There are points where GTA: San Andreas will be frustrating for some. The radio stations are excellent, with a great mix of 90s music and hilarious adverts.
The storyline, a rags to riches tale, may not be massively original but it's well told with excellent acting and lots of memorable and funny characters. The campaign is enormous, and there is plenty more to do beside. It's hugely ambitious, set in a massive state featuring three big cities, and plenty of countryside.
What defines GTA: San Andreas more than anything is the scale.