This is marriage season in Delhi. People are, or are going to, get married left right, and center. One thing that stands out in all marriages is the buffet dinner. All kinds of different food, dessert, chaat, snacks, everything. You eat your fill, and occasionally go back for more helpings of whatever you liked, maybe the raajma, maybe the gulab jaamun. GTA: San Andreas is a marriage buffet dinner. It is the best marriage buffet dinner. There is something there for everyone, and you just keep going back for more.

San Andreas is loosely based on California in the nineties, which was ugly, nasty, and mean way back then. There was a wave of African American gangsterism, and some really good hip-hop music. GTA:SA, then, is the most ugly, violent and nasty of all GTAs and has some cool grooves to do your nasty stuff in. It is not surprising they chose this setting, because, really, what more natural environment is there for constant violence and gangsterism than the gang culture of the west coast of the United States?

So San Andreas. One of my biggest faults as a GTA fan has been the lack of motivation to follow the story beyond a certain point. I just have too much fun moving around the city and doing random illegal activities, rather than follow the missions, however well designed they may be. San Andreas literally begs to be abused like so. No, the missions are not insipid. Hell they are inspired, and varied, and some of the coolest moments in gaming history will be remembered via the eyes of a SA player. What I meant to say was, the state of San Andreas is ALIVE. Just stand in a random street and watch people flit with each other, gangstas accosting a rival, people waiting at a red light, and some impatient ones blaring their horn, or children playing, women going in a shop and coming out with a lot of bags…. its just ALIVE!

Each of the three cities - Los Santos, San Fiero and Las Venturas - is detailed and unique. And the countryside, offers miles and miles of gravel roads and farmland. Just riding around the state is a thrill and will keep you busy for a long time. And there is so much to do apart from villainy. Driving, yes, but also, going to the gym, eating food, getting a hair cut, getting a tattoo, working as help in shops, and also the older favorites, driving a taxi, vigilante missions, the whole run.

The story is a well written, and well acted one. You play the role of Carl Johnson - CJ - a tough nut who returned to the city of Los Santos after his mother died. He runs into a corrupt officer, Tenpenny(Samuel L Jackson in an inspired and wicked performance), who is out to screw CJ every chance he gets. I won’t divulge more, but it get pretty violent, and you have to kill a lot of people as the story moves forward, But then, who ever played GTA without wanting to kill, huh?

There are statistics too, as I mentioned last post. A distinct RPG flavor emanates from them, and it smells right. You have to eat to stay alive, ride BMXes, shoot and fight regularly to gain proficiency, and work out or run to build muscle and burn fat. The clothes you wear and what you do affects your sex appeal. And your missions help you gain respect. As always, the radios are excellently acted and the shows, the RJs and the commercials are side splittingly funny, yet never unbelievable. The songs may seem a bit less, considering the huge amounts of driving required, but are good nevertheless.

GTA: San Andreas is Rockstar’s formula perfected. There are a few minor quibbles, but I think they may be mostly be personal. You will want to see the end. The freedom is exciting, and there is more things to do than you can imagine. What are you waiting for, then? Go, PLAY, mothaf**ka!