Editing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (section)

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
{{Video game reviews
| title   = PlayStation 2 version
| MC      = 95/100<ref name="MC"/>
| EGM     = 10/10<ref name="EGM Review"/>
| EuroG   = 9/10<ref name="Eurogamer Review 2"/>
| GameRev = A<ref name="GameRevolution Review"/>
| GI      = 10/10<ref name="Game Informer Review"/>
| GSpot   = 9.6/10<ref name="GameSpot Review"/>
| GSpy    = 100/100<ref name="GameSpy Review 1"/>
| IGN     = 9.9/10<ref name="IGN Review"/>
| PALGN   = 9/10<ref name="PALGN Review"/>
}}
''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MC"/> It is the site's fifth-highest-rated PlayStation 2 game.<ref name="MC Best PS2"/> ''[[PSM2]]''{{'}}s Daniel Dawkins declared it "the single most complete, unique, universe in console history" after ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' (1998) and "the best entertainment console gaming can offer".<ref name="PSM2 Review 3"/> ''Game Informer''{{'}}s Andrew Reiner called it "entertainment at its best"<ref name="Game Informer Review"/> and ''[[GameSpy]]''{{'}}s Miguel Lopez wrote it reminded him why he plays games: "to be liberated from the constraints of reality, and explore living, breathing worlds".<ref name="GameSpy Review 4"/>

Several reviewers considered ''San Andreas''{{'}}s world an improvement over its predecessors',<ref name="Game Informer Review"/><ref name="PALGN Review"/><ref name="1Up Review 2"/> praising the attention to detail in its areas and characters;<ref name="IGN Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/> ''IGN''{{'}}s Jeremy Dunham cited the differences in each city's weather as a highlight.<ref name="IGN Review"/> ''[[1Up.com]]''{{'}}s Jeremy Parish considered it "the most complete, complex and detailed environment ever crafted for a game", praising the complexities of the freeway system and social dynamics.<ref name="1Up Review 2"/> ''GameSpy''{{'}}s Lopez lauded its accurate imitation of the [[American West Coast]].<ref name="GameSpy Review 3"/> Critics considered the graphics an improvement over ''Vice City'',<ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/><ref name="OPM Review 1"/> particularly regarding the animations, foliage, lighting, and weather effects;<ref name="GameSpot Review"/><ref name="IGN Review"/><ref name="GameRevolution Review"/> ''PALGN''{{'}}s Chris Sell called it "one of the most visually absorbing games ever".<ref name="PALGN Review"/> Criticism was directed at the game's technical issues, with several reviewers encountering [[Pop-up (video gaming)|pop-up]],<ref name="IGN Review"/><ref name="PALGN Review"/><ref name="PSM2 Review 3"/> and unstable [[frame rate]]s;<ref name="GameSpot Review"/><ref name="1Up Review 2"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/> some felt the game pushed the PlayStation 2 hardware to its limit.<ref name="1Up Review 2"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/>

''Game Informer''{{'}}s Reiner considered gameplay a dramatic improvement over previous entries.<ref name="Game Informer Review"/> ''PSM2''{{'}}s Dawkins found the missions were rarely repetitive and blended difficulty with comedy.<ref name="PSM2 Review 2"/> ''[[GameRevolution]]''{{'}}s Joe Dodson lauded the freedom provided to players,<ref name="GameRevolution Review"/> while ''1Up.com''{{'}}s Parish felt the previous games' improvisation had been removed<ref name="1Up Review 4"/> and ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s Dan Hsu thought it could have benefited from branching paths.<ref name="EGM Review"/> ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}}s Charles Herold found the game's structure diminished enjoyment of its missions, forcing players to drive long distances and replay extensive sequences upon failing,<ref name="NYT Review"/> a complaint echoed by others.<ref name="GameRevolution Review"/><ref name="PALGN Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/> Some reviewers criticised the combat targeting (though acknowledged the usefulness of auto-aim)<ref name="IGN Review"/><ref name="PALGN Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/> and the flight, racing, [[RC car]], and minigame controls.<ref name="PALGN Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/><ref name="OPM Review 2"/><ref name="1Up Review 4"/> The addition of role-playing elements was praised for its simplicity, subtlety, and effectiveness,<ref name="GameSpot Review"/><ref name="EGM Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/><ref name="GameSpy Review 2"/> though ''1Up.com''{{'}}s Parish denounced some missions' statistical prerequisites.<ref name="1Up Review 4"/>

