You’re Driving

My insatiable lust for achievement points has taken me across a wide spectrum of gaming, but when was the last time I truly enjoyed myself? The answer is, of course, “in college”.

My gaming in college consisted of very few games. It’s not that I didn’t game a lot; it was just more of a group activity. There were days and nights lost to Guitar Hero, a never ending cycle of people playing Lego Star Wars dropping in and out, the PS2 was never off. As for a game I enjoyed on my own, I think that was my replay of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. I had bought it first time round on the PC (special edition none the less) after painfully avoiding it on the PS2, but miles away from home and seeing it for the princely sum of £12 I thought  ‘sure, why not’.

That was a few years ago and whilst San Andreas served its purpose I’ve never looked back. Grand Theft Auto IV came and went (as has its Episodes from Liberty City which I profess I enjoyed more than the main game) but I had never thought to return, until now.

Re-entering San Andreas I’ve come to the realisation that while I love this game, I hate CJ.

Carl Johnson, who had fled his violent Grove Street life to be a Car Jacker in Liberty City, returns to his family home to attend the funeral of his Mum who has been gunned down in a drive by (did any of us take this seriously?). After being greeted by Big Smoke (possibly the greatest gaming character ever, though why is he in the house?) CJ meets up with the rest of the Johnson’s including his brother Sweet, authority figure and vague moral compass (yes even in a GTA game).

I still can’t put a finger on why I dislike CJ so much. He could at any time catch a plane and leave the mess that ensues, but no, instead he leads a crusade to unite Los Santos under the control of the Grove Street gang and generally indulge in the thug life. It’s a preposterous concept, a game that encourages drive-by’s and building up a criminal empire, but these are the parts we remember least about Grand Theft Auto.

I think my gripe might stem from the fact that he is such a push over. A typical conversation at the start of a mission will follow a similar line to this:

Sweet: CJ, I hate you. I’d rather my other brother had lived and that you’d died. I blame you for my mother’s death. I hate you. You are a waste of oxygen, nothing would give me more pleasure than if you could travel back in time and feed yourself to a dinosaur. I hate you! I would just rather you were not here at all. I have a major problem with you; nothing you ever do will appease me! By the way, you’re driving.

CJ: A’ight, I’m down

Man up CJ!

Lead character aside, San Andreas is a brilliant over the top game; though I’m certainly glad GTA 4 reined things in and took a darker tone. I could have lived without some of the criminally difficult (no pun intended) missions, I’m looking at you remote control helicopter section!! Even though it was a massive game I still feel San Andreas was underutilized, in fact I’d hedge my bets GTA5 will be set there. Time will tell.

Playing the game again is a melancholy experience. No game pushed the old gen further, or crammed as much fun in. Games have come a long way since then though, the handling is frustratingly clunky until perseverance causes you to form a Zen-like relationship with the controls…and that may not be until half-way through the game. The story may have gotten a little lost along the way, but I had a blast reliving it. I may even be tempted to go for yet another playthrough. I’m sure out there and amongst you it has fans still.

I know that occasionally, very occasionally, I will pass a patch of graffiti with ‘Grove 4 life’ written on a wall and smile to myself. Grove 4 Life indeed.