Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Has Rockstar really been able to cram the GTA experience onto two little screens?

	Version DS	Developer Rockstar Leeds	Publisher Rockstar	Genre Action

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Similarly Chinatown Wars does not have the luxury of cinematic cut-scenes to introduce characters and missions. Instead we get rather basic comic-style drawings with text. While these are functionary, the script for each character is superb and Rockstar has once again refused to abide by sterotypes of what a gangster should be. Everyone will have their own favourite characters, mine is a particularly hedonistic son of a triad leader who manages to compare his current predicament to the classic great play, Octopus. Well said, genius!

The limits of the DS hardware accounts for much of what is inferior in Chinatown Wars to its bigger console based brethren. This hasn't stopped Rockstar from innovation in the series, and they've obviously listened to their fans when it came to design this time around. Chinatown Wars is a stripped-down, toned-up and ready to riot with the best of them. There's no need to wine and dine friends here. Your wanted indicator not only shows your star-rating, but police cars below it show how many of the blues are on your tail. Smashing all the panda cars off the road means you can law low without any more showing up to hunt you down. Be aggressive, smash the police off the road and you'll be back at the drive-thru in time for Egg Fu-Yung.

The overhead view also adds a lot to the feel of the game. Screeching round corners with three cop cars chasing you is as exhilarating as it ever has been. Shooting down enemy gang members can be a tricky proposition as the lock on likes to target enemies at random, instead of the nearest threat. The spray from weapons like the shotgun and uzi is generally enough to take mobsters out but a dodgy lock-on can lead to some frustrating re-starts. Having said that, even restarting missions couldn't be easier, with a press of select taking you straight to your destination. What Rockstar gives with one hand, Rockstar shall take back with the other!

Trading is also a huge part of Chinatown Wars. Money can be earned from drug deals around town and dealers email you tips of where to go for cheap drugs and where the droughts are so you can sell them at marked up prices. Scag, charlie, and assorted other uppers and downers are available, with trophies awarded by concerned parties (The Dance Dance Dance Hardcore in one instance) for services rendered to their communities. There's nothing like dishing out a hundred Ebeneezer Goode's to the rave crowd to boost your popularity! It's not the only distraction from the campaign missions, with the usual Taxi, Police and Ambulance missions all present and correct. The game which defined the 'Sandbox' genre still has no real contender to take its long worn crown.

Chinatown Wars is a technical masterpiece, pushing not only the hardware (at the moment defined by a deluge of children's software and Dogs rip-offs) but also the boundaries of what is acceptable in gaming. Rockstar have never been shy to court controversy and drug dealing for profit is a natural fit to a city as debased as Liberty. Where they have shined once again is in not wallowing in controversy for its own sake, but rather making top-class, action packed games for mature gamers. Chinatown Wars shows that you don't need top of the line specs to have cocaine-line fueled fun!

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