Story

The story centers around Carl Johnson or CJ, who returns to Los Santos after a five year absence to attend his mother’s funeral. After being accosted by officer Frank Tenpenny of the C.R.A.S.H. unit, CJ reunites with his friends from the Grove Street Families gang. After surviving a drive-by shooting and learning that the Ballas and Vagos have seized most of the territory and power, CJ commits to staying in Los Santos to help rebuild the gang. However, this is only the beginning of a grand saga of conspiracies, betrayals and high-stakes crimes.

Setting

Up till now, previous titles offered cities divided into boroughs or islands, and were fairly reasonable in size. But Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas offered, well, the state of San Andreas. This meant cities like Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas which each unlocked over the course of the story but there were also smaller locations like Red County and Flint County (which make up the countryside). Whetstone is where Mount Chiliad and the logging town of Angel Pine are located while Tierra Robada is a peninsular county with a bayside area. Bone County is where the deserts, and the Sherman Reservoir and Dam are located among other conspicuous sites. In terms of sheer size and scale, this was the largest world in the series till date.

Cast

As CJ (voiced by Chris Bellard), players encounter a fairly large cast of characters. Sean “Sweet” Johnson (played by Faizon Love) is CJ’s brother with whom he has a shaky relationship with; Melvin “Big Smoke” Harris (played by Clifton Powell) who serves as Sweet’s right-hand man; the corrupt Tenpenny (voiced by the impeccable Samuel L. Jackson); and many, many more. Even Ice-T has a fairly important role as rapper Madd Dogg.

Character Customization

For the first time in the series, players can actually influence the appearance and stats of the main character. There’s Respect, Stamina, Muscle and Fat which can be increased or decreased based on one’s actions. Hitting the gym, for example, will increase CJ’s muscles while eating too much periodically increases his weight, resulting in slower movement speed. And while GTA: Vice City had different outfits, San Andreas provides numerous brands with different articles of clothing that can be mixed and matched (along with different tattoos and hairstyles).

Open World Design and Improvements

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas offered a number of different improvements to Rockstar’s open world design when it launched. Pedestrian AI reacts more intelligently now – hitting their vehicles causes them to exit and attack the player. Attacking pedestrians also causes others to run away and there are much more extensive interactions with random folk. Gangs also have a stronger presence, existing as their own entity in the world and attacking or supporting CJ depending on his allegiance.

Swimming and Climbing, 2 Player Co-op

One of the greatest new additions in GTA: San Andreas is – believe it or not – the ability to swim (both Claude and Tommy would slowly die in deep water). CJ could also climb over various walls and fences, which meant the days of trying to find a way around simple obstacles were finally at an end. It’s also the first game in the 3D universe to introduce two-player co-op. Despite some restrictions, it offered some pretty fun ways to cause mayhem with a friend. Whether it’s included in the Definitive Edition or improved is currently unknown.

Side Content

Much has been made about how much side content the trilogy offers, and San Andreas is the most packed of all. Outside of the 100 – yes, 100 – main story missions, you have Asset missions, racing tournaments, stadium events, Schools, the Exports and Imports chain of side missions, challenges, graffiti tags, and much more. Classic activities like taxi driving, paramedic, firefighting and vigilantism return, once again providing rewards for completing their various levels. HowLongtoBeat.com estimates 31 hours for the main story, 46.5 hours for the story and extra content, and a whopping 82 hours to complete everything.

Gang Warfare

Instead of simply having gangs as friends or foes in the world, GTA: San Andreas introduces Gang Warfare for taking over rival gang territory. Each district has a number of territories that must be cleared of rival gang members and will generate money upon capture. Even after a territory has been claimed by the Grove Street Families, opposing gangs can attempt to retake it and it’s up to the player to stop them. Based on CJ’s Respect level, you can recruit up to seven gang members who will accompany you and attack anyone that looks at you funny. Sometimes, they’ll even run off on their own and randomly hijack a vehicle. The AI isn’t necessarily the best but the resulting chaos is great.

