Grand Theft Auto IV/General

From HelpMeWithMyGameProblems.com

GTA4 is different from previous ones. If you play it for a while you will soon get the new feeling. This guide here is t help veterans with the game franchise but also newbies to get accustomed to the game.

[edit] Hints

• Go online in the game and go to the website www.whattheydonotwantyoutoknow.com in an internet cafe. You can simply click in the address bar and enter the address there. Now you are on some sort of message board. This shows you all the different locations, that are also on our Maps page.

[edit] Tips

Easy money

Go to an ATM, then cause a traffic jam to the area. Wait for someone to take money from the ATM, then kill him or her. Make sure to block any nearby roads so the ambulance cannot get to the murdered victim. Take the money they dropped on the ground. Then, run a short distance away, and go back. The money should have respawned on the ground. You can repeat this as many times as desired. You can also kill more people taking their money from the ATM to increase the amount of money that respawns.

Repairing engine

If the vehicle you are driving breaks down and the engine will not start, call 911, and your engine should start again.

Parking more vehicles

Outside your first hideout is a small parking area to park your vehicles and save them. Instead of parking your vehicles fully within the lines, you can park your vehicles partially within the lines to allow for more vehicles to be parked and saved. -From: Zane

At the start of the game it would appear that you can only save two cars parked in the "Residents Parking Only" parking spaces in front of your safe house. However, if you can find other "Residents Parking Only" places around the city, you can also save cars there even if you do not have a safe house at those locations yet.

Fast travel

To avoid wasting time driving all the way across the city, call a taxi. They will take you to your destination for your mission, stores, safe houses, or even a waypoint marker. You can skip through the taxi ride, allowing you to travel across the entire city in about ten seconds. This can also be done during missions.

Easy headshots

It is sometimes difficult to get headshots, which do count. With some practice, doing the following is an easy way to get headshots. Press [Auto-Aim], then use the Right Analog-stick to move the auto-aim target around your victim's body. Barely move the Right Analog-stick as you are shooting. This puts bullets in the chest and head, and results in an easy instant kill.

Easy emergency vehicles

Call 911 and select cops, ambulance, or fire engine. Once the emergency vehicle comes, wait until they are looking around, then sneak up and steal the vehicle.

Getting away from police

When running away from the cops, you will have a circular area in which they look for you. However, if you get out and another cop sees you, it changes. To use this to your advantage, barely get out of that circle, which you will see on your radar. Then, just sit there for about five seconds instead of flooring past it.

If you are at a four star wanted level or less, find a place with grass or sand. The cops will follow you in, but they usually cannot get back out. You can then just drive away.

Regaining health during missions

You can leave the mission area and go to a Cluckin' Bell, hotdog stand, etc. and eat food to replenish your health if you are low and cannot find a health pack. This is especially useful on missions where there are no health packs in sight. Note: You can also take a taxi to those locations during missions.

Avoiding taxi fares

To get free taxi rides, hail a cab, and select your destination, but do not choose the quick way by pressing A. Instead, let the cab driver take you to your destination the normal way. When you are approximately two blocks away from your destination, break the window, and start shooting. The cab driver will get out and run away, allowing you not to have to pay for the ride. You can also kill the cab driver and take his money, so he is actually paying you for the taxi ride.

Avoiding toll booths

Drive through any toll booth with any emergency vehicle with the sirens on. The booth attendant will open the gate, and you will save $5.

$100 for all ringtones and themes

After getting the phone from Playboy X, go to the nearest Internet cafe. Buy all of the ringtones and themes from the ringtones site. Log out of the computer, and you will notice that you only paid $100 for all ringtones and themes.

Shooting people with water cannon

Steal a fire truck, then press [Fire] while driving around to shoot the super water cannon at people around you. You will get many funny reactions from the people that you shoot with it.

View Statue Of Happiness' heart

Once you gain access to Happiness Island, find the Helicopter Tours, which is directly east of Happiness Island, and steal a helicopter. Fly to Happiness Island and over the Statue Of Happiness, then jump out of the helicopter at the statue's feet. You should land on the top-most tier of the statue, which is basically a square platform with a door in the center of each side. Run around the platform until you see a door with a plaque on either side of it that reads, "No Hidden Content Here". It may seem like you cannot go through the door, but you can -- it doesn't open, you simply walk through the door. You will find an empty room with a tall ladder inside. Climb it, and when you reach the top, look up to see a huge beating heart, held in place by chains.

Hillary Clinton reference

The Statue Of Happiness is actually Hillary Clinton. She is holding a steaming cup of coffee or latte, and her clipboard simply reads "Hillary Clinton".

Easy "One Man Army" achievement

Go to the bridge that takes you to the second island and has train tracks under it. Walk along the train tracks towards the second island before you are allowed to cross the bridge. When you are about half way, you should have a six start wanted level. Then, just stand on the train tracks for five minutes to get the achievement. You do not have to worry about the police because they will be on the bridge above you so they cannot shoot, and the helicopters are above you so you have cover from them.

Go to the hospital at the north-west corner of Algonquin. You can also get there by dying in that general area. Get a motorbike. Set a Waypoint at the hospital or just remember the way you came. Drive to the nearby bridge that takes you to the third island. You must not have access to the third island for this trick to work. Slowly reverse backwards over the barricade on the bridge until you get a six start wanted level. Then, drive straight back to the hospital. To the right of the hospital as you are coming back is a little red fence that you can bust through and get onto the elevated train tracks. Wait there for approximately five minutes to get the achievement. No cars can get to you on the train tracks and the helicopters cannot shoot accurately enough to hit you at motorcycle speed.

Easy "Walk Free" achievement

Get on the airport runway with a car, then get out. This will instantly give you a four star wanted level. Then, run or drive to the end of the runway to get the achievement.

[edit] Frequently asked questions

How do I hail a cab? 

Press the LB button (left bumper) on the Xbox 360, or the L1 button on the PS3. Niko will whistle if a cab is nearby and it might pull over if it is not already occupied. To get in as a passenger, you must hold the carjack button down (Y on 360). If you tap it, you'll carjack as usual instead of getting in the backseat.

How do I turn off the radio? 

Hold the station change button (left or right on the d-pad for 360) for about 2 seconds.

How do I turn off my engine before exiting? 

Hold Y to exit instead of tapping it.

Where can I find the secret map locations?

Go to any Internet cafe, log into a computer, and enter "www.whattheydonotwantyoutoknow.com" as a URL to view maps that reveal all weapon, health, armor, vehicle, pigeon, ramp/stunt, and entertainment locations.

How do I unlock the helicopter with rockets?

Collect all 200 pigeons (flying rats) to unlock a helicopter with rockets.