You play as Carl Johnson, returning to his home of Los Santos after 5 years away. Plenty has changed over the years, and Carl sets about getting his gang's reputation and influence back. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' gameplay is classic GTA - tons of cinematic cut scenes, varied missions and lots of mini games, spread over a free roaming sandbox world.

What defines Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas more than anything is the scale. It's hugely ambitious, set in a massive state featuring three big cities, and plenty of countryside. The campaign is enormous, and there is plenty more to do beside. The storyline, a rags to riches tale, may not be massively original but it's well told with excellent acting and lots of memorable and funny characters. The radio stations are excellent, with a great mix of 90s music and hilarious adverts.

There are points where the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be frustrating for some. Racing cars in the countryside can be pretty slippy for instance, and building up Carl's lungs for swimming underwater takes too long. Some of the missions are a little annoying too, but hey are eclipsed by the best moments of the game and the amount of fun you can have roaming the state, enjoying the sites and creating havoc!

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a milestone in sandbox gaming. It's violent and very much an adult game, and while it has gameplay flaws, the overall achievement and the fun you can have playing are pretty much unbeatable.

Download Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in Softonic

Since the original Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games has gone from strength to strength, with the GTA series exploding. This partly due to the game's fantastic sandbox approach, giving players an incredible feeling of space and control. The game takes place in three different cities: Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City and you earn points by causing damage, car sales and cashing in your criminal activities. Anyone who knows their cultural references is also going to enjoy Grand Theft Auto's subtle references to Miami Vice and Scarface.

At first Grand Theft Auto seems a bit superficial. After a while playing, you notice that the game is addictive, with bunches of clever little touches that make it really fun. If you listen to the radio while driving, for example, you'll find 7 radio stations with really professional-sounding - but invented - hits.

Although it looks dated now, Grand Theft Auto is a classic game that you absolutely can not miss.

Download Grand Theft Auto Volume 1 in Softonic