Grand Theft Auto IV Multiplayer Strategy Guide

Posted by Chris Jensen | May. 15, 2008 09:07AM PST | 7206 views | 0 comments

FILED UNDER: Features. Games.

 

A lot of players are filling up GTA IV servers but very few appear to know what the hell they're doing, something this guide will attempt to rectify. Using these tactics and understanding how to play well with others will find you making more money in ranked matches, as well as racking up kills and dominating the game with your uncanny abilities.

This guide is focused on general strategies that can be used on most of the available game types. I'll be posting a game-mode specific guide in the coming days, followed by a helpful hosting guide that should make multiplayer games more enjoyable for all involved.

 

 

General Strategies

 

Armor is Your Friend

You should have only one objective when spawning: getting armor. Take a look at the map and locate the closest armor pickup. Chances are, you won't be alone in trying to secure it, so if the closest one is going to be claimed by a teammate, make all haste towards the next one.

Having armor will make all the difference when it comes time for combat. Without armor, you're going to die quickly and this doesn't benefit anyone but the other team.

 

Camp the Armor

So you have some armor and you notice there's another armor pickup not far away and it happens to be near some roaming enemies. Chances are good one of those poor guys is going to try and get that armor, so why not be prepared by hiding-in-wait and picking them off when they approach? Easy money.

You know the person coming to get the armor either has none or is looking to top-off his depleted defenses, so he'll be an easy kill. You just want to make sure you're in a good hiding spot, preferably crouched down or in cover mode so you don't appear on radar.

 

Use Cover Mode

People who don't use cover mode or crouch religiously are going to die more often than those who do, simple as that. When you enter crouch or cover, you effectively remove yourself from enemy radar, making yourself invisible.

 

Trucks Are Better Than Cars

Considering you spawn on foot, one of the first things you should do is secure a vehicle so you can get closer to the action in a timely matter. I prefer trucks over cars for the simple reason that a truck allows you to sit at a higher elevation, forcing an opponent to aim higher in order to shoot you. If you're in a car, your face tends to be at the perfect elevation for opponents to swivel in your direction and unleash without worrying about aim-elevation. By riding higher, you force the enemy not only to aim left and right, but up and down as well.

 

Pick Up Pedestrian Teammates in Your Vehicle!

Depending on the hosting options, cars may be scarce for a particular round, with block after block of empty wasteland, forcing players to run around until finally securing a car. If you're fortunate enough to have a car then don't hog it! Don't simply drive by teammates on your merry little way. Come to a stop near your friend and honk your horn by pushing down on the left-thumbstick. Having passengers in your car makes you a formidable force. While you're busy driving, everyone else can concentrate on unleashing firepower.

 

Elevate Yourself

You have armor and a good weapon, now all you need is a good position. Hiding behind dumpsters and pillars is fine and all, but the real advantage is taking the high ground. Find easily accessible fire-escapes and get on the roof near the action. Then you can start unleashing from a good position that will prove difficult to remove you from.

 

Armor/Health Reticle

The host has the option of toggling auto-aiming, something that will drastically alter how you go about playing a match. With auto-targeting on, aiming and hitting players is a pretty simple matter, but more often than not you'll be in a round without auto-targeting, forcing you to step up your game if you want to rack up kills.

With auto-targeting off, aiming and hitting the enemy is going to be far more challenging, but not impossible, as long as you're paying attention to the Armor/Health Reticle that appears when properly aligned on an enemy player. If you're firing at a player but not seeing their health/armor status appear in the target reticle then you are not hitting your target. All you're doing is wasting bullets. Keep aiming until the health/armor indicator appears and then unleash your firepower.

Studying where these indicators appear is a major clue as to how much you must lead a moving target.

 

Aim For The Head

This should go without saying, but aiming for the head will drop an enemy far faster than shooting bullets into his chest or legs. Sure, it's a harder location to strike, but once you get in the habit you'll find yourself racking up far more kills.

 

Find Your Soul Weapon

Every player has a weapon they prefer, the one weapon that gets the job done better than any other. For some, it's the bazooka, for others it's the sniper rifle. Try out every weapon you comes across and figure out which one works best for you and stick with it.

