this game is highly highly overrated.  at first i thought it was really good too, until i started playing more.  when you think of grand theft auto, you think of riding around, doing whatever you want, mugging people and killing cops, right?  well, this game seems to embrace those gaming ideals, but unfortunately it's all a lie.  this game is actually completely linear.  if you want to ride around doing whatever you want, i've got news for you - first of all you won't have much to do, and second you'll be dead or in jail really quick.  mug or kill someone and the police are on to you.  there's a 5 star level of how wanted you are.  at 2 stars, you'll be chased all over the map no matter where or how fast you go.  you will not be able to kill the police or evade them.  your only choice is to go to a spray shop, pay $100 to get your car painted so the cops won't recognize you.  this gets old really fast.  it's linear because there are actually missions you have to complete, and you can't pick and choose which ones to do.  the missions are cool, but just now i played one where you have to win a lowrider hydraulics contest.  you have to keep your hydraulics in time with the music.  unfortunately i couldn't figure out how to do this or if i didn't know some of the controls, so i fail the mission, and i can't move forward in the game until i win the contest!!  in my opinion that's really lame.  it reduces this whole game to a simple "press this button in time with this music" game.  yes, the music, the atmosphere and the dialogue is all wonderful and hilarious.  driving around listneing to gangsta music and shooting people is fun.  the details and ideas put into this game are really cool, but the design of the actual gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.
this game is highly highly overrated. at first i thought it was really good too, until i started playing more. when you think of grand theft auto, you think of riding around, doing whatever you want, mugging people and killing cops, right? well, this game seems to embrace those gaming ideals, but unfortunately it's all a lie. this game is actually completely linear. if you want to ride around doing whatever you want, i've got news for you - first of all you won't have much to do, and second you'll be dead or in jail really quick. mug or kill someone and the police are on to you. there's a 5 star level of how wanted you are. at 2 stars, you'll be chased all over the map no matter where or how fast you go. you will not be able to kill the police or evade them. your only choice is to go to a spray shop, pay $100 to get your car painted so the cops won't recognize you. this gets old really fast. it's linear because there are actually missions you have to complete, and you can't pick and choose which ones to do. the missions are cool, but just now i played one where you have to win a lowrider hydraulics contest. you have to keep your hydraulics in time with the music. unfortunately i couldn't figure out how to do this or if i didn't know some of the controls, so i fail the mission, and i can't move forward in the game until i win the contest!! in my opinion that's really lame. it reduces this whole game to a simple "press this button in time with this music" game. yes, the music, the atmosphere and the dialogue is all wonderful and hilarious. driving around listneing to gangsta music and shooting people is fun. the details and ideas put into this game are really cool, but the design of the actual gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.