Health

Health is the measurement of the physical condition of the game's protagonist in the Grand Theft Auto series.

Description

Health as a statistic

Measurement of health was not prominent in the original Grand Theft Auto, as the game has no indication of the player's health - players will simply die after an unspecified amount of minimal damage. Grand Theft Auto 2, however, gave players indication of the health for the first time, measuring it using a 5-heart gauge, with each heart denoted as full, half-sized and depleted, thus giving the health a 10-level scale.

From Grand Theft Auto III onwards, the 5-heart system is replaced by a numbered counter, with its default maximum as 100%; in most of these games, the player's health can be extended, usually as a reward for completing one or more side missions.

Health pickups

Health pickups scattered around the map can restore the player's health to the maximum level. Since the first Grand Theft Auto until Grand Theft Auto IV, health pickups are generally shaped as rotating health icon with the symbol of a heart. In GTA IV, health pickups are shaped as medical kits. Health can be also replenished by up to 20% when entering Ambulances.

Many things can damage the player's health: being shot, stabbed, or beaten, fire, explosives, being struck by a vehicle, drowning, being thrown from a vehicle, and falling from heights. When the player's health is completely depleted, the protagonist is considered "wasted", and is then transported to the nearest hospital, after which a fee for healthcare will be assessed, and all weapons confiscated. Any mission that may have been in progress at the time is considered as failed.

Health can be replenished by picking up a health pickup, employing the services of a prostitute, or - in GTA San Andreas and GTA IV - by eating food or visiting a save point to save the game.

Accessibility of health pickups varies between games:

• In Grand Theft Auto III, health pickups can be found in front of all hospitals and scattered throughout Liberty City, often in recreational areas such as rest stops, parks, and shopping centers. Employing the services of a prostitute also replenishes health to a possible total of 125%.

• In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, health pickups appear in Vice City primarily in front of hospitals and replenish the player's health to maximum for $100 (default 100%, which can be extended to 200%). Food stores only help you replenish up to 100% health. The player's maximum health can be increased to 150% by performing Pizza Boy side missions. The player's maximum health will be 200% after the 100% Completion.

• In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, health pickups appear in San Andreas during Gang Warfare and in most missions involving a lot of gun fights. Health is replenished to maximum, which is a variable scale that can be increased by performing paramedic side missions and exercising (sprinting, swimming, or visiting a gym).

File:Map healthpickups.png

The map found on a website showing health locations in GTA IV.

• In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, health pickups like in the previous games appear randomly around the city and always inside safehouses and by hospitals. Maximum health can be increased by finishing the Pizza Boy and Noodle Boy side-missions, with each of them increasing 25% health, when completed.

• In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, health pickups here appear in the same form as in Liberty City Stories and are always inside safehouses and by hospitals. Increasing the maximum health requires completing the odd job, Air Rescue.

• In Grand Theft Auto IV, health packs are found all over Liberty City, generally in out-of-the-way locales, and in subway stations. Food stands and stores are dotted around the city, and are great for replenishing health. A map of health pickups is shown in the game's website www.whattheydonotwantyoutoknow.com.

Gallery

A health pickup in GTA 2. A health pickup in GTA 2. A health pickup in GTA III (identifiable by its yellow glow), also reused for GTA Liberty City Stories. A health pickup in GTA III (identifiable by its yellow glow), also reused for GTA Liberty City Stories. A health pickup in GTA Vice City, also reused for GTA Vice City Stories. A health pickup in GTA Vice City, also reused for GTA Vice City Stories. A health pickup in GTA San Andreas. A health pickup in GTA San Andreas. A health pickup as a first aid kit in GTA IV. A health pickup as a first aid kit in GTA IV.