 

Drive, Slam, Backup and Shoot

You're in a vehicle with an enemy in sight. Sure, you can fire your weapon while driving, but this usually takes more coordination than most people wield, so you're better off letting passengers, if any, do the shooting. If you're alone however, then it's time to use your vehicle as a deadly weapon.

Don't just drive straight at a firing enemy, as you'll most likely die from a headshot. Instead, use the handbrake to perform some minor zig-zag maneuvers, all for the purpose of eventually slamming into your opponent. When the enemy goes flying then you'll want to get your car moving in reverse as quickly as possible to free up some viewing space. Let the car slowly roll backwards while you concentrate on shooting up the prone enemy who is probably still rising to his feet.

 

Have Grenades, Will Travel

So you have some grenades and you're driving around, looking for your next prey. People tend to forget they can drop grenades while driving, which is a pretty effective tactic. Simply toggle through your available weapons until you reach the grenades and use the left-bumper to drop one out the window. It will explode after a few seconds and kill anything within its radius. Not only is this an effective way to eradicate enemies running around on foot, but it's also a superb way to inflict damage on pursuing vehicles.

 

Travel In Pairs

Going lone-wolf in GTA IV multiplayer doesn't have much benefit, unless you're the other team. Being alone simply makes you an easy kill for well-coordinated enemies. Travel in groups of two or more when possible and you'll be mopping up the enemy without much problem. Better yet, if you have friends on your list then form a party before entering multiplayer and try to stick together. Having someone watching your back will make all the difference.

 

Coordinate Objectives

If you're playing objective-based multiplayer modes like Cops n' Crooks, Mafia Work, Turf War or Team Car Jack, the best coordinated team will win more often than not. In a mode like Car Jack, it doesn't make any sense for several teammates to be heading for the same car. Find a safe spot and look at the map, studying where your teammates are in relation to specific objectives. If you're near a car that needs to be stolen, inform your teammates which car you're going to get and, if possible, where you plan on dropping it off.

For a mode like Team Car Jack, it's best if half the team is busy stealing cars while the other half is trying to prevent the enemy from dropping off their own. If you're not coordinating, even in a simple, rudimentary way, then your team is doomed to lose.

 

Passengers, Use the Waypoint System!

When you find yourself a car passenger during an objective-based round, it's your responsibility to handle the waypoint system. Hit the BACK button to bring up the map, locate the nearest objective and click on it, creating a waypoint. This waypoint is then visible on the driver's radar, allowing him to know exactly where to go.  Inform the driver via headset that you've set a waypoint so you're both on the same page.

 

Be a Leader

If you enter a multiplayer game and it appears that everyone is simply doing what they want in a haphazard way, don't hesitate to elect yourself King and start barking orders. You might be surprised how willing people are to follow your lead, assuming you don't get a chorus of, “F*** off, fa**ot!” which does tend to happen.

 

Contents Under Pressure

So you're running around and suddenly find yourself under fire with bullets ricocheting all around you. If you want to die, then you'll do what most players do: stop running, look around for who is firing and attempt to take them out. Unfortunately, you're usually dead by the time you zero-in on the enemy. In situations like this, it's best to start running in a zig-zag, serpentine fashion, looking for the nearest protection. Once you find a spot, enter cover mode, rendering yourself invisible on the radar. Now that you're relatively safe, you can begin the process of stalking whoever it was that tried to murder you.

 

Monitor Those Elevation Icons

A lot of players tend to forget the elevation indicator that appears when an enemy is on radar. If the arrow is pointing down then that means the enemy is below you while an up indicator represents a higher elevation. So if you're being fired upon, find safety and make a note of the elevation. With this information in hand you'll be better prepared to stalk your prey.

 

Apocalypse Now

If you're on a map that has a helicopter handy, then get it! If you don't then you can bet some bastard on the other team will. Flying a helicopter solo isn't going to do much good as it's very difficult to fly and shoot accurately at the same time. Therefore, find some teammates as passengers and let the fun begin. While you fly, your partners in crime can aim out the sides of the copter and really mop up the enemy. Try not to hover too much, else you can be assured a bazooka round will be clipping your wings before long. Stay on the move and you'll be a hard target to nail.

Have any additional tips? Let us know in the comments below!

(Source: InfoAddict Original)

Tags multiplayer, guide, tips, strategy, xbox 360, playstation 3, gta iv, grand theft auto