GTA: San Andreas - Mobile gets a real console game

...and how the streets have changed, am I right?

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 as a sequel to the series coming after the neon flavored Vice City in 2002, but before the 2008 let-down Grand Theft Auto IV. As far as the GTA games go San Andreas is the one I remember most. It had the larger map, new vehicles and weapons, expanded side missions and character customization, full-length storyline and the first multiplayer functionality in a GTA game. The game itself was put into the Game Edition of the Guinness Book of Records in 2009 as the most successful game released on the PlayStation 2 with 17.33 million copies sold. Two years later Kotaku stated that it had sold over 27.5 million copies worldwide!

Now, 10 years after it's release, the Windows Store has added this game of legendary status to it's arsenal.

If you've heard anyone go off on the "Tablet Wars" you must know that the Windows tablets have had a late start and the proof of how far behind they really are can be found in the Windows Store. Only a handful of notable games have been added and the users are feeling that pain. Apparently Windows did it's research on what kinds of games have sold well because they took the best one they could find.

At $6.99 this is an amazing addition to the store and anybody who played it back then will be tempted. But can this decade old masterpiece of a game bring some hope to the barren wasteland that is the Windows Store?

This review is not focused on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The game has been reviewed, re-reviewed, revisited, ported and on the news more than once. You don't need me to tell you if you want to play this game. You either do or you don't, and since you're here, you probably do. This review is taking a look at the idea of putting it onto Windows Tablets, it's gameplay and it's issues.

HOWEVER!

I would like to touch on the fact that this game (by itself) holds up surprisingly well after so much time. The music is still great. The voice acting by David Cross, James Woods, Samuel L. Jackson and everyone else is amazing. There's a great storyline, which helps unlock a lot of the games features. Graphics in the GTA games always have their quirks but I feel like the slight blockiness add to the personality of the game.

What I'm trying to say is, yes, after 10 years the game itself is still amazing.

When it comes to an open world game with so much going on in it the first question is 'does it run?' Everyone has been in that crazy fit of rage when they pay for a game or an app and find out that it doesn't even work well on your device. It's infuriating.

The short answer is yes. Yes it does run.

The machine I use is the original Surface 32gb and I'm happy to say it performs almost how you'd expect it to. The GTA games are known for their bushes and street lights suddenly popping into existence (and being made out of titanium apparently) but they've never really been an issue as far as playability. Well the same is true for this version. The bushes, street lights and the occasional building send you flying off your motorcycle only to bleed into the game half a second later. Since this is an old problem I wont hold it against the RT.

That isn't to say there isn't any problems. They give you touchscreen controls and it took me all of 10 seconds to pause the game and fish out my USB mouse. I prefer the keyboard if I can use it and especially with a game where they make you race low riders through the city. If you're more hardcore than me and you made it through this game on touch screen alone, more power to you but I prefer some more exact controls.

Another issue that needs more attention is the game freezes. I understand that it's a lot to expect a tablet to be able to run console games without sending me to the home screen but repeating missions is just intolerable after the first two times playing through.

The game also has some slow down issues when there is too much going on but it catches up shortly after. I've never found the slow down bad enough to get mad about.

Whether this is your first visit to Los Santos or you've seen all of San Fierro this game has a lot of playability and has a lot to offer any type of gamer. I believe it's addition to the Windows Store will make other companies think again. The store is wide open and companies, big and small, would be wise to take advantage of this open field.

On the Windows RT it does have many bugs but the game only came out a week or two ago so I suspect things will get better as updates roll out. And I'm sure once I have enough money to get a controller for my tablet the gameplay will be even better.

Well, that's what I think. But I'd love to know what you think! Leave questions, comments or just reminisce about how great this game is below!