Vehicles

There are 212 different vehicles, over double that of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with various sports cars, SUVs, Lowriders, Sedans, Motorcycles, Industrial vehicles and much more to choose from. There are also a number of boats, helicopters and planes along with RC vehicles and, last but not least, the Jetpack. San Andreas also introduces driveby shooting, which allows for firing a weapon while inside a vehicle, and it’s seeing improvements in the Definitive Edition.

Schools

One of the many “firsts” that GTA: San Andreas introduces are schools where CJ can improve his skills in driving, boating, flying and biking. Each offers a range of lessons and tests to complete along with different medals based on one’s score. Some like Flight School and Driving School must be attended for story progression, though completing everything isn’t required. Various vehicles are doled out as rewards and thanks to the Definitive Edition’s new checkpoint system, which allows for restarting a failed mission immediately, it should be easier to complete some of the more frustrating challenges like Flight School. Hopefully.

Restricted Areas

Restricted areas were introduced in GTA: Vice City, granting a Wanted level in the police station or the bank after a heist. San Andreas expands on these significantly – along with the police impound garage, there are also military bases like Easter Basin Naval Station which grant an immediate five stars upon trespassing (and where fighter jets can be stolen). So if you’re wondering where the “survive for as long as possible in the military base” challenges in GTA 5 came from, it all began in San Andreas.

Assets and Properties

Assets return, once again allowing players to acquire different businesses which generate income on a daily basis. Most of them are unlocked from completing missions though you’ll need to spend money to acquire places like the Verdant Meadows Airstrip. Properties and safe houses are also back with numerous types scattered throughout the state of San Andreas. Some may be free while others require purchasing (and offer different benefits after clearing certain missions). Not all of them have garages but will sometimes spawn vehicles nearby.

Weapons and Combat Improvements

Though it has slightly less melee weapons than Vice City, San Andreas offers 38 weapons in total. This includes classics like the M4, Spaz 12, Tech9, Flamethrower, and Minigun along with new weapons like the Heat-Seeking Rocket Launcher and Desert Eagle, not to mention tools like Night Vision, Thermal Vision and Parachutes (which required rethinking the series’ fall damage system). Combat is also heavily revamped over previous games with options like dual wielding firearms, revamped crosshairs which become darker as the enemy’s health decreases, and auto-aim improvements. Again, how the GTA 5 style controls will factor into The Definitive Edition remains to be seen but it’s the best in the 3D trilogy up till this point.

12 Radio Stations

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also features the most number of radio stations in the series with Playback FM providing classic East Coast Hip Hop like Public Enemy; K-DST offering classic rock tracks like The WHO and Billy Idol; and Radio Los Santos with its West Coast Hip Hop like Dr. Dre, 2Pac and much more. You even have WCTR, a talk radio station with a variety of programs and shows. There are 12 stations in total with one custom station for adding your own songs. While previous titles have  had a custom playlist option, San Andreas offers more options like shuffling, and adding commercials between songs. You can also have your playlist function as a normal radio station.

22.679 GB on PS4 and PS5

PlayStation Game Size on Twitter estimates the total size of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition to be about 39 GB on PS4 and PS5. GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition takes up 22.679 GB, making it the biggest game in the trilogy. Those curious about the general quality of the remaster can also check it out on Xbox Game Pass – it arrives for the service as a standalone release on the same day.

Certain tracks that have been heard in recent leaked gameplay footage haven’t been listed like Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s Love Missile F1-11. Still, there are over 200 songs across 29 radio stations with higher quality audio at 16bit 44 hz along with support for 5.1 Surround Sound.

In the meantime, the full tracklist for all three remasters can be viewed below, helpfully organized by radio station.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is out tomorrow for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. It’s slated to release next year for iOS and Android. Pre-loads are currently available for all consoles but PC players must wait till the game is live to download it. For more details on the biggest changes in the trilogy, head here.

