This guide includes South Central (DLC)

This game is not hard, just time consuming to complete, and probably fustrating in places at times, you are looking at around 50 hours or so. But you can get near half or better in around 25 hours with some good driving. There are others that are a real pain in the butt to get, like the T-Mobile myFaves Achievement.

Firstly, buy a motorbike as soon as you can. These can be used for the 'Series Races' where you race for cars, like the 'Nikolai' race. I first did this in a Evo X and found it hard to beat him. I thought what the hell, no way can a '69 Camaro RS SS' keep up to an 'Evolution X'. The Evo is 4-wheel-drive for starters, grip during cornering is higher (should be), top speed is around 290KPH (around 180MPH). Where the Camaro is rear-wheel-drive and around 240KPH (around 150MPH). But then I looked at the cover and realized something I had forgotten. ROCKSTAR! Silly me...

Keep the car you get early on, the one you start with, being a Group 1 car, this can make some of these 'Series Races' easier too.

Races are coloured: Easy, Medium, Hard and Hardest.

But as I said above, sometimes this makes no difference, the AI gets an advantage depending on your car.

Some of the Achievements are online, some can be boosted, others like Jordan Jumpman and Just Get A Motorcycle can also be done while cruising online. Setup a online game for yourself (or a friend to join) can make things a little easier, Pause the game, select Online from the menu, then Standard Match next Create Match, select Yes when asked. Ok, select Cruise, now set the number of players to 2, now if you want to go alone, set the Private Slots to All, if a friend is joining leave it set to None. Lastly set the Time and Weather to something else if you wish, then Create Match. Get your friend to search for the time and weather you have set so he can find you and join in.

ACHIEVEMENT GUIDE

The Basics - 10 points

Complete one of the missions you receive in the mission log

You will probably get this one straight away, after you complete one of the first races you are given.

Streaker - 20 points

Win 5 races in a row offline

Not very hard either, just do the green freeway racers for easy wins, you cannot restart a race, or the count will reset.

Saving Los Angeles - 10 points

Enter the Race Editor, create a race, and then save it

Easy, go into the Pause menu and select Race Editor, place down a start, some way-points then a finish and save it.

Paparazzi - 10 points

Save 16 photos to your photo album

Easy, Pause the game, move the right-stick to enter Photo Mode, take 16 pictures, once all 16 slots are filled this is yours.

Wanted Man - 10 points

Pull over while the police are in 'pull over' mode, then drive away during the ticketing cutscene

When you are seen doing something wrong by the Police, the words 'Pull Over' will appear, brake and pull over to the side. Now a little cut-scene will appear looking through the camera in the police car, floor it and this is yours. Now all you have to do is...

Out On Bail - 10 points

Evade the police successfully when they are in pursuit

...evade the police that start to chase you. Remember, break their line of sight, short-cuts work only if they do not see you take them. Once you are far enough away, this is yours.

Neither Bird nor Plane - 10 points

Travel 1020 feet in a single jump

This is better off left until you get a high-end car or bike, or easier way, just 'test drive' the best bike in the game, head to the 5 Freeway, take the 4th Street Exit, line yourself up to the right and a big flight of stairs straight in front. Traffic will play a key roll here, probably get in the way.

Another way if you have the South Central, head down the 110 Freeway and take the 39th Street Exit, go left then right into the Railyards. Follow the Railyard around to the right again, you will see a big jump at the entrance to the 405 Freeway, where the tracks go up into the middle of the Freeway.

Jordan Jumpman - 10 points

Spend more than 10 minutes in the air. Brought to you by JORDAN BRAND

Each time you get 'airtime' off a jump adds to this. The game totals 'airtime' in seconds, so 10 minutes is actually 600 seconds. There are a lot of jumps around the Railyards in South Central. There are also jumps in the Railyards near the LA River Channel in Downtown.

Unicycle - 20 points

Drive a cumulative total of 50 miles while doing a wheelie on a motorcycle

Use the 'weight transfer' button to do a wheelie, hold it there for as long as you can around the Freeways is your best bet. Setup a online cruise to make this easier without traffic, took me about 5 laps of the Freeway. Starting from the 110 Freeway, around the 405 Freeway (bottom of South Central) right around the top and back around the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway. Repeat.

