Difficulty : 5/10 (just takes time)
Time to 1200: 25-35 hours (depending on you driving vs partner driving)
Offline : 50
Online : n/a
Minimum Playthroughs: One (then you can replay individual cases, or free roam the whole city for each desk to get the other film reels, small cases, etc)
Missable achievements: Several story-related secret achievements, but if you have knowledge of them going in, you will likely get most, if not all, of them the first playthrough.
Glitched achievements: None that I encountered.
I have designed this guide to echo my experiences in playing through the game - first mostly for fun, and then going back for the collectibles and all 5 stars. This includes the first two DLCs as well. So, if you want to go for everything at once, look for the collectible and full 5 star case guide toward the end of my achievement guide.
Special note: This game is a LOT of fun, aside from some missions being repetitive and the ending being a let down, ha. That being said, I highly suggest you play through without really going for too many achievements the first time. That way, you get to know the game, the missions, how everything goes, and then in a second playthrough you can much more easily get a lot of achievements.
Some general gameplay/achievement tips:
1) Getting 5 stars in a case basically means getting every key clue and interrogation question, PLUS not causing any damage to cars, people or objects while driving. To avoid 90% of the driving in the cases, set a waypoint or have a yellow flag location active, and go to the passenger seat of your car and hold Y which gets your partner to drive to the location, meaning you will never cause any damage. There are times you need to drive to pursue suspects or to tail someone, but those cases will not allow you enough time to do enough damage to affect case rating. Unless you are really bad at driving, ha.
2) Street Crimes - There are 40 of them, spread out throughout each of the crime desks you will work on. This means that you can ONLY do the cases during the period you are in that desk in the story. That is, until you fully clear the desk, which unlocks free roam mode for that specific desk. Then, you can drive any police type car (the game will tell you if you can receive messages in the car you are in) and then just wait for the cases to trigger. The cases only trigger during certain hours of the day, which i will get to in that achievement's description. Two other notes here: a) if you had triggered cases before and didn't do them, they will appear on the map already and you can select them and go to them right away in free roam. b) the little person icon on the map is not a drivable waypoint for your partner, so if you'd like to do that shortcut, simply make a custom map marker by hitting A on the spot on the map near the area and walk the last few steps as needed.
Main Game Achievement Guide: 32 Achievements for 1,000. I will do my best to order this guide the way I received the achievements to make it easiest to follow for order sake.
ACHIEVEMENT GUIDE
Auto Enthusiast - 15 points
Drive 5 different vehicles
This will be one of the first achievements you get. Each type of cop car counts as one, and then like in GTA, you can run up to any car (almost any) and hit Y and you'll say "police emergency, I need to use this car" or another line. It's kind of hard collecting cars going forward because so many of them look the same.
Police Academy - 15 points
Complete all cases on the Patrol desk
This is for clearing the first few cases, which, in essence, serve as the tutorial as they teach you the various methods of investigation. They don't give you ratings for these, so just follow your instincts and have fun. The last case of the patrol desk, just so you know, is Buyer Beware.
A Cop On Every Corner - 15 points
Complete a single street crime case
Once you reach the traffic chase, you are able to receive calls while driving in a cop car, to respond to a smaller case. You will need to hit A to respond to the radio broadcast, which will add the little AOL person looking icon to the map. Go there and finish the case. Most of these involve shootouts, chases into shootouts or chases in general and none of them take more than a couple minutes.
One For The File - 15 points
Find and inspect a clue as an LAPD Detective or Investigator
The only key part of this is that you need to be up to the Traffic desk, because the first couple crimes you respond to you are a street cop and not a detective. So, once you are up to the traffic desk and you are at the rail yard, inspect one of the key clues, like either of the items in the trunk of the car (ones that are added to your notebook) and the achievement will unlock.
