Hold-ups and equipment basics
A short guide to hold-ups, item drops and quick reloads in Sons of Liberty.
Sons of Liberty campaign. Shared mechanics documented in the Master Collection manual; original PS2 controls and collection bindings can differ.
Items at a glance
M9
Useful for a nonlethal approach.
USP and SOCOM
Lethal handguns. Belong to different parts of the adventure.
PSG1 and PSG1-T
The T variant is nonlethal.
Coolant
Spray until the detonator stops blinking.
Sensor A and later detection equipment
AP Sensor (AP SENSR) A sensor that detects lifeforms. Bomb-search support.
Directional microphone
Aim toward the relevant source in first-person view.
Magazines and books
MAGAZINE An empty magazine of a gun. Press to ready, and release it to throw.
Nikita and Stinger
NIKITA A remote-controlled missile. Press to ready and switch to the missile's POV, then release it to launch.
Approach a guard unseen
With a gun equipped, approach an unaware guard and ready the weapon to hold them up. The guard can retaliate if you give them an opening. Practise the approach and weapon controls somewhere manageable before attempting it near several patrols.
Check for item drops
A sleeping or stunned enemy may drop an item when picked up and put down repeatedly. Unequip your weapon first. This is an optional supply check, not a guarantee that every enemy will give you something.
Learn the quick reload
The weapon quick-change control can be tapped twice for a tactical reload. Test the input with your controller mapping before relying on it under pressure. The manual also describes readying a weapon from corner cover, which is useful when moving between observation and action.
Plan around the next patrol
A held-up or sleeping guard solves the immediate encounter but can create a later discovery. Look for a place to move the body when that is useful, and check whether another patrol enters the area. During a hold-up, maintain the weapon stance and controlled position; a guard who receives an opening can resist. Practising this in a quiet room teaches more than attempting it first beside several connected sightlines.
Sons of Liberty’s actions depend on the version and controller setup. Follow your edition’s displayed inputs rather than copying old PS2 button instructions blindly.