In the beginning

CJ being captured by the officers at the start of the game.

C.J., at Francis International Airport, Liberty City, remembers his brother Sweet telling him that their Mom died. When C.J.'s Taxi gets about a block S of the Johnson house, C.J. is ordered out of it by Officer Tenpenny, who's accompanied by Pulaski and Hernandez. They hit and harass C.J., then take him for a ride in their police car to make sure C.J. knows they think the worst of him and need him to do things their way. Tenpenny frames C..J. for the murder of a dead policeman. Why he bothers holding this over C.J.'s head when he could just follow C.J. around for ten minutes with a camcorder is never explained. They throw C.J. in an alley. C.J. knows it's hostile Balla gang territory; Ballas are the guys in purple who'll attack C.J. if you don't keep him away from them. Reminiscent of the booklet that came with "III" calling Liberty City "the worst place in America," C.J. says he's in the "worst place in the world. Rollin Heights Balla country." (Later, while having C.J. spray Tags, you'll see Tags that represent the Ballas' neighborhoods: Rollin Heights Ballas, Kilo Tray Ballas, Front Yard Ballas, and Temple Drive Ballas.)

Have C.J. get on the BMX bike in front of him. Be careful just up ahead-- there's always moving traffic just beyond the alley at 1st. Have C.J. ride to the Johnson house, "C.J." on the radar, a few blocks SE. Now and then, press W quickly and repeatedly to make C.J. stand up and pump the pedals hard, and have him stay off to the side of the train tracks if you have him use the railroad bridge. C.J. starts out with $350. He can't recruit gang members yet. He can get a four star wanted level.The Johnson garage, at the house icon in Ganton on the paper map that comes with the game, is free and immediately available. C.J. can explore but can't get into the Johnson house for you to save the game till he walks into the red shaft of light in front of the front porch and does the next couple of missions.