There were very few complaints about Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City, but one aspect of the game that players found to be a little frustrating was the gunplay. The developers at Rockstar have been listening to gamers and are working hard to completely redesign the gunplay mechanic in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Like in its predecessors, the R1 will still engage the targeting system and you can still fire your weapon randomly by pressing Circle at any point. From this point on however, an entirely new control scheme is being implemented.

Once R1 is pressed, you will first attempt to target the closest hostile enemy, avoiding any closer targets that are not a threat. If no target is locked this way, then you’ll target the closest target within a range just over 90 degrees. If there isn’t a target within this field, you’ll automatically go into free aim mode with the weapon. The camera will automatically move behind you and an aiming reticule will appear in the center of the screen. The function of the analog sticks will change, with the left analog used to move you forward and backward and to strafe left and right. The right analog stick will control the camera angle. This has the effect of switching the game into a third-person shooter mode, giving you free reign over target selection. In this mode, L1 becomes the trigger so that your thumbs are free to work the analog sticks. If you want to quickly switch back to target lock mode, hit either R2 or L2 and the aiming reticule will snap right to the target locking you on to it.

Another new feature of gunplay in San Andreas is that you’ll need to develop a skill level with each weapon in the game. Use a weapon more frequently and your skills with that weapon will improve. Weapon skills improve your performance in the following areas:

Reload Time: You’ll waste less time reloading a weapon in battle.

Fire Rate: Pump out more bullets in less time.

Accuracy: The aiming reticule will change in size based on your skill in accuracy. A higher skill with a weapon means a larger reticule and greater ease in hitting your targets.

Weapon Stance & Movement – There will be different associated abilities for each that you can unlock as your skills improve. These include the ability to move while firing, new weapon stances, faster strafe speed, and the ability to move backwards while firing.

Dual Weapons: Some weapons will allow you to hold two of that weapon at a time, doubling your firing rate and the length of time that you can go without a reload.

A spade is a spade is a weapon »