How to Survive a Gunfight in Grand Theft Auto IV

No matter how nice you're trying to be, you will inevitably get into gunfights now and again, whether it's with the Russian Mob or crooked union bosses or just some guy on the street. Standing and fighting is a sure way to get yourself into the hospital. If that doesn't appeal to you, try these tips.

Instructions

1. Gear up first. Whether you stop by a gun shop or give Little Jacob a call, always make sure you go into a fight with an armored vest and plenty of ammunition. The vest doubles your life and while it may be expensive early on, having lots of ammo on hand ensures you don't need to rely on your fists to get the job done.

2. Get behind cover. All sorts of cover can be utilized by pressing the right bumper/R1 button. Most kinds of cover will stop bullets, extending your life dramatically. Press the fire button to shoot from cover.

3. Stay as far back as possible. You needn't run back to sniper rifle range, but just try and keep some distance between you and your targets. This isn't always possible, but it can be helpful if your enemies are toting shotguns.

4. Use short bursts. Both the submachine guns and the assault rifles will loose accuracy if you fire in long bursts. This can be countered by firing in short, quick bursts.

5. Listen to the dialog. If Niko says something about using grenades or another particular kind of weapon, that's a pretty strong clue that using whatever he just said would be a good idea.