Here are some basic guidelines to follow when attempting Story Missions, Non-Linear Missions and Asset Missions:
- Save before you attempt these missions if you are not confident on beating them the first time around.
- Have full Health and Armor before attempting these missions. Body Armor is easily purchased from Ammunation shortly after completing some of the earlier Story Missions, and Health can be regained from a Hospital for a price, or when you save. Health and Body Armor icons can also be found in certain parts of the city, if you are able to find them.
- Prepare for missions carefully and strategically. If you face a mission that involves combat, you want to stock up on ammunition and the best guns your can obtain. If you face a mission that requires you to get from A to B in a set amount of time, bring a fast car with you before starting it. Some missions also involve you having to drag around more than one person, so you want to have a four-door car on hand for use when you require it.
- Be sensible. I don't need to teach you the obvious, but this must be the most valuable piece of information I can offer. This ranges from swapping out cars if you can and when you can, and to taking cover and advancing carefully through the mission when you become low on Health. Sensibility means that you are vigilant, clever and completely focused, and if you have it, your objectives become much easier to achieve.
- Experience pays off. Veteran gamers have logged in thousands upon thousands of hours playing their favourite games and managing to dominate them. A beginner is more likely to stumble into difficulty. Build up a feeling to the game, and immerse yourself in its style. The start of the storyline goes some way into doing this, but I find replaying the missions you are stuck on and knowing who is going to pop out where and finding the quickest route to your destination, for example, makes them easier. So, in summary, stick it out.
- If you don't know what you're supposed to be doing, look back at your Brief to see if it jogs your memory.
Follow these guidelines properly and almost religiously, and you should find your experience of the Vice City storyline that much more enjoyable, but most importantly, so much easier.
