[SuspectOnFoot]

Does anybody try ways to make the story mode more difficult?

For instance I'm trying: 2nd tier weapons only, manual aim, no health pickups (armor is ok), only changing cars when it's on fire or dysfunctional.

[lzw3]

Check out the GTA IV Minimal Kills Challenge!.

[StonersDarkness]

you have listed some good ways to challenge yourself... i have done the whole using cars till they go BOOM or don't work anymore...

try beating the game without dying... or stealing a minimal of 15 cars or something DURING THE STORY... because after, WHO CARES!!!!! LOL
(note, if you kill someone on a mission and they were in a car... it DOESN'T count as a stolen car... BUT if you kill someone just on the street and take their car, its stealing, Ironic right?lol)

[RearNaked]

I'm playing through using manual aim with the basic aiming reticule. No weapon, food or amour can be purchased. May only pick up weapons, armour and health during missions. I have auto-save on so that I never have to manually save the game, as that restores your health.