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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Rockstar Leeds Publisher: Rockstar Games |
Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series is easily the best in the business when it comes to the open world sandbox game design. Other
studios have tried to capture the same feel with various amounts of success, but for better or for worse, none have been able to take the
top spot for the open world genre. So, when Rockstar decided to takes its series in a new direction, players will notice. “Grand Theft
Auto: Chinatown Wars” is a GTA game specifically geared toward the Nintendo DS platform, and while the Nintendo DS may be the
weakest current generation system in terms of hardware pore, Rockstar doesn’t let any of that get in the way of producing a great new
chapter in the Grand Theft Auto series.
The game opens with Huang Lee on his way to Liberty City to deliver a symbolic sword to his Uncle Kenny. Huang’s father, a Triad
boss, was mysteriously killed and this sword must pass from his possession to his brother. Unfortunately for Huang, he’s ambushed
upon arrival, his sword is stolen and he’s left for dead in the harbor. This is where the player begins their underworld career in Liberty
City on the Nintendo DS. The story takes some crazy twists in the single player campaign.
Liberty City tends to evolve with each game created by Rockstar, but for “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” the Nintendo DS
development team matched its version of the city pretty close to other cities in the series. The DS city still has its own layout with its own
short cuts and bypasses, but the game retains the regional boroughs idea and the entire city is open from the start for players to explore
at their leisure. The way to explore the city is what made the series so addictive to begin with. If a car is available, players can take it
and drive, of course there may be some repercussions for the action, but that just adds to the fun.
Of course, players can simply walk the avenues and streets, and this time around players will work on a lot of missions that require
more guns than cars. The DS has a large focus on weaponry, just like in “Grand Theft Auto 4,” and players use a lock on system to
target the enemies and take them down with rapid fire ease. It might be a little too easy at times though, the controls will take a little bit
of getting used to, but once players learn the lock on system, players will find ways to exploit the system to make missions even easier.
It would be pretty pointless to create a game for the Nintendo DS if some of the systems features aren’t used, such as the touch
screen. Some cars aren’t easy to jack and may need a little extra work including, wrenching, hot wiring the ignition or hacking the theft
deterrent system might be necessary, and that could be a real problem if the police are in pursuit and the wrong vehicle is picked for the
getaway. Driving through a tollbooth without dropping coins in the basket could lead to an undesired wanted level. Gate locks need to
be cut, explosives need to be positioned, all through the use of the touch screen. It may seem like these are all unnecessary, but after a
few surprises throughout the game, the stylus begins to feel like a tool of the underworld. Sadly, the touch screen doesn’t work well
when it comes to throwing grenades and other projectiles. If players want to throw one, players need to tap the stylus on the icon and
slide it around the radius to lob it in a 360 degree fashion. If the mission calls for tossing explosive weapons exclusively, then it works
and works well. It is cumbersome to be in a firefight with the normal weapons and reach down to throw a grenade. If players use their
thumb to throw the grenade instead of the stylus, they may drop it at their feet.
One of the greatest additions to the game is the updated wanted system. Instead of evading the police to lose the stars earned, player
now have to use their driving skills to disable the cops. It’s an element that really adds a level of offence and intensity, and it is very
rewarding to lure a cop to slam them into a wall. It won’t be surprising to see this element in future games in the series.
The story is over in about 15 hours depending on how little or how much players get distracted by the little things in Liberty City, but even
when the story is over, there is plenty to do. There are races, drug trading, side missions, mini-games and hidden cameras to destroy.
Everything done in the city is tracked and can be uploaded to Rockstar’s Social Club and compare scores with friends. New missions
will also unlock using the online function. There is also a multiplayer mode if players connect locally with friends.
