Getting Started

Getting Started

First Hour Walkthrough

Your journey begins with the Prologue (2013, North Yankton). You play as Michael, Trevor, and Brad during a bank heist gone wrong. Follow the on-screen prompts: drive, shoot, and use cover. This is a tutorial for basic mechanics. After a cutscene, you will be in present-day Los Santos as Franklin Clinton, a repo man. You’ll receive a call from your friend Lamar Davis, starting the mission "Franklin and Lamar". Drive to the designated location, pick up Lamar, and follow his directions to steal a car. This mission introduces driving, basic combat, and the wanted system. Pay attention to the controls shown on screen.

Character Creation

Story Mode has no character creation. You play as three predefined characters: Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. Each has unique abilities and backstories. GTA Online (the multiplayer mode) allows you to create a custom character after completing the first few story missions, but this guide focuses on the single-player campaign.

Controls on All Platforms

Here are the default control schemes. You can customize them in the settings.

Important PC note: Use the mouse scroll to cycle through weapons quickly. Holding Tab brings up the weapon wheel for slow-motion selection.

UI Overview

The HUD consists of:

• Minimap (bottom-left): Shows your location, mission objectives, nearby points of interest, and wanted level indicators.


• Money & Stats (bottom-right): Current cash, banked money, and character stats like health (green bar) and armor (blue bar).


• Weapon Wheel (when holding L1/LB/Tab): Circular menu to select weapons. Each weapon has ammo count.


• Wanted Level (top-right): Stars indicating police attention. 1-5 stars; more stars mean more aggressive law enforcement.


• Mission Objective Text (top-left): Brief instructions during missions.


• Radio Wheel (when in a vehicle, press D-Pad Left/Right or Q/E on PC): Switch radio stations.




Essential Early Objectives



1. Complete the Prologue – Learn the basics of shooting, driving, and using cover.
2. Finish "Franklin and Lamar" – Unlocks the ability to free-roam the city and access the weapon shop.
3. Complete missions for Franklin until you meet Michael and Trevor. This unlocks character switching (a core mechanic).
4. Save your game manually every 20-30 minutes using your phone (hold Up D-Pad or Arrow Up) and selecting "Save Game" (if in a safehouse) or via the pause menu (Game > Save).
5. Buy a simple safehouse (optional) – After earning some money, you can purchase properties. The first cheap garage in Grapeseed is useful for storing cars.



What to Do First and What to Avoid



Do:

• Stick to story missions early on. They teach you mechanics and give you money.


• Use cover during gunfights (press R1/RB/Q near a wall).


• Rob convenience stores (point gun at cashier) for quick cash, but be ready to escape police.


• Invest in weapons early: the Pistol .50 from Ammu-Nation is a good upgrade.


Avoid:

• Spending money on expensive cars, clothes, or haircuts during the first few hours. You need cash for upgrades and properties.


• Getting into prolonged police chases – they waste time and can get you killed. Lose them by hiding in alleys or using the LS Customs to change your car's paint.


• Ignoring side activities like flight school or races. While fun, they can be distracting early on.


• Using cheats – they disable achievements/trophies and can break immersion.




Early Resource Priorities




• Money: Save at least $50,000 for the first property (a garage). Later, you will need money for heist setups.


• Weapons: The Pistol you get early is fine. Next priority: a shotgun (Pump Shotgun, $2,000) for close quarters, and an Assault Rifle (Special Carbine, $8,000) once you have enough cash.


• Armor: Body armor (from Ammu-Nation or stores) costs around $1,500 – buy one when possible; it saves you from dying.


• Vehicles: Use stolen cars or mission-provided vehicles. Do not buy a car until you have a garage to store it.


• Skills: Improve shooting, driving, and stamina by doing those actions. Franklin’s special ability (slow-motion while driving) charges over time.




Common Beginner Mistakes



1. Not using cover – Standing in the open gets you killed fast. Always press the cover button near walls, cars, or objects.
2. Running over pedestrians deliberately – This spikes your wanted level, making missions harder.
3. Neglecting character special abilities – Each character has one: Franklin’s driving focus, Michael’s bullet-time, Trevor’s rage. Activate them with L3+R3 (console) or Caps Lock (PC). They give you an edge.
4. Forgetting to save – Autosave happens, but manual saves protect against crashes or bad choices.
5. Buying the wrong property – Some properties (like the Los Santos Customs in great condition) are expensive early. Focus on the cheapest garage first.
6. Trying to do all side activities immediately – Stick to story until you have at least two characters unlocked, then branch out.



Day-One Checklist




• [ ] Complete the Prologue (North Yankton).


• [ ] Complete "Franklin and Lamar" mission.


• [ ] Familiarize yourself with the controls (especially cover and weapon wheel).


• [ ] Rob one convenience store for extra cash (optional but recommended).


• [ ] Buy one body armor and a stronger pistol from Ammu-Nation.


• [ ] Save the game manually (Pause > Game > Save).


• [ ] Explore a few blocks around Franklin’s safehouse to find collectibles (Letters, Spaceship Parts) if desired – but not necessary.


• [ ] Avoid buying a car or expensive items.


• [ ] Set your radio station preferences (when entering a car, press D-Pad Left/Right to change).

By following this guide, you will have a solid foundation for the hundreds of hours of content in Grand Theft Auto V. Remember to be patient, use cover, and have fun!