The Official "GTA IV's missions are NOT repetitive" thread

[Vercetti42]

Hiya,

 

So as we all know GTA IV's missions gets a lot of flak for not being the usual "action packed" type of missions.

 

Frankly, this is a criticism I've never understood but hey we all have our opinions.

 

What most people feel is that all of GTA IV's missions are basically your everyday "Drive from point A to B, kill X, come back to Y".

 

So, I feel that I needed to start a thread that listed missions that made IV very unique.

 

Of course I can't remember them all, so I'd be glad if my fellow IV fans could help me out.

 

All you have to do is post the name of the missions with a description of why you feel it is unique.

 

NOTE: This does NOT include EFLC. This refers only to IV's base game.

 

Well, shall we start off then? Oh and no spoiler tags will be used so if you haven't completed IV view at your own risk.

 

In no particular order:

 

1) Three Leaf Clover: The obvious one. Definitely the best mission in GTA IV. Why is this unique? Because it is the only heist mission in the game and it's awesome. It was epic. I've always liked heist missions in the series in-general.

 

2) Truck Hustle: Just completed it. Great mission. I loved hanging on-to the truck and getting on the top of it and jacking it. Felt like a movie scene. Very unique, shame you can't do that in free-roam.

 

3) Hostile Negotiation: Loved it. Apart from the fact that this mission was more action-packed than the others, I felt that it really showed Niko and Roman's relationship. Niko seemed ready to save Roman even he died. And then at the end you had to shoot the guy holding Roman correctly which was super cool.

 

4) The Snow Storm: Tough mission but really cool. It's also classic GTA. (Collecting drugs for the boss of the mission) and it can be completed in a much easier way. This was pointed out by daliakiller here. Cheers mate.

 

5) Photo Shoot: Mission given by Playboy X. The 2 cool things are you get an awesome new phone and with it you need to take a photo of two guys and Playboy will tell you which one is the target, simple but fun.

 

6) Ivan the not so terrible: One of the early missions in the game. The unique thing about this mission is that it is the first time in the game you get to make a choice and on my first playthrough I was absolutely blown away. I also loved chasing Ivan to the top of the building.

 

7) The Holland Play: The first mission in the game where you get to choose to kill "This guy" or "that guy". Another fun one with replay value. I always choose to kill Playboy though.

 

8) Paper trail: Chasing a guy in a helicopter with a helicopter. Totally unique. A bit tough but a nice mission nonetheless.

 

9) Undertaker: Funeral for either Derrick/Francis. (depending on your choice). Unique thing about this mission is that this is the only time you can get a Romero in the game. Also the shootouts and stuff are all very awesome.

 

10) Final Interview: You could do this in 2 ways. Kill the guy all guns blazing or do it stealthily. Plenty of replay value.

 

11) I'll take her: Call a girl selling a car, take her for a spin, kidnap the girl as she tries to turn the steering well and drop her of at a safe house. Awesome.

 

I've listed 11 missions. I'm sure there are more so you guys can post what I've missed and I'll add it to the OP.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Vercetti42

[Osho]

The goal should be to explain the repetitiveness not by how it feels cool but based on the following:

- Multiple approaches, possible.

- How much more can you be creative ( via arsenal, vehicles, role-play or anything ) outside general approach the designers expect from the players anyways?

- How much less scripted they are in every possible way?

- How much copy/paste of these are available in the campaign?

 

It is very subjective but are just simple pointers, and that's how I view the gameplay, and how less repetitive they appear.

 

I'm just on my second walkthrough right now, and don't want to rush through them, but take my time to try things as much possible and differently to add any thing to the topic.

[Trevorphilipjfry]

Most of the missions OP listed are pretty much the same from a gameplay perspective, just different setup or circumstances. Its always

Tail

Follow

Kill

Etc.

 

Sure a few are different, but most were just hired gun missions. Still a campaign though, (not a hater)

[Jeansowaty]

Taking in The Trash is not unique? Do You Have Protection is not unique? Nearly all missions are different, who the hell says that they are repetitive?

Edited August 30, 2014 by Jeansowaty

[Tyla]

I'm just going to quote a post of mine from a while ago with three more you can add to the list (Late Checkout, Flatline & The Snow Storm):

 

I will cite SonOfLiberty's Flatline example first. You can simply walk in, blast the target and gun your way through an FIB team to make your escape. Or, you steal a set of scrubs in order to get close to the target without arousing suspicion. Still control is in your hands. Do you knife him to death? Do you pull his life support? Do you slip up and give the target enough time to call out for help? Do you still blast him like the cowboy you are?

