GTA's First and Only Foray In To The Nintendo DS System, and Game-play Far Exceeds Its Console Counter-Parts
This old, but classic perspective of playing the game is quite fun, and doesn't take much to get used to, it's not derivative or demeaning for the game to go back to it's old roots.
Now Chinatown Wars, as it's name entails focuses on the Triad gangs, and their world, culture and traditions. You are Huang Lee, son of a murdered Triad boss - you are sent to Liberty City to hand over an ancient sword, which would help his uncle Kenny ensure he keeps control of the city's Triad gangs. Surprisingly you are attacked the moment you step foot in the city, the sword is taken from you and your uncle's control diminished and respect for him is destroyed almost.
To make up for this problem, you are given missions to reinstate your uncle's respect and control, through the usual classic GTA missions - involving murder, car-jacking, drug smuggling and gang violence. Surprisingly Chinatown Wars is the most realistic of the current GTA games except GTA 4 and the new GTA 5. Most of the game involves realistic missions, with gritty action and combat with a surreal element to it even.
As a DS title, Chinatown Wars uses the stylus for a lot of it's functions except movement - you use the stylus to switch weapons, hot-wire cars, search bins for weapons, and interacting with your GPS and phone. This is done very smoothly, and eventually you are able to use it in tandem with the general buttons of the system for movement and shooting together.
Graphically, the game is what you would expect from the DS - the graphics are quite reminiscent of the classic games, perhaps for a reason so as not to push the stability of the game too much. The graphics aren't much to write to home about, but it's sustainable with some well drawn cut scenes and characters.
Game-play as most would agree, is Chinatown Wars's strong point - the frame rate is strong, and smooth and is never interrupted during a car chase with dozens of Police, or when you are running-and-gunning down rival gang members so that is quite a large bonus for such a DS game. One of the more enjoyable feats of the game-play is the option of dealing drugs on the streets of the city, with a territory map on your GPS, you can choose to go to specific dealers to buy drugs for cheap, and sell high to dealers on another side of the city, for a large profit. This is all done with the stylus, as you exchange goods and choose how much drugs to buy or sell.
In terms of music for the game, you are given a few radio stations to listen to as you drive around Liberty City like any GTA game offers you, with some good Rock, Hip-Hop and Heavy Metal tracks to enjoy on specific stations. This plays into some moments in the game, particularly as you gun down bikers, or rival Triad gang members or flee from the Police in a high-speed chase.
The Good:
- Graphics are sustainable, and for a DS title it's quite stunning in certain moments and holds up very well in shootouts, chases and combat.
- The top-down perspective of the old GTA games returns, and is smooth alongside it's frame rate, giving it a good, gritty theme like the original games gave us.
- Realistic story-line, characters and plot; a very gang themed plot, with rivalries, gang wars and drug dealing and territories.
- A good, solid variety of weapons to use, buy and even sell.
- A variety of side-missions ranging from gang wars, to robbing drugs from gangs, and even classics like earning fares from driving a taxi around the city.
- A good, solid selection of radio stations you can listen to, with some memorable songs you will wait to hear, and enjoy through simply driving around the city.
- Stylus is easy to get to grips with, and understand it's uses with many of the game's functions.
The Bad:
- Graphics are dated in comparison to it's home console counter-parts, and it shows at times.
GTA: Chinatown Wars is a must-have for fans of the franchise who should own a DS, and even for those looking for an action game to enjoy - Chinatown Wars is not difficult to get into, and eventually it's functions are easy to use, and manipulate in missions.At the moment you can get Chinatown Wars for a reasonable price, and I would recommend buying it, without any doubt.