Finally Beat GTA San Andreas After 20 Years

I first touched GTA San Andreas on the PlayStation 2 back in college. I only played one or two quests at the time, but I loved the game. It left a lasting impression on me, and I carried the memory of it for years.

About ten years ago, I purchased the game on Steam. However, for some reason, I never got around to playing it. Life just got in the way, I guess.

Thinking back to my college days, I remember the good times playing GTA Vice City and GTA 3 with my buddy. We really enjoyed those games, especially driving tanks through the streets. It was chaotic and fun in the best way possible.

In 2010, I got GTA Vice City Stories for the PSP. I was impressed that I could have a full console experience on a handheld device. Even now, I think I can still remember the Vice City layout. I loved doing stunts in the streets and alleys whenever I found the chance.

A few weeks ago, I picked up my Steam Deck and accidentally loaded GTA San Andreas. I was instantly reminded of the experience of riding a bike on the country roads between Los Santos and San Fierro. The country music playing in the background added to the vibe, and I really enjoyed it. However, I never made it to Las Venturas until now.

The walkthrough took me almost 120 hours to complete, but I enjoyed every single minute of it. Sure, the graphics feel outdated now, but the story and the radio stations remain epic. They really made the game stand out.

I haven’t touched any of Rockstar’s more recent games, but I do have them sitting in my Steam library. Red Dead Redemption, GTA 4, and GTA 5 are all waiting for me. I need to find time to experience them. However, none of them seem to click with me the same way. I guess I’m just trying to complete what I left off when I was young. In fact, I’ve noticed that I’m generally more interested in revisiting older games I saw or played before than trying out new IPs.

It feels great to finally finish GTA San Andreas after all these years. It was definitely worth the wait.