The Big Score

Player notes

• ◆It is mentioned by both Michael and the news reports that the gold is being unloaded in Mission Row, though it is actually unloaded underneath an overpass behind the Vanilla Unicorn, which is located in Strawberry.
• ◆There are 672 gold bricks, each worth $300,000 (as 201,600,000 ÷ 300,000 = 672).
• ◆If the player takes too long deciding which approach to go by during the set up scene, Trevor will accuse Michael of "milking it".
• ◆If Trevor triggers the mission, he and Michael do not fight as much in the cutscenes.
• ◆At the start of the first cutscene, where Lester is ogling Juliet and Nikki, the two strippers will be chatting in the subtle approach, but will just silently do their makeup in the obvious approach.
• ◆Both of Franklin's post-mission getaway vehicles in the obvious approach (Tailgater) and subtle approach (Cavalcade) use the same license plate: 54AJM610.
• ◆The final mission must be completed before the protagonists get paid their respective shares from the heist. Depending on which choice is made, the rewards will be different.
• ◆Option C: The protagonists get their respective shares from the heist.
• ◆Option B: Franklin and Trevor get their respective shares, and Michael's goes to his family.
• ◆Option A: Michael and Franklin get their respective shares, and Trevor's is split between them.
• ◆There are some hints that the Subtle approach is the canon choice for this mission.
• ◆Michael and Trevor will both receive Gruppe Sechs uniforms after this mission, even though the uniforms are only required if the player uses the Subtle approach.
• ◆When stealing Gruppe Sechs outfits for The Big Con approach of The Diamond Casino Heist, Lester will say, "The old Gruppe Sechs con... Why do I love saying that?"
• ◆During the heist finale, Lester will say, "Did you ever hear the one about the four Gruppe Sechs employees in an elevator?". This line is only activated if the heist is made with four players and all choose to go up the elevator. These lines may hint that the subtle approach is the canon approach for the heist.
• ◆The Oracle Michael drives in the obvious approach has the registration 81TDS937, which is the same registration of the Oracle owned by Dave Norton. While this may simply be unintended, the Oracle might be actually his vehicle; alternatively, he may have appeared in the heist, but was cut during development for unknown reasons.
• ◆The Oracle will be used as the getaway car if the player replays this mission.
• ◆The obvious approach is a reference to the 1995 film Die Hard With a Vengeance, in which Simon Gruber, the main antagonist, robs gold bullion from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York by drilling into the vault room (with a concept vehicle the Cutter is heavily based on) from a subway station construction site.
• ◆The shootout with the cops in the streets surrounding the Union Depository in the obvious approach may also be inspired by the shootout in the 1995 film Heat, which features a similar running shootout with police following a bank robbery and a character named Michael. Heat has been referenced numerous times in recent Grand Theft Auto games.
• ◆If the player picks an experienced gunman that helps Franklin underground, the gunman will throw a grenade against the attacking cops in the bank.
• ◆Some of the NOOSE officers in the construction tunnel use Advanced Rifles, which they never use outside of this heist.
• ◆During the shootout through the Arcadius Business Center, Michael shouts, "Where'd all the NOOSE guys go? Was there another robbery?", even though NOOSE teams are still trying to stop the crew from getting away.
• ◆It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the course of falling helicopters during the crew's advance along the walkways to the getaway vehicle. Although the game makes great efforts in reducing the likelihood of one crashing/exploding near the player (by igniting their turbines and spiralling them away from the player’s immediate direction), they will occasionally veer back around and strike infrastructure close to the player, possibly causing death and therefore mission failure. An easy way to avoid this occurring is by using explosives.
• ◆The Buzzard Attack Chopper that shows up during the shootout through the Arcadius Business Center is actually piloted by a NOOSE officer, despite dialogue stating that Merryweather is on the scene.
• ◆The player can drive into the construction tunnel to evade the law enforcement, even though it was the epicenter of the heist just a few minutes before. There is no trace of the drilled hole, even though the roof opening stays uncovered until the end of the mission.
