GTA: San Andreas - 10 Reasons It's Still The Best In The Series

5. The Stat System

Role-playing elements are starting to creep into many genres and series but few would have expected to see them popping up in Grand Theft Auto. Still, stats play a crucial role in San Andreas as they dictate the effectiveness of CJ's skills and abilities. Nearly everything has a stat meter (driving, flying, gun types, stamina) and levelling them up and improving CJ's skillset is essential for completing the harder missions in the game. In many games, a system like this could have been a complete pain. San Andreas features very little micromanaging though; most skills level up through regular play and it's never too time-consuming to go out and increase a specific stat to max. Utilising the gym is a great way to boost stats like stamina and muscle - vital stats for the vast majority of missions throughout. There's hidden bonuses to leveling up specific stats too. When CJ is fully advanced in handguns or SMGs, he can duel wield two of the weapons at a time, increasing your ability to dish out destruction by an incredible amount. Also did anyone else do the 'shoot the car tires' glitch for this? Let us know in the comments. It might seem pointless, but the sense of advancement found in San Andreas is fleshed out really well, especially when compared to the rest of the series. It's the first game where you can actually feel the hero improving as the game progresses, and it works beautifully.