Can you display a mission timer? (Single Player)

[zOldBulldog]

While trying to Gold my missions I am getting stumped by as simple a mission as Repossession.

The main problem for me is making that 6:30 time (I made 6:35 so far), mostly because I can't tell in which part(s) I am too slow as there is no timer on screen. Is it possible to get one?

Also, regarding getting the mission done in time:

- When does the time of the mission start? Is it when you start talking? When you get in the car? When you get on location? When you start chasing the bike?

- Do the stupid cutscenes count as part of the mission time? Even if you skip them?

- Lamar seems to be slower and slower getting back into the car at each replay. In my earlier tries I would catch up to the bike very quickly. Now Lamar takes to damn long to get into the car that by the time I start the chase the bike is far away. Is there a technique to speed this up?

- I am clearly faster taking out the enemies with the SMG, but not as accurate. Do I need to achieve all of the goals in each run, or having achieved them will count? In other words should I stick to the pistol to make sure I still achieve the headshot and accuracy counts?

Finally, I found a lot of guides, but none of them explain how to do this fast enough. Is there one that does?

EDIT:
- Also, if you use fail/retry, does the clock go back to before the checkpoint or keep ticking. In other words, is it worth it to use retry or just a waste of time?

[zOldBulldog]

I still have the questions above, as they will apply to other missions, but I found the solution for Repossession:

Instead of chasing the biker... be ready with your SMG to shoot him during the second or two that he is visible on the other side of the fence. I hit 4:48 mission time that way, since I skipped the whole chase and the longer drive back to the car wash.

[krashd]

You don't need to achieve all of the goal in one run. so concentrate on one goal. Play the mission and get the 20 headshots or 200 minigun kills etc, then play it again aiming for the time limit, then play it again to get any remaining goals. By ignoring the other checkpoints you will make the 6:30 time easily, then you play through again and take your time to get the rest of the goals.

[BlazeD]

can you work a stop watch?

[zOldBulldog]

Originally posted by BlazeD:

can you work a stop watch?

I can use a stopwatch just fine, but "can you read"?

I think I made it fairly clear that a simple stopwatch would not work. Mainly because:

1) It is not clear "when" a mission starts and "when" it ends. In this case theoretically the mission could start when you start talking to Simeon, when you finish talking to him, when you get in the car, when you get to the location, when you start the fight. "Probably" it starts when you finish talking to Simeon or when you get in the car, but exactly when it is not clear. And the end is "probably" when you reach the car wash.

2) It is not clear whether the cutscenes count or not. Probably "not". Also, it is not clear whether the delays from Lamar's slow walking and putzing around are included in the mission time, although my suspicion is that yes... even if it is a pretty dumb choice.

Next time I suggest refraining from being a smartass, you would not make such a fool of yourself.

[Xas]

If your concern are on highscores and self-pursuant in completing missions with flying colours.

Go thru mission details in https://www.ign.com/wikis/gta-5/
Search for videos of players performing 'Speed Runs'.
Work from there to practise efficient mission runs.

NPC friends runs/walk following your pathing,
if you want him to run to the car, you need to detour and 'run further from the car', and hop in the passenger side, to make him run to his seat, else he would walk at his own pace.

Missions that have accuracy and ammo count as criteria, avoid SMG and assault rifles,
use shotgun.

Regards to Repossession.
Shoot the Biker the moment when he appears opposite the gate, after your gun fight.
Save you plenty of chase time.

[zOldBulldog]

Thank you Xas. I figured out some of the things you mention, but others are new to me and should be useful.

[Cat]

From my own testing back in the day on console, I *believe* that the cutscenes do count towards the mission timer because they are all in-engine and not pre-rendered. So, skip them as fast as possible to save time.