Grand Theft Auto IV Tricks

Grand Theft Auto IV

Stock up the fridge, turn off your phone, and cash in those sick days at work: Grand Theft Auto IV is here. If you're one of the millions of gamers who'll be sinking their teeth into this superlative jewel of videogaming happiness this week, take a look over this list of tips we've prepared to maximize your pleasure. We've kept away from plot spoilers and you won't find any tips on specific missions, but if you're a real purist you may still want to treat this article with care.

Keep your friends close...

...and your enemies as far away as possible. Range is your friend in GTA IV, because although the targeting system is vastly improved from the previous games, you're still at a major disadvantage when fighting groups of thugs up close. Retreat to cover or just put some distance between you and your foes, and not only will you be out of range of those damaging shotgun blasts, you'll be able to pick off the goons one-by-one at your leisure.

Two wheels good, four wheels less good

Why do you think a motorcycle is the favored transport of the city courier? Because it's quick off the line, narrow enough to hustle through traffic queues, and agile enough to dodge unexpected moves from boneheaded motorists. Put these characteristics to work for you in GTA IV, and get good with a motorbike. Once you get the rhythm down pat, you'll decimate your cross-city travel time. Try to learn the locations where bikes regularly park: there's usually one by the on-ramp to the bridge heading South out of Bohan Island, for example.

Are you looking at me?

But if all that sounds too much like hard work, let the cab take the strain. Now that you can skip past taxi rides and arrive immediately at your destination, they're the ideal mode of transport for the really lazy. But don't be too keen to skip past them, as they're a great opportunity for a little Liberty City sightseeing. Word to the wise: hit the Back button and pick the cinematic view for the best angles.

Arms for the poor

Stocking up on high-powered sniper rifles and grenades can be pricey, especially early in the game when you're struggling for funds. But usually when GTA IV introduces new weapons, it does so as part of a mission and gives you them for free. If you fail the mission, you can restart it immediately, but you'll keep your arms stash and can grab more ammo. Rinse and repeat as necessary for all the pricey arms you could ever want.

You'll never take me alive!

Don't let the cops get you. Sounds obvious, sure, but there's one big reason why: when you die in GTA4, unlike earlier games, you get to keep your weapons. When the cops get you, they confiscate them, and buying them back from the store can cost a damn fortune. In just about any situation, it's better to go out in a blaze of glory than to be arrested. Bonus points if you can pull off a convincing Tony Montana impression while you do it.

Slow down and smell the roses

Don't be in too much of a hurry, or you'll miss much of GTA IV's hidden humor. For example, in the corner of Niko's apartment you'll find a TV. Any normal game would have it displaying a slideshow of stills and a voice-over that loops every 30 seconds, but sit down to watch GTA IV's television and you'll find hours of beautifully produced (and hilarious) entertainment. Don't miss it.

GPS

Niko's GPS is a great tool, but it isn't exactly designed with his driving style in mind. It'll give you the fastest legal route to your destination, and won't take into account driving the wrong way up one-way streets, taking short cuts down stairways, or careening through public parks -- in other words, all the things that make driving in GTA IV so much fun. So don't rely too slavishly on the GPS: keep your eyes peeled for creative opportunities to trim time off your route.

Once Upon a Time in the Projects

Although Liberty City sure is pretty by night, it isn't necessarily the best time of day to get work done. Many missions, particularly ones that involve sniping, finding particular individuals, or tailing cars, benefit from plenty of visibility, and that means tackling them during the day. Dark, fog and rain all affect your visibility, and if conditions aren't optimal, better to go shoot pool for a few hours than to try anyway and risk a frustrating failure.