GTA: San Andreas deserves a direct sequel
Rockstar has never revisited a protagonist in a Grand Theft Auto sequel, but GTA 5 hints that there’s more to it with the characters from San Andreas.
With the release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, eyes are on again Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, a title that deserves a direct sequel. Since the original release in 2004, GTA San Andreas has become one of the most beloved Grand Theft Auto titles, spawning a lasting legacy of memes, slang, and featured characters. With such a strong presence and a legacy lasting even nearly two decades after its initial release, San Andreas is a title that deserves a real sequel.
As franchise players know, different RGT the games take place at different times. Since the release of San Andreas, gamers have seen a slew of new games, the latest being Grand Theft Auto V. Although this is not a sequel to San Andreas, like GTA 5 takes place in the HD Universe and not the 3D Universe, the game contains a lot of nods in the direction of its predecessor, even sharing the same Los Santos setting. GTA 5 shows that the iconic Grove Street fell on Ballas territory. Ballas, as players of San Andreas will remember, were the purple-clad rivals of protagonist CJ’s faction, the Grove Street Families. This means that where the HD universe of GTA 5 is concerned, somewhere between the events of GTA San Andreas and GTA 5, something has gone horribly wrong for CJ and the families. This provides the perfect setup for a sequel to San Andreas, as he could explore how the Grove Street families lost control of their land.
It is not known what happened to Carl “CJ” Johnson, the protagonist of GTA San Andreas, or his brother and the other gang members after the events of the game. Lamar and Franklin speculate on what happened to San Andreas‘Grove Street families in GTA 5 during a mission. While Lamar’s speculations seem optimistic, they are said in a way that belies a darker meaning. After all, the events of San Andreas made it clear how important territory and family are to CJ and his brother, so it doesn’t seem likely they’ll all be leaving for no reason – something a direct sequel could explore.
GTA 5 has already put together a sequel to San Andreas
In the HD Universe, if the characters really exist there, there must be some good enough reason to chase CJ and the families off Grove Street long enough for the Ballas to take over. Franklin hints at the possibility that they met their untimely demise. However, it’s likely that CJ was not dead at the very least, at least not in outright gang warfare fashion. If the Ballas had killed CJ and Sweet after RGT: San Andreas, it seems unlikely that they kept it hidden. This kind of ambiguity could have been written to hastily explain why there was Ballas in Grove Street territory in the HD Universe, or it could have been intentionally included as ambiguous and mysterious dialogue to set up a consecutive title. involving the Grove Street families.
It is important to remember that San Andreas takes place in the 3D universe while GTA 5 is set in the HD Universe, which means that, as of now, CJ’s story may not have happened in the new RGT continuity. However, Rockstar Games has already recently returned to the 3D universe for the release of the GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. Although the outing was disastrous, Rockstar even apologized for the GTA Trilogyfailure, it paves the way for a sequel to San Andreas. The third part of the 3D universe RGT games is arguably the most iconic of the series, and with more and more players returning to the game or discovering it for the first time, there is a chance that a renewed interest in San Andreas could convince Rockstar to revisit its older characters.
This would however be quite unprecedented and could represent the biggest obstacle in a potential San Andreas sequel never materialized. Rockstar has yet to spotlight the same protagonist in a RGT sequel, preferring instead to locate the new entries in different places with new characters. CJ arguably the most iconic of the classic RGT protagonists of the games, but even he may not have been able to convince Rockstar to retread some of his older work. That said, the return to the 3D Universe with the GTA Trilogy may indicate that Rockstar Games is ready to revisit its old stories. While the reception of the remastered GTA Trilogy titles were less than stellar, GTA 3, City of vice and San Andreas are always considered final versions. Instead of potentially tarnishing their reputations with poorly designed remasters, Rockstar could find a way to honor them by expanding their stories, with San Andreas arguably the most logical choice, given the references to Grove Street families in GTA 5.
Although the disastrous release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy isn’t the return to the 3D universe that many fans have been waiting for, it has put these three games back in the limelight. Players are clamoring for a new Grand Theft Auto title since the initial release of GTA 5 in 2013, with Grand Theft Auto 6The rumored release date is believed to be years away. The game would take place in City of vice, which means it would follow the same pattern as Grand Theft Auto 4 and GTA 5 by revisiting one of the sets of the 3D Universe. The opportunity to experience Vice City in current gen graphics will be exciting, but eventually Rockstar should consider merging more of the 3D universe into their new RGT securities.
Perhaps now is the perfect time for a direct sequel to the events of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. While it would be unprecedented for Rockstar Games to return to a previous universe for a new title, the studio has already created the perfect setup for players to embark on a return to Grove Street and take on the role of CJ once again. With an already memorable cast and a potentially tragic story waiting behind the scenes, a direct sequel would help answer one of the biggest RGT mysteries and give players a healthy dose of nostalgia.
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