Just Get A Motorcycle - 20 points

In a car, drive a cumulative total of 50 miles on 2 wheels

Do the same as you did for the wheelie. Setup a online cruise without traffic and do laps of the Freeways. Same deal, it will take about 5 laps.

Where in the World? - 10 points

Find half of the collectables in Los Angeles

You will get this one when you have found half of the 'hidden barrels' around the map, that is 30, look below for more info.

Waldo's Still Missing - 40 points

Find all the collectables in Los Angeles

There are 60 'hidden barrels' around Los Angeles for you to find, each 10 will unlock a 'cheat' for you to use, but if you do, career progression will be stopped. Once again I must question Rockstar and why bother? But for you and an easy 50G I give you this:

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9...arrelmaer0.jpg

I do not know who created it, but whoever he was, you're a champion. Some of the barrel locations are a little deceiving, but they are all in the general location. Using this I got them all in under an hour.

Hear me Roar! - 20 points

Unlock Level 3 ROAR

See Zoning Out Achievement for more info.

Anger Management - 20 points

Unlock Level 3 AGRO

See Zoning Out Achievement for more info.

Set To Stun - 20 points

Unlock Level 3 EMP

See Zoning Out Achievement for more info.

Zoning Out - 20 points

Unlock Level 3 ZONE

These are straight forward, once you have applied one of the 'special abilities' to your car/bike, just use it and it will level up. The more you use it, the faster it levels up. When you are in the garage, go to Customize Vehicle then Special Abilities and select the ability you want to use.

What's a Speed Limit? - 20 points

Win 15 dynamic freeway races

Easy, just drive around the Freeways to discover Freeway Racers. Look for the green and yellow for easy wins early on in the game. Once you find one, flash your lights to start the race. You may find that when you finish one race the same racer maybe coming behind you again. Wait for them to overtake and flash your lights to race again.

Winning With Less - 20 points

Win 10 races on a motorcycle

Easy, just use a motorbike to do red light races or series races, again look for green and yellow for easy wins early on.

Go on Green - 20 points

Win 15 Red Light Races

Easy, just drive around the City to discover Red Light Racers, again look for green and yellow for easy wins early on.

Getting Off the Bench - 10 points

Enter an online cruise and join a proposed race

Very easy, just go online and in no time someone will propose a race, join it and this is yours, can boost as well if you want.

Who Made This? - 10 points

Enter a Race Editor Race online

This one is a little different, the proposed race must have been created in the race editor by someone, just ask if someone has one and will start a race using one. Or just boost with a friend using one off your own or theirs that you created for the Achievement.

Turn in the Work - 10 points

Submit a vehicle to Rate My Ride

Easy again (god I love the easy ones), just select Online from the Pause menu, then Rate My Ride. You will then be taken to another garage. Make sure you are in the car that you want people to rate, you will then have to take 2 pictures of your car, then upload. You can even put the car for sale if you want. Note: don't worry, they will not get "YOUR" car, but an "INSTANCE" or "COPY" off it.

Everyone's a Critic - 20 points

Rate 25 rides online

While you are there, rate other peoples rides, after the 25th one this is yours, easy.

Ranking Up - 30 points

Win 20 ranked matches online

Setup your own 'Tiered Match' game and boost this with a friend, once your friend has joined quickly start the race before anyone else enters (you can not kick them once they are in). Go one-for-one or whatever you both decide. After you have done the 20 this is your prize. Well since your here...

Crossing the Line - 20 points

Finish 50 races online

...and have already done 40, 20 each makes 40 finishes. You do not have to win, just finish, so do another 10 races.

Here for a Pickup - 20 points

Successfully deliver 15 vehicles out of the Hollywood garage

After you have reached a certain rank, you will be able to do delivery missions, basicly drive a certain car really fast from the garage to a certain point on the map within a certain amount of time without taking too much damage for a stack of cash.

