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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Rockstar Leeds Publisher: Rockstar Games |
Back in March the Grand Theft Auto made its way to the Nintendo DS in the form of “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.” It was a game
that got great reviews but anyone that had a PSP instead of the Nintendo DS could only cry since for the first time in recent memory a
portable Grand Theft Auto game was coming out, but not for the PSP. For those who were upset with the lack of a PSP version of the
game, dry your tears because “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is making its way to the PSP.
Like other games in the series, “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” casts players as a loner named Huang Lee, a spoiled rich kid
using up his father’s money, but when his father is murdered he must return to Liberty City to pass on a family heirloom and keep the
world he knows in motion. Since Huang’s father was the leader of the Triads in Liberty City, his death sparked a little bit of a power
struggle in the city. As soon as Huang steps off his place he is abducted, robbed and left for dead. With revenge in mind, players are
launched into a tale of murder, betrayal, drugs, guns and more.
Anyone that is expecting this game to be like the other recent releases in the series will be disappointed. There is no behind the back
third person perspective, no voice acting, no realistic visuals. Instead, the game is played from a top-down perspective, told through
moving art cut scenes and features visuals that look like an animated film. Many will recognize this game to be a lot like “Grand Theft
Auto II.”
Other than the look of the game, players are getting everything that makes the GTA series great. There is a deep story line that breaks
into more than 70 missions that have players working with a variety of different groups. Of course there are also a number of side
missions for players to take part in, from ambulance missions to food delivery.
The game is very similar to the release for the Nintendo DS, however there is a new set of missions exclusive to the PSP. Melanie
Mallard is an aspiring journalist that is trying to break into network news. With the player’s help to take her inside the underworld, she
films the dealings that go on in a typical day.
Another change to the traditional GTA format is the fact that players are now able to replay missions that they have already completed in
the game. When players are in their safe house there is a white board with photos of everyone that they have worked with. Selecting
one of the photos presents the player with every mission they’ve completed for that person. This allows players to replay their favorite
missions whenever they want and attempt to beat their best time for the mission.
Of course players don’t have to strictly compete with themselves. “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is compatible with the Rockstar
Social Club. Players can create an account on the official website and link that account through their in-game PDA. Once this is done
the game is taken to a whole new level. Player will be able to make friends and compare stats and a lot more. When players sync their
stats to the servers for the first time using the computer in their safe house and a Wi-Fi connection, they will get a message from Xin
and players will have access to a whole new set of missions in the game. For those players who decide to play the mini games on the
Social Club website, which include a laundry catching game and a shooting game that has players making pancakes, they will earn
money that can eventually earn them new in-game outfits and a bulletproof car.
One feature of the game that players are going to enjoy in the game is the use of the interactive guide map online that is personalized to
their save. On this map players are able to toggle on and off the locations for all of the game’s 30 stunt jumps, 100 security cameras,
80 drug dealers and 43 rampage locations. This map will show players the ones that they have already dealt with, the ones that players
have missed and the ones that their friends have hit or missed out on.
Of course, any great game has some flaws that pull it back and “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is no different. First, this game
was originally a Nintendo DS game and it shows throughout the game. On the DS there were a lot of mini games that were created to
use the system’s touch screen. Players had to touch the screen to break car windows, cut out doors to find hidden contraband and
much more. Now, on the PSP, those games are still available, but now they are controlled by buttons and joysticks, which take away
from the fun of the missions.
“Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is an outstanding game. The story is great, the game is a lot of fun to play through, dealing drugs
in the game is a great new addition, cop takedowns are cool and there is so much to do that players will be busy for quite some time.
Of course load times get to be a little bothersome, the cut scenes could use some voice work, some of the mini games are a little
boring and saving takes too long, but it is all forgivable for all the good things this game has. Yet another great addition to the GTA
series.
that got great reviews but anyone that had a PSP instead of the Nintendo DS could only cry since for the first time in recent memory a
portable Grand Theft Auto game was coming out, but not for the PSP. For those who were upset with the lack of a PSP version of the
game, dry your tears because “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is making its way to the PSP.
Like other games in the series, “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” casts players as a loner named Huang Lee, a spoiled rich kid
using up his father’s money, but when his father is murdered he must return to Liberty City to pass on a family heirloom and keep the
world he knows in motion. Since Huang’s father was the leader of the Triads in Liberty City, his death sparked a little bit of a power
struggle in the city. As soon as Huang steps off his place he is abducted, robbed and left for dead. With revenge in mind, players are
launched into a tale of murder, betrayal, drugs, guns and more.
Anyone that is expecting this game to be like the other recent releases in the series will be disappointed. There is no behind the back
third person perspective, no voice acting, no realistic visuals. Instead, the game is played from a top-down perspective, told through
moving art cut scenes and features visuals that look like an animated film. Many will recognize this game to be a lot like “Grand Theft
Auto II.”
Other than the look of the game, players are getting everything that makes the GTA series great. There is a deep story line that breaks
into more than 70 missions that have players working with a variety of different groups. Of course there are also a number of side
missions for players to take part in, from ambulance missions to food delivery.
The game is very similar to the release for the Nintendo DS, however there is a new set of missions exclusive to the PSP. Melanie
Mallard is an aspiring journalist that is trying to break into network news. With the player’s help to take her inside the underworld, she
films the dealings that go on in a typical day.
Another change to the traditional GTA format is the fact that players are now able to replay missions that they have already completed in
the game. When players are in their safe house there is a white board with photos of everyone that they have worked with. Selecting
one of the photos presents the player with every mission they’ve completed for that person. This allows players to replay their favorite
missions whenever they want and attempt to beat their best time for the mission.
Of course players don’t have to strictly compete with themselves. “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is compatible with the Rockstar
Social Club. Players can create an account on the official website and link that account through their in-game PDA. Once this is done
the game is taken to a whole new level. Player will be able to make friends and compare stats and a lot more. When players sync their
stats to the servers for the first time using the computer in their safe house and a Wi-Fi connection, they will get a message from Xin
and players will have access to a whole new set of missions in the game. For those players who decide to play the mini games on the
Social Club website, which include a laundry catching game and a shooting game that has players making pancakes, they will earn
money that can eventually earn them new in-game outfits and a bulletproof car.
One feature of the game that players are going to enjoy in the game is the use of the interactive guide map online that is personalized to
their save. On this map players are able to toggle on and off the locations for all of the game’s 30 stunt jumps, 100 security cameras,
80 drug dealers and 43 rampage locations. This map will show players the ones that they have already dealt with, the ones that players
have missed and the ones that their friends have hit or missed out on.
Of course, any great game has some flaws that pull it back and “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is no different. First, this game
was originally a Nintendo DS game and it shows throughout the game. On the DS there were a lot of mini games that were created to
use the system’s touch screen. Players had to touch the screen to break car windows, cut out doors to find hidden contraband and
much more. Now, on the PSP, those games are still available, but now they are controlled by buttons and joysticks, which take away
from the fun of the missions.
“Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” is an outstanding game. The story is great, the game is a lot of fun to play through, dealing drugs
in the game is a great new addition, cop takedowns are cool and there is so much to do that players will be busy for quite some time.
Of course load times get to be a little bothersome, the cut scenes could use some voice work, some of the mini games are a little
boring and saving takes too long, but it is all forgivable for all the good things this game has. Yet another great addition to the GTA
series.
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