First off, this game absolutly terrifies me. If you enjoy your heart racing and having minor panic attacks at every sound while clutching to crumbled buildings 80 stories up, you're in luck. This is the best game for you. So feel free to play in the dark, late at night and completly alone (off ventrillo, mumble, ect) for full effect.

Secondly this game is amazing. If you don't already have it, wait for a Steam sale and pick up a copy. If you can get it for 5-10 bucks, it's a steal. Not that I'd discourage full retail price. My girlfriend sent this to me during a Steam sale, and it's one of my favorites for this genere, ever, and as a 9-year Steam vet, 15 years gaming total, I'd like to think that counts for something.

Third, this isn't a walkthrough or some guide detailing all the ins and outs of game play. This is simply what I wish someone had told me before venturing out into the world. This game is difficult, but if you follow some very basic steps, you will have a lot smoother game play than I did my first time round.

Good luck!

Sounds obvious right? Pay attention.

The games load screens warn us to watch out for individuals just defending their turf. This statement, had I heeded its warning would have saved me a retry or two. Right retries. We will come back to those later.

Anyways like I said. If an old lady tells you to back off, back wayyy off. Because she will blast a hole in your face. This happens on more than one occasion.

Also take note of your surroundings. You can conserve ammo by backing thugs up and kicking them down shafts and into holes. It can happen way more often than you think.

Survivors are everywhere. Keep a note of who needs what and where they are. They add to the story and provide those valuable retries.

Lastly, if life all of a sudden gives you two bullets, some water and a med-kit. Be weary, a fights just around the corner.

Pay attention. It will save your life.

Do not squander your precious retry. It will bring you to the last spot before action or your last load screen. If you just had a cut scene, or completed a chapter and are only one or two events into the next chapter (fight or other event) don’t blow it, especially, if you’re playing on the harder modes. Just reload, take your time and learn from your previous mistake. Only blow these when you’re positive you can correct your last mistake or you’re near a chapter completion.
In full disclosure, yes, there is a retry glitch. But I do not encourage you to take advantage of the flaw. I learned this by accident while on a mission. Did it twice before I realized my retry count had increased when it shouldn’t have. If you’re curious, google it.

In marketing and business law there is the deceptive practice of bait and switch. You can use this technique in 85% of your encounters. It’s the skill the game teaches you in the first level about baiting a thug close and timing a quick slice to the throat with your machete. But be aware, they will all rush you after, so have the gun ready to be pulled, even if you don’t have ammo. It will freeze them so you can back them up to a shaft and kick them in. Also note, these guys don't sit forever. After a few seconds they call your no ammo bluff and charge again. If you're out of ammo, that can be tricky. So have a plan formulated quickly and command them to keep moving back, rotating the gun on all the enemies.

DON’T WASTE YOUR BULLETS IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO. Yeah, its fun to blow their heads off. And for the heavies, you have to use bullets. But save as many as you can. They become more scarce as the levels progress and the higher difficulty you play.

Also do NOT bring an arrow to a gun/knife fight. You will NOT be able to draw the bow fast enough. I learned this the hard way after a few attempts. The bow and arrow works great at a distance to snipe, either common thug, or a heavy. But if you shoot an arrow first, you will (most likely) agro the pack. And they will come guns blazing if they are equipped.

As you’ve already noticed, items are scarce. And items that people (NPC’s) need are even more so. Only use what you need, even if you don’t become fully healed, its not worth wasting the supplies. Like bullets, food and water will become more scarce as the game progresses (again, depending on difficulty)

If you can’t conserve, at least hunt a little longer. Rushing point A to B will result in you missing out on food, drink, hooks and bullets. Don’t skip checking behind a corner if you don’t have to. Exploration does have its weaknesses, the dust will kill you slowly, but if you have the time exploration is a must for items.

Be aware that there are plenty of nooks on your climbs, check all those ledges for items. They are also a spot where you can climb up and rest a bit.