"Yeah. I got MOST of the way through it, but then I got stuck on this one stupid mission."
Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Hardest Grand Theft Auto Missions.
For this list, we're looking at those missions that had us throwing our controllers at the screen out of frustration,
whether it's due to a strange, new mechanic or insurmountable odds.
We'll also be sticking to the 3D, third-person entries in the series.
Number 10: "Three Leaf Clover", "Grand Theft Auto IV"
It's considered to be one of the best missions in the game, but it's also one of the most frustrating.
In it, Niko and Packie, along with some friends, rob a bank.
The frustrating part comes when you have to shoot your way out of the bank and down the street - heat style.
The barrage of cops make for tough opponents. And the long mission length adds to the frustration.
When you're finally done shooting, you have to escape a three-star wanted level.
It's a loud, chaotic nightmare.
(bullets ricocheting)
Number 9: "S.A.M.", "Grand Theft Auto III"
"There's a plane coming into Francis International in two hours time. It is full of Catalina's poison."
In this mission, you are given the almost-impossible task of shooting down an airplane in midflight and then, collecting its dropped packages while being pursued by the police.
"You be careful, now. Okay, baby?"
As if shooting down the plane wasn't hard enough, the limitless police make this mission almost impossible, as their sheer numbers are sure to leave you wasted time and time again.
(siren wailing)
You, then, have to drive all the way back to the mainland with a four-star wanted level, complete with a helicopter.
So, escape and completion come, only to the most patient.
Number 8: "The Snow Storm", "Grand Theft Auto IV"
(man screaming)
GTA and drugs go together like peanut butter and jelly.
So, it's no surprise that this mission sees Niko retrieving a stolen batch of cocaine for his friend, Elizabetha.
To complete the mission, you have to, not only shoot your way through countless thugs,
but, also, a heavily armed squad of noose officers.
Escape is barely manageable, as the police have heavy artillery and the escape routes are all blocked.
It's a frustrating mission filled with trial and error. And a lot of deaths.
(Niko screaming)
Number 7: "Payday for Ray", "Grand Theft Auto III"
"It's time you met our man inside the LPD. Here's a payment for the last little job he did for us."
"He is understandably cautious."
Remember the good old days of payphones? Yeah, neither do I.
"Get to the phone on Liberty Campus."
But, anyway, in this mission, Claude, is tasked with racing around Staunton Island, visiting four different payphones for Ray in a set amount of time.
Timed missions are always a pain-in-the-ass in these games, as the added stress of the time limit only adds to the frustration.
"I know what you're thinking: another bent cop. Well, it's a bent world."
As if all that wasn't bad enough, the payphones are very, very far apart.
And the second phone is placed in a spot that appears to be underground, leading you into a dead end before you barely got started.
"Well, this city is one, big, open sewer!"
Number 6: "Espresso-2-Go!", "Grand Theft Auto III"
"Miguel certainly has some of that famous Latin stamina."
Man, this old game was hard, eh? For this mission, Claude is tasked with driving around the entire city of Liberty City, while taking coffee stands, which are, of course, fronts for illegal activities.
"The Cartel have a front company, the Cuppa Coffee House."
As is the custom: your hectic drive around the city is timed, and that wasn't bad enough,
each coffee stand is heavily guarded by Cartel members.
The mission had such empathy that Rockstar changed the Cartel's guns from shotguns to Uzis to make the mission easier for players.
You know what's unfair when the developer has to change it.
"Smash them to splinters!!"
Number 5: "Dildo Dodo", "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City"
"Did you get those fliers printed up?"
"Yeah, but nobody's going to let us distribute those things. I mean, they're just too-- They're unimaginative."
Flying has never been GTA's strongest suit, as flight school for San Andreas can attest to.
But, that fault is on full display in this mission which sees Tommy distributing pornographic promotional flyers throughout the city.
The player must fly small through certain circular checkpoints to drop the flyers,
and, of course, there is an annoying time limit.
The mission is made especially hard, due to the proximity of the checkpoints with small buildings,
which the plane is liable to crash into.
The awkward controls of the seaplane don't really help either, making this mission completely frustrating.
Number 4: "The Wrong Side of the Tracks", "Grand Theft Auto: San Andereas"
It's always frustrating when the fate of a mission in the hands of atrocious AI.
In this mission, C.J. are Big Smoke are chasing down some rival gang members, who are on a train, while they're on a dirt bike.
(machine gun firing)
It doesn't sound too bad, but not only do you have to keep up with the train,
you have to dodge incoming obstacles, making it a chore to accomplish.
The worst offender, though, is the AI.
Smoke, not only shoots worse than a Stormtrooper, but he berates you every time you fail.
"All you had to do was follow the damn train, C.J.!!!!!"
Number 3: "Bomb da Base, Act II", "Grand Theft Auto III"
"Okay, let's do this thing"
"I can set this baby to detonate, but I still can't use a piece with these hands."
"Here, this rifle shall help you pop some heads."
You would think standing stationary and picking off targets with a sniper rifle would be an easy job, but you would be wrong.
(sniper rifle firing, barrels explode, reloading gun)
In this mission, you provide sniper support for 8-Ball, as he plants bombs on a boat.
(sniper rifle firing, barrels explode, gun reloading)
The mission is difficult, because the enemies' locations are so hard to pinpoint, that by the time you do, 8-Ball is already long dead.
"I'll need $100,000 to cover expenses."
8-Ball is, also, not the smartest ally and shows very little concern for his well being throughout the whole ordeal.
Number 2: "Demolition Man", "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City"
"I got a problem and I reckon you could help me with it."
"I'm no builder."
"No, I was thinking more of your demolition skills."
Remember, how we said flying was never GTA's strong suit? Well, this is even worse.
This mission sees Tommy flying an RC helicopter; planting bombs at various locations to destroy a building.
This is probably the first time you'll have tried a helicopter by this point in the game.
So, let's just say this can be a difficult learning experience.
It, also, doesn't help that,
say it with me now,
the mission is on a timer.
Or that there are angry construction workers trying to destroy your helicopter with hammers.
Weird controls, people trying to stop you AND a timer?!!
This is, basically, an assortment of everything that makes for a frustrating mission.
"You're trying to say that this new office block is kind of in the way?"
"You catch on quick."
Before we look at our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Number 1: "Supply Lines...", "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"
What's with the damn model aircraft?
Sure to strike nostalgic fear into any "San Andreas" fan, this mission is responsible for many unabandoned save files.
This mission sees C.J. flying an RC plane and shooting Zero's rival courier vans.
It's extremely frustrating, as the plane has very limited fuel, making the flight across town next to impossible.
The trick is actually to glide instead of holding the gas down, but that, in turn, makes the mission extremely slow.
And that doesn't even counting shooting the targets, which is way easier said than done.
This mission is frustration in carnet.
Do you agree with our list?
Which mission made you want to go on an angry rampage?
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