Destroyer of Worlds - 20 points

Successfully destroy 15 opponent vehicles using the Payback vehicle at the Beaches garage

After you have reached a certain rank, you will told about the Beaches Garage. Go there to hear about people not paying their bills/debts. Time to dish out some nice payback. You are given the keys to a very strong car to smash up the targets car. The first couple are pretty easy, not worth much, but they do get a little harder when the targets 'friends' come to help.

Master Thief - 30 points

Steal 80 flags while playing Capture the Flag or other battle matches

Go online to a Battle Match, there will be a flag you need to pick up. When someone else has the flag, hit their car to steal it. Repeat 80 times. You may find someone online to pass it back and forth to get this. Or to boost it, start a private game, park your cars next to each other so they are just touching. Now sit back and watch the flag jump back and forth between the cars.

Postman - 30 points

Deliver 100 flags in Capture the Flag or other battle matches

Again go online to a Battle Match, there will be a flag you need to pick up and deliver to a destination. Repeat 100 times. Or boost it, start a private game of Basewar or something like that and take it in turns to get the flag and return it to base. May take 2 game sessions to complete this.

That is the quick ones, you will have to work a little longer for these ones.

In the Lap of… - 20 points

Beat the Luxury Champ

After you have progressed through the game and won so many races with a Luxury Car, you will recieve a call from the Luxury Champ with a challenge, beat him and this is yours. Not much I can say, it will just happen after you have progressed so far into the game.

Name that Tune (r) - 20 points

Beat the Tuner Champ

After you have progressed through the game and won so many races with a Tuner Car, you will recieve a call from the Luxury Champ with a challenge, beat him and this is yours. Not much I can say, it will just happen after you have progressed so far into the game.

World's Strongest - 20 points

Beat the Muscle Champ

After you have progressed through the game and won so many races with a Muscle Car, you will recieve a call from the Luxury Champ with a challenge, beat him and this is yours. Not much I can say, it will just happen after you have progressed so far into the game.

Two Wheels of Fury - 30 points

Beat the Motorcycle Champ

After you have progressed through the game and won so many races with a Motorbike, you will recieve a call from the Luxury Champ with a challenge, beat him and this is yours. Not much I can say, it will just happen after you have progressed so far into the game.

How Exotic - 30 points

Beat the Exotic Champ

After you have progressed through the game and won so many races with a Exotic Car, you will recieve a call from the Luxury Champ with a challenge, beat him and this is yours. Not much I can say, it will just happen after you have progressed so far into the game.

Retire the Master - 50 points

Beat the City Champ

After you have progressed through the game and won so many races, you will recieve a call from the City Champ with a challenge, beat him and this is yours. Not much I can say, it will just happen after you have progressed so far into the game.

Father Time - 30 points

Completely unlock a time trial by completing all 3 missions

After you have progressed through the game far enough, time trial races will open up. There are 4 time trials in all each one is split into 3 missions. Complete one to get this. Try not to finish too quickly, pace yourself so the next time it will not be as hard to beat the time.

Uncle Time - 20 points

Finish the first mission for each of the 4 time trials

After you have progressed through the game far enough, time trial races will open up. There are 4 time trials in all each one is split into 3 missions. Complete the first mission of each time trial to get this. Again, try not to finish too quickly, pace yourself so the next time it will not be as hard to beat the time.

Competitive Glory - 20 points

Win each of the 4 tournaments at least one time

As you progress through the game, you will be invited to tournaments around the city. There are 4 : Beaches, Downtown, Hills and Hollywood. Just win each one once and this is yours.

It's How You Play The Game - 30 points

Finish 300 offline races. Winning is not required

Just race and finish, you do not have to win, just finish, so do not damage out during the race. Arcade races also count from the Pause menu towards this.

The Winner - 30 points

Win 180 offline races.

In this case you not only have to finish but you have to WIN also! Arcade races also count from the Pause menu towards this.

