Grand Theft Auto IV Tips - Surviving In Liberty City

From the moment you step off the boat, Liberty City can be a daunting place. It's huge, and you start out with just your two feet for mobility. How are you going to get from point A to point B? Well thankfully everyone seems to own a car, so "borrowing" it is a great option. There are also motorcycles if you want to really speed through town. You have to keep your eyes out for the police however, or your wanted level will instantly go up a level.

What if you don't want the hassle of police intervention though? Taxis in this version of GTA are new and improved. They're everywhere, and you can literally tell a taxi to take you anywhere in town. All you have to do is create a waypoint on your map, and the taxi can take you there. Don't want to sit back and enjoy the ride? You can skip the trip for a small fee and arrive in seconds. If you see a taxi with a passenger, you can even kick them out in plain sight of the police. Evidently they don't care as long as taxi has a passenger. If you have a wanted level however, forget it. Taxi drivers don't want anything to do with your kind of trouble.

Maybe travel by sea is your favorite method. Relax, there are boats all over that you can jump into for a ride on the waterways. Much like stealing a car, if you're seen, your wanted level will go up. But you're a professional, right? Boats also give you a quick way to get from one island to the next. Just be careful if an island hasn't opened up yet, or your wanted level will jump right to the top.

The train system in Liberty City is well developed and works very similarly to taxis. You're not able to jack a train of course, but you have the choice to either sit back and enjoy the ride or skip the trip for expediency. The scene

ry is pretty nice, but it's up to you.

As far as air travel, you can't fly airplanes unfortunately. There are a couple helicopters available for your use though. They're not easy to find, but they can make for some fun times in the Liberty City skies. The Maverick copter is down at Helitours in southeast Algonquin. If you're really looking for a challenge, the police have a heavily armed copter called an Annihilator.

You can also catch a cable car to Colony Island or ride a window washing unit to the top of a building.

As you get to know your way around, it's good to make a few friends. As you gain friends, you get access to some interesting benefits. You have to learn what activities and food people you meet like. When you spend time with them in these activities, they make it worth your while. For example, keeping up a good relationship with your cousin Roman allows you to call on him anytime, for a free taxi ride to any location in town.

Little Jacob is another noteworthy friend you need to woo. Once your "Little Jacob Like" stat rises above 75%, Jacob can become your personal weapons dealer. He'll stop by wherever you are, pop open the trunk, and you have instant access to some sweet deals.

Brucie is your neighborhood testosterone-filled tough guy, but having him on your side has some sweet benefits. When his "Like" stat rises above 75%, you can call on him for a helicopter ride to anywhere in Liberty City. Now thats a nice perk.

Are you having trouble with a mission? If you are Dwayne's best bud (i.e. his "Like" stat is above 75%), you can call in a favor and he'll send over two homies to back you up. They come packin', and the extra firepower can make all the difference.

Packie may be Irish, but he can really help you out if he likes you enough. If he's your friend, you can call him anytime and he'll drop off a car bomb for you. Place it under the car of your choice, and detonation is only a phone call away.