Icarus and Friends

First things first, find Sadie in the Saint Denis saloon. She's got a plan to help John, and it involves a hot air balloon. After you meet up with the eccentric Mr. Bullard, you'll take control of the balloon.

Your main job here is to keep the balloon at the correct altitude. You'll see an 'Ascend' icon with a bar in the bottom right. There's a specific mark on that bar, and the name will turn yellow when you're in the sweet spot. For the Gold Medal, you absolutely have to stay within this yellow zone for the entire trip. Try to keep the bar centered in the yellow; it'll help you adjust when the winds inevitably shift. Press and hold [R2]/[RT] to ascend.

Once you reach Sisika Penitentiary, Mr. Bullard will take over piloting duties while you grab your binoculars. You'll need to scan the area for John. He's located to the left of the three target areas you'll see. Keep an eye out, because the guards will start shooting at you. Your best bet is to ascend quickly back to that ideal altitude to get out of their range.

Now, here's where things get spicy. Sadie's run into some trouble with the O'Driscolls and is being chased. You'll need to defend her from the balloon. This is where the 70% accuracy for the Gold Medal comes into play, so use Dead Eye to help you land your shots. Crucially, you need to get at least five headshots during this part. Don't worry, there are plenty of targets if you use Dead Eye effectively. Snake Oil tonics can be a lifesaver here if you have them.

Disaster strikes when Mr. Bullard gets hit by a stray bullet and falls. Arthur throws a rope for Sadie, but you've got a bridge to deal with first. You'll need to ascend to the ideal altitude again, then get ready to drop the balloon *fast* as soon as you pass over the bridge. The target altitude will drop significantly. Once Sadie's on the rope, reel her in as quickly as you can to avoid her getting shot.

The balloon crashes, but the O'Driscolls aren't done yet. They've followed you. Take cover behind the rocks or trees near the stream and start picking them off as they come across. Remember that 70% accuracy is still key, but you don't need any more headshots, and there's no time limit here. Take your time, line up your shots. After you deal with the wave coming from the front, be ready for more O'Driscolls coming from behind you. Keep using cover and picking them off. Once the last of them are down or have fled, head back to Sadie to wrap up this intense mission.