Yea, this isn’t really programming related, but hey, it’s important! This level took me forever, but I figured out a strategy that’s practically fool-proof. The final level in GTA Vice City is called “Keep your friends close…” and you have to kill the big boss. Here’s how you do it:
Before you start, make sure you have the rocket launcher and a good supply of amo (at least 8 rockets). Also have one manual aiming rifle. Make sure your health and shields are at 100% too. Once you are set, save the game right there in the office. That way if you have to do it over, it’s pretty fast to load the game and start the mission.
At the start you are in your office gaurding the safe. Grab the python pistol and stand in the middle of the room facing the doorway. Just stand there until people come at you and shoot them with the python (one shot kills). I like to rapidly press the aim button so it will lock onto a target as soon as one gets close. If you do well, you can get past this level without getting hit. As long as you have about 50% shields, you’ll be fine.
After about 60 seconds of this, you’ll get a message to go kill Lance. As soon as you see this, run out of the room. Don’t bother trying to kill anybody. As soon as you get outside the room, a cut-scene will appear. Have the joystick pointed to the right and the run button depressed. As soon as the cut-scene is over, you’ll start running to the right towards Lance. Here is the trick – don’t try to shoot anybody – even Lance. Just run as fast as you can to the roof. Run right past Lance if you can. Try to memorize the moves so you can just haul ass the whole way. Just go around people and try not to get shot. If you can make it to the roof with any health left at all, you’ll be fine.
As you go onto the roof, have the joystick already pointed left and the run button depressed. Run straight to the adrenalin pill, grab it, and take a right towards the helipad. Run to the Heart and recharge your health if necessary. Don’t bother shooting anybody! At this point, you’ll be standing on the helipad. All of the bad guys are standing at the level below you and they cannot hit you. You can take a breath here and proceed when you’re ready.
Now, staying on the helipad, move towards the rail, towards the guys. Arm yourself with one of the manual aiming rifles so that you can snipe the guys. Staying towards the left seems to give a better angle. As you get closer, you’ll get into firing range, so be careful. But if you move up very slowly, you’ll be able to see the guys heads poking up and you can shoot them without them being able to shoot you! If you do get hit, you can go back to the heart. This part is easy if you take your time – no need to rush.
Once you have killed all the guys, you can walk back towards the door. Before you do, arm yourself with the rocket launcher. Once you go back inside, go down the stairs and take the first doorway you can (this is the level just above your office). If you see any guys on the way – they are your own guys and they won’t bother you. No need to shoot anybody. Take the most direct path to your office. Just before you get to the office door, another cut-scene will occur.
As soon as the cut scene is over (you should already be armed with the rocket launcher) you will be standing at the top of the stairs – your health and shields are magically charged to full. Very quickly, take about 4 steps forward, aim and fire the rockets right at the boss guy. You’ll knock him down on the first shot, but keep firing. After about 4 shots, he dies!
That’s it. If you do it right, you can rock through this level really fast. The key, again, is not to bother shooting anybody when you’re running from one place to the next.
Happy Happy Joy!
-j