TRACK LIST

Grand Theft Auto 3 – The Definitive Edition

Flashback FM

• Rush Rush – Debbie Harry
• Shake It Up – Elizabeth Daily
• Scarface (Push It to the Limit) – Paul Engemann
• She’s On Fire – Amy Holland
• I’m Hot Tonight – Elizabeth Daily

Head Radio

• Stripe Summer – Dil-Don’t
• Good Thing – Whatever
• Fade Away – Craig Gray
• Change – Conor and Jay
• See Through You – Frankie Fame
• Electronic Go Go – Scatwerk
• Life Is But A Mere Supply – Dezma

Rise FM

• Shake (Revolt Clogrock Remix) – Chris Walsh & Dave Beran
• Deep Time – Shiver
• Innerbattle – R.R.D.S.
• Score (Original Mix) – Slyder
• Neo (The One) – Slyder

Game FM

• Scary Movies (Instrumental) – Reef
• We’re Live (Danger) – Royce Da 5’9″
• Nature Freestyle – Nature
• JoJo Pellegrino Freestyle – JoJo Pellegrino
• Spit Game – Royce Da 5’9″ & Pretty Ugly
• I’m the King – Royce Da 5’9″
• Instrumental Bed 1 (Andy Thelusma) – Rush
• By a Stranger – Black Rob
• Rising to the Top – Agallah & Sean Price
• Instrumental Bed 2 (Andy Thelusma) – Rush

MSX FM

• Quagmire – Calyx (2001)
• Get Wild – Rascal & Klone
• Judgement Day – Ryme Tyme
• Force – Hex
• First Contact – Omni Trio
• Spectre – Aquasky
• Winner Takes All – Rascal & Klone
• T Minus – Ryme Tyme
• Spasm – nCode
• Monolith – D. Kay
• Iceberg – Dom & Ryme Tyme
• Agent 007 – TJ Rizing

Lips 106

• Bump To The Music by Fatamarse
• Feels Like I Just Can’t Take No More – April’s in Paris
• Forever – Lucy
• Pray It Goes OK? – Boyz 2 Girls
• Grand Theft Auto – Da Shootaz
• Rubber Tip – Funky BJs

K-JAH

• Dance of the Vampires – Scientist
  Your Teeth In My Neck – Scientist
  The Corpse Rises – Scientist
  The Mummy’s Shroud – Scientist
  Plague of Zombies – Scientist

Double Clef FM

• Non più andrai farfallone amoroso – Mozart
• O mio babbino caro – Puccini
• Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (La Traviata Drinking Song) – Verdi
• Chi mi frena in tal momento – Donizetti
• La donna è mobile – Verdi
• Finch’han del vino – Mozart

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition

Emotion 98.3

• Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
• Tempted – Squeeze
• Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
• (I Just) Died in Your Arms – Cutting Crew
• More Than This – Roxy Music
• Africa – Toto
• Broken Wings – Mr. Mister
• Crockett’s Theme – Jan Hammer
• Sister Christian – Night Ranger
• Never Too Much – Luther Vandross

V-Rock

• I Wanna Rock – Twisted Sister
• Too Young to Fall in Love – Mötley Crüe
• Dangerous Bastard – Love Fist
• 2 Minutes to Midnight – Iron Maiden
• Cumin’ Atcha Live – Tesla
• Turn Up the Radio – Autograph
• Peace Sells – Megadeth
• Madhouse – Anthrax
• Raining Blood – Slayer
• You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
• Yankee Rose – David Lee Roth

Wave 103

• Two Tribes – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• (Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human League
• Atomic – Blondie
• 99 Luftballons – Nena
• Kids in America – Kim Wilde
• Pale Shelter – Tears for Fears
• Sunglasses at Night – Corey Hart
• I Ran (So Far Away) – A Flock of Seagulls
• Love My Way – The Psychedelic Furs
• Gold – Spandau Ballet
• Hyperactive! – Thomas Dolby
• Never Say Never – Romeo Void

Wildstyle

• Pump Me Up – Trouble Funk
• One for the Treble (Vocal Mix) – Davy DMX
• Clear – Cybotron
• Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (B-Side) – Hashim
• Get It Girl – 2 Live Crew
• Rock Box – Run-D.M.C
• Bassline (Club Version) – Mantronix
• Magic’s Wand – Whodini
• More Bounce to the Ounce – Zapp & Roger
• The Message – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
• The Breaks – Kurtis Blow
• Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don’t Stop) (Remix) – Man Parrish

