Cheats List

Cheats List

While Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars doesn't feature traditional cheat codes entered via button combinations like its console brethren, it offers a unique in-game system to unlock various advantages. These "cheats" are primarily activated by finding and destroying specific collectibles scattered throughout Liberty City: the Security Cameras and the Lion Statues. Successfully destroying these items will grant you access to weapon drops, vehicle spawns, and even health/armor bonuses.

Unlocking Cheats via Collectibles

The primary method for accessing cheats in Chinatown Wars is through diligent exploration and destruction of environmental objects. There are two main types of collectibles that directly contribute to unlocking these helpful bonuses:

Security Cameras

These surveillance devices are mounted on buildings, poles, and various structures across all three boroughs of Liberty City. They are often subtly placed but emit a faint red glow, making them visible, especially at night. To destroy a Security Camera, you must either shoot it with a firearm (even a Pistol will suffice, though an SMG or Assault Rifle is more efficient) or hit it with a melee weapon if it's within reach. There are a total of 100 Security Cameras to find and destroy.

• Reward Tiers:
  • 10 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Health & Armor" cheat. When activated, this instantly refills your health and armor to maximum.
  • 20 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Weapons Pack 1" cheat. This provides a basic set of firearms, including a Pistol, Micro SMG, and Shotgun.
  • 30 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Weapons Pack 2" cheat. This upgrades your arsenal with more powerful options like an Assault Rifle, Flamethrower, and Grenades.
  • 40 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Weapons Pack 3" cheat. This grants access to high-tier weaponry such as a Carbine Rifle, RPG, and Molotovs.
  • 50 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Weapons Pack 4" cheat. This is the ultimate weapon unlock, providing a Minigun, Sniper Rifle, and Proximity Mines.
  • 60 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Explosive Weapons" cheat. All your weapons will now fire explosive rounds.
  • 70 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Vehicle Damage" cheat. All vehicles you hit will explode instantly.
  • 80 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Increased Wanted Level" cheat. This immediately raises your wanted level by one star.
  • 90 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Decreased Wanted Level" cheat. This immediately reduces your wanted level by one star.
  • 100 Cameras Destroyed: Unlocks the "Invincibility" cheat. Makes Huang Lee completely immune to all damage for a short period.
• Strategy: Utilize the in-game map on your PDA to mark locations of cameras you've found or are targeting. Many guides and online resources provide detailed maps for all 100 camera locations. Prioritize destroying these early in your playthrough to gain significant advantages.

Lion Statues

These ornate statues are less numerous than the Security Cameras, with only 50 scattered throughout Liberty City. They are typically found in more prominent locations, such as parks, plazas, and near important landmarks. Unlike cameras, Lion Statues are destroyed by driving a vehicle into them or using explosives. Simply shooting them will not work. Each destroyed Lion Statue contributes to unlocking powerful vehicle cheats.

• Reward Tiers:
  • 5 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Turismo" cheat. Summons the high-performance Turismo sports car nearby.
  • 10 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn NRG-900" cheat. Summons the fast NRG-900 motorcycle.
  • 15 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Comet" cheat. Summons the classic Comet sports car.
  • 20 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Banshee" cheat. Summons the iconic Banshee sports car.
  • 25 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Patriot" cheat. Summons the durable Patriot SUV.
  • 30 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Hellenbach" cheat. Summons the powerful Hellenbach muscle car.
  • 35 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Hakumai" cheat. Summons the reliable Hakumai sedan.
  • 40 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Coquette" cheat. Summons the stylish Coquette sports car.
  • 45 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Sabre GT" cheat. Summons the aggressive Sabre GT muscle car.
  • 50 Statues Destroyed: Unlocks the "Spawn Rhino" cheat. Summons the formidable Rhino Tank! This is one of the most powerful cheats in the game.
• Strategy: Keep an eye out for these larger, more noticeable collectibles. A good strategy is to drive around the city in a durable vehicle, like a truck or SUV, making it easier to ram into the statues without damaging your own car too much.

Activating Cheats

Once you've met the requirements for a cheat by destroying the necessary number of collectibles, you can activate it through your PDA. Follow these steps:

1. Open your PDA by tapping the icon on the bottom screen or pressing the designated button (varies by platform, typically SELECT or START).
2. Navigate to the "System" tab.
3. Select "Cheats" from the menu.
4. A list of unlocked cheats will appear. Tap or select the cheat you wish to activate.

Important Notes:

• Activating cheats will disable achievements/trophies and prevent you from earning a 100% completion save file. It's recommended to use a separate save slot if you want to experiment with cheats without affecting your main progress.
• Some cheats, like "Invincibility," have a limited duration.
• Vehicle spawn cheats will attempt to spawn the vehicle near your current location. Ensure you are in an open area for best results.