Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered – A Nostalgic Trip Marred by Imperfections
Contents
Released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas remains an iconic entry in the GTA franchise and a testament to Rockstar’s storytelling prowess. Its vast open world, encompassing three sprawling cities, coupled with RPG elements and engaging minigames, set a new benchmark for the series. This remaster, part of the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, aimed to revitalize this classic for a modern audience while fans await the next GTA installment. However, the remaster, developed by Grove Street Games, has been met with mixed reactions due to technical issues and questionable design choices. This review examines the version 1.03 update of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered, exploring its strengths and weaknesses.
Carl Johnson returns to Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Grove Street Families in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
A Return to San Andreas
The game’s narrative centers on Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to his hometown of Los Santos after five years of self-imposed exile. Driven by his mother’s murder, CJ finds himself entangled with corrupt police officers who manipulate him into carrying out their dirty work. This sets the stage for a compelling journey through Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas, a fictionalized portrayal of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, respectively.
Visual Enhancements and Modern Conveniences
The most immediate improvement in the remaster is the graphical overhaul. From the environment and vehicles to character models, the visuals have received a significant upgrade. The implementation of Unreal Engine 4 replaces the dated RenderWare engine, resulting in improved lighting, shadows, and overall fidelity.
Enhanced visuals in countryside of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Improved graphics in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
While not on par with modern AAA titles, the visual leap from the original is undeniable. The enhanced graphics even reveal details previously obscured, such as the face of CJ’s mother, Beverly Johnson. Beyond the visuals, the remaster incorporates quality-of-life improvements found in Grand Theft Auto V, including a GPS-enabled map, weapon and radio station selection wheels, and autosaving after missions. Failed missions now offer an instant retry option, eliminating the need to respawn at a hospital or police station.
Enhanced lighting and textures in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Improved character models in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Further enhancements include added details to previously barren environments, a more diverse range of NPC clothing, and a preview feature for clothing and haircuts in shops. The game also boasts a 60fps performance, at least on suitable PC hardware.
Persistent Issues and Design Oversights
Despite the version 1.03 update addressing several technical glitches, such as the visually impairing rain effect and the infamous invisible bridge, numerous design flaws persist. These range from awkward character animations, like CJ’s contorted spine while sitting and peculiar bicycle riding posture, to misplaced weapon models and graphical inconsistencies.
CJ's distorted pose in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Graphical glitches in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Character model issues in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
More egregious examples include CJ’s distorted face during the “Home Invasion” mission due to a missing mask and NPCs exhibiting unnatural behavior, such as sleeping with their eyes open or police officers ignoring a wanted criminal.
In-game menu preview in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Environmental details in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Updated interiors in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
The overuse of AI upscaling for NPC character models has also resulted in some jarring visuals that clash with the game’s semi-realistic art style. These lingering issues raise concerns about the development process and what Rockstar considers a “Definitive Edition.”
Clothing preview feature in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Character animation issues in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Awkward character poses in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Conclusion
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered offers a nostalgic return to a beloved classic, with noticeable visual improvements and welcome quality-of-life changes. However, the numerous technical and design flaws detract from the overall experience, leaving players with a sense of unfulfilled potential. While the updates have addressed some issues, the remaining problems prevent this remaster from truly living up to the “Definitive Edition” moniker. Hopefully, future patches will address these shortcomings and deliver the polished experience that fans deserve.
Gun model clipping issue in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Graphical inconsistencies in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
NPC issues in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
NPC glitches in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Environmental details in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Remastered
Comments (0)