Fever 105

• And the Beat Goes On – The Whispers
• Act Like You Know – Fat Larry’s Band
• Get Down Saturday Night – Oliver Cheatham
• Automatic – The Pointer Sisters
• I’ll Be Good – René & Angela
• All Night Long – Mary Jane Girls
• Ghetto Life – Rick James
• Shame – Evelyn “Champagne” King
• Behind the Groove – Teena Marie
• Juicy Fruit – Mtume
• Summer Madness – Kool & the Gang
• Last Night a DJ Saved My Life – Indeep

Flash FM

• Out of Touch – Hall and Oates
• Dance Hall Days – Wang Chung
• Self Control – Laura Branigan
• Call Me – Go West
• Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain) – INXS
• Run to You – Bryan Adams
• Four Little Diamonds – Electric Light Orchestra
• Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
• Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
• Japanese Boy – Aneka
• Life’s What You Make It – Talk Talk
• Your Love – The Outfield
• Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
• One Thing Leads to Another – The Fixx

Radio Espantoso

• A Gozar Con Mi Combo – Cachao
• The Bull is Wrong – Alpha Banditos
• Yo Te Miré – Tres Apenas Como Eso
• Latin Flute – Deodato
• Mama Papa Tú – Mongo Santamaría
• Me and You Baby (Picao y Tostao) – Mongo Santamaría
• Mambo Mucho Mambo – Machito and his Afro-Cuban Orchestra
• La Vida Es Una Lenteja – Unaesta
• Expansions – Lonnie Liston Smith
• Super Strut – Deodato
• Jamay – Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra
• Maracaibo Oriental – Benny Moré
• Mambo Gozón – Tito Puente

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition

Bounce FM

• Let It Whip – Dazz Band
• Hollywood Swinging – Kool & the Gang
• Candy – Cameo
• Love Is The Message – MFSB
• Odyssey – Johnny Harris
• Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players
• Between The Sheets – The Isley Brothers
• I Can Make You Dance – Zapp
• Cold Blooded – Rick James
• West Coast Poplock – Ronnie Hudson and The Street People
• Loopzilla – George Clinton
• Funky Worm – Ohio Players
• Twilight – Maze
• Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside

CSR 103.9

• I’m So Into You – SWV
• Keep On Movin’ – Soul II Soul
• So You Like What You See – Samuelle
• Rub You the Right Way – Johnny Gill
• Sensitivity – Ralph Tresvant
• Groove Me – Guy
• Don’t Be Afraid – Aaron Hall
• Motownphilly – Boyz II Men
• Poison – Bell Biv DeVoe
• I Got the Feeling – Today
• New Jack Swing – Wreckx-n-Effect
• Don’t Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
• My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) – En Vogue

K-DST

• Slow Ride – Foghat
• Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Barracuda – Heart
• Strutter – Kiss
• Hold the Line – Toto
• Young Turks – Rod Stewart
• Get Down to It – Humble Pie
• Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad
• Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• A Horse with No Name – America
• Eminence Front – The Who
• Smokin’ – Boston
• Somebody Up There Likes Me – David Bowie
• Two Tickets to Paradise – Eddie Money
• White Wedding – Billy Idol

K-JAH West

• Wicked Inna Bed – Shabba Ranks
• Batty Rider – Buju Banton
• King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown – Augustus Pablo
• Revolution – Dennis Brown
• Armagideon Time – Willi Williams
• Sidewalk Killer – I-Roy
• Funky Kingston – Toots & The Maytals
• Cocaine In My Brain – Dillinger
• Pressure Drop – Toots & The Maytals
• Bam Bam – Pliers
• Here I Come – Barrington Levy
• Drum Pan Sound – Reggie Stepper
• Great Train Robbery – Black Uhuru
• Chase The Devil – Max Romeo & The Upsetters