• ◆The helicopter pursuit through the RON Alternates Wind Farm is likely a reference to the 2006 film Mission: Impossible III, specifically, a scene involving a helicopter pursuit through a windfarm. Missiles are also fired from one of the helicopters, in a similar manner to how Lester uses an RPG to take down pursuing Merryweather Buzzards.
• ◆Even if an experienced pilot is chosen, it can sometimes be noticed that their helicopter makes severe contact with the blades of the wind turbines when attempting to evade the pursuing Merryweather Buzzards. The chopper itself is never affected by any of these collisions, but the attached share of gold bullion will sway and swing with impacts and the appropriate damage effect particles will be produced.
• ◆Considering the differing velocities, heights and trajectories of all helicopters involved in the final airborne chase (as well as rocket speed and any wind present), it would be effectively impossible for Lester to successfully predict the movements of - and shoot down - the attacking Buzzards with an unguided RPG as he does during the mission. This is made even more dubious when observing the rockets in actual gameplay; they can clearly be seen mirroring the movements of the chopper they are trailing and alter accordingly before making contact as if guided. Factor in Lester's probable inexperience with such weaponry (at least in reality) and this sequence becomes almost comedically fanciful.
• ◆If an inexperienced helicopter pilot crashes, Lester can be heard berating Michael for going "cheap".
• ◆When Franklin drives away in the red Tailgater at the end of the obvious approach, the radio will always tune in to Radio Los Santos.
• ◆If the player immediately switches to Trevor after finishing the heist, he will be seen walking at the Sandy Shores Airfield, saying "Michael ... Merryweather ... They're all against me!"
• ◆The subtle approach contains several references to The Italian Job, both the 1969 original and the 2003 remake. As part of the mission, the crew manipulate traffic lights to prevent Merryweather Security reaching Michael and the armored convoy; in the films, traffic lights are manipulated to slow down the team's pursuers. Later, the team is involved in a speed chase in three Gauntlets, which ends with the team loading the cars into the back of two trucks; this is similar to both films, which feature car chases involving Mini Coopers that end with the cars being driven into coaches.
• ◆If a poor second gunman is chosen, when swapping the flat tires on the Gruppe Sechs trucks, he will forget to replace one of the truck's tires, though this has no effect on the rest of the mission.
• ◆When the player is manipulating the traffic lights, latitude and longitude coordinates are displayed in the lower right corner of the interface: Lat: N 962 78, Lon: W 1 55. A longitude of 1° 55' W results in a location in the Gulf of Guinea south of West Africa, while a latitude of 962° 78' N is not valid, because the latitude value is limited to 90° and the minute value is limited to 59.
• ◆To make the mission easier, the crew's Gauntlets cannot be overtaken, as they will dramatically speed up if the player manages to pass them.
• ◆Similarly to Franklin and Lamar, the entire escape sequence of this mission is scripted, likely for game/mission performance. While major events such as the collision with police roadblocks, a tanker truck and the police helicopter are clearly scripted, the rest of the city's traffic is removed, to make the mission more convenient for the aforementioned events. Traffic is only found on the streets the crew traverse and those surrounding them, and even these vehicles are completely scripted. Traffic mostly consists of Emperors and Habaneros, similarly to how Franklin and Lamar mostly consists of Intruders and Mananas, again for performance benefits.
• ◆When first pulling out of the alleyway from Vanilla Unicorn onto Strawberry Avenue, a dark grey Habanero and a lighter gray Emperor pass as the first Police Cruiser pulls through. At the following intersection, a light gray Emperor, three Habaneros (gray, light gray and white) and a gray Burrito are near.
• ◆Passing under Interstate 4, a dark red/cream Emperor is found. The same Police Cruiser also makes way to the front of the tail.
• ◆At the Vespucci Boulevard intersection, a bright blue Habanero, aqua green Emperor and a black Vader are found nearby. A red/orange Habanero passes across the intersection, while the Police Cruiser collides with a dark green Emperor.
