Does it bother you to "skip" an optional activity?

[Thomas Vercetti Esq]

Just started my second playthrough of San Andreas, and if anything it's even more enjoyable this time around. This game seems to get nearly everything right.

 

I'm a casual gamer, but I wanted to be a bit more in-depth this time round, so I'm searching out all the graffiti tags (not using a map), building up CJ's strength, stamina, weapon skill,  and generally taking my time before I try and go too far into the story.

 

However, I've already realised that trying to do Vigilante is a complete waste of time. Could be that I don't have the skill and/or the patience, but San Andreas vigilante comes across as flat out impossible. Even the first cars you have to chase can turn on a dime and speed off even while you're unloading on them, and of course if you miss the right line by a nanometre, you'll either get knocked off your bike or your car will do a 1080 degree spin and you'll have to catch them again. The reward / masochism ratio of this activity is completely slanted towards the masochism, and it's no fun at all. And games are supposed to be fun. Ergo, it gets skipped. I'd like to be able to do it, but I know already that I'd get more frustration and less enjoyment from the game as a result.

 

What does everyone think about skipping non-essential missions, activities, etc?

[E Revere]

I'm a completionist so I like doing them. But it's correct that it's tedious sometimes.

 

I've got some advice for you on vigilante. Try getting in front of the cars, align them side by side so that your front is half a car length in front of their front, and turn into them to force them into a stop, better if you run them facefront into a wall. You don't need to do it this exact way either, you can do a pit manuever or spin them out some other way too. Just get them stuck somehow. While the AI can't figure how to get through and just tries to speed into the wall, get out and shoot the perps in their heads or pull them out of their cars. Works like a charm in every game's vigilante mission, not just SA. It gets you less stars too so you have to visit a pay n sprays less, maybe never.

 

That being said, I don't find it that hard but I've had a lot more experience with it too. You should also know that Vigilante was bugged in GTA SA the last time I checked and doesn't actually give you the promised reward. Fanmade patches fix this.

Edited March 22, 2023 by E Revere

[Thomas Vercetti Esq]

26 minutes ago, E Revere said:

I'm a completionist so I like doing them. But it's correct that it's tedious sometimes.

 

I've got some advice for you on vigilante. Try getting in front of the cars, align them side by side so that your front is half a car length in front of their front, and turn into them to force them into a stop, better if you run them facefront into a wall. You don't need to do it this exact way either, you can do a pit manuever or spin them out some other way too. Just get them stuck somehow. While the AI can't figure how to get through and just tries to speed into the wall, get out and shoot the perps in their heads or pull them out of their cars. Works like a charm in every game's vigilante mission, not just SA. It gets you less stars too so you have to visit a pay n sprays less, maybe never.

 

That being said, I don't find it that hard but I've had a lot more experience with it too. You should also know that Vigilante was bugged in GTA SA the last time I checked and doesn't actually give you the promised reward. Fanmade patches fix this.

That's useful to know, especially about the reward. I'm playing it on iPad, and I don't know which "version" that is supposed to be. If it's not even going to give me something worthwhile for all that effort, then it's absolutely not worth it!

[Evil empire]

If an activity is boring or too tedious/hard for me I prefer skipping it.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Evil empire

[HenriqueV5]

Don't do those vigilante missions at first. Do them in the "5th part" of the game. Break into area 69 and steal a tank, store it in your garage in the airplane graveyard, and get rid of the police.
The tank in Las Venturas is extremely effective for eliminating criminals and finishing the vigilante missions.

 

The taxi missions are the most boring.

[cant remember]

I try everything, but I never complete it all.

I finish all the main missions and side missions that involve cutscenes.

 

HIdden packages, stunt jumps, taxi missions/paramedic missions, graffiti tags,.. I just do a few or the ones I run into naturally and then tell myself I've seen it and I'm done.

[Thelema93]

Optional content that involve cutscenes, dialogue and new characters I never skip. But stuff like stunt jumps, collectibles, vigilante missions etc I have no problem skipping. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Homicidal Hipster

[_Ryan_]

Similar to others.

 

I usually try everything atleast once, but it doesn’t bother me if I don’t finish everything to its fullest.

 

Certain activities/side missions are better than others anyway.

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by _Ryan_

[44Orca]

I do all of them for 100% completion, I really like them, there's actual optional side missions that don't count towards 100% which those specifically I don't bother doing other than passing time, rarely.

If it's some I found annoying was with GTA III and Vice City's collectibles first time playing, the way the map was designed confused me back then. Now it's easier, you can look online/or have map with the definitive edition.

[lol232]

18 hours ago, Thomas Vercetti Esq said:

Just started my second playthrough of San Andreas, and if anything it's even more enjoyable this time around. This game seems to get nearly everything right.

 

I'm a casual gamer, but I wanted to be a bit more in-depth this time round, so I'm searching out all the graffiti tags (not using a map), building up CJ's strength, stamina, weapon skill,  and generally taking my time before I try and go too far into the story.

 

However, I've already realised that trying to do Vigilante is a complete waste of time. Could be that I don't have the skill and/or the patience, but San Andreas vigilante comes across as flat out impossible. Even the first cars you have to chase can turn on a dime and speed off even while you're unloading on them, and of course if you miss the right line by a nanometre, you'll either get knocked off your bike or your car will do a 1080 degree spin and you'll have to catch them again. The reward / masochism ratio of this activity is completely slanted towards the masochism, and it's no fun at all. And games are supposed to be fun. Ergo, it gets skipped. I'd like to be able to do it, but I know already that I'd get more frustration and less enjoyment from the game as a result.

 

What does everyone think about skipping non-essential missions, activities, etc?

Skill issue, but I think they still pretty hard if you're just doing them the "normal way", most of us get a minigun or a Hunter from flight school to do it. I do beat all the side missions, but I really hate doing those that give you sh*tty rewards (e.g. Pigeons) and enjoy those that give good rewards (e.g. Vigilante, Paramedic).

[dictatorial]

For some reason I have no problems completing vigilante on any of the games aside from Vice City. That game's vigilante is kryptonite for me. But yes it does bother me when I skip optional activities because I usually 100% every time I play.

Edited April 12, 2023 by dictatorial

[Exsanguination]

Depends.

 

I’ve 100%’d the games several times but I don’t do that every play through. 
 

Some I view as essential depending on the game. In SA fire truck missions are essential to make the missions with burning buildings much easier etc. etc. 

 

14 hours ago, dictatorial said:

For some reason I have no problems completing vigilante on any of the games aside from Vice City. That game's vigilante is kryptonite for me. But yes it does bother me when I skip optional activities because I usually 100% every time I play.

I always use the hunter for vigilante in VC and start it in little Haiti and the cars usually spawn In the same spots… good way to make a TON of money I’ve done almost 200 levels in succession before getting bored lol 

[dictatorial]

9 hours ago, Exsanguination said:

I always use the hunter for vigilante in VC and start it in little Haiti and the cars usually spawn In the same spots… good way to make a TON of money I’ve done almost 200 levels in succession before getting bored lol

I'll definitely try that next time!

[Evil empire]

I never completed the plane races in GTA San Andreas, I have never been good with piloting planes.