K-Rose

• Amos Moses – Jerry Reed
• Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man – Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
• Hey Good Lookin’ – Hank Williams
• Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
• New York City – Statler Brothers
• The Letter That Johnny Walker Read – Asleep At The Wheel
• One Step Forward – The Desert Rose Band
• Crazy – Willie Nelson
• Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray – Patsy Cline
• Bed of Roses – The Statler Brothers
• Make the World Go Away – Mickey Gilley
• Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys – Ed Bruce
• Always Wanting You – Merle Haggard
• All My Ex’s Live in Texas – Whitey Shafer
• I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt

Radio Los Santos

• Hood Took Me Under – Compton’s Most Wanted
• Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
• The Ghetto – Too $hort
• Alwayz into Somethin’ – N.W.A.
• Check Yo Self (The Message Remix) – Ice Cube feat. Das EFX
• La Raza – Kid Frost
• How I Could Just Kill a Man – Cypress Hill
• Fuck wit Dre Day – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
• It’s Funky Enough – The D.O.C.
• It Was a Good Day – Ice Cube
• Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn – Eazy-E
• Murder Rap – Above the Law
• Deep Cover – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
• Guerillas in tha Mist – Da Lench Mob feat. Ice Cube

Radio X

• Unsung – Helmet
• Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode
• Midlife Crisis – Faith No More
• Mother – Danzig
• Cult of Personality – Living Colour
• Movin’ on Up – Primal Scream
• Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
• Pretend We’re Dead – L7
• Rusty Cage – Soundgarden
• Been Caught Stealing – Jane’s Addiction
• Fools Gold – The Stone Roses
• Them Bones – Alice in Chains
• Plush – Stone Temple Pilots

Playback FM

• Road to the Riches – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
• Warm It Up, Kane – Big Daddy Kane
• The Godfather – Spoonie Gee
• Me and the Biz – Masta Ace
• Children’s Story – Slick Rick
• Rebel Without a Pause – Public Enemy
• I Know You Got Soul – Eric B. & Rakim
• It Takes Two – Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
• B.Y.S. – Gang Starr
• Vapors – Biz Markie
• Brand Nubian – Brand Nubian

Master Sounds 98.3

• Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back) – Maceo & The Macks
• Smokin’ Cheeba Cheeba – Harlem Underground Band
• Jungle Fever – The Chakachas
• Nautilus – Bob James
• Green Onions – Booker T. & the MG’s
• Hot Pants – I’m Coming, I’m Coming, I’m Coming – Bobby Byrd
• Rock Me Again And Again – Lyn Collins
• Soul Power’ 74 – Maceo & The Macks
• I Know You Got Soul – Bobby Byrd
• Think (About It) – Lyn Collins
• Low Rider – War
• Tainted Love – Gloria Jones
• (I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind – Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul

SF-UR

• Promised Land – Joe Smooth feat. Anthony Thomas
• Pacific 202 – 808 State
• Voodoo Ray – A Guy Called Gerald
• Your Love – Frankie Knuckles feat. Jamie Principle
• Break 4 Love – Raze
• Ma Foom Bey – Cultural Vibe
• Make My Body Rock – Jomanda
• Someday – CeCe Rogers
• Let The Music Use You – Nightwriters
• Can You Feel It? – Mr. Fingers
• Move Your Body – Marshall Jefferson
• This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze) (K & T Mix) – Maurice
• Weekend – The Todd Terry Project
• The Morning After (Sunrise Mix) – Fallout
• I’ll Be Your Friend (Original DEF Mix) – Robert Owens
• I Need A Rhythm – The 28th Street Crew

That’s not all though – okayjosh on YouTube also uploaded footage of Grand Theft Auto 3 – The Definitive Edition and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition. Overall, there’s a world of difference from the older games with much better draw distance and improved environmental textures. Even the revamped character models look pretty good and in keeping with the original aesthetic. The new checkpoint system can also be seen in action.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition arrives tomorrow for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. It’s currently available to pre-load on Xbox and PlayStation platforms along with Nintendo Switch while PC players will have to wait until launch to download it. Stay tuned for more details on the title in the coming days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE5c6jZpvSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk706HvkZlU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWXkvH207s&t=2s