The game is set in the fictional state of San Andreas, comprising three metropolitan cities. Set in March 1992,[9] San Andreas revolves around the gang member Carl “CJ” Johnson returning home from Liberty City to Los Santos after learning of his mother’s murder. CJ finds his old friends and family in disarray. Over the course of the game, CJ gradually unravels the plot behind his mother’s murder while exploring his own business ventures. Like other games in the series, San Andreas is composed of elements from driving games and third-person shooters, and features “open-world” gameplay that gives the player more control over their playing experience. The game adds several features, such as car customization, and character personalization.