Rags To Riches - 30 points

Have $1 million dollars in the bank while playing in Los Angeles

As it says, have $1 million (that's $1,000,000) in the bank, so keep racing and earning money. Probably the reason why I found the series race against 'Nikolai' a little hard, I brought the Evo X as it is a good all round car. Karol rings you with an offer to go partnership, you need $1 million, after you do everything is free. Yes did you read that? I said FREE !!

Have Car, Will Travel - 30 points

Drive a total of 5,000 miles, including any miles driven online or offline

Yeah, just keep racing and playing, by the time you have finished everything there is to do, you should be close to the 5,000 required for this. Setup a online cruise and race around the Freeways a few times.

T-Mobile myFaves - 10 points

Join an online game with 5 of your friends. Stay Connected with MyFaves from T-Mobile

This one is tricky, you have to have 5 friends from your friends list (plus you makes 6) in the same cruise at the same time. Setup an online cruise and invite 5 of your friends to join, or join an online cruise and add the people already there to your friends list. I have heard of glitches with this not unlocking correctly.  

Mild Dedication - 10 points

In Goal Attack, complete every goal for one race

Pause the game, go to Goal Attack and meet the goal requirements for any race and this is yours. The goals are: 

1 - Finish first 

2 - Finish within a certain time

3 - Finish with less then a certain amount of damage and

4 - All done in one race. 

Remember: NO cheats, NO special abilities in Goal Attack.

True Dedication - 100 points

All Goal attacks must be unlocked and every goal for every race completed

Meet the goals in EVERY race. There are 74 races in total, so yeah, good luck with this one, it is the most time consuming of them all. The races will unlock as you progress through the game, if you find yourself short of the 74, then you may not have progressed far enough or have not found some racers. Again, Remember: NO cheats, NO special abilities in Goal Attack.

South Central (DLC)

South Central Test Drive - 10 points

Take 1 South Central vehicle out for a test drive

Ha, yeah seriously, before you buy that Low Rider in the Vehicle Showroom, take it out for a Test Drive, as soon as you leave the garage this is yours.

Goin' South - 10 points

Meet the South Central Mechanic

You will probably recieve a call about another mechanic in the South Central area, just take a drive down that way and enter the garage, easy done.

Big Ballin' - 20 points

Win 10 races in an SUV

Yep, just use Freeway Racers to win 10. It does not matter what races you do and win, just win 10 in an SUV, easy.

Low Ballin' - 20 points

Win 10 races in a Low Rider

Same as the previous Achievement, just use Freeway Racers to win 10 if you want, it does not matter just do it in a Low Rider... All my friends know the low rider, The low rider is a little higher, Low rider drives a little slower... Oh yeah, umm, sorry...

Sign Here - 20 points

Complete 10 deliveries in South Central

Same deal as you did before at the Hollywood Garage. Drive a certain car really fast from the garage to a certain point on the map within a certain amount of time without taking too much damage for a stack of cash. Simple.

Easier than the Hills - 20 points

Complete the South Central tournament

After you have progressed through the South Central far enough you will be invited to the South Central Tournament. It is nothing different from what you have done before, win it and this is yours.

Money for nothing - 20 points

Complete the South Central Wager Mission

After you have progressed through the South Central far enough a mission called Money Making will open. Now just keep winning to make about $5,000 and this is yours.

Brother Time - 20 points

Complete the 3 missions for the South Central time trial

Same as you did with the previous time trials, it is split into 3 missions. Try not to finish too quickly, pace yourself so the next time it will not be as hard to beat the time.

Been there, Done that - 50 points

Finish the South Central career

Keep doing races in the South Central area, you will get a call from a guy called Raymond, beat him and this is yours.

GOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!! - 60 points

Finish all South Central Goal Attacks

Same deal as the true True Dedication Achievement, but this time in the South Central area and there is only 26 races, the same goal rules apply of course and NO cheats, NO special abilities.

Well that is it, not hard, just time consuming, especially the Goal Attacks and clicking over the 5,000 miles. Depends on how much you play and if you like driving/racing games I guess. Personally it was driving/racing games that brought me to consoles in the first place from PC, Gran Turismo on PlayStation.