{{Multiple image |align=left |direction=horizontal |total_width=375
|image1=Samuel L. Jackson Cannes (cropped).jpg
|image2=DavidCross2007 (cropped).jpg
|image3=James Woods and his mom (2077794703) (cropped).jpg
|footer=The cast's performances received praise, particularly that of (L to R) [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[David Cross]], and [[James Woods]].<ref name="GameSpot Review"/><ref name="Game Informer Review"/><ref name="OPM Review 2"/> }}

Several critics considered the narrative the series' best to date,<ref name="IGN Review"/><ref name="PALGN Review"/> which ''[[Eurogamer]]''{{'}}s Kristan Reed attributed to its focus on dialogue and scene-setting, both in and out of cutscenes.<ref name="Eurogamer Review 1"/> ''Game Informer''{{'}}s Matt Miller enjoyed the narrative's ridicule of modern culture.<ref name="Game Informer Review"/> Some reviewers compared the story to Hollywood films and similar [[popular culture]];<ref name="Game Informer Review"/><ref name="1Up Review 3"/> ''PSM2''{{'}}s Dawkins felt the finale "outstrips the collected work" of filmmakers [[Jerry Bruckheimer]] and [[Don Simpson]].<ref name="PSM2 Review 2"/> Critics praised the cast's performances, particularly that of Young Maylay, Samuel L. Jackson, James Woods, and [[David Cross]].<ref name="GameSpot Review"/><ref name="Game Informer Review"/><ref name="OPM Review 2"/> ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]''{{'}}s John Davison considered CJ "possibly one of the most well-developed and believable videogame characters ever made" due to his layered personality and realistic behaviour;<ref name="OPM Review 1"/> ''1Up.com''{{'}}s Parish concurred but felt CJ's kind nature made his in-game actions less believable, a problem that may have been circumvented through a branching narrative.<ref name="1Up Review 3"/>

Some critics and scholars criticised the game for perpetuating [[racial stereotypes]].<ref name="Neal Race"/><ref name="Leonard Race"/><ref name="Leonard Race2"/><ref name="NYT Race"/> ''Seeing Black''{{'}}s Esther Iverem condemned the series for "validating ... an accepted caricature" rather than teaching respect and tolerance.<ref name="NYT Race"/> Dean Chan felt the series' protagonist shift from Tommy (an [[Italian American]]) to CJ (an African American) without subverting archetypes made it "complicit in the pathologization and fetishization of race".<ref name="Chan Race"/>{{rp|p=25}} Paul Barrett found its disregard and decontextualisation of [[institutional racism]]'s structures suggest "that the problems that African Americans experience is due to individual failure", reinforced by the concept that white players can simply experience "black identity".<ref name="Barrett Race"/>{{rp|p=114}} A ''[[Games and Culture]]'' study found youth groups "do not passively receive the games' images and content": white players expressed concern about its racial stereotypes, while African American players used it "as a framework to discuss institutional racism".<ref name="Games Cult Race"/>{{rp|pp=264, 279}} Rachael Hutchinson considered ''San Andreas'' "a critical reflection on racial conflict in America" and found several criticisms were based on limited viewings instead of the whole story.<ref name="Hutchinson Race"/>{{rp|pp=174–175}} ''[[Kotaku]]'' opined some in-game interactions could be portrayed as a lack of racism, such as characters conversing without moderating vocabularies or commenting on others'.<ref name="Kotaku Race"/> ''1Up.com''{{'}}s Parish lauded the references to [[Rodney King]]'s assault and the sophisticated writing addressing race in [[South Central Los Angeles]].<ref name="1Up Review 3"/> David J. Leonard felt politicians and legislators were more concerned about the game's violent and sexual content than its racial stereotypes.<ref name="Leonard Race2"/>{{rp|p=268}}

