Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Also known as: GTA: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: SA, Grand Theft Auto: SA

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Battle of the GTAs

We've rated the clones - now let's see how the originals stack up against each other

Words: Mikel Reparaz, GamesRadar US

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Ever since the release of 2001's groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto III, there've been seemingly hundreds of games that shamelessly rip off its free-roaming, carjacking open-world formula. But as hard as the pretenders try, there's still only one GTA.

Actually, that's not quite true. There are nine. Can't have that, can we? Grand Theft Auto IV seems poised to take the crown as the definitive chapter in the series - something that we'll have a better idea about when the trailer hits tomorrow - but that still leaves a gaping power vacuum between now and October. Since we've already gone and decided which of the clones was the best, it seems only fair to comb back through the series that started it all and pick an alpha thug from its ranks. So from start to finish, we'll look at every game the series has produced so far - excluding potentially-connected spinoffs like Manhunt and Bully - and then, once we've weighed the strengths and weaknesses of each, we'll make them all fight and crown the survivor as kingpin.

Let's get this fight started, shall we?

March 28, 2007