagree with you. And honestly I'd assume that a proper GTA SA remake would make Rockstar massive paper.
But considering that the definitive (dogsh!t) edition is a thing we probably won't even get one sadly :/
Just a week or so ago i watched your previous video on the real life history parallels of GTA san andreas and i thought it’d be cool if there were more detailed videos like your RDR2 ones on San Andreas and this video couldnt have come at a better time!
I'll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda.
if you played this game you had the best childhood
14:45 "I Know Your Blind But You Gotta See This"
- CJ
Thanks mate, Kudos to the video. Brings back those after-school gaming moments, Late nights modding the game and replaying it another few times. Even as a kid, underlining stories had a great impact on us. Internet was not a strong feature of comfort back in Sri Lanka in those days. Yet, we managed Google and saw the resemblance of some of the real-time stories featured in the game. It was definitely way ahead ofitss time and I've a feeling it still does.
As someone who has been playing this game since 2004 and still plays near daily it actually surprises me how many thing i run into regularly where im like huh thats crazy lol
Signs it's a great game
@@InfernalLeo777 The greatest of all imo, My walls are covered in framed posters and a ridiculous amount of GTA memorabilia
I remember hearing about a green bean dish, somewhere in the game..?
@@jesscorbin5981 you're probably thinking of the green goo
The research, writing and editing in this video (essay) is impeccable. This deserves all the subs and likes it deserves!
You, RealPixels are a great storyteller.
I have not had a scenario for a while where I am able to digest so much, so clearly all within 5 minutes. It felt as if it was at least 30 minutes.
I greatly respect you and your work, you deserve some compensation.
That may be coming sooner than you think (94.6k)
I always look forward to your new pieces of content!
Be safe and have a good new years :)
Really good video mate, there’s a lot of his sort of video about it they’re usually someone that likes the sound of their own voice - rambling on about nothing - ultimately leaving one feeling annoyed. This one however, your video, really good!!
After playing rdr2, i never realized how good the other gta stories were. This one was better than gta v.
I've played all the main 3d gta games, rdr games, bully, max payne, la noire and recently revisited San Andreas as well and I think it it is Rockstar magnum opus and it will never be topped. The game still holds and will forever, it is immortal. The best map in any game ever made, the three cities, the vast countryside and many mini towns breath with life, the art direction, the colors, the sky, the buildings, it's beautiful, more than I remember and much more than GTAs that came after. The characters are iconic, the themes are still relevant. A masterpiece.
I felt like I was really in LA in the 90s, it was an amazing experience.
I was born the same year this game released ......I replayed the game this year and man oh man I enjoyed the game so so much ...seeing your video rekindled my loe for te game once again .
Pix, you have this uncanny ability to make me want to return to a game each time I watch one of your fantastic videos. Keep 'em up!
The writing, the editing, the background music - all perfect. This might just be the best video I have seen in 2024
Mike Toreno and CJ are my 2 favorite characters in the game. Toreno fulfilling his promise to CJ is always great to see when I replay the game
Most hate him because of Vertical Bird (IMO, one of the best missions of the game), but I will die with you on that hill, Toreno is the GOAT.
I used to be aboard the "GTA SA's story makes no sense after you leave Los Santos" boat but not anymore I guess. You connected so much so well, excellent video
Love these analysis I hope we get an extended one in this format for gta 4 and 5
San Andreas is my favorite and my Angel’s favorite game since childhood. I played every version of this game including vita port and excluding most Defective Edition ports.
Your guardian angel likes GTASA?
Wtf is your angel supposed to mean bro
I love how SA starts out like an early 90s hood movie, but then progresses to The Rock and Con Air by the time you reach the Mike Toreno missions.
Casino and a bit of godfather too.
