Ambulance Missions

The Ambulance Missions in Grand Theft Auto III are a challenging and rewarding side activity that tasks you with saving injured citizens across Liberty City. Successfully completing these missions is crucial for unlocking one of the game's most valuable permanent bonuses: infinite sprint.

How to Start Ambulance Missions

To begin an Ambulance Mission, you first need to acquire an Ambulance vehicle. These can typically be found at hospitals located in each of Liberty City's three boroughs:

Portland: Saint Mark's Hospital (near the Callahan Bridge entrance).
Staunton Island: Staunton Island Hospital (in the northeast part of the island, near the stadium).
Shoreside Vale: Shoreside Vale Hospital (in the southwest part of the island, near Francis International Airport).

Once you've entered an Ambulance, activate the mission by pressing the designated button (usually R3 on PlayStation controllers, or the equivalent action button on other platforms). Be aware that starting the mission will immediately initiate a timer.

Mission Objectives

The core objective of the Ambulance Missions is to pick up injured pedestrians and transport them to the nearest hospital within a strict time limit. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Locate Patients: Upon starting the mission, a radar blip will appear, indicating the location of an injured person. Drive to their location.
Pick Up Patients: Once you reach the patient, stop your Ambulance near them. They will automatically get into the vehicle. You can carry up to three patients at a time.
Transport to Hospital: After picking up a patient, a new blip will appear on your radar, marking the nearest hospital. Drive carefully but quickly to the hospital.
Drop Off Patients: Park your Ambulance in the designated drop-off zone at the hospital (usually marked by a red halo). The patients will exit the vehicle, and you'll receive a cash reward and a time bonus.
Repeat: The mission continues with new patients appearing until you either fail or complete all 12 levels.

Understanding the Levels

Ambulance Missions consist of 12 levels. Each level requires you to rescue an increasing number of patients:

Level 1: 1 patient
Level 2: 2 patients
...and so on, up to...
Level 12: 12 patients

To successfully complete the entire Ambulance Mission, you must complete all 12 levels consecutively without failing. If you fail, you'll have to start again from Level 1.

Rewards

The rewards for Ambulance Missions are both immediate and long-term:

Cash Reward: You receive a cash bonus for each patient successfully delivered to the hospital. The amount increases with each level.
Time Bonus: Delivering patients quickly also grants a small time bonus, which is crucial for managing the clock.
Permanent Health Bonus: Completing Level 12 of the Ambulance Mission grants you a permanent increase to your maximum health, from 100 to 150. This is a significant advantage in later parts of the game.
Infinite Sprint: This is the ultimate reward. Successfully completing all 12 levels of the Ambulance Mission unlocks the ability to sprint indefinitely without getting tired. This is incredibly useful for traversing Liberty City on foot and escaping sticky situations.

Strategies for Success

Ambulance Missions can be quite challenging due to the strict time limits, traffic, and the fragile nature of the Ambulance. Here are some key strategies to help you succeed:

Vehicle Management

Park Smart: When picking up patients, try to park your Ambulance facing the direction of the hospital. This saves precious seconds.
Avoid Damage: The Ambulance is not very durable. Even minor collisions can significantly reduce its health. Drive carefully and avoid unnecessary crashes. If your Ambulance takes too much damage, it will explode, and the mission will fail.
Repairing the Ambulance: Unlike some other emergency vehicles, you cannot repair the Ambulance at a Pay 'n' Spray during the mission. Your best bet is to drive as safely as possible.

Route Planning and Navigation

Know the Map: Familiarize yourself with the layout of each island, especially the locations of hospitals and common pedestrian areas. This will help you plan efficient routes.
Use the Radar: The radar is your best friend. Pay close attention to the patient blips and hospital blips to navigate effectively.
Shortcuts: Utilize shortcuts and alleys where possible, but be mindful of potential obstacles or dead ends that could waste time.
Avoid Water: Driving into water will instantly fail the mission.

Time Management

Prioritize Speed: While careful driving is important, you also need to be fast. Balance speed with caution.
Multiple Patients: Always try to pick up the maximum of three patients before heading to the hospital. This is the most efficient way to manage your time and complete levels.
Time Bonuses: Every successful drop-off grants a time bonus, which is essential for extending your mission duration.

Dealing with Obstacles

Traffic: Traffic can be a major hindrance. Learn to weave through it effectively without causing too much damage.
Pedestrians: Be careful not to run over pedestrians, as this can attract police attention and potentially damage your vehicle.
Police: If you attract a wanted level, the police will pursue you, making the mission significantly harder. Try to avoid any actions that would lead to a wanted level. If you do get one, try to lose it as quickly as possible, or consider restarting if it's too high.

Recommended Locations for Ambulance Missions

While you can attempt Ambulance Missions on any island, some locations offer a slight advantage due to their layout and hospital proximity:

Portland: This is often recommended for early attempts. The island is relatively flat, and the hospital is centrally located. However, the narrow streets of Saint Mark's can be tricky.
Staunton Island: Offers wider roads, which can make driving easier. The hospital is in the northeast, and patients can sometimes spawn in areas that require navigating through denser traffic.
Shoreside Vale: This island has more varied terrain, including hills and winding roads, which can be more challenging. The hospital is in the southwest, near the airport.

Many players find it easiest to complete the entire 12 levels on a single island, rather than switching between them, to better learn the routes and patient spawn points.

Common Pitfalls and Tips

Don't Rush Recklessly: While speed is important, reckless driving will lead to vehicle damage and mission failure.
Save Before Starting: Always save your game before attempting the Ambulance Missions. This way, if you fail, you can reload and try again without losing significant progress.
Clear the Area (Optional): Before starting, you might consider clearing some of the immediate area around the hospital of other vehicles to give yourself a clearer path for drop-offs.
Practice Makes Perfect: Don't get discouraged if you fail a few times. The missions require practice and familiarity with the game's driving mechanics and map.

Mastering the Ambulance Missions is a testament to your driving skill in Grand Theft Auto III and provides invaluable permanent upgrades that will make the rest of your playthrough much more enjoyable. Good luck, and happy rescuing!