This review is intended for people who are wondering if this version of San Andreas is at all playable. I've previously played this game on Playstation 2 and Xbox, and I also own the original Steam version, so a few weeks ago I was also wondering whether to even bother with this.

Just to get it out of the way, the Definitive Edition is not a good example of how to do a remaster. Many of the original bugs remain in the game, some of the songs are missing due to expired copyrights, and I've even encountered some new issues during my playthrough in the form of glitches that could've been gamebreaking, but were easy to resolve.

The graphics of this version are hit/miss. Truth be told, the original San Andreas looked bad even at the time of release; the 3D universe of GTA games were really more about the gameplay and extracting as much performance from the PS2 console as possible through all sorts of dark coding rituals. The result was nothing short of a technological marvel at the time, but not one that was always easy on the eyes. Still, the hazy, orange aesthetic of Los Santos in particular gave the game a nostalgic, early '90s vibe that went really well with the game's story and setting.

The Definitive Edition doesn't always succeed in preserving that particular aesthetic, so if you are looking for a full-on nostalgia trip, then this is perhaps not the best way to experience it. On the other hand, this version does look better in places. Not GTA V level good by any stretch of the imagination, but sharper than the original. There are some issues, however, with rendering distant objects, which may appear as undefined blobs until you get closer. Also, being able to see Mount Chiliad and the skyline of San Fierro from across the map sort of ruins the illusion of the map size, but it is what it is.

As said, I own the original Steam version as well, but what made me end up choosing the Definitive Edition for a new playthrough was the convenience of it. Full controller support and being able to seamlessly switch between that and kb/m was a definite blessing, since in the Steam version I had to go into the task manager and disable a bunch of things to even get the kb/m to work somewhat properly (and repeat this step every time I started up the game), and the less said about the controller support the better.

The Definitive Edition also has a few quality-of-life changes, such as a weapon wheel, as well as a checkpoint system that makes it a bit easier to work your way through the missions. They also made the Supply Lines mission easier by giving the RC plane a lot more fuel and armor. My 100% playthrough of the original is too long ago for me to notice any other concrete differences, but I did feel like I had an easier time getting to 100% this time around.

In the end, the Definitive Edition of this game is kinda half-assed and does as many things wrong as it does right, but truth be told, it was mostly fine to relive San Andreas in a hassle-free manner. You might be able to curate a better experience by modding the original, but if you're like me and you just want to (re)play this game without jumping through hoops, the Definitive Edition allows you to do that without too many issues. On the other hand, if you're looking for an experience that is true to the original, then just find a copy of said original on your (retro) platform of choice.

This review is intended for people who are wondering if this version of San Andreas is at all playable. I've previously played this game on Playstation 2 and Xbox, and I also own the original Steam version, so a few weeks ago I was also wondering whether to even bother with this. Just to get it out of the way, the Definitive Edition is not a good example of how to do a remaster. Many of the original bugs remain in the game, some of the songs are missing due to expired copyrights, and I've even encountered some new issues during my playthrough in the form of glitches that could've been gamebreaking, but were easy to resolve. The graphics of this version are hit/miss. Truth be told, the original San Andreas looked bad even at the time of release; the 3D universe of GTA games were really more about the gameplay and extracting as much performance from the PS2 console as possible through all sorts of dark coding rituals. The result was nothing short of a technological marvel at the time, but not one that was always easy on the eyes. Still, the hazy, orange aesthetic of Los Santos in particular gave the game a nostalgic, early '90s vibe that went really well with the game's story and setting. The Definitive Edition doesn't always succeed in preserving that particular aesthetic, so if you are looking for a full-on nostalgia trip, then this is perhaps not the best way to experience it. On the other hand, this version does look better in places. Not GTA V level good by any stretch of the imagination, but sharper than the original. There are some issues, however, with rendering distant objects, which may appear as undefined blobs until you get closer. Also, being able to see Mount Chiliad and the skyline of San Fierro from across the map sort of ruins the illusion of the map size, but it is what it is. As said, I own the original Steam version as well, but what made me end up choosing the Definitive Edition for a new playthrough was the convenience of it. Full controller support and being able to seamlessly switch between that and kb/m was a definite blessing, since in the Steam version I had to go into the task manager and disable a bunch of things to even get the kb/m to work somewhat properly (and repeat this step every time I started up the game), and the less said about the controller support the better. The Definitive Edition also has a few quality-of-life changes, such as a weapon wheel, as well as a checkpoint system that makes it a bit easier to work your way through the missions. They also made the Supply Lines mission easier by giving the RC plane a lot more fuel and armor. My 100% playthrough of the original is too long ago for me to notice any other concrete differences, but I did feel like I had an easier time getting to 100% this time around. In the end, the Definitive Edition of this game is kinda half-assed and does as many things wrong as it does right, but truth be told, it was mostly fine to relive San Andreas in a hassle-free manner. You might be able to curate a better experience by modding the original, but if you're like me and you just want to (re)play this game without jumping through hoops, the Definitive Edition allows you to do that without too many issues. On the other hand, if you're looking for an experience that is true to the original, then just find a copy of said original on your (retro) platform of choice.