wubb
07-12-2005, 12:16 AM
Okay so I knew GTA:SA was going to be a lot like GTA3 and Vice City, just with more stuff going on and since I loved the first two I figured I'd really dig SA as well. But for some reason I'm not getting into San Andreas like I did 3 and VC.
Now the story/cut scenes are outstanding and the living world is still cool. But it really just feels like a rehash of Vice City with a few new whiz-bangs.
I have times where I have a lot of fun with it, but having to haul fairly long distances after certain missions leave you across the map from where new missions are available is not fun in my book. I think the game could have done well with some sort of ability to warp to the nearest safe house and/or an ability to warp from one safe house to another when you are in between missions. Cruising through the country side can be fun, but I don't always feel like doing so.
And it's true that you can do all sorts of side quests whenever you want, but so far I've only been able to do my choice of a few main missions at a time - sometimes just one will be available. Boils down to a fairly linear experience. (Vice City is pretty much the same way IIRC.) For me, I have fun checking out the side quests once or twice, but I really don't have a desire to play many of them more than that.
Finally the load times (at start-up) are pretty long for an Xbox game. Couple that with the fact that I often have to take a minute or two to get from my save point to a mission location (plus even more time if I feel that I should find some weapons or armor before beginning the mission) and I often find myself wondering if I really want to go through all that. (i.e. the game can almost seem like a chore) For example just now I started up the game and swung by an Amu-Nation to pick up some armor when my game froze just as I walked to the counter. Fun!
I'm starting to agree with the CAGers that grouse about GTA being a rehash of the same game over and over...
I may still stick it out since I really want to get into this game like I did Vice City, but I'm pretty close to dropping it on eBay. I should be able to get more than the $30 I paid for it if I don't wait too long to sell it off... I still have to unlock the 3rd island/city so if things pick up after that, let me know.
I'm hoping the next GTA actually innovates the gameplay somehow. But I wouldn't bet on Rockstar messing too much with their cash cow.
****SPOILER****************
I was having a bit of fun with trying to capture territory in the first city (although it seemed really hard to actually get any!) when I took whatever mission it is that moves you on to the next city and the whole gang territory thing goes away. I assume it re-emerges later, but WTF?
****************************
Now the story/cut scenes are outstanding and the living world is still cool. But it really just feels like a rehash of Vice City with a few new whiz-bangs.
I have times where I have a lot of fun with it, but having to haul fairly long distances after certain missions leave you across the map from where new missions are available is not fun in my book. I think the game could have done well with some sort of ability to warp to the nearest safe house and/or an ability to warp from one safe house to another when you are in between missions. Cruising through the country side can be fun, but I don't always feel like doing so.
And it's true that you can do all sorts of side quests whenever you want, but so far I've only been able to do my choice of a few main missions at a time - sometimes just one will be available. Boils down to a fairly linear experience. (Vice City is pretty much the same way IIRC.) For me, I have fun checking out the side quests once or twice, but I really don't have a desire to play many of them more than that.
Finally the load times (at start-up) are pretty long for an Xbox game. Couple that with the fact that I often have to take a minute or two to get from my save point to a mission location (plus even more time if I feel that I should find some weapons or armor before beginning the mission) and I often find myself wondering if I really want to go through all that. (i.e. the game can almost seem like a chore) For example just now I started up the game and swung by an Amu-Nation to pick up some armor when my game froze just as I walked to the counter. Fun!
I'm starting to agree with the CAGers that grouse about GTA being a rehash of the same game over and over...
I may still stick it out since I really want to get into this game like I did Vice City, but I'm pretty close to dropping it on eBay. I should be able to get more than the $30 I paid for it if I don't wait too long to sell it off... I still have to unlock the 3rd island/city so if things pick up after that, let me know.
I'm hoping the next GTA actually innovates the gameplay somehow. But I wouldn't bet on Rockstar messing too much with their cash cow.
****SPOILER****************
I was having a bit of fun with trying to capture territory in the first city (although it seemed really hard to actually get any!) when I took whatever mission it is that moves you on to the next city and the whole gang territory thing goes away. I assume it re-emerges later, but WTF?
****************************