Chainsaw

"18-in, 40cc gas chain saw. Automatic chain tensioning, chain brake cuts through bone. Includes case and extra chain."
-Vice City Bureau of Investigation description.


Tommy Vercetti wielding a Chainsaw in a pre-release screenshot of GTA Vice City.
Tommy Vercetti holding a chainsaw. The bathroom where this chainsaw was found is homage to a scene in the film Scarface.

The Chainsaw is a portable mechanized saw commonly used as a tool for cutting down trees. Due to its intimidating noise and potential for mutilation, it is frequently employed as a weapon in pop culture, including in horror movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, violent crime films such as Scarface, and videogames such as Doom, Gear of War, Resident Evil, and The House of the Dead game series.

Description

In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars the player can acquire a chainsaw to use as a weapon. Standing still while pressing the attack button will allow the player to swipe with the chainsaw; pressing the attack button while moving does not allow swiping, but makes the player hold out the chainsaw and allows the player full mobility. Wielding the chainsaw will slow down the player and not allow them to sprint in some of the games.

Revving a chainsaw in public will cause pedestrians to panic (if some are armed with a weapon, they may even retaliate against the player) or enemy gang members to attack the player, and, if a police officer is nearby the player will gain a one-star wanted level, regardless of whether the player harms anyone in the process, with the exception of GTA San Andreas.

The chainsaw can easily remove parts such as hoods, bumpers, and even doors from vehicles. However, its blows glance off vehicles' main chassis, thus causing only superficial damage. The chainsaw's ability to easily remove vehicle parts is a huge benefit in Paramedic missions, reducing the time the patients have to get in the ambulance. Strangely, chainsaws cannot saw off locked car doors, nor can they saw off doors of helicopters.

Locations

GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas
GTA Liberty City Stories
GTA Vice City Stories

Trivia

  • In GTA Vice City drops of blood can be seen spattered at the screen when the player successfully attacks a target (only if "Trails" are turned on in the display settings; the same goes for water droplets on the screen).
  • In GTA San Andreas the player cannot jump up or over obstacles with the chainsaw equipped. As such, it is unsuitable for attacking fleeing targets.
  • In GTA Vice City Stories, pressing "square" while holding the chainsaw will make Victor Vance swing it; the animation resembles that of the Katana, and the chainsaw makes the same sound upon striking an opponent.
  • In GTA Chinatown Wars, you can hijack cars in front of police by using the chainsaw on the car. When the passengers walk out, take the car without any worry of alerting the police, but be careful of accidentally killing the escaping passengers.

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