==== Windows and Xbox versions ====
{{Video game reviews
| title         = Windows and Xbox versions
| PC            = true
| XBOX          = true
| MC_PC         = 93/100<ref name="MC"/>
| MC_XBOX       = 93/100<ref name="MC"/>
| GamePro_PC    = 4.5/5<ref name="GamePro Review"/>
| GamePro_XBOX  = 4.5/5<ref name="GamePro Review"/>
| GSpot_PC      = 9/10<ref name="GameSpot Review PC"/>
| GSpot_XBOX    = 9.2/10<ref name="GameSpot Review Xbox"/>
| GSpy_PC       = 5/5<ref name="GameSpy Review PC 1"/>
| GSpy_XBOX     = 5/5<ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 1"/>
| GameZone_PC   = 9.2/10<ref name="GameZone Review PC"/>
| GameZone_XBOX = 9.6/10<ref name="GameZone Review Xbox"/>
| IGN_PC        = 9.3/10<ref name="IGN Review PC"/>
| IGN_XBOX      = 9.5/10<ref name="IGN Review Xbox"/>
| PALGN_PC      = 9/10<ref name="PALGN Review PC"/>
| PALGN_XBOX    = 8.5/10<ref name="PALGN Review Xbox"/>
}}

''San Andreas''{{'}}s June 2005 release for Windows and Xbox received "universal acclaim" according to Metacritic.<ref name="MC"/> It was the second-highest-rated Windows game of 2005, behind ''[[Civilization IV]]'',<ref name="MC Best PC"/> and the third-highest-rated Xbox game, behind ''[[Ninja Gaiden Black]]'' and ''[[Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory]]''.<ref name="MC Best Xbox"/>

''PALGN''{{'}}s Matt Keller considered the Windows release the best version of the game.<ref name="PALGN Review PC"/> Reviewers lauded the improved graphics,<ref name="PALGN Review PC"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review Xbox PC"/> particularly the detailed textures and models, higher [[draw distance]], and improved frame rate, loading times, and [[anti-aliasing]],<ref name="GamePro Review"/><ref name="PALGN Review PC"/><ref name="CGW Review PC"/><ref name="GameRevolution Review PC"/> though some considered the graphics outdated for the platform.<ref name="IGN Review PC"/><ref name="GameSpy Review PC 2"/> ''PALGN''{{'}}s Keller found the increased population density improved the world's overall atmosphere.<ref name="PALGN Review PC"/> The [[mouse and keyboard]] controls were generally praised as an improvement over the console versions and the series' previous Windows ports,<ref name="PALGN Review PC"/><ref name="GameRevolution Review PC"/><ref name="PC Gamer Review"/> especially during combat gameplay,<ref name="GameSpot Review PC"/><ref name="IGN Review PC"/><ref name="PALGN Review PC"/><ref name="GameSpy Review PC 3"/> though responses to driving controls and [[keyboard mapping]] were mixed.<ref name="GamePro Review"/><ref name="IGN Review PC"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review Xbox PC"/> Praise was directed at the custom radio<ref name="GamePro Review"/><ref name="PC Gamer Review"/> and [[Video game packaging|physical packaging]] and manual.<ref name="GameSpot Review PC"/><ref name="GameSpy Review PC 3"/> Some critics bemoaned the lack of changes to the mission structure,<ref name="CGW Review PC"/><ref name="GameRevolution Review PC"/> and some encountered technical difficulties like sudden and major [[Lag (video games)|lagging]] spikes.<ref name="GameZone Review PC"/><ref name="GameSpy Review PC 3"/>