• ◆Passing Legion Square, a white/red Emperor is found driving by, while a grey Habanero is parked on the right.
• ◆Turning left at the San Andreas Avenue intersection, two Emperors (dark gray and black), a gray Benson, red Habanero and a green Vader are found.
• ◆The short pass along San Andreas Avenue sees a parked white Habanero on the left and a gray Emperor driving by. Ahead, two Police Cruisers form a roadblock, blocking the rest of the avenue off, before the tailing Police Cruiser loses control and halts at this block, and another Police Cruiser joins pursuit. Behind the roadblock, another gray Emperor is seen.
• ◆Underneath the FIB Headquarters courtyard on Elgin Avenue, a red Emperor, red Bus and a parked gray Burrito are seen. The tailing Police Cruiser collides with a brown Biff at this point.
• ◆Turning left on Swiss Street, a Police Cruiser joins the chase, while the remaining Police Cruiser collides with a gray Burrito at the intersection. A gray Habanero is also seen ahead.
• ◆On Swiss Street, a gray Habanero is heading towards the intersection, while a red Emperor and another light gray Habanero turn onto Swiss Street.
• ◆Crossing the freeway over Power Street, another dark red Emperor is passed. Ahead, three Police Cruisers form a roadblock just after the entrance to the construction site on the left. The pursuing Police Cruiser attempts to ram one of the team member's cars at this point, and rolls onto its roof several times, before crashing into the roadblock.
• ◆In the construction site, a Dozer is seen parked up. Two other Police Cruisers join the chase and enter the site.
• ◆Making their way onto Alta Street, two Emperors and Habaneros are in the area, one pulls out of a driveway on the left. A Police Cruiser pulls out of an alleyway ahead, joining the chase.
• ◆On Occupation Avenue, two Habaneros, a white Benson pulling out of a carpark and a white Emperor are seen in the area. Another blue Emperor is found at the intersection passing under the mall in Burton. A Police Cruiser forms a blockage on the lower road underneath the mall, forcing the crew to take the upper ramp.
• ◆Jumping off the upper ramp and onto San Vitus Boulevard-Carcer Way intersection, a brown Emperor, two Habaneros (white and blue) are seen. A red Packer towing a RON tanker trailer pulls around the corner, and a Police Cruiser crashes into the tanker, resulting in a massive explosion.
• ◆Passing the Mount Zonah Medical Center, two Emperors (gray and green) are found on the road. A red Bus is pulling out of the lay-by on the right. Two Police Cruisers swerve to form a roadblock on the Dorset Drive-Carcer Way-Portola Avenue-Portola Drive intersection. A white Emperor is found on Dorset Drive, while a Police Cruiser is crashed into by a gray Habanero.
• ◆Making a right onto the Del Perro Freeway, three cruisers form a roadblock, while a Police Maverick runs parallel to the freeway as the crew make their way onto the off-ramp.
• ◆On the off-ramp, a red Flatbed is pulling onto the freeway. Numerous Habaneros (two gray, red and blue) and Emperors (dark red/cream, red, dark green) are already found on the freeway before passing under the tunnel. The Police Maverick stops just above the tunnel entrance, and units on the side fire rounds as the team pass under.
• ◆Within the tunnel, a red Bus, a dark blue Habanero and a green Emperor are driving. The two Packers towing trailers are found just ahead. After exiting the tunnel, a Police Maverick is viewing the traffic exiting the tunnel.
• ◆When the protagonists are driving to Michael's house at the end of the subtle approach, the radio will always tune in to Los Santos Rock Radio and it will always play "Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger.
• ◆There is proof within the game files that parts of this mission have been changed. Originally, the hacker was supposed to warn Michael about Merryweather, and there are dialogues for Rickie Lukens suggesting that the number of traffic light changes was supposed to be limited (probably ten switches are allowed, since that is the gold medal objective; and possibly only with a bad hacker, since the dialogues have only been found for Rickie).