 

Late Checkout is a favorite of mine. It used to be a boring, bogstandard shootout until I discovered during my last playthrough I could approach it (and many other missions, in fact) with a little logic. Instead of going in through the front door, why not go around back? If you've explored the crevices of Liberty City enough you'll notice a sky lift going up to the building adjacent to The Majestic's penthouse. You can get a clear bead on the Jew hanging out there - the only one of the three targets to be armed. Long story short, you can pull the mission off a lot different to the way it is presented. I can leave a getaway car running (engine on) in front of the parking garages short of the alley and make an escape without the cops ever knowing I was there.

 

The Snow Storm is another mission I can remember fondly. You can launch an assault head-on from the front or, you can head down to Castle Gardens City, jack a boat, put a little thought into your planning. You can set up a nice little getaway for yourself by arriving in your stolen boat; you can creep onto the property undetected by sneaking around back and mounting stairs onto a decrepit roof. You've got yourself a nice little overview of the deal going down from the ideal vantage point, at which you can gun down a few goons, snatch the product and leave your enemies to bite the bullet from NOOSE. Just hop around back, get back in your boat and cut through the waves.

 

Pest Control is a worthy mention and I think the pinnacle of the freedom GTAIV allows you with missions.

 

You need to kill Ray Boccino who is in a convoy with a truck full of bodyguards. You can attempt to kill them at traffic lights -- you can attempt to kill them when they stop for gas -- you can attempt to kill them when they stop at the toll booth (like something out of The Godfather). You can ram Ray off the road if you're clever -- you can call Patrick McReary up and have him leave a car bomb that you can attach to Ray's vehicle before he even gets into it. It's a brilliant mission.

 

Museum Piece is also worthy of a mention, simply because you can use pretty much all of the friend abilities to their full potential to make that mission as different as possible. You can place a bomb from Packie on the PMP's out front. You can call Dwayne's backup when the mob start attacking you after the deal goes south. You can call Brucie to have him wait in Middle Park with a chopper. Awesome mission.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Tyla

[B Dawg]

You can call Patrick McReary up and have him leave a car bomb that you can attach to Ray's vehicle before he even gets into it. It's a brilliant mission.

Lol, why didn't I think of that.

[Payne Killer]

The missions aren't repetitive, you don't need shootouts every mission. Just careful planning and as Tyla said, use the friends special abilities to your advantage.

[Shadowfennekin]

I know they're not repetitive but the bike chase ones sure felt like it the first time I played. I was sh*t on a bike back then though.

[Gnocchi Flip Flops]

People only say the missions are repetitive because you can't blow up a building, shoot down a plane and follow it until it crashes, or dive underwater to unrealistically invade a top secret research plant 24/7.

[fefenc]

GTA IV missions was boring and repetitive, it was the same fkn thing all the game, but the awesome developed history behind them has made each of these missions feel different.

 

Well, at least I don't remember IV having a mission similar to one that only requires you to buy a mask counting as main mission, instead of side mission.

Edited August 31, 2014 by fefenc

[matajuegos01]

Without being biased I gotta say most of the missions ARE repetitive, of course there are some good missions like the ones OP has listed, but you gotta admit in the sense of keeping the gamer's eyes on the game, GTA V does a very good job.

[Drunken Cowboy]

I MEAN THE MISSIONS IN GTA IV ARE OKAY BUT NO JETPACK NO AIRPLANE NO FOLLOWING THE TRAIN WHAT IS THIS sh*t 0/11110000000 BIG CAR CHASES AND FIRE FIGHTS SO BORING

[Payne Killer]

I MEAN THE MISSIONS IN GTA IV ARE OKAY BUT NO JETPACK NO AIRPLANE NO FOLLOWING THE TRAIN WHAT IS THIS sh*t 0/11110000000 BIG CAR CHASES AND FIRE FIGHTS SO BORING

You summed up the V and gtao section, very well.

[Algonquin Assassin]

Taking in The Trash is not unique? Do You Have Protection is not unique? Nearly all missions are different, who the hell says that they are repetitive?

 

Exactly. Whilst I admit there is repetition I don't think it's to the extent that most people make out and besides it does't make the missions bad. Take The Snow Storm and Museum Piece for example. The premise behind both of these missions is very similar, but both are great in their own right IMO.

 

I think some people forget the fact that Niko's a hired gun so that's why most of the missions reflect his profession. I've always believed after San Andreas R* wanted a GTA that flowed and maintained consistency between the narrative and protagonist unlike CJ who was doing things a gangbanger would never do. GTA IV's not exactly perfect in this regard, but it's objectively much more focussed and stream lined.