There was a homage scene from con air. The biker policemen dropping his daughnout for the chase
I actually had street gangs covering the entire map. Because of a cool glitch, you can do. And it will put games all over every single inch of the map. Including some red and blue ones. They are just normal gangs, though. You have to take a jet to a certain area and fly out over the water and tell it mirrors itself. And then I'm pretty sure you drown yourself. And when you respawn, you look at the map and Every island will be covered. If done correctly, but the longer you fly, the more areas are covered. I can't remember the exact area. You are supposed to do it and you're supposed to do it right when the gangs show up.
In 2019 I found my ps2 and got addicted again to gta sa same as when I first played it but with an Adult mind, the game is a masterpiece.
GTA San Andrés thought me don’t trust no one not even your best friends. 12 years old when I first played 😂
Certified classic review for a classic videogame.
Never been this early to anything in my life. I was just rewatching all your Red Dead 2 videos too as I'm replaying the game for the first time since release.
Swear you can teach this in a class. It’s not often real events impact a hugely successful title like this. Great work here 👏
Yo this was a beautiful video for real everything relating to real life events, the music & the whole story about the hood & it's a bigger world out there but not to forget where you came from idea. 5 stars man
The San Andreas storyline is so underrated, honestly playing a ton of the definitive edition showed me how vast the world is, it was so ahead of it's time for open world games
Another piece of art
I really enjoyed watching this 👍🏻
Last week I had some days off so I broke out the PS2 and started GTA SA from the beginning. Having a ball with it. In my 30's I'm able to appreciate how awesome it truly was...way more than when I was a kid.
Still the best GTA game overall imo. At least open world wise. The game is a lot more fun to play without the story mode. Just flying jetpacks, having gang shootouts, customizing cars, racing cars, boats, flying planes, helicopters etc. going to casinos, looking for easter eggs and literally so much more to do outside the storyline. It might not have the best storyline but its the most entertaining game to play
But you have to follow the story mode to open up the map
@ well yeah no shi.. 😂
That mission where you fly back to liberty city. That was so ahead of its time. Such a good reference. I like how it links the games in a way.
They should really make a modern day version replica of this game, but with today’s technology and graphics and just apply all the storyline and details that would be so fucking amazing
This game still give crazy nostalgic playing as child with your Playstation 2. GTA San Andreas one of those game was ahead of it's time.
Real Pixels out here dropping straight bangers, as always 😩👌
hit a nerve on this one - in a good way
I remember how I didn't need the map anymore to drive in Los Santos. I knew that city by heart. I became a multi millionaire without cheating codes. I bought all the properties that were on the market. I found all the tags, conquered 100% of the gang territories. I spent so much time not doing the missions 😂
My love for this game was deep but I could've never explained why so eloquently
2004 is so close to the 90's too! That level of achievement is like if a video game now in 2025 captured the whole vibe of planet Earth during the Covid era perfectly!
I love the fact that you used danzig's song mother i was surperised when i recognized the guitar, currently playing SA in my android for the 7+ time, the first time i completed the main story of the game i was also surprised of how deep it was and not just car theft, shooting people and getting chased by the police
When cj is at the airport 11:49 of the vid u can see when he picks up his baggage u can see in the back ground it says arrivals and it’s says the time and from liberty city, vice city, carcer city, Leith, Tokyo and Johnson
I remember playing this game sitting on the phone with my girlfriend in the sixth grade. I’m now 32 years old.
Bro i was about to cry at 5:11
"Finna hit the block to see what's happening"
We need this in GTA 6
Amazing video. This game will always be a fond memory of my childhood. Its a big part of my life and you made it more profound. Thank you 🙏
I played this game mainly when I was 6-8 years old and I’d get these cycles of intense nostalgia related to it long after I was separated from my ps2. There truly aren’t any other games like this in its themes and mechanics. The environmental design despite being old is still pretty to take in as well.
Also, now that I’m old enough (24) and decided to take a look at its story and all again this video broke it down nicely for me and I have a newfound appreciation of it for sure. I may pick it back up again sometime soon and replay it.
Great video man, really enjoyed it and it reaffirms San Andreas as my favourite game.