''GameZone''{{'}}s Eduardo Zacarias called the Xbox release the "definitive version of the game",<ref name="GameZone Review Xbox"/> and ''GameSpy''{{'}}s Will Tuttle considered it better than the original.<ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 2"/> Several reviewers praised the improved assets, reflections, shadows, and load times,<ref name="GameZone Review Xbox"/><ref name="IGN Review Xbox"/><ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 2"/> as well as the addition of a custom radio station<ref name="IGN Review Xbox"/><ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 2"/> and video replay mode,<ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 3"/><ref name="1Up Review Xbox"/> though ''GameSpy''{{'}}s Tuttle felt the latter was pointless without the ability to save videos.<ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 3"/> Some critics thought the controls had not been improved since the original,<ref name="PALGN Review Xbox"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review Xbox PC"/> and others considered it a downgrade,<ref name="GameSpy Review Xbox 3"/><ref name="1Up Review Xbox"/> though ''GameSpot''{{'}}s [[Jeff Gerstmann]] appreciated the [[Xbox controller]]'s analogue [[Trigger (game controller)|triggers]] when driving.<ref name="GameSpot Review Xbox"/> Some technical problems occasionally persisted, including pop-up, inconsistent frame rates, and poor [[aliasing]],<ref name="GameSpot Review Xbox"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review Xbox PC"/><ref name="1Up Review Xbox"/> and some reviewers bemoaned the lack of significant graphical improvements.<ref name="IGN Review Xbox"/><ref name="PALGN Review Xbox"/>

==== Mobile version ====
{{Video game reviews
| title     = Mobile version
| MC        = 84/100<ref name="MC"/>
| IGN       = 8.3/10<ref name="IGN Review Mobile"/>
| PG        = 4.5/5<ref name="Pocket Gamer Review"/>
| TA        = 5/5<ref name="TouchArcade Review"/>
| rev1      = ''[[Digital Spy]]''
| rev1Score = 3/5<ref name="Digital Spy Review"/>
}}

''San Andreas''{{'}}s mobile version received "generally favorable" reviews according to Metacritic.<ref name="MC"/> ''[[TouchArcade]]''{{'}}s Eli Hodapp considered it "the best the game has ever been",<ref name="TouchArcade Review"/> while ''[[Digital Spy]]''{{'}}s Scott Nichols said it was "easily the worst way to experience" the game, only recommending that players with newer mobile hardware consider purchasing.<ref name="Digital Spy Review"/> Its {{US$|6.99}} price point was praised.<ref name="IGN Review Mobile"/><ref name="TouchArcade Review"/><ref name="Multiplayer.it Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review Mobile"/>

Reviewers praised the port's graphical enhancements, including increased draw distance, improved frame rates and load times, and enhanced models, reflections, shadows, and lighting,<ref name="Pocket Gamer Review"/><ref name="TouchArcade Review"/><ref name="Multiplayer.it Review"/><ref name="Eurogamer Review Mobile"/> though ''IGN''{{'}}s Leif Johnson found the textures remained dated<ref name="IGN Review Mobile"/> and some critics encountered technical issues like pop-up.<ref name="Eurogamer Review Mobile"/><ref name="Vandal Review"/> ''Digital Spy''{{'}}s Nichols lauded the addition of mid-mission [[Checkpoint (video gaming)|checkpoints]],<ref name="Digital Spy Review"/> and ''TouchArcade''{{'}}s Hodapp found [[Cloud storage|cloud saves]] the port's best feature.<ref name="TouchArcade Review"/> Responses to the controls were generally positive,<ref name="Pocket Gamer Review"/><ref name="TouchArcade Review"/><ref name="Multiplayer.it Review"/> considered an improvement over the series' previous mobile ports,<ref name="Eurogamer Review Mobile"/> though critics concurred that playing with a [[Game controller|controller]] improved the experience and better imitated the original versions.<ref name="IGN Review Mobile"/><ref name="Pocket Gamer Review"/><ref name="TouchArcade Review"/>

=== Accolades ===
''San Andreas'' won four of its five nominations at the [[Spike Video Game Awards]], including Game of the Year, Best Action Game, and Best Performance by a Human Male for Jackson as Tenpenny.<ref name="Spike"/> It received four nominations at the [[2nd British Academy Games Awards|British Academy Games Awards]]<ref name="BAFTA"/> and five at the [[Game Developers Choice Awards]];<ref name="GDCA"/> according to ''[[The Guardian]]'', the developers walked out during the latter after winning nothing.<ref name="GDCA Guardian"/> It won five awards at the [[Golden Joystick Awards]], including [[Ultimate Game of the Year]] and Hero and Villain for CJ and Tenpenny, respectively,<ref name="Golden Joystick 2005"/> and received six nominations at the [[8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|Interactive Achievement Awards]], of which it won Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack and Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year.<ref name="AIAS"/>

