I really got into the GTA games when San Andreas came out. That game raised the bar so much higher when you compare it to the previous GTA games. The amount of content in that game is absolutely insane. GTA4 added more "polish" and better graphics, but actually took a step back in some ways by doing things like removing planes and the ability to buy safe houses. I still think GTA4 is a great game, but I think SA is better overall. I was hooked on that game for probably 1 year after it came out, playing nothing else.