

In early top-down GTA games, armors in both Grand Theft Auto (as well as Grand Theft Auto: London mission packs) and Grand Theft Auto 2 serve their intended purpose, adding 10 more hit points to the player's existing health, but provides no protection to the player when they fall from great heights, are run over by vehicles, or are beaten up by the police and arrested. The Body armor is a standard-issue item among law enforcement agencies, but also a rare sight among criminals. The body armor's primary function is to serve as padding for the player health, in effect extending the player's resilience to damage from gunfire, explosions and fire.

