Open world brilliance on the DS (Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS))

Member Name: Midnight_Walker

Product:	Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)
Date:	22/06/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent gameplay, stunning graphics, varied missions

Disadvantages: Potentially offensive to some, but really, it's GTA. You know what to expect by now

Simply put, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is one of the most finely crafted games on the DS, full stop. The world is enormous, graphics are stunning, and the gameplay is excellent. It plays more or less like the very first GTA, only with an improved 3D world, which makes the game much more visually appealing.

The missions in the game are exciting and most importantly varied. Rockstar have done a lot to mix things up from the standard 'go here, kill him, steal that, go there' formula. Weapons are the usual standard GTA fare - pistols, machine guns and rocket launchers, and they have been adapted well into the smaller screen. Also included are the almost mandatory touchscreen minigames, which are actually not as terrible as you might think. To steal a car for example, you might have to hotwire it, or jimmy the lock using the touchscreen. It's a nice touch, and doesn't feel shoehorned in or overused as in many other DS games. Another nice touch is the drugs-based micromanagement, which is a great way to earn money in the early stages of the game, or if you're in a bind; find someone selling stuff cheap, sell it to the highest bidder and watch your cash roll in.

All told, it's a stunning achievement that Rockstar were able to cram so much into the DS's tiny cart, and it's an excellent game that's at least as good as it's console bretheren. A must-buy for any DS gamer.

Summary: Amazing achievement - if you own a DS you must own this game