What Should I Do First in GTA? A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve just booted up Grand Theft Auto (GTA), ready to dive into the chaotic, sprawling world of Los Santos and beyond. Whether you’re a complete newbie or a returning player, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. Let’s cut through the noise and answer the burning question: What should you do first in GTA?
The answer depends slightly on whether you’re playing GTA Online or the single-player story mode, but the core concept is the same: get your bearings and build a foundation. Here’s a breakdown:
First Steps in GTA Online
The absolute first thing you should do is complete the GTA Online tutorial. This isn’t just a formality; it’s crucial for getting your footing in the game’s mechanics and economy. Your initial contact, Lamar Davis, will guide you through several essential activities. This includes:
- Street Racing: Familiarize yourself with driving and handling in the game’s physics.
- Committing Robberies: Learn how to interact with the environment and NPCs for basic criminal activities.
- Taking Down Thugs: Get accustomed to combat, aiming, and movement in shootouts.
- Undertaking a Job Assignment: Discover how missions function and how to progress.
- Getting Insurance for Your Car: Understand the importance of vehicle protection and basic financial management.
After the tutorial, here’s a structured approach to get you moving:
- Buy a Decent Car and a Garage: Start saving up for a good, reliable vehicle that will help you get around the map quickly. You’ll need a place to store it, so a garage is essential. Don’t go straight for the most expensive one; a reasonable, mid-tier car will do fine to begin with.
- Keep Cashing In: Focus on completing available jobs, races, and other activities to earn a steady income. Don’t be afraid to repeat missions; it will help you learn the game’s mechanics better, especially with aiming and driving.
- Save Up, Then Buy an Enterprise: Once you’ve accumulated enough capital, consider investing in a business, such as a bunker or an MC Clubhouse. This will unlock new revenue streams and activities.
- Steal a Chopper: A helicopter can greatly reduce your travel time around the map and open up new possibilities for jobs and heists.
- Purchase a High-End Apartment: Eventually, you’ll need a better base of operations. A high-end apartment provides a place to plan and launch heists. It also unlocks the ability to plan the much-needed heists.
First Steps in GTA Story Mode
The story mode kicks off with a different flow. The very first missions are your introduction to the game world, characters, and mechanics.
- Play Through the Tutorial Missions: The game starts you off with Michael and Trevor, and then switches to Franklin. These missions are your on-ramp to the narrative, setting the tone for the world of Los Santos. After the first two missions, the game world is yours to roam.
- Explore Los Santos: Start exploring the world, driving around, and getting a feel for the map. Familiarize yourself with the locations of important places like Ammu-Nation, Los Santos Customs, and various mission markers.
- Go to Missions on the Map: After your initial missions, the map will be dotted with mission markers. Begin following them to progress through the story. Take your time; you don’t need to rush through the story, enjoy it.
- Look for Side Activities: The world is packed with side activities, such as races, random encounters, and collectibles, which can help supplement your income and make the game feel more immersive.
General Advice for Both Modes
Regardless of whether you’re playing GTA Online or Story Mode, there are some general principles you should keep in mind:
- Experiment and Explore: GTA is a sandbox; feel free to experiment with different vehicles, weapons, and strategies.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Fail: Everyone starts somewhere. Failing a mission is part of the learning process.
- Learn the Controls: Knowing how to move, shoot, and drive effectively will make your experience much smoother.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings: GTA can be a dangerous place. Keep your eyes peeled for enemies and opportunities.
In short, start with the tutorial, focus on earning money, and steadily build your resources and capabilities. Whether you’re grinding to become a criminal mastermind in GTA Online or unraveling the intricate plot of the story mode, these initial steps are the key to a successful and fun experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is GTA 5 easy to play?
Generally, yes. GTA 5 is designed to be user-friendly and accessible. The game provides clear objectives, intuitive controls, and a well-structured learning curve. However, some aspects, like mastering complex heist setups or perfecting your racing skills, can take time and practice. The open world also provides ample opportunity to roam and have fun without having to master all aspects of the game.
2. Is GTA 5 OK for a 12-year-old?
No, not generally. GTA 5 is rated Mature due to its intense violence, coarse language, drug use, sexual content, and overall adult themes. Parents need to consider if their child can separate fantasy from reality before deciding.
3. Can I rob banks in GTA 5 story mode?
Yes, but not just by walking up to a bank and demanding cash. Bank robberies in the story mode are part of pre-determined heist missions. You need to progress through the story to unlock these missions.
4. What should I not buy in GTA Online?
Avoid purchasing cosmetic upgrades, boats, supercars (early on), arena war vehicles, the Orbital Cannon, the Luxor & Swift Deluxe, and yachts, as they’re often a waste of money for beginners and offer little in the way of ROI, at least at the early stages. Focus on purchases that will help you earn money first.
5. What to do when bored in GTA Online?
There’s always something to do! You can spectate other players, roleplay, throw a party on your yacht, create events, play a sport, join a biker gang, compete in races, or simply explore Los Santos.
6. Which heist should I do first in GTA Online?
The Fleeca Job is the first heist available, designed for two players, and serves as the tutorial for the heist system. It’s crucial to complete this to unlock more advanced heists.
7. How do you make money on GTA 5 offline?
In story mode, you can make money by robbing armored trucks, completing bail bonds bounties, doing random encounters, completing story heists, tackling assassination missions, and finding collectibles.
8. Can you rob ATMs in GTA story mode?
You can’t directly rob an ATM, but you can rob pedestrians after they use one. This is a less profitable but quick method for gathering small amounts of cash.
9. Can Franklin sleep with Amanda?
No. Franklin and Amanda never get romantically involved.
10. Can you have a girl character in GTA Online?
Yes. When creating your online character, you can choose either a male or female. However, your choice of gender is locked after creation and cannot be changed. You’d need to create a new character to switch genders.
11. Should you invest in Lifeinvader after killing the CEO?
Yes. Once the stock crashes after killing the CEO in the story, it’s a great opportunity to buy Lifeinvader stock because you can reap huge profits when it rebounds.
12. What gives the most money in GTA Online?
The Cayo Perico Heist, especially when done solo, is currently the most profitable way to make money.
13. What is the fastest way to get rich in GTA 5?
In story mode, the fastest ways are robbing stores and people, completing heists and assassinations, investing in stocks, winning races, and purchasing profitable businesses. In GTA Online, heists, especially the Cayo Perico heist, offer significant income opportunities.
14. Is GTA OK for a 9-year-old?
No. As previously stated, GTA games are intended for mature audiences due to their violent content, adult themes, and language.
15. Should I let my 13-year-old play GTA?
This depends on your individual assessment of your son’s maturity. If they understand that the game’s content is not real, and that it’s wrong to emulate the actions, then perhaps. However, the game is rated Mature for a reason, and it’s best to err on the side of caution.