 

To be honest even the minor/no action missions in GTA IV don't bore me as they're normally done and dusted fairly quick. I'd rather this than a 20+ minute monotonous grind (I'm looking at you Scouting The Port). Don't get me wrong I like action sequences as much as anyone, but to me a game lacks substance and depth if that's all it is. I enjoy GTA IV's pacing between slow paced/methodical/hitman missions and missions more on a Diehard kind of level.

[Niobium]

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

[Drunken Cowboy]

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

Who has time to get off their badass Hexer?

[Goldn-Bayse]

You can add Holland Nights to the list. Normally you can go into the projects only to have the target escape on foot and have his goons shoot you. Or you can cross the street and climb the nearby crane where you get a view of the target. You can then shoot him without him noticing and finish the minute quickly without any cops arriving too.

[lol232]

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

I once stood on top of the tunnel which leads you to the Algonquin bridge, and blasted him with the RPG while he was being driven in the car. Edited August 31, 2014 by lol232

[Johnny Spaz]

Bull in a China Shop and Out of the closet are fun as well.

[The_Anti-tragedy]

Bull in a China Shop and Out of the closet are fun as well.

Bull in a China Shop has three ways to break the window. You can throw an object at it, shoot at it or ram it with a vehicle. I've done all three on different playthroughs.

[simonp92]

Good idea for a topic.

 

First off, I love GTA IV. It's the best GTA to me, but I gotta disagree with you. MOST of the missions are repetative, infact that's the only negative I can think of with GTA IV.

You mentioned all the really good missions, with some truely unique missions like Paper trail, Final interview and Truck Hustle, but I gotta veto two of the missions you mentioned:

Hostile Negotiation: Your reason for why it is good, is flawed, as you're mixing the story into it. Just look at it as a mission on it's own. It's just a shootout mission, where you clear out the building; it's not very good IMO, if you look at it as just a mission, not thinking about you really wanting to save Roman or kill the kidnappers. As for alternative for this mission: This is actually a funny thing; because there's no alternatives to this mission. I tried going there in a Helicopter, only to find out that the goons on the roof have rocketlaunchers; quite a cool little detail, to avoid making the mission too easy. (This is a positive in my book)

 

The snow Storm: This is one exactly the same as Hostile negotiation. Except for the location, and the police chase at the end. Granted it's one of the better shootout missions, but ultimately it's more of the same.

 

Now let's look at the only other shootout mission, you mentioned, and why it's different/better than the other two: Three leaf Clover.

Three leaf Clover is different because you're constantly moving. You don't have time to go to cover and take your time so you felt the need to constantly rush forward. It's not just a clear the area type shootout like the other two.. The cool locations, chinatown and the metro helps too.

 

Furthermore I think you failed to mention a few other great missions.

To live and Die in Alderney. Just awesome scripted fun, driving through the back alleys and backyards of Alderney with the feds right on your tail. This also reminds me allot of the mission No. 3 from TBOGT, but I think this one is a tad better.

Lure: Just a short little mission, but with so much originality. Too bad there's only two ways to complete it though.

Shadow: I found it interesting stalking that dealer, going through the alleys. And if you spook him, it turns into an awesome footchase.

We've seen it done in previous GTA games, but it was always in a car.In many ways this mission feels like a predecessor to the shadowing/footchase missions in L.A Noire, even if they aren't made by the same developers.

 

The amount of really great missions in GTA Is quite low though, compared to the lengh of the game. Only maybe 10% are truely geat, with a allot of mediocre ones. Actually I'm abit surprised nobody mentioned the amount of carchases in GTA IV. There's almost more car-chases than shootouts in this game. Here's the missions, where you chase a car/bike/boat while shooting at it: Ivan the not so Terrible, No love lost, Search and Delete, I need your clothes your boots and your motorcycle, Ruff rider, Wrong is right, Meltdown, No way on the subway, Hating the Haters, Union Drive, Buoys Ahoy, Pest control (one method is a carchase), If the price is Right (Deal ending) Not counting Pest control and If the price is Right , that's a total of 11 missions in which a vehicle-chase is mandatory to complete it. Almost all 11 are extremely similar, with only small differences, like some of them being scripted, like Union Drive and No way on the subway, but ultimately R* had way too many of theese missions in GTA IV, if you ask me.

 

Futhermore, I really missed the railshooter type missions like Phnom Penh '86 from Vice City or Reuniting the Families from San Andreas. Why R* didn't have a single on of theese in GTA IV is beyond me. Thank god, TLAD and TBOGT both featured one each, with TLAD's Shifting weight being the best mission of that DLC, IMO.

