GTA IV How To’s: Performing hits in peace

One of Grand Theft Auto IV’s major highlights is the ability to roam a massive virtual city and do whatever one wants. Jack any vehicle? Check. Swim in the river? Check. Waste time by playing pool, surfing the ‘net, or shopping for clothes? Check.

On top of all these features, GTA IV is a third-person shooter and driving game at its core. Its missions put you either behind the wheel or a gun’s barrel. Because of the game’s open-ended gameplay, performing hits can be hazardous to one’s health. On the way to a destination, any player can easily stumble and earn unwanted attention from the law or run into an accident–jeopardizing a difficult mission.

One can always retry a mission, but what if it’s the kind that has too many things to do and only luck was responsible in getting you this far? This is why as protagonist Niko Bellic, you should learn to keep your nose clean. Here’s how:

• Do not drive too fast. Sudden changes in direction while driving could prove fatal or worse. One must maintain control of the vehicle at all times, and this is done by lightly tapping the breaks. Use the handbrakes only when making sharp turns.

• Don’t just jack any car. Make sure there are no cops around first. If a policeman witnesses a carjacking, Niko would automatically earn at least one wanted star. If the mission is timed, a wanted star could end your current attempt to finish said mission. Jacking parked vehicles isn’t always a good idea because there could be a car alarm that might set off the cops.
• While driving a vehicle, fight the urge to run down pedestrians or smash into other cars. A cop could be watching.
• Do not shoot any cops or civilians. One dead cop automatically translates to 2-3 wanted stars. Dead civilians would attract police attention. If you must shoot cops or civilians, do it after accomplishing the mission.
• If you inadvertently picked up a wanted star, hurry to your destination. Reaching a marker that triggers a cinematic sequence removes the stars.
• Do not walk around displaying your weapons. This could get you unwanted attention. Bring out your firearm only when you’ve reached your destination. It would help if you select your weapon of choice before closing in your target so that you don’t have to cycle through your inventory when a shootout begins.

There’s one common thread to all this: don’t draw any attention to yourself. If you keep your head down and manage to reach your target unnoticed, gunning down your hits would be way easier.

Image of Grand Theft Auto IV is courtesy of Rockstar Games.