Rockstar'sGrand Theft Auto: San Andreasis one of the most important gamesin the franchise. The title was released in 2004 and is the final gamefrom the 3D universe before the serieswas upgradedwith finer details and HD graphics.GTAIV came out four years later and isthe first game in the HD universe which marked the start of a new era.
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Carl Johnson, also known as CJ, is an iconic protagonist from theseries. Formany fans, CJ is among the mostpreferredplayable charactersdue to his gangster lifestyle and intricate storyline. Playerswork towardsobtainingrespect, muscle, and territory from rival gangs,all whilst wearing the family colors and avoiding the cops.
10 CJCan Ask A Gang Member For A Snapshot
In GTA: San Andreas,CJ can recruitGrove Street gang members once players have obtained enough in-game respect. Players can recruit up to 7 homies who will follow CJ through the streets and provide protection. His recruits will alsohelp deal with annoying enemies andassist CJ with any active missions.
Once a gang member has joined your crew,CJ can ask one of them to take a photo of him. Players must equip the camera and approach a gang member to perform the unique interaction.When players have asked for a snapshot, they must get into position and strike a pose.
9 Carl Johnson Is The First GTA Protagonist Who Can Swim
Carl Johnson is the first playable characterin thefranchisewhohas the ability to swim.Gamersfirst took to the water inGTA: San Andreasand thetitlealso gaveplayers thelung capacity stat. Themeans todive and swim aroundunder the water's surface was also introduced in this release.
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In the mission "Amphibious Assault," players must complete an underwater swimming course beforearriving at the ship and proceeding with the mission. A lung capacity of 20% is required for this mission, meaning players must practice swimming before starting Wu Zi Mu's assignment. Inlater games,the underwater world has flourished with coral reefs, shipwrecks, and hostile sharks.
8 Carl's Customization Factor Is One Of The Best
Shopping for clothes and trying on fresh threads isn't anew feature for the franchise, but taking a trip to the barbershop is. GTA: San Andreasalso gave gamers a skill and stat systemthat includesWeapon skill,Vehicle skill, and even Sex Appeal. CJ can also gain muscle by hitting the gym and put on weight from eating too muchfast food, both of which change his physical appearance.
All of these statistics change depending on how people play the game.GTA: Vice City doesn't feature many clothing optionswhileGTA III onlyfeatures two outfits. Even thoughGTAVgives players a virtually endless choice of clothes and accessories, CJ himself can be customized in more ways than any otherprotagonist.
7 Carl JohnsonIs Second In Command
As the story goes, CJ arrives back in Los Santos after a five-year absence. Players are led to believe his return is because of his mother's death and CJ is either looking for peace or revenge.
The game begins with Carlflying back to the city where he heads to Grove Street and reunites with his brother— Sean "Sweet" Johnson— and his sister, Kendl. In his absence, San Andreas has been overcome with rival gangs, the Ballas and Vagos. Sweet is the leader of the Grove Street Family gangwhile the protagonist, Carl Johnson, is the underboss.
6 Carl Can Unlock The Ability To Duel Wield Guns
The first game in the franchise which allowed players to dual wieldpistolswas Grand Theft Auto 2. As well as being featured inGTA: Advanceand GTA: Chinatown Wars, the dual wield ability was also included in GTA: San Andreas.Furthermore, Carl Johnsonis thefirst protagonist who canuse two shotguns andsubmachine guns at the same time.
By increasing the weapon skill stat,CJ will be ableto wield two guns.When players reach Hitman status with a firearm, then that gun can be dual-wielded, which will happen automatically onceequipped. This increases CJ's rate of fire and makes him more lethal.
5 An Easter Egg ImpliesThat CJ HasDied
GTAIV was released in2008 and was the successor to GTA: San Andreas. In the Liberty City-based game, with Niko Bellic as the protagonist, there is an Easter egg that references past playable characters— including Carl Johnson.
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With theGTA: San Andreasstory taking place in1992 and the following open-world gameis set in 2008, there is a possibility thatCJ couldhave passed away. The subway station in Liberty City's Bohan is where players will find the graffiti. The Easter egg reads "mo blood" with Carl's name written above. In an adjacent part, "RIP" can also be seen above Carl's name.
4 Carl Had A Strong Bond With His Brother, Brian
GTA: San Andreas begins withCJ traveling back to his stomping groundin the wake ofhis mother's death. After living and working in Liberty City for five years, Carlmoves back to Grove Street to be closer to his siblings, Sweet and Kendl.
His other brother is also mentioned throughout the story. Gamerslearn that Brian had died five years prior, which was the initial reason CJ left Los Santos. As players progress throughGTA: San Andreas,they discover that CJ feelsguilt and remorseoverhis brother'sdeath. The story implies Brain was killed by rival gangs and CJchose to save himself rather than do all he could tohelp his brother.
3 CJ Is The First ProtagonistTo Play Basketball
Like most games from the franchise, GTA: San Andreashas side activities to keep players entertained in between missions. Thistitle allows Carl to take part in roulette, pool, and basketball.
Although the basketball activity isn't competitive, it still providesgamers with a fun hoop-shooting challenge. The timed activity will start when CJ arrives atthecourts and picks up one of thebasketballs.Players mustrun with the ballto the designated area and score points from a distance. Releasing the shoot button at the peak of CJ's jump will ensure maximum accuracy.
2 CJ Is Voiced by Young Maylay
The protagonist in GTA: San Andreas is voiced by American rapper Christopher Bellard, whose stage name is Young Maylay. The musician is from Los Angeles which is also the city Los Santos is based on.
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Young Maylay's music career took off in the early '00s and he has since been featured on numerous tracks with other West Coast artists. The LA-born and bred rapper was the perfect voice for Rockstar's Carl "CJ" Johnson. Because of this opportunity, Young Maylay worked alongside the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, George Clinton, and Danny Dyer.
1 CJ Is TheFirst Playable Character To Have Met Another GTA Protagonist
TheGTA: San Andreasmission, "Farewell, My Love..." is when Claude appears once morein the Rockstar franchise. Claude Speed is the protagonist from GTAIIIwhich is set in the year 2001,while theGTA: San Andreas storyline is set nine years prior in 1992.
Catalina, Carl's ex-lover, does most of the talking in the mission's initial cut scene.Her and CJargue over why their relationship never worked outwhile Claude, Catalina's newest boyfriend, stays quiet and watches the drama from afar. CJ and Catalinaagree toa race to settle their differences. Once CJ beats her to the finish line, the mission is completed and Catalina and Claude drive away together and settle down in Liberty City. Certainly the pair will live happily ever after...
NEXT: GTA: Every Major Protagonist, Ranked By Intelligence