Still playing this game, its still amazing.
I’ve played the gta trilogy so many times especially San Andreas it’s so great going back to it every time
Such nice graphics. Not just the world, but the clothes, tattoos, weapons...everything!
Which mods did you use for those?
It's hard to believe it's been 20 years...
What had me mad was Sweet doin all that “come back to the hood and fix it” talk, just to almost give up and smoke the pipe 🤦🏾♂️
Played it when I was 8 and got stuck on racing Woozie. Got back at it at 28 years old with fully matured and experienced self. The game suddenly feels brand new. Not to mention I appreciate the game a lot more coz of the missions. Can’t believe I finished gta v first before SA 😂 playing it in ipad with xbox controller
I just completed this masterpiece for the first time on the definitive edition with the boosted graphics and it looks absolutely spectacular! It’s almost like you’re going into a different world. Like you’re living a different life. I find it funny when people ask why isn’t there a ton of games like this? It’s a huge undertaking to produce a game like this! Sit through the ending credits and look how many people are involved. Those credits roll longer than any movie that I’ve watched.
Man it’s crazy how much we all loved two Scottish school boys dream of make a game wish they didn’t sell up they had imagination and vision now gta is only good for mods anyone remember freedom fighters was one of the best game ever released underrated I miss the good old days gamer crew boys all we got now is dayz 😢
I remember being young and the last mission would NEVER load for me no matter what I tried. My disc copy. My mates and the rental stores copies were scratches so badly!!
A few months later I bought another copy just to finish the last mission and OH MYYYY WAS IT SO SATISFYING!!
You just can't explain that gut feeling, that vibe when playing gta games, especially san andreas
Good times
I hope I will get that feeling back someday
great vid thank you , takes me back
Great perspective, although I still find Sweet to be insufferable by the end of the game. I can't remember the exact line but what really set me off was when he said, "You've always been looking at for yourself," when CJ says everything he's done was for his family, which discounts just about everything CJ worked his ass off for the entirety of the game. Not only does he ignore the fact that CJ practically turned the Grove by himself at the beginning of the game, and worked hard to prove to that he's loyal to his family, he doesn't acknowledge once, everything CJ has worked for outside of the Grove, providing for his family so that the wouldn't have to struggle with finances like they were before CJ came along. Instead he insults his younger brother and drags him down with him because he refuses to see that there is more than the hood.
I get what Sweet is saying, family is important and always will be but that also means security is important, because of CJ's work they won't have to steal things off the street anymore but Sweet ignores this, ignores what Kendl has achieved and continuously berates Carl for daring to see things from a broader perspective.
Sweet taught me that some people are never satisfied. CJ’s weakness is chasing Sweet’s respect and validation and Sweet has done nothing to improve the gang’s situation. what did Sweet do for the gang all those 5 years, let it go to crap and CJ did more for the family in less time. Sweet is a crab in a barrel.
It was until he said all I wanted you to do was pay your debt was when sweet became a real gangster.
I wish CJ pushed back more cause family's important but also to Sweet family is just two-bit gangsters flinging shit at each other and he's got some sense of loyalty ingrained into his head by, I imagine, the people who raised them. I think it does happen a lot irl. That's the type of lifestyle that took their mom and brother
You snapped with that “today was a good day” !
The game touched on a LOT of what was going on in the 80s into the early 90s. MIke Toreno, for example, represented the Federal government's _alleged_ part through the CIA with the drug trade in California - and other parts of the country as well, but California was a focal point. (It's never said what agency he works for, but if you know the relevant history, it's obvious.) And Toreno's role also showed the lengths the CIA was willing to go to keep their part under wraps, so much so the DEA didn't know what was going on. Toreno and the CIA were using the Loco Syndicate, along with Smoke and Ryder, to funnel drugs into Los Santos and funnel money from the sale and trafficking to various... friendly organizations in South America and elsewhere...