The Plot Thickens - 15 points
Find and solve an inspection puzzle
Throughout the game, once in a while you will come across an item that you need to solve a simple puzzle to unlock the piece of evidence. The first you run into will be in the first traffic case, "The Driver's Seat." Outside of the missing man's home, search the heater, and you will have to put the pipe pieces back to see which one is missing. Solve it, and this will unlock. Another hard-to-miss one is in the homicide desk, one of the crime scenes has a small globe. You need to turn the top few pieces to match the bottom piece, which cannot be moved, to make a correct globe.
The Hunch - 30 points
Use four intuition points in a single interview session, correctly branching each question
Shortly after solving the pipe puzzle at the house in that traffic mission, you will interview the wife, Margaret Black. There are potentially 6 topics to ask about, and you should have levelled up enough at this point to have 4 intuition points. The key is to use an intuition point every time you select a topic in the notebook and hear their answer. Just pick "ask the community." But, if those don't help you enough, here are the answers just in case:
Topic - Slaughterhouse receipt - pick "Truth"
Topic - Stenzel glasses case - pick "Truth"
Topic - Location of Adrian black - pick "Truth"
Topic - Photograph signed "Nicole" - pick "Lie" and select the concealed message evidence
And if you need it, or missed an evidence piece to add one of the above topics, there are two other topics that you could ask:
Topic - Cavanagh's bar matchbook - pick "Truth"
Topic - Alibi for mrs. black - pick "Truth"
The Straight Dope - 15 points
Use evidence to prove a lie as an LAPD Detective or Investigator
If you found the hidden message by examining the photo in the bedroom in the Black residence, and you select lie and use it as your proof, you will get this in that same interview. The next time you could get it is when you are interviewing Frank Morgan in the same traffic case.
Topic - link to abandoned vehicle - pick "Lie" and the evidence is the receipt for the pig
The Third Degree - 30 points
Correctly branch every question in every interview in a single story case
This can be done in any case, but since we are mining the first traffic case, "The Driver's Seat," let's use that as our focus. It also has the fewest questions to ask amongst all early cases. Here are the correct ways to navigate every interview and what answers to pick.
The key here is to find all evidence before going into the interviews, so all possible lies can be exposed and each topic is available. As the game tells you, the music at a scene stops when you have all evidence there, so you know you are safe then. There could be other orders to ask the questions in, but this is what I did:
Nate Wilkey - interviewed at crime scene -
Topic - purpose at scene - pick "Truth"
Topic - knowledge of adrian black - pick "Truth"
Topic - bloodstained pipe found - pick "Truth"
Topic - contents of wallet - pick "Doubt"
Margaret Black - interviewed at Black residence -
Topic - Slaughterhouse receipt - pick "Truth"
Topic - Stenzel glasses case - pick "Truth"
Topic - Location of Adrian black - pick "Truth"
Topic - Photograph signed "Nicole" - pick "Lie" and select the concealed message evidence
Topic - Cavanagh's bar matchbook - pick "Truth"
Topic - Alibi for mrs. black - pick "Truth"
Frank Morgan - interviewed at Cavanagh's bar -
Topic - link to abandoned vehicle - pick "Lie" and select the receipt for the pig
Topic - location of Adrian Black - pick "Doubt"
Golden Boy - 15 points
Clear a case finding every clue as an LAPD Detective or Investigator
Sticking with the first traffic case, here is a list and where to find them:
Found at crime scene:
1 - Blood splashes - found by investigating car
2 - Receipt for pig - found in car trunk
3 - Glasses - found at Evidence marker A
4 - Wallet - found at Evidence marker A
5 - Bloody pipe - found at marker B
Found at Black residence:
6 - Train ticket - found in Adrian's bedroom
7 - Glasses case - found in Adrian's room, investigate case to see brand name
8 - Concealed message - found in Adrian's room, investigate to find message on back
9 - Cavanagh's matchbook - found in Adrian's room, examine further
10 - InstaHeat receipt - found on kitchen table
11 - InstaHeat flyer - also on kitchen table
12 - Water heater - added after finishing pipe puzzle outside house
Other:
13 - Swine blood - added from call from HQ while driving to Frank Morgan's apartment
The Up And Up - 30 points
Complete a story case with a five star rating
You should get this as you complete the first traffic case. If you found all clues and got all interview questions right (both above), you can still only get 4 stars if you caused a lot of damage to other cars or the city streets, or to pedestrians. So, again, have your partner drive everywhere to avoid the chance whenever possible by setting the waypoint and then holding Y by the passenger door of the car before getting in.
