The original Grand Theft Auto trilogy that put Rockstar on the map was a thing of beauty. Grand Theft Auto 3 implemented a revolutionary open world that was perfected over the course of the next two games in quick succession. The end result is three of the most popular and nostalgic open-world games around that Rockstar has recently remastered for a new generation.
Regardless of the quality of the remaster, there's no denying the fact that revisiting these games is still going to be a blast regardless. This is especially true for San Andreas, which most people consider to be the best game in the trilogy by a country mile. The size of the open world was incredible and the sheer amount of things that players could accomplish in this world was and still is mind-boggling.
Players who want to enjoy a unique and engaging playthrough should make it a point to check out the following secret locations present in San Andreas.
8 A Funny Sign On Top Of Gant Bridge
Gant Bridge is one of the most unique landmarks in San Andreas. The bridge has a visitor's center nearby with some rather funny details about the bridge, all the way down to the total size it occupies in the game files as well!
However, the best part about this bridge has to be the sign present at the very top. Players who decided to be adventurous and climb all the way to the top of this bridge will find a funny sign talking about how there are no easter eggs here so just go away!
7 The Mass Grave Near Area 69
Area 69 is one of the most hilariously-titled areas in San Andreas, with an intense mission taking place in this location as well. Given that this location is bound to have some major government secrets, it's only a given that the area surrounding Area 69 would also have some major secrets of its own.
This is precisely the case with the mass grave near Area 69, where players can find a total of six body bags along with a Bobcat near the location. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that these body bags could be failed human experiments that were quietly discarded by the government.
6 The Max Payne Reference At The Gasso Gas Station In Dillimore
Most people wouldn't expect an innocuous gas station in a random town to feature a reference to a popular video game series. However, given how unpredictable Rockstar is, it's only a given that such a reference would exist in the rural town of Dillimore.
Players who decide to roam around the gas station present in this area will find a sign stating "Max Pane- Bulletproof Glass". It goes without saying that this was a reference to the Max Payne series that Rockstar currently holds the rights to.
5 The Cast Of Manhunt Make An Appearance In The Las Venturas Police Station
Speaking of games made by Rockstar Studios, it would be hard to not mention the unique Manhunt series that served up a great experience in both the stealth and horror genre. The gameplay of this title was absolutely brutal, leading to a massive wave of controversy that arguably worked in favor of this series.
If players decide to roam around the Las Venturas Police Station, then they'll find some interesting wanted posters. Namely, the poster of James Earl Cash and members of The Hoods from Manhunt will be present in this station, making for a nice trip down memory lane for some players.
4 A Cheeky Opposition Memorial In Hashbury, San Fierro
Rockstar doesn't shy away from gloating at times — after all, the release of Grand Theft Auto 3 and its sequels made it perfectly clear that the studio deserved its time in the spotlight. With the string of GTA clones coming out, Rockstar felt the need to address their opposition in the only manner they knew how.
In the Opposition Memorial in Hashbury, players can stumble upon what they would assume to be a war memorial. However, a closer inspection of the 72 tombstones will reveal that they actually read out "RIP Opposition 1997-2004" instead, which is the cheekiest way to put down any games that tried to copy Rockstar's successful formula.
3 A Clever Vice City Reference In The Form Of The V-Rock Hotel
For most people, the V-Rock Hotel is nothing more than a cheeky landmark. However, fans of the GTA series know that this is actually a reference to something else entirely.
The V-Rock Hotel is actually named after a radio station of the same name in Vice City. To see it present in Las Venturas serves as a great easter egg indeed!
2 Rockstar Tooting Their Own Horn With Northstar Rock
One of the simpler references in the game can be seen in the area Northstar Rock, which appears as North Rock in the in-game map. It doesn't take an expert to state that this name is an anagram for Rockstar North.
The location seems pretty innocuous but actually harbors a sinister secret. Players who roam around this area will find a cabin with a bloody floor that sometimes has a truck present right outside.
1 The "Jesus Saves" Graffiti In Los Santos That Is A Clear Nod To Grand Theft Auto 2
In Grand Theft Auto 2, players were greeted with the hilarious message that "Jesus Saves" whenever they were near a save point. It seems that Rockstar wanted to pay homage to the old games in the series, given the mural that players can find in Los Santos.
This mural has a picture of Mary and Jesus, with the text reading out "Jesus Saves" as well. Suffice to say, it's a smart reference to the saving system of Grand Theft Auto 2 that most people would definitely appreciate.