Edited September 1, 2014 by simonp92

[Mr.Nedich]

Honestly, not much of IV's story stands out from a gameplay perspective. The only missions I loved personally as favourites were:

Late Checkout- Kind of a classy hitman feel. I was disappointed there wasn't a 'snipe him from the roof' type of option, but it was still fun regardless.

 

The Holland Play- Because the split between Dwayne and Playboy set up a dramatic tension to that arch and for players not in the know, it presented a moral dilemma of sorts.

 

Blood Brothers- The fact that both brothers commit murder Kane and Abel style by proxy makes it a mission with no ultimately right answer.

 

Beyond that, I'd say most of the mission were typical 'drive there, shoot/pick up that and get to the checkpoint' missions or overrated missions like Three Leaf Clover.

 

Edit- I did like the mild level of flexibility in Ray's assassination mission where you can call packie and put a bomb on his car. That felt much more like a professional hit than having to chase his car.

Edited September 1, 2014 by Mr.Nedich

[Jeansowaty]

I guess I'm the only one who's favorite mission is A Long Way to Fall. It's not unique, agreed, but it's very fun. Just blasting the 'spic in a cool project in North Holland, then getting rid of the main target on the rooftop by blowing his brains away and making him fall to his death, still alive.

[daliakiller]

Well, i'll put some different subject here, but still being on topic. Vigilante missions.

 

They are basically "go to X, kill enemy gang". As repetitive as can be. But deliciously repetitive. I mean, there is different ways to deal with enemies. Granades, weapons, police backup, Packie's bomb, Dwayne's backup.. infinite ways.

 

After you get to the scene, there is no time counter, and as long you don't get too close to the gang or shoot, you can find a best spot to take them out, the way you want to.

 

Last night i started only with a pistol, and put a bomb on a car near the gang's location. Going on the other side, i have blown the car and ended a few of them and before they could react, i easily picked every one of them with a glock. I returned to the cruiser and attended to another occurency, in a different way.

 

Vigilante are repetitive, yet it can still be a different experience every time we play.

[Payne Killer]

Well, i'll put some different subject here, but still being on topic. Vigilante missions.

 

They are basically "go to X, kill enemy gang". As repetitive as can be. But deliciously repetitive. I mean, there is different ways to deal with enemies. Granades, weapons, police backup, Packie's bomb, Dwayne's backup.. infinite ways.

 

After you get to the scene, there is no time counter, and as long you don't get too close to the gang or shoot, you can find a best spot to take them out, the way you want to.

 

Last night i started only with a pistol, and put a bomb on a car near the gang's location. Going on the other side, i have blown the car and ended a few of them and before they could react, i easily picked every one of them with a glock. I returned to the cruiser and attended to another occurency, in a different way.

 

Vigilante are repetitive, yet it can still be a different experience every time we play.

I love taking them down in creative ways.

[Niobium]

 

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

Who has time to get off their badass Hexer?

if there is a badass calvacade, vigero or dukes nearby, i do.

[Payne Killer]

 

 

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

Who has time to get off their badass Hexer?

if there is a badass calvacade, vigero or dukes nearby, i do.Calvacade, for Johnny, Eww. Vigero and dukes, hell yeah. But I never leave the Hexer.

[Niobium]

 

 

 

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

Who has time to get off their badass Hexer?

if there is a badass calvacade, vigero or dukes nearby, i do.Calvacade, for Johnny, Eww. Vigero and dukes, hell yeah. But I never leave the Hexer.

calvacade is awesome, i don't care who drives it (except trevor). and so what if johnny drives a luxury vehicle? he drove malc's presidente. he drove the mayor's freaking infernus once.

 

my OCD for TLAD is i always leave the hexer. i always need to be driving a "cage".

 

ok i just realized i'm off-topic

[donnits]

Y no luv for Stallion? v_v

Just look at this baby...

 

 

[Payne Killer]

 

 

 

 

politics in TLAD, anyone?

 

you could wait until the target leaves, and shoot an RPG at him, or you could drive into the airport with a car and toss a grenade next to the maverick as it lands... or you could possibly create a roadblock with a bunch of SUVs on the road, and wait for thr target to stop the car.

 

has anyone ever tried to make a roadblock?

Who has time to get off their badass Hexer?

if there is a badass calvacade, vigero or dukes nearby, i do.

Calvacade, for Johnny, Eww. Vigero and dukes, hell yeah. But I never leave the Hexer.calvacade is awesome, i don't care who drives it (except trevor). and so what if johnny drives a luxury vehicle? he drove malc's presidente. he drove the mayor's freaking infernus once.

 

my OCD for TLAD is i always leave the hexer. i always need to be driving a "cage".

 

ok i just realized i'm off-topic

Your right, Trevor and calvacade don't match.