The Xbox version of the game also features a Replay mode that will show you the last 30 seconds of action, allowing you to relive your greatest moments over and over again. Unfortunately, this seems like more of a gimmick than anything, as you can only watch it over and over (without sound, I might add). You can't save your replays for posterity, a feature that would have come in handy when you've got a roomful of friends over. Oh, and would it be too much to ask (at least for the next generation) to be able to share the videos over Xbox Live? Just think of the possibilities...

The one area where San Andreas for the Xbox pales in comparison to the PS2 version is in the area of control. There are a few minor problems, mostly due to the fact that the Xbox features those annoying little black and white buttons, which make completing complicated button combos a bit tough at times. This is never more evident than when you want to perform a drive-by. You'll first need to press down one of the colored buttons, then push the A or B button to fire your weapon (the left trigger, which usually fires your weapon, is the brake when you're driving). As you can imagine, this requires you to twist your hand in a way that certainly can't be good for it. This minor issue aside, the game's controls are generally not a problem at all.


Even though the title is largely the same game that we saw back in October of last year, there's no denying that this entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is the best ever. I played through the game when it came out for the PS2, and I can honestly say that I'm having a blast playing it again. It looks and sounds better than ever, which more than makes up for the minor control issues. If you've been searching for the best Grand Theft Auto experience around, look no further: San Andreas is the real deal.