If you haven't heard anything about the evolution of the Grand Theft Auto games, you've either been living under a rock or hiding in a cave with religious fanatics. The Grand Theft Auto series made its console debut amid controversy on the PlayStation a few years back, with two entries that caught the attention of many gamers. But it's with the debut of Grand Theft Auto III that the series really took off, as the game arrived on the PlayStation 2. It brought with it a level of immersion that few games could pull off at the time, bringing you into the seedy underworld of Liberty City and allowing you to really do anything, be it involve yourself in gun fights with cops, carjack rival gang vehicles and trash them to the point of devastation, or simply rob passerby for a few bucks, beating them senseless... perhaps even dead.

Rockstar followed this up with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, an even deeper game taking you back in time to the 1980's in the middle of Miami, where a seasoned thug (voiced by Ray Liotta) gains respect, cash, and all sorts of heat for his actions, ranging again across a series of criminal activities like carjacking and even murder. The development soared even further with a better looking graphic engine, the addition of various 80's soundtracks and a bevy of voice actors, and more hidden surprises. It immediately gained cult status, and for good reason.

Has this series brought controversy? Of course; Congressmen fear the series, feeling that it will have a negative impact on society and blaming it for corrupting various futures. The truth of it is, the Grand Theft Auto games bring with them an experience, not just another game. They allow you to delve in and change your own fate, be it all out ruthless crime lord or just someone who gets a kick out of driving exploding R/C vehicles into oncoming traffic. And now, with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it looks like Rockstar Games is again elevating the series into an even higher status.

San Andreas takes a different twist than the previous games, shying away from Liberty City altogether. In the game, you take control of Carl Johnson, a young man who has shied away from his corrupted hometown of Los Santos, San Andreas, to try and rebuild his life. However, after five years away, he comes home to find all sorts of chaos and ruin in the city he once called home. His mother has been brutally murdered; his sister and brother are practically at each other's throats, looking for his loyalty; and a few of his childhood friends have gotten themselves in terrible ordeals that could pretty much seal their fates. On top of that, two corrupt cops have framed him for murder, leaving him on the run from the police as well. The game chronicles Carl's search for respect through power and decisions, some of which could very well end up rather bloody.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas features a well-revamped graphic engine that shows a greater amount of detail than the previous games. For instance, one highlight is the lighting. In some cases, a police helicopter will join in the hunt for you, depending on your "Wanted" rating, and shine a spotlight down trying to spot you. As it does this, the lighting is reflected wonderfully, right down to the shadows left from the fences and other objects. Another great detail is how you can be affected by how much you eat. If you find yourself visiting the donut shop too many times, you begin to gain weight, which in turn effects your speed and stamina, and also makes you look a bit chump-style to your cohorts and friends. However, visits to the gym can help shape you up and get you out of Fat Albert mode. This dynamic adds greatly to the character design, as you can actually see how physical changes affect you. Throw in the details that surround the interconnecting parts of San Andreas and other little things like how an enemy stumbles to the ground depending where you shoot them, and you have a game that will definitely look better than the previous GTA games before it.

The game also lets you choose from different paths, like who to align yourself with and who to begin wars with. Like the first two games, you can steal vehicles, including bicycles, to help you get further on your path. However, piss off the wrong group and you could find yourself in the middle of a drive-by attempt, with a roving gang ready to take you down. Of course, with a number of weapons that can be picked up in San Andreas, you can fight back rather nicely.

The game's voice cast and soundtrack hasn't been revealed yet, but it definitely looks to have an urban setting to it, so you can expect a few rap and R & B tracks to make the cut, along with a few others. There's also word that 50 Cent, the popular rapper behind such tracks as "In Da Club" and "Wanksta", is heavily involved with the game, doing voicework for Carl Johnson's character and possibly even supplying some music. This hasn't been confirmed yet, but it would be a nice touch and show Rockstar North's dedication to the product.

One thing that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas does have in common with its previous games is its depth. The game will be HUGE, allowing you to take on a number of tasks while working with a wide assortment of people. There will also be hidden bonus boxes and star vehicles scattered throughout, so you can do some digging and find some hidden treasures all about.

Let's face it, the game could be called Grand Theft Auto: Romper Room and there would still be people looking into it in utter fascination. But Rockstar North is truly dedicating themselves to making the next Grand Theft Auto game the best yet, and early details are showing just what kind of work they are truly putting into the game. When it arrives this October, it's a sure bet that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be a mammoth hit, and it will have earned every ounce of respect that it is given. The game looks to be redefining what gaming is about all over again, controversy be damned.