It was the music. Every radio station was just dropping bangers. "FreeBird", "White Wedding", that one song about the man and the desert" GTA helped expand my music palette from more than just HipHop
One of the best games ever made without a doubt.
I just recovered this legendary game and playing it once again!
This video sets a perfect reason why I love GTA San Andreas despite the game is literally showing its age.
Dude I remember when a friend stayed all of 2 weeks playing that game. His older brother painted the cover on a wall in their apartment, not his room in the living room.
I still remember watching the ad on tv before it came out
Most of the plot is the devs making fun of Sweets obsession with the hood. They try to portray it all serious and stuff but you can see how stupid and useless it is all after pulling in millions in Las Venturas and then getting dragged back to monke, I mean, gngbanging for scraps, CJ even says so himself.
Eventually CJ conquers LS but does so himself. Sweet is quite content jakng off in his little groove street cul-de-sac while CJ is expanding the business.
I'm the only person I know who actually complete this game. The friends I have that played this never even made it to San Fierro. I can imagine this is why it's deeper than most people remember
Your friends aren't traditional gamers huh. Getting to San Fierro isn't even difficult. If you said you have friends that never beat the game cause the Toreno plane missions or conquering enough territories to unlock the final mission, then that'd be more understanding lol
@@loganbigmo I don't think that they found it difficult, they just never got to it bc they don't care
GTA SA was wasted on the children many of us were at the time. Reappreciating the game with an adult mindset is really rewarding
@@InWalkedBud752 idk i completed gta SA and Bully when I was like 8 or 9
@@chrisdubay02 yet most of us were just abusing cheat codes and messing around in LS, and I do think that SA's reputation for silliness stems from there
Mother, them bones, personal jesus, welcome to the jungle..radio X on top🤘
When he says this coin has waited 23 years for this moment I feel that whenever I play with 1923 coin with my fingers always take it with me on road trips for good luck
I’m not American but
1) when I went to LA, it really was a “holly shieet” moment: I was able to recognize entire areas just by playing the game. Instead of creating fantasy worlds that require a huge amount of creative work, Rockstar really are masters of depicting reality into video games, including the vibe of the people. That gives them a natural coherence, plausibility and they can focus on the details. It’s honestly mind blowing and it really hits you when you remember the controversy of their titles. I was at the pier and could visualize playing “yep, I killed a lot of cops here.”
2) 17:15 I feel is an important lesson although I disagree about the whole identity journey, he was able to go through all this because he stayed true to his values, the chaos was around him and the journey was to rescue all of those who are important to him. Even if you still consider CJ a gansta by the end, he really is a good example whoever you are. Traveling and seeing other realities with an open mind really builds character and gives you opportunities that will take you where you thought it wouldn’t be possible, as long as you stay humble and keep good core values.
3) Vice City and SA really cultivated in me an openness, appreciation and love for the most diverse types of music while presenting my little digital world with a top tier music selection. I wouldn’t be the musician I am today if I hadn’t played those games. An excellent game but THAT is what I’m most thankful for.
I remember the gta San Andreas ads on tv when I was 10 😭 I wish I could go back to those times
Your views don’t reflect in your subscribers. You deserve way more
Once again, I have enjoyed your interpretation of this story
1. Grove Street was the real home for a lot of us growing up.
2. Vice city and San Andreas had soundtracks so good that GTA V soundtrack doesn’t even stand a chance.
3. Tommy Vercetti and CJ as protagonist spoke to the player way more than the three characters of GTA five ever did and that is why those two games will forever be gold. S tier classics.
Bro your videos are unreal
I'm just grateful I got to experience GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas in such a short time span and that doesn't count other titles from Rockstar 🙏🏾 maybe we were a little spoiled but 12 years between 5 and 6 is nuts
Did a full playtrough for the first time ever last year. Great game
I re played this recently and didn't realise how deep this game was. A great way to learn some history
You earned a new sub, great analysis!