This is a game that was beyond hype from the time of its release. Few series at this time instilled this much fervor in the community with controversy, acclaim, and redefining video game convention as a whole. To say it was highly anticipated is an understatement. Its online marketing and teasers pushed fans - and myself - to the limits of listlessness with the promises and possibilities for gameplay. After revisiting, to dismiss it as a simple open-world crime fantasy is not only reductionist, but an insult to the medium pushed as interactive art and exemplifies what video game writing and stories could be.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas delves closer to reality than its predecessors, taking true accounts of U.S. police/government corruption and contextualizing/fictionalizing to the GTA universe: from a microcosmic to macro scope of the war on drugs, purposeful sabotage and racial divide of minority communities, illegal CIA funding with drug money ala cocaine money and funding Contras, and the violent displacement and schism created with malice from these institutions. I read some reviewer saying it was an anti-drug theme and moral to the game. Rather than simplifying with a statement like that, it's more what occurs with government self-interest and moral rot in these institutions and organizations; from showing how disenfranchised folk can end up like Smoke or OG LOC due to having the biggest role model and examples pushed to the destitute and those without any upward mobility in life: morally bankrupt entrepreneurship at the expense of allowing hedonistic opportunities for profit by capitalists; the idea of 'success' as we see it ultimately corrupt normal people - the flagship and naive aspiration for anyone in a destitute position and instilling a 'by any means necessary' ethos in the worst possible way. It's the American example and easily skewed epitome of what everyday people can misconstrue as the requisite - this twisted Scarface model people mistaking for the complete opposite message, and purposefully being fed this false notion.

It's a reflection of the values or lack there of which they've grown into and seen people in power as achieving wealth and success; the false 'self-made man' paradigm and 'American Dream' parable falsely fed - furthering the idea that only the self, not community, can propel you forward which is ultimately proven false in spades in this games story. CJ and his community dismantle corruption with the hand they're dealt with and successfully bringing communities together towards the same goal. While they manipulate and play the system, creating a mini revolution, they're still very much ensnared in it, and begs the question: what truly brings change; how do you successfully bring revolution to all; and is it all all possible to do so without direct action as Malcolm X and others have stated is the only means of bringing change? CJ met success for the micro, yet the lingering macro of the state and world still continue.

The end almost reminded me of Freddy Hampton's cry for communities from different backgrounds coming together collectively and strengthening their voices to enact change. It shows how every community and walk of life is part of a greater picture and collectively being led astray. By integrating different walks of life in its story from lower criminal organizations to growers, dealers, people in the fringes trying to make a piece for themself and either work in tandem or in secret amongst these restrictions, San Andreas shows the how they all align into the same funnel; how these institutions at play purposefully exploit and use them; how they're just as opportunistic, corrupt, and hedonistic; and the relativity of benefit these arbitrary laws or actions for those in power - the only capitalists allowed are the ones already calling the shots. It's a small club, and if you're not in it, you're out.

Replaying as an adult I can see now the overall message it tries to show, and it does so with amazing focus and success overall - a precursor to RDRII, MP3, and ofc GTA4 expanding on these themes. However, GTA: San Andreas does this in the best example imo showing the labyrinthian entanglement of every single level of crime, drugs, and corruption reach. Its incredible satire and needed a protagonist like CJ, the everyday man who is on the cusp of epiphany yet still very much small picture, to depict something like this; and honestly the closest The Wire will ever in video game form. It's an example of satire perfected with wit, crass, and tongue-in-cheek critique easily palatable to anyone. Wild this even got made.