2. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS/PSP/iPhone)



I’ll be quite frank with you. I really didn’t like Grand Theft Auto IV. Sure, there were some impressive things about it (such as the voice acting and the way that the game felt), but for me anyway, that was more outweighed by the bad (mission design wasn’t up to scratch, soundtrack was very hit and miss, visuals were boring, police spawning was erratic and almost unfair, and the story wasn’t too particularly great). In fact, the best GTA in recent years is a PSP and DS (and soon to be iPhone) game – Chinatown Wars. And it’s amazing that it didn’t sell – given that GTA is such a mainstream game, and that the DS is so absurdly popular. In the US in it’s first month, the game sold less than 100K. Depressing.

  

The first thing that strikes you about Chinatown Wars is that it takes you back to a pre-GTA III era of gaming, but mixed in with some of the elements from later GTA games (such as the ability to use taxi-cabs and stuff like that). The second thing that strikes you is that it WORKS. Unlike the previous attempt at a GTA game on a Nintendo handheld, everything here just seems to work a lot better – from the multiplayer, to car control and just control in general. Hell, even the touchscreen specific stuff (for the DS version), actually works really well, even if some of it can be a little cumbersome.

  

Probably the most compelling thing about the game would have to be the drug trading mini-game. Put simply, it plays similar to the Drug Wars game that people have known and loved for many years, you buy low and sell high, control supply and demand, and just proves to be really quite fun. And hey, having it not edited for the Australian release was quite something. Plus, it’s easily the best way to get cash in the game, because you really don’t get paid enough for actually completing missions.

  

That being said, the game isn’t quite right. For starters, ticking off the cops is way too easy in this game than in previous GTA games, if only because there are cops EVERYWHERE, and touching them is really simple. The music is also an issue...It’s just not great stuff. While it is all licensed music, good luck knowing any of it. Furthermore, the combat’s a little iffy, but then again, it’s always been an issue with GTA. Oh, and there are still some niggles that make the combat still not quite right, but better than in past GTA’s.

  

Otherwise, it’s a fantastic experience and one that needs to be sampled on any platform. It’s a really enjoyable, if not flawed, GTA game.

Posted by darthhomer Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:14:05 (comments: 7)
 
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:18:28
First! --er, wait. This isn't Youtube? D'oh!

I didn't know this game was coming to iPhone.
 
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:14:46
Fucking faggot nigger cock sucking Van Damme fan! Chinaes Chink wn? what fucking shit.

Wait, this isn't youtube?
 
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:07:58
this is a true thing that happens! its not a chain letter! its kinda scary at first but it really works!! paste this message into 3 comments and press ALT F4 and your crushes name will appear on the screen!!! its soo wierd

What, not Youtube?
 
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:08:34

Its easy to sort out the cops so I have no problem with that. And the combat is so easy its never an issue.
 
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:01:07
this will be top 3 for me as well definitely
 
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:53:10
nice choice Jamie.  Here's my Youtube quote, "so your telling me that not that i only invent time travle but in the future machines will use that to kill one man, TERMENATE! Termenate just one man! Great Scott!"
 
Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:24:21
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