San Andreas refers to either a fictional city in the United States of America (2D Universe) or a fictional state in the United States of America (3D/HD Universe). First appearing in the 1997 video game Grand Theft Auto, it returned in the eponymous Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as well as Grand Theft Auto V. The state of San Andreas is home to the cities of Los Santos, San Fierro, and in its 3D Universe incarnation, Las Venturas.
Many fans consider GTA: San Andreas to be the best installment in the series, largely due to its iconic and expansive map.
Description
San Andreas is one of the most iconic and expansive settings in the Grand Theft Auto series. In its most famous appearance in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it is depicted as a large state encompassing three distinct cities and vast rural areas, a departure from the series' standard single-city settings.
The map is noted for being approximately [three times larger than that of Vice City, offering a wide range of points of interest to explore. The game is designed to introduce players to new locations progressively through story missions. The setting is so beloved that a modding effort was undertaken to import the classic map into the Grand Theft Auto V engine.
Development and Influence
The state of San Andreas is heavily inspired by the American West Coast. The three major cities in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas are direct counterparts to real-world locations: Los Santos is based on Los Angeles, San Fierro on San Francisco, and Las Venturas on Las Vegas.
The inclusion of voice actor Young Maylay, a rapper from Los Angeles, as the protagonist Carl Johnson was a choice that added a layer of authenticity to the world. Despite its popularity and multiple re-releases on newer platforms, the game never received an official HD remaster, with speculation that Rockstar Games may no longer possess the original assets.
Geography and Environment
The geography of San Andreas is diverse, featuring a mix of dense urban centers, suburbs, and expansive countryside. In its Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas depiction, the state consists of three main islands, each housing one of the major cities, along with a fourth, more rural island. This creates a varied landscape with deserts, forests, hills, and rivers separating the metropolitan areas. The game's environment also features a dynamic weather system, with cheat codes allowing players to trigger conditions such as fog, sandstorms, and thunderstorms.
Districts / Landmarks / Points of Interest
The state of San Andreas is defined by its major cities, which serve as the primary hubs for missions and activities.
- Los Santos: Based on Los Angeles, it is a major city featured in both Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto V.
- San Fierro: Based on San Francisco, this city is a key location in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- Las Venturas: Based on Las Vegas, this desert city is known for its casinos and nightlife in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Population and Residents
San Andreas is home to many memorable characters. The most notable resident is Carl "CJ" Johnson, the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. A prevalent fan theory connects the 3D and HD universes by suggesting that [CJ may be the father of Franklin Clinton, one of the protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V.
Another notable character to appear in San Andreas is Claude, the protagonist from Grand Theft Auto III. His name was officially revealed during his cameo appearance in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Grand Theft Auto Online
San Andreas is the setting for Grand Theft Auto Online. Players can participate in numerous activities and challenges, such as the Heist Challenge, with the goal of becoming a "legendary thief of San Andreas." The online world features exclusive vehicles and locations not present in the single-player story mode of Grand Theft Auto V.
The community has also shown great interest in the classic version of the map, leading to projects like the mod that ports the original San Andreas map into the newer game engine.
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Trivia
- According to one writer, the game has such a dedicated following that every time San Andreas is mentioned, someone in the world reinstalls it.
- The name of Grand Theft Auto III's protagonist, Claude, was not revealed until his cameo appearance in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- The game features a vast array of cheat codes, including several that can instantly change the weather conditions across the state.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades since its original release.