Stab-Rite - 15 points
At Ray's Cafe, find the bloodstained knife on your first sweep of the crime scene
In the second traffic case, before leaving the scene, and it could even be the first thing you get, go to the alley next to the bar/cafe. In the trash can next to the dumpster investigate the knife. The achievement oddly enough does not unlock until you beat the case, but just pick up the knife the first time you are at the scene (which should be the only time ever, really, ha).
The Shadow - 15 points
Tail a suspect without being spotted, in a single case
In the third Traffic case, "The Fallen Idol," you must tail June Ballard as she travels to a restaurant in a car and as she makes a call within it. This achievement can be received for later trails of suspects in other cases, but this is the easiest time to get it, because it is short and basically serves as the stealth tutorial so it is easy. So, just stay about half a block behind the car the whole trip and stop entirely when necessary. After a short cutscene at the restaurant, you are told to take cover outside the door and look in with A, and then when she is not looking, you walk in to the second booth on the left which is empty with a newspaper. Here, hit A again and you go incognito with the newspaper and over hear her conversation. The achievement unlocks immediately then.
Paved With Good Intentions - 15 points
Complete all cases on the Traffic desk
Simply finish the third traffic case, "The Fallen Idol." No matter what ratings you get on the cases, once you finish them all, you advance to homicide, so when the third case ends and the next cut-scene starts, the achievement will unlock.
Round Heels - 15 points
At the Bamba Club, get Dick McColl to give up the license plate of Celine Henry's male companion
In the first homicide case, "The Red Lipstick Murder," at the Bamba club, a location added after investigating the crime scene, you are told by the bartender that the owner is at the back. The owner, Dick McColl, you then interview as you approach him. In the topic, "suspect seen with victim," select "Truth" and he tells you the license plate number.
Traffic Stop - 15 points
Disable a suspect vehicle with help from your partner
This can be kind of finicky. The first time you can get this is at the end of the first homicide case, "The Red Lipstick Murder." At the end, you have to chase Mendez first on foot and then with a car. While pursuing his car, sometimes you are able to go faster than he can, so pull up on the left side of his car so your partner can shoot out of your right window. Their aim is often horrible, but sometimes they hit two tires pretty quickly, and this is sort of the training car chase for this type of takedown.
The finicky part is even with one or even two tires shot out, they can sometimes still drive for a while. And, eventually, the suspects always crash into something or stop on their own. So, to get this, your partner needs to shoot out at least one tire and you need to keep ramming the car to get it to stop or flip before those automatic times. Not too hard, just hard to know exactly what to do. This can be done anytime you have to stop a suspect in a major case in a car, and it happens at least 6 times throughout the game.
Keep A Lid On - 15 points
Complete a brawl without losing your hat as an LAPD Detective or Investigator
This is pretty simple. Anytime you are in a hand to hand fight, subdue or knock out the suspect without your hat being knocked off (getting hit once). To fight, hold left trigger and then A is punch and Y is grab. B is a finishing move, but is not needed. The only thing to remember here is to dodge, which is X. Just land about 8-10 good hits, which would include 1-2 dodges, and the enemy should go down.
Asphalt Jungle - 15 points
Chase down and tackle a fleeing suspect on foot as an LAPD Detective
Probably the best time to get this is during the homicide case "The Golden Butterfly." There are two people you will have to chase down, and both can potentially be tackled. When chasing a suspect, the only way to go faster than normal is holding RT which is to run. Then, when close enough, it will tell you to hit A to tackle. This is weird because sometimes if you hit A when close enough you run like the flash and pounce on the guy. Other times you just have to keep holding RT and keep hitting A and when finally close enough you will tackle the person.
