Mission 3 - "Going Deep"
Bulgaran's been tipped off that some crooked cops are planning to plant evidence on him, and he wants Luis to bring them down before they do the deed. We say bring them down, not bring them to justice - because Luis' methods aren't exactly what you could call legal!
Driving to the mission location with the help of a handy sat nav ("Turn. Left. In... 100 yards") we can't help but raise a wry smile at the dialogue between Luis and Bulgaran's go-to guy Timur...
"I am glad to have this opportunity to know each other", says Timur. "It is important that one gets knows those he employs intimately".
think Terminator, 24 or Gone In 60 Seconds - and it isn't long before we're causing a similar brand of explosive mayhem
"S**t bro", retorts Luis. "Just 'cause I got a gay boss don't mean I'm gonna get intimate wid'ju. And if I was, it would not be on our first date, either!"
Within a minute we've arrived at our destination; an underground car park reminiscent of many a famous action scene of years gone by from TV and cinema - think Terminator, 24 or Gone In 60 Seconds - and it isn't long before we're causing a similar brand of explosive mayhem.
Parking the car, we find our objective above another stationary vehicle and are advised that satchel charges are the way to go - but not just in one place. Oh no - because pretty soon a rather large group of bent cops is going to turn up, and we're going to need to take em all out if we're to have any hope of getting out alive.
With that in mind, we set satchel charges at several key points around the garage and take cover behind a parked van, then wait for our quarry to arrive. Sure enough a riot van pulls up and they spill out - and BOOM! We go to work!
It's not long before we realise how badly we judged the sheer force of numbers of our bullet-proof vest wearing enemies, and in a flurry of shotgun-pumping, grenade throwing chaos we suddenly find ourselves overrun ad very, very dead.
A second attempt however sees us place the charges in a more opportune location (hindsight's a wonderful thing!) and mop up the gun-toting stragglers with ruthless efficiency, then jump in a car and career out of the parking lot, losing a pursuing pursuing SWAT van before seeing the mission completed.
The car chase at the end, meanwhile, was yet another example of the way GTA mixes multiple genres in seamless fashion.
Going Deep was a shorter mission than the previous two, yet lent more insight into the relationship between Luis and his eponymous boss. "Before I met Tony, I was a no-hoper' he says to Timur at one point. "He's given me every opportunity I ever got... Tony and I are partners, I wanna bring him with me, wherever I go".
On top of that, Going Deep was a reminder of GTA's commitment to recreating Hollywood style action via not just all out straightforward shooting, but something more intelligent, like waiting patiently to carry out an ambush. The car chase at the end, meanwhile, was yet another example of the way GTA mixes multiple genres in seamless fashion. And that's just one mission of many...
Next week we'll be experiencing 'Sexy Time', and going through the game's key new features in time for the launch of Episodes From Liberty City on Friday!...