Why Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an enormous game loaded with content and replay value. Many people do not know if it is worth their time to play through, as the newer Grand Theft Auto 4 has surfaced with many new features.  However, time and time again, in many people's eyes, it retains it status as the best video game ever created.  

San Andreas is a huge game, with a huge world, and a huge amount of things to do.  The setting is an entire state, with three cities, complete with desert and countryside, many small towns, and even a mountain.

The story is equally spread out along all of these sites.  Carl Johnson's mother is killed by a rival gang, the Ballas, five years after he left for Liberty City.  Now he returns, and finds his gang, Grove Street Families, has been diminishing.  He, his brother Sweet, Ryder, and Big Smoke attempt to correct this problem as he decides to stay in San Andreas.  Along the way, the corrupt cops in the C.R.A.S.H. unit decide to take him along for a ride across the entire state.  Along the way, he attempts to take down the many people who have wronged him and his friends, discovering new allies and making it to the top.

There is also much to be done.  Notable are the police, obviously.  A wanted star system is in place, with a maximum of six stars.  

1.  Only cops that see you will give chase, sometimes they will shoot, sometimes they will use a nightstick.  Easy to evade by hiding.
2.  Police are sent to your location in vehicles and will shoot.  
3.  Police choppers will appear and will fire.  
4.  S.W.A.T. teams will be sent in a SWAT van, armed with machine pistols.
5.  The FBI, armed with submachine guns and their own unique van, will appear.
6.  The military, with trucks and tanks, will roll in to annihilate you!  The tanks do not shoot, but may attempt to run you down.  

Some S.W.A.T. members may even be dropped from helicopters to take you down!

OTHER:

There are many save files you can have to replay the awesome gunfight and car chase missions or replay the entire game again.  
You can fly planes and helicopters, some with their own weapons, and drive tanks.  
There are many, many vehicles: trucks, cars, sports cars, government vehicles, etc.
There are many weapons as well, such as a chainsaw, M4 assault rifle, heat seeking rocket launcher, minigun, flamethrower, desert eagle, and even something inside a police station bathroom...
There are many side missions such as paramedic, vigilante, firefighter, and even pimping.  They all unlock special bonuses...
The many cheats are really what make the game interesting after you have beaten the game.  There are cheats such as no wanted level, riot mode, only gang members, people attack you, all pink cars, infinite health, infinite ammo, and even flying cars.  There are many more of course.  
A deep character customization such as shirts, pants, shoes, watches, chains, haircuts, tattoos, body fat, and muscle help personalize your Carl Johnson.
There are even two player icons scattered around that allow you to play with a friend!

With all these options, why not pick up a copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?