''San Andreas'' was named 2004's best game by ''[[GamesMaster (magazine)|GamesMaster]]''<ref name="GamesMaster GOTY"/> and runner-up by ''PSM''.<ref name="PSM GOTY"/> It won PlayStation 2 Game of the Year and Best Game Within a Game (for [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]]) from ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'',<ref name="EGM GOTY"/> Best PlayStation 2 Game, Best Action Adventure Game, Best Voice Acting, and Funniest Game from ''GameSpot'',<ref name="GameSpot Best PS2"/><ref name="GameSpot Best Action"/><ref name="GameSpot Best Voice"/><ref name="GameSpot Best Funniest"/> Best Action Game and Best Story for PlayStation 2 from ''IGN'',<ref name="IGN Best Action"/><ref name="IGN Best Story"/> and Best Replay Value and Best Voice Acting from ''PSM''.<ref name="PSM GOTY"/>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Refh}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5" | [[British Academy Games Awards]]
| rowspan="5" | [[2nd British Academy Games Awards|1 March 2005]]
| [[British Academy Games Award for Best Game|Best Game]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" |<ref name="BAFTA"/>
|-
| Action Game
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Animation
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| PS2
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| ''[[Sunday Times]]'' Reader Award for Games
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | [[Game Audio Network Guild Awards]]
| rowspan="2" | 10 March 2005
| Best Use of Licensed Music
| {{sort|Conner|Craig Conner, Tim Sweeney}}
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |<ref name="GANG"/>
|-
| Best Dialogue
| {{sort|Houser, Dan|[[Dan Houser]]}}
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4" | [[Game Developers Choice Awards]]
| rowspan="4" | 9 March 2005
| [[Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year|Best Game]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4" |<ref name="GDCA"/>
|-
| Excellence in Audio
| {{sort|Conner|Craig Conner, Allan Walker}}
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Game Design
| {{sort|Benzies|[[Leslie Benzies]], Adam Fowler, Aaron Garbut, [[Sam Houser]], Alexander Roger, Obbe Vermeij}}
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Writing
| {{sort|Houser, Dan|[[Dan Houser]], James Worrall}}
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6" | [[Golden Joystick Awards]]
| 5 November 2004
| Most Wanted Game for Xmas
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="Golden Joystick 2004"/>
|-
| rowspan="5" | 4 November 2005
| ''[[Nuts Magazine]]''{{'}}s [[Ultimate Game of the Year]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" |<ref name="Golden Joystick 2005"/>
|-
| PlayStation 2 Game of the Year
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Game Soundtrack of 2005
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
|-
| Hero of 2005
| [[Carl "CJ" Johnson]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| Villain of 2005
| {{sort|Tenpenny|Officer Tenpenny}}
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6" | [[G-Phoria]]
| rowspan="6" | 29 July 2005
| Best Licensed Soundtrack
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="G-Phoria"/>
|-
| Game of the Year
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" |<ref name="G-Phoria Nom"/>
|-
| Best Action Game
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | Best Voice Performance – Male
| {{sort|Jackson|[[Samuel L. Jackson]]}}
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Young Maylay]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Favorite Character
| [[Carl Johnson (Grand Theft Auto)|CJ]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6" | [[Interactive Achievement Awards]]
| rowspan="6" | [[8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|1 February 2005]]
| Console [[D.I.C.E. Award for Action Game of the Year|Action]]/[[D.I.C.E. Award for Adventure Game of the Year|Adventure]] Game of the Year
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6" |<ref name="AIAS"/>
|-
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition|Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year|Game of the Year]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Console Game of the Year
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design|Outstanding Achievement in Game Design]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Story|Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development]]
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5" | [[Spike Video Game Awards]]
| rowspan="5" | 14 December 2004
| Game of the Year
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4" |<ref name="Spike"/>
|-
| Best Performance by a Human Male
| {{sort|Jackson|[[Samuel L. Jackson]] as Frank Tenpenny}}
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Action Game
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Soundtrack
| ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''
| {{Won}}
|-
| Designer of the Year
| {{sort|Houser, Sam|[[Sam Houser]] and [[Rockstar North]]}}
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="Spike Nom"/>
|}