In this case, though, you can potentially tackle Hugo Moller when he tries to burn his shoes. Or, when you chase the child molester at the school.
Johnny On The Spot - 30 points
Respond to 20 street crime cases
There are 40 of these in the game, but most (about 25 of the 40) come up in the traffic and homicide desks, the first two desks. These are incredibly simple and often very easy. Most involve just killing someone at that scene, or pursuing them and killing them, etc. They have usually just one simple objective. Plus, you can retry any of them if you fail. These can be done as they come up on your radio in the main game, or you can do them in free roam.
The one sometimes frustrating part is that often they are nowhere near where you are. So, to speed things up, set a custom marker and have your partner drive so it skips all the driving and saves you time.
Lead Foot - 15 points
Keep the needle above 80mph for more than ten seconds while driving
I actually just got this driving to a street crime in the vice desk, ha ha. A sure-fire easy way to get it is to go in the creek that is called the LA River, which can be found in the lower right part of the city map. It's the divider between the main city and some outskirts. Or, another way to find it, it's the area under the 4th and 6th street aqueduct city landmarks. Then, just drive there - no traffic, nothing to hit, bam, achievement.
Otherwise, find a long stretch of city street and just hold A. It's easier I guess if you have the police siren on, but some cars drive weird with it too. Another "tip" that I am unsure of, but in playing it a lot I think it might be right. When you drive really fast down a street like every second the controller vibrates a bit, and I think it could be like a counter to help get this achievement, but I could be wrong. Either way, it's not that hard, and if you use the river method, you'll get it in no time.
The Simple Art of Murder - 15 points
Complete all cases on the Homicide desk
Another story related achievement. The homicide desk is by far the longest because it has so many involved cases. But, after beating the final case, which is really cool, on the desk, "The Quarter Moon Murders," this achievement will be yours.
Auto Collector - 15 points
Drive 40 different vehicles
I got this during the Vice desk, just because every time I'd see a car I might not have driven, I'd go get in it. Also, every few levels when you level up you unlock secret car locations, which are question marks on your map, and then once you get in them they are added. 5 are added I think every 5 levels, so there's 20 right there if you reach level 20 (the max). But, again, just get in as many cars as you can, and it is always an option to just go for this in free roam. A full car guide will be later in this guide.
Wooden Overcoats - 30 points
Bring down a total of 30 bad guys with head shots
Nothing hard about this really, since you'll have to kill about 100-150 enemies throughout the game depending on side missions you do in your first playthrough. But, the easiest time to get this is in any side missions because those are often shootouts with multiple enemies and you have time to aim a lot more. Then, in cases like the last traffic one when you are trying to escort the suspect off the movie set, you have a rifle after killing one of the first enemies and that is an easy way to get 10-12 headshots in that mission alone. However, you will likely get this just playing the battles normally and not going for too many headshots, since I think it is ingrained in most of us to go for headshots.
Dead Men Are Heavier - 15 points
Shoot and kill a total of 100 bad guys
Again, you will get this just by playing, especially in the Vice cases, since a couple of them have shootouts, just as the last traffic and homicide cases have shootouts. But, as always, doing some street crimes helps, too.
The Fighting Sixth - 15 points
At the Bus Shooting, talk Felix Alvarro into giving up the Marines involved in the Coolridge heist
During the last Vice mission, "Manifest Destiny," after killing the sniper you will be in an interview with the bus driver. For the topic "Motive for Shooting" pick "Lie" and selecting the sniper's notebook evidence will get you this achievement.
No Rest For The Wicked - 15 points
Complete all cases on the Vice desk
This is the story achievement for finishing "Manifest Destiny." The mission ends with the Sheldon interview.
Not So Hasty - 15 points
Stop a fleeing suspect with a warning shot as an LAPD Detective
You can get this in almost any case or street crime when you are running after a suspect on foot, but one of the easiest times is during the first Arson case, "The Gas Man." To perform a warning shot, you have to aim your gun at the suspect and keep the reticule over them until the small circle fills, which takes a couple seconds. In that mission, you have to chase Varley, and after the first turn around a house, as he goes to cross the street, you'll have plenty of time to pull this off.
