New to Sleeping Dogs...When does it become open world?

[Kallik]

I am new to Sleeping Dogs, havent gotten very far but it seems to be linear. When does it become more "Open World"? Also I am having a little trouble fighting groups...is there any way to get an advantage or use weapons? Thanks for any help you can offer.

[[GE] Mobius]

You run away from the cops... then go through the market and then it's open world

[Kallik]

Thanks...I am at the part where I have to chase a guy to a rooftop...fight his buddys then fight him..he has a knife...is that still a tutorial?

[rainbirds]

its the last tutorial misson after that its open world :)

[orph]

Once it goes open world you can get shotguns out of cop car trunks.. be warned this instantly aggros any cops and carrying it around will agro cops, you cannot holster a shotguns or any rifle.

Normal cars have tire irons and crowbars in the trunks.

[MadnessMadMe]

My tip, to give you an advantage is to find all the health shrines, there are 50 in the game and every five will add extra health..find all 50 and your health is doubled. Since you're at the start just google image the locations or wait a little bit and complete a side dating mission which then makes them appear on the collectables section of the map then go grab them. fighting is annoying but the tip is to press the counter button when they turn red and you will get used to it.

[Kallik]

Thanks so much for the help...I really appreciate it.

[Ginger_Tea]

...

[Natty Boh man]

Most of the fighting is made easier when you get used to doing the counters. Remain patient and wait for the red flash. If you're in the middle of a combo on one guy and a nearby guy flashes red, hit Y for the combo anyway and it will interrupt and pull off a counter on the new guy.
This works great, except for grapplers. I either save the grapplers for last or take them out with strong attacks.

[Kallik]

thanks for the advice. I really do love the game, but I am afraid I may just not be skilled enough to do it. I cant seem to beat the first mission once the game opens up. I have to fight 6 guys..its hard but i can do it..then 3 more come..i lose and it starts back at the 6 again. Its either my mouse or me but i cant seem to do counters hardly at all. In any case I do thank everyone that offered suggestions.

[MadnessMadMe]

If it helps I almosted raged at the keyboard and uninstalled the game at the start dismissing it as a pile of ♥♥♥♥. But then I thought of my streets of rage days on stage 8 when you have to fight most of the bosses from the previous stages if you die then its back to stage one. If I could do that then I can do this, stuck with it got used to the fighting system and completed the game, the fighting is really easy once you learn it.

[Mike]

Originally posted by orphenshadow:

Once it goes open world you can get shotguns out of cop car trunks.. be warned this instantly aggros any cops and carrying it around will agro cops, you cannot holster a shotguns or any rifle.

Normal cars have tire irons and crowbars in the trunks.

*Once you leveled your cop experience

[similarly]

I hated the game at first, but now it's one of my favorites.

1. Before you go into a fight, eat some food, drink some soda, drink some tea.
2. In the fight, don't rush. Don't waste time punching people who have their guard up. The trick to fighting is "Don't get hit." That's a joke, but it's true. Wait for the enemies to turn red, then counter. Punch once or twice, then wait for the next opportunity to counter.
3. As someone else said, get ALL of those health shrines.

Once you've played awhile, you'll unlock more moves. The game is REALLY awesome once you get into it. Now I'm at a level where I can go into one of the Martial Arts clubs and totally clean house.

[ustaritz]

Once you unlocked the safe house, you're free of doing everything including visite other boroughs of the city and complete side quests, you'll need to perform a bunch of other missions before unlocking better clothing, and the car dealers. It does take a bit of time but normalyy you're done in an hour.

For the fighting part. Just think of Assasin's Creed One, this was the most basic fight system in AC and is pretty much exact same as Sleeping Dogs. Hit Hit Hit Hit, and you even get awarning when someone attacks, when he's red just hold the secondary attack button, right mouse button by default, this will counter his attack automatically. There's also F to grabon ennemies, grab onblockign enemies and then run with space to smash em on wall or perform special finishers, wrestlers will counter your grabs and should be fought using straight punches and counters. Always focus on the one who has the knife.
If no one is armed, focus on smaller guys first to make way and then focus on the lastbigger guys, you'll have more space and time to execute cool combos.
Combos are to be unlocked in the Dojo. At some point you'll have a quest from some american girl, you'll take her to the Dojo and learn few things, then, a collection quest will be available you need to collect statues. Then, try to make friends with the hostess from the Bam Bam Club, just call her on the phone and meet her, after the karaoke, you'll have all statues marked on the map. Return them when you want and trade each statue for a melee skill

[Kallik]

Wow...Thanks to all of you who have left positive and helpful information. Your kind words make me want to keep trying. I really do appreciate it.

[mr. fyote]

Originally posted by Kallik:

thanks for the advice. I really do love the game, but I am afraid I may just not be skilled enough to do it. I cant seem to beat the first mission once the game opens up. I have to fight 6 guys..its hard but i can do it..then 3 more come..i lose and it starts back at the 6 again. Its either my mouse or me but i cant seem to do counters hardly at all. In any case I do thank everyone that offered suggestions.

do some exploring and other stuff first, what i did was go around until i saw a red marker on the map and defeated the gang members there. be sure to look around for a flashing blue chest that's around every red gang, you get money/ammo/etc..

once you're used to fighting then you can go back and do the 1st mission, i just started playing yesterday and it took me literally 12 attempts to beat it, it was hard, even though i could kick all the other gangs ass.

i got really frustrated and slept, woke up and got it on 2nd attempt this morning... so hang in there.