Editorial | 9/9/2010 at 4:52 AM

Samoza’s Co-op Achievement Methods (SCAMs)

Crackdown 2 is immense fun, especially when played with up to four people at once, but once the game is completed and you have control of the city what is there to do?  The Achievements in the game are a great way to increase the lifespan and there are a few that are great fun to do together.  Not all of these achievements are officially co-op based, but by working together you can make the tasks a lot easier. 

  The Basics - 380G

Complete the entire game and capture all locations and you should come away with 380 Achievement Points.  In theory only the player who hosts the game gets the achievement, but if you create one save file that you use only when playing with the same friend, you should both unlock the achievements. 

  Pebble Dash - 10G

Once the basics are over you can go for the more entertaining achievements.  Hopefully by this point you would have at least level 4 in all skills, but you probably need level 5 in agility and strength to really work the Achievement System.  Pebble Dash is a fun achievement to get and is even better in co-op.  It requires that you reach the very top of the Agency Tower and jump into a nearby chimney for a convenient surprise.  However, getting up to the top of the Tower is painful when tried alone.  The secret is for two or more player to work together!

To one side of the Agency Tower is a helicopter pad that has 4 helicopters parked up.  One player should pilot a chopper, whilst the other players sit on the seats that are on the side.  This allows you to be air lifted to the top of the tower rather than having to jump up.  From there it’s a matter of delicately dropping off you co-op partners and watching them jump to victory.

Detailed images of how to complete Chopper Stomper, Stunt Man and Car Jump  

  Yipee-Kai-Yay - 10G

Now you have discovered the whereabouts of the helicopter pad getting this next achievement is also simple.  You need to hit a hovering agency helicopter whilst driving the Agency SUV.  Sounds tricky, unless you and a friend are in control.  One of you should hover a helicopter inches above the ground and allow the other player to drive into you.  Simple. 

  Chopper Stomper - 10G

More helicopter action that works best as at least a duo.  Ground Stomping (unlocked at physical level 5) an enemy after jumping from a helicopter should be relatively easy, but to make it even more so, why not draft in a friend?  One player should collect an Agency helicopter whilst the other should locate a Freak hole and activate it.  Rather than fight the hoard, player 2 should draw them out, the bigger the crowd, the better.  This means that when your co-op pal jumps out of the helicopter they will find it pretty hard to miss everyone.

  Stuntman - 20G

If you have a little patience and poor driving skills then a helicopter can help you and a co-op pal get this achievement too.  Stuntman requires that you complete all 40 stunt rings in the game, but some of them are very tricky.  However, you can cheat by attaching a car to a helicopter, using the sticky mines unlocked early in the game, and flying through the rings.  Make sure that one of you is a pilot whilst the other is sitting in the car, this method can be quite time consuming, but you can admire the view.

The above photo realistic designs should help with Pin Cushion and Co-op Keepy-Up

  Pin Cushion - 10G

Now we move away from the world of helicopters into a much darker arena, human harpoon fishing.  This achievement requires you to attach five people to one vehicle using the harpoon gun (a weapon you unlock when you develop your gun skills).  Doing this solo can be a tricky business, so why not join a sociopath friend?

One player should find a large vehicle e.g. the Agency SUV or a lorry.  They then drive it slowly around the city near to some likely victims; you have to do this carefully as not to startle them.  The achievement does not require that you use enemies, so if you are feeling mean you can use the general population as they are more docile.  Meanwhile, players 2-4 are biding their time nearby until the victim and the vehicle are lined up - pop.  Rinse and repeat until the vehicle is covered.  This is a bit of a dark achievement in my opinion, but still quite funny when done as a duo. 

  Co-op Keepy-Up - 10G

This is an actual co-op specific achievement that requires you pass a vehicles back and forth using the UV Shotgun between two or more agents for at least 3 passes.  It can actually prove pretty tricky, but this tip helps.  All the players should stand near a tall (and preferably wide) building.  The first person to shoot the car with the UV Shotgun (unlocked early in the game) should aim towards the building.  This means that rather than flying miles away the vehicles will be trapped in a smaller space.  All the other players need to do is lock onto the vehicle and keep shooting it towards the building.

  Car Jump - 10G

This is another achievement that is not strictly co-op, but is so much easier with a pal.  You need to jump from one moving vehicle to another.  This can be done by yourself, but why go it alone when you can rig it will pals?
The more players the better for this achievement.  You should all meet up on a long stretch of highway during the daytime cycle with the biggest vehicles you can find – the SUV will do again.  Now all you have to do is one player stands on top of a friend’s car and then you all drive side by side till you get some speed up.  Then when the time is right lock onto one of your allies’ vehicles and jump.

 

There are plenty of other achievements to be gained in Crackdown 2 in terms of both solo and co-op game.  I have just highlighted some of the more entertaining achievements that can be gained with a little ‘constructive’ thinking (cheating).

Have you any tales of amusing achievement gathering in Crackdown 2?