Huckster - 15 points
At Elysian Fields, outwit Leland Monroe when discussing his developments or advertising campaign
In the second Arson mission, "Walk in Elysian Fields," you will have to interview Monroe. Simply answer the first two questions this way and the achievement is yours. Be sure to have found the Elysian Fields Flyers clue at the crime scene first.
Topic - "Elysian linked to arsons" - Pick "Doubt"
Topic - "Promotional travel contest" - Pick "Lie" and select "Elysian Fields Flyers"
Moth To A Flame - 70 points
Complete all cases on the Arson desk
This is the story achievement for beating the game. It will unlock after the final cut-scenes after the water battles.
Miles On The Clock - 15 points
Drive more than 194.7 miles
If you drive instead of your partner in all missions, and do a few side missions during the main game, you will likely get this near the end of the game. If not, you can check under statistics to see how much you have, and you can always drive a lot in free mode as you locate collectibles and do any remaining side missions.
Star Map - 15 points
Discover all landmark locations around the city
These are in two main sections of the city, 6 in the top left of the map, and 24 in the bottom right. That being said, I will give you the street coordinates, and to unlock these you only need to drive on the street with them.
Top Left:
Grauman's Theater - Hollywood Blvd. between Orchid and Orange
Roosevelt Hotel - Hollywood Blvd. and Orange
Max Factor Building - Hollywood Blvd. and Highland
Musso and Frank Grill - Hollywood Blvd. between Las Palmas ands Whitley
Crossroads to the World - Las Palmas and Sunset Blvd.
Brown Derby - where Selma meets Hollywood Blvd.
Bottom/ mid-right:
Bullocks Willshire - Wilshire Blvd. and Westmoreland
LA County Art Museum - 8th St and Hoover St.
Westlake Tar Pits - Westmoreland and Hoover, park found there
Park Plaza - by corner of Park View and 6th
MacArthur Park - Wilshire Blvd.
Good Samaritan Hospital - between Lucas Ave. and Witmer
Mayfair Hotel - along 7th St.
Intolerance Set - 8th and Francisco, used twice in main game
Christ Crown of Thorns - last location of a main story mission
Chinatown - take Broadway as far up as it goes
El Pueblo - east of Alameda St, between main and LA
Union Station - also east of Alameda St, a little more east of el pueblo
Hall of Records - used a couple times in main story
Angel's Flight - Hill St and 3rd St.
Bradbury Building - corner of 3rd st and Broadway
LA Public Library - part of final homicide mission
Pershing Square - at start of final homicide mission
RKO Theater - by corner of 8th St and Hill
Los Angeles Examiner - a little below 11th and Broadway
Main St. Terminal - 6th St and LA
LA Cold Storage - Central and Alameda, below 3rd st.
4th Street Viaduct - take 4th St over river
6th Street Viaduct - take 6th St over river
National Biscuit Company - by corner of Industrial and Mateo
Public Menace - 30 points
Rack up $47,000 in penalties during a single story case
Not much to say here. You will get a poor case rating obviously, so this should be a single case replayed. And then, basically total a bunch of cars, hit some people, knock over lights and stands, but the key is totalling other cars. This can usually be done easily if you crash head on into it while going fast. You will know it is totalled because the engine will be exposed and on fire.
Roscoe And Friends - 15 points
Kill at least one bad guy with every gun
M1917 Revolver
Star Model P
12 Gauge Pump Action Shotgun
Thompson M1
Thompson M1 (with attachment so it's the famed tommy gun)
Browning Automatic Rifle
M1 Garand
Browning Hi-Power
Flame Thrower (found in cache in tunnels during last mission before the flooded room)
The Brass - 30 points
Achieve maximum rank
You will get this in getting all dialog choices right and doing a few street crime cases. You get 5 points for every right dialog choice, 15 for every street crime, and 5 for every hidden vehicle found. This just takes time, and will come as you work on everything else, nothing to stress over.
