21 Years Later, San Andreas’ Best Mission Is Still The Best Thing In Grand Theft Auto History

Titled “End of the Line,” San Andreas‘ action-drenched finale brings the game’s story to a climax that’s not only exciting, but it carries emotional depth, too. Greed, corruption, and justice all come to play in one final showdown, and as much as the GTA franchise has tried to recapture that magic, it’s been difficult to achieve. The best GTA game is debatable, but San Andreas remains a favorite for many, and its finale serves as the cherry on top of a wonderfully crafted and immersive journey.

What Makes San Andreas’ Finale So Special?

Image via Rockstar

GTA has featured plenty of wild missions, but “End of the Line” set a new standard for how over-the-top and well-written finales could be for the franchise. It’s cinematic, sad, and so wild that it’s hard not to laugh at the absurdity when first playing it. “End of the Line” is the perfect build-up of the story’s prior events, and while the GTA finales that have followed after are also great, San Andreas‘ ending still stands out among the crowd. Beyond the end mission, San Andreas demonstrated how much more potential the series had. Between its vast and diverse open world and movie-like story, this GTA entry had no choice but to end things with a powerful final chapter that takes the story back to Grove Street where it all began.

A Closing Chapter Filled With Emotion, an Epic Chase, and Plenty of Violence

Image via Rockstar

“End of the Line” takes CJ into the belly of the beast; Big Smoke’s Crack Palace. GTA is no stranger to controversy, so starting the final mission by breaking into a fortified crack den was perfectly on brand. After Big Smoke’s betrayal, CJ is ready to enact revenge. But first, he has to get a S.W.A.T. tank. Instead of relying on stealth, CJ rams the massive tank through the entrance, starting off the mission with a bang. From there, he ascends the four stories of the drug-filled fortress, gunning down any Big Smoke allies. Bursting into the building guns blazing is a real power trip, but once players reach their target, the mission suddenly adds some fantastic emotional weight.

CJ breaks into Big Smoke’s lair, but instead of directly confronting CJ, he’s playing video games while wearing a bulletproof vest. It’s a jarring sight that shows Big Smoke is aware that he’s a target, but he’s also trying to cope and block out the danger he’s in. Big Smoke always wanted to get into the drug trade, and now that he’s a kingpin, he’s being faced with how fleeting that kind of power actually is. After a heated shootout, CJ ultimately kills Big Smoke. The now-fallen drug lord admits he was blinded by money and power, with his final words being, “I had no choice… I had to do it… I just see the opportunity. When I’m gone, everyone gonna remember my name… Big Smoke.” GTA has some of the most compelling characters in gaming, and Big Smoke remains both an infuriating and tragic figure.

Then Tenpenny shows up. He takes his briefcase of getaway money and gets ready to kill CJ, but the latter fakes him out. Tenpenny ignites an explosion in the Crack Palace, giving CJ only a few minutes to escape. Once out of the building, Tenpenny begins escaping via firetruck, but not before Sweet shows up and grabs onto the firetruck’s ladder. CJ gets in a car, and from then on, a thrilling chase ensues as the city breaks out in a full-blown riot filled with police cars, gang members, and even a close call with an oncoming train. Tenpenny eventually crashes and dies. CJ and his crew all look over his corpse. As everyone leaves to go back to their homes, CJ kneels over Tenpenny and says, “See you around, officer.” After that, the gang get to continue their lives unbothered by the corrupt policeman and Big Smoke’s blind ambitions. Despite the violence and riots, San Andreas‘ ending closes on a hopeful note.

Other Memorable Missions Throughout GTA History

Game	Mission
GTA 5	Father/Son — Michael and Franklin have to chase down boat thieves who have Michael’s son Jimmy.
GTA: Vice City	Publicity Tour — Stuck in rock band Love Fist’s limo, Tommy finds himself in a Speed-inspired scenario where he can’t let off the acceleration or else a bomb goes off.
GTA 5	The Big Score — The last heist. This mission has two different approaches; Obvious or Subtle. Later, Franklin is faced with the difficult choice of assassinating Michael, Trevor, or letting both live.
GTA: San Andreas	Just Business — Big Smoke and CJ have to fight off the Russian Mafia via motorbike.
GTA: Vice City	Keep Your Friends Close — The final mission that sees Tommy’s story come full circle.
GTA 4	Three Leaf Clover — A failed heist turns into a sequence reminiscent of the Michael Mann film Heat.

Other missions and finales have made a huge impact on GTA‘s legacy. Being the most recent entry, GTA 5‘s finale is an epic way to close out the story, but depending on Franklin’s end-game choice, it can also be anticlimactic. The rest listed feature the same aspects that make San Andreas‘ final mission so good, but they don’t exactly bring all of them into one complex sequence.

When I’m gone, everyone gonna remember my name… Big Smoke.

Image via Rockstar Games

Now, the mystery on many gamers’ minds is how exactly GTA 6‘s missions will stack up against the rest of the franchise. Based on the two GTA 6 trailers that Rockstar has released, it’s clear that the game is going to feature the classic staples that the series is known for, but the bigger question is how the new chapter will set itself apart. Right now, all gamers can do is sit and wait for GTA 6‘s long-awaited launch, and when that day finally arrives, its final mission will hopefully be just as cinematic and gripping as San Andreas — though with all the GTA games that followed arguably failing to surpass it, that’s a big ask.

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