There is a lot missing from this review, but with so much in the game, it is difficult to include everything. The game continues the
sandbox genre that has become so popular with the series. Though it may look like a lot has changed in the move to the handheld
platform, more has been added than taken away, there is a lot to do in this version of Liberty City and it’s hard not to be impressed and
amazed at some of the things the developers managed to pull off. “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is easily one of the best
Nintendo DS games on the platform.
studios have tried to capture the same feel with various amounts of success, but for better or for worse, none have been able to take the
top spot for the open world genre. So, when Rockstar decided to takes its series in a new direction, players will notice. “Grand Theft
Auto: Chinatown Wars” is a GTA game specifically geared toward the Nintendo DS platform, and while the Nintendo DS may be the
weakest current generation system in terms of hardware pore, Rockstar doesn’t let any of that get in the way of producing a great new
chapter in the Grand Theft Auto series.
The game opens with Huang Lee on his way to Liberty City to deliver a symbolic sword to his Uncle Kenny. Huang’s father, a Triad
boss, was mysteriously killed and this sword must pass from his possession to his brother. Unfortunately for Huang, he’s ambushed
upon arrival, his sword is stolen and he’s left for dead in the harbor. This is where the player begins their underworld career in Liberty
City on the Nintendo DS. The story takes some crazy twists in the single player campaign.
Liberty City tends to evolve with each game created by Rockstar, but for “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” the Nintendo DS
development team matched its version of the city pretty close to other cities in the series. The DS city still has its own layout with its own
short cuts and bypasses, but the game retains the regional boroughs idea and the entire city is open from the start for players to explore
at their leisure. The way to explore the city is what made the series so addictive to begin with. If a car is available, players can take it
and drive, of course there may be some repercussions for the action, but that just adds to the fun.
Of course, players can simply walk the avenues and streets, and this time around players will work on a lot of missions that require
more guns than cars. The DS has a large focus on weaponry, just like in “Grand Theft Auto 4,” and players use a lock on system to
target the enemies and take them down with rapid fire ease. It might be a little too easy at times though, the controls will take a little bit
of getting used to, but once players learn the lock on system, players will find ways to exploit the system to make missions even easier.
It would be pretty pointless to create a game for the Nintendo DS if some of the systems features aren’t used, such as the touch
screen. Some cars aren’t easy to jack and may need a little extra work including, wrenching, hot wiring the ignition or hacking the theft
deterrent system might be necessary, and that could be a real problem if the police are in pursuit and the wrong vehicle is picked for the
getaway. Driving through a tollbooth without dropping coins in the basket could lead to an undesired wanted level. Gate locks need to
be cut, explosives need to be positioned, all through the use of the touch screen. It may seem like these are all unnecessary, but after a
few surprises throughout the game, the stylus begins to feel like a tool of the underworld. Sadly, the touch screen doesn’t work well
when it comes to throwing grenades and other projectiles. If players want to throw one, players need to tap the stylus on the icon and
slide it around the radius to lob it in a 360 degree fashion. If the mission calls for tossing explosive weapons exclusively, then it works
and works well. It is cumbersome to be in a firefight with the normal weapons and reach down to throw a grenade. If players use their
thumb to throw the grenade instead of the stylus, they may drop it at their feet.
One of the greatest additions to the game is the updated wanted system. Instead of evading the police to lose the stars earned, player
now have to use their driving skills to disable the cops. It’s an element that really adds a level of offence and intensity, and it is very
rewarding to lure a cop to slam them into a wall. It won’t be surprising to see this element in future games in the series.
The story is over in about 15 hours depending on how little or how much players get distracted by the little things in Liberty City, but even
when the story is over, there is plenty to do. There are races, drug trading, side missions, mini-games and hidden cameras to destroy.
Everything done in the city is tracked and can be uploaded to Rockstar’s Social Club and compare scores with friends. New missions
will also unlock using the online function. There is also a multiplayer mode if players connect locally with friends.
There is a lot missing from this review, but with so much in the game, it is difficult to include everything. The game continues the
sandbox genre that has become so popular with the series. Though it may look like a lot has changed in the move to the handheld
platform, more has been added than taken away, there is a lot to do in this version of Liberty City and it’s hard not to be impressed and
amazed at some of the things the developers managed to pull off. “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is easily one of the best
Nintendo DS games on the platform.
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