Now for total collectible/ completionist achievements. I will put clues and dialog choices together to make it easiest for you. Still, it is difficult to keep organized, and some dialog options or proven lies require some evidence, so I will list evidence before dialog.
Magpie - 80 points
Find and inspect 95% of all clues
CHECK THIS POST AND THIS POST
Shamus To The Stars - 80 points
Complete all story cases with a five star rating
CHECK THIS POST AND THIS POST AND THIS POST
Auto Fanatic - 30 points
Drive every vehicle in the city
There are 95 of these, and 15 are marked on your map as you level up. They will be question marks. find them by going to the location and looking for a silver garage with a police badge on it, there will be a gold/ open-able door nearby, then go in and get in the car. So, I will give locations for the other 80.
There are multiple locations for a lot of these, but I will try to give you what I see as the simplest one, often parking lots.
CHECK THIS POST AND THIS POST
The Moose - 15 points
Follow Candy Edwards without using cover or incognito, except when starting or picking up the tail
I got this way late because I'm an idiot, ha ha. Basically, in the second Vice case, "The Set Up" after you stake out outside of her apartment, you will have to follow her. The thing that I didn't understand is that you simply don't have to take cover or go incognito, while still not being seen. So, basically, stay behind a wall without taking cover and move the right thumbstick to follow her movements, and then when she turns or is very far away you can pursue again. You don't have to follow for THAT long, but just remember to never take cover or go incognito (hiding via a storefront, newspaper, or shoe shine stand).
The Long Arm Of The Law - 30 points
Complete all street crime cases
These are all very short and most are easy. Again, it is easiest to just do all remaining ones in Free Roam mode. Remember, each desk has specific street crimes only available during them. Luckily, it will tell you when you are done all available street crimes in a current desk. When you get in a police car, the message in the top of the screen will say you have finished all available street crimes for the desk.
Only one more tip I can offer. When entering free roam mode, go to the map, and there should be a few street crime markers if you have yet to finish them all on that desk. They will be the red AOL man markers, ha ha, then simply drive there or set a nearby marker and have your partner drive there. If you have no markers, but know you haven't done all available crimes on that desk, just drive in a police car for a little bit and you will get a radio call for a case. Some cases only come up certain times of the day, too. Also, from what I experienced, if there are no more markers and you save and quit and come back in, there might be the markers for the remaining cases. It happened for me twice, but I don't know how sure that is.
The City Of The Angels - 80 points
Reach 100% Game Complete
This includes getting all cars, film reels, story cases, street crimes, landmarks, and newspapers. Newspapers are the only thing I do not cover in other achievement guides here, so I'll post those locations here:
In Patrol case "Upon Reflection" - in alley of first crime scene on the right side of the alley on a box
In Traffic case "Driver's Seat" - in the Black house on the dining room table
In Traffic case "Marriage Made in Heaven" - in Ray's cafe, sitting on the bar
In Traffic case "The Fallen Idol" - in Silver Screen props, on prop tables where shrunken heads are
In Homicide case "Red Lipstick Murder" - on the floor in the house of Celine Henry
In Homicide case "White Shoe Slaying" - in Ackerman's place at the Hobo Camp
In Vice case "The Black Caesar" - in Ramez Removals, sitting on the desk behind the desk with the ledger
In Vice case "The Set Up" - in the locker room at the boxing arena, on a table
In Vice case "Manifest Destiny" - when you're having to kill the renegade former squad members, you'll have to gun down two in an alley - before searching the bodies, pick up the newspaper
In Arson case "Walk in Elysian Fields" - at Morelli house fire, it's on the lawn
In Arson case "A Polite Invitation" - on Leland Monroe's desk when you fight your way through his mansion
In final case "A Different Kind of War" - on the desk inside Rapid Exterminators
In final case "A Different Kind of War" - on Fontaine's desk in his office/ crime scene
Hollywoodland - 30 points
Find and inspect all gold film reels
CHECK THIS POST
For a more detailed guide and guide to "A Slip Of THe Tongue" DLC - CHECK THIS THREAD
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