Just when it seems that the DS’
lifespan has reached its end and that no more innovation can be produced, in
walks the other, lesser-hyped Grand Theft Auto sequel: Chinatown Wars. This
handheld adaptation looks good on paper, but players have no idea what they’re
in for. The camera change (top-down), cel-shaded graphics and bad experiences
with other DS action games will inevitably create a degree of skepticism. But
once you start playing – once you feel the thrill of driving, the intensity of
combat, the joy of completing a mission and the simple pleasure of getting rich,
it will be hard to form a thought other than that this game is unbelievably
amazing.
Down to the Basics
First and foremost, Grand Theft Auto
is a driving/action series. It succeeds because the vehicular controls are the
best in the biz; without them, the franchise wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Though you don’t have analog sensitivity helping you drive in Chinatown Wars,
the D-pad works pretty well. Like any GTA, most of the cars offer unique
handling properties. Sports cars are tight and fast, muscle cars are moderately
fast but slippery, and trucks are slow but very powerful. There are many other
handling variations within the car lineup, and though it’s not on par with the
console versions (did you really expect it to be?), the variety is extremely
impressive.
Drawing upon the power of the DS,
the act of stealing a car is no longer as simple as breaking in and driving
away. When a car is already in motion, the gameplay remains the same: tap the X
button to wrestle with the driver and hope you’re able to steal the car before
he drives away. But if parked, the vehicle won’t start on its own. Thus, you’ll
have to hotwire the engine, drive a screwdriver through the keyhole, or use a
number-matching device (a computer that tricks the engine) to start the car. In
any case, the touch screen is used to perform these actions, allowing the player
to feel like he’s a part of the car-stealing excitement. Things are particularly
intense – and dangerous! – when a cop runs up just before the engine starts.
As anticipated, the police are once
again a major part of the GTA experience. However, this time you are given the
luxury of surviving by fighting back. In previous GTAs, your only recourse was
to run. If you hurt a cop in the process, your wanted level would increase,
reducing your chances of a successful escape. In Chinatown Wars, you’ll still be
penalized for shooting cops. But this time you can reduce your wanted level by
ramming police vehicles into objects. The resulting gameplay is deeper and more
aggressive – the kind of experience you’d expect to see if Criterion (makers of
the Burnout series) and Rockstar teamed up.
Chinatown Wars is potentially the
DS’ longest game, thanks to a meaningful quest that is packed with unique
missions. Become an assassin, deliver car bombs, plant explosives and take out
rival gangs. Find a sniper rifle, put it together with the touch screen (an act
that is too cool for words), and use it to finish an enemy. Control
machinegun-equipped boats and jet skis, battle helicopters with a rocket
launcher, and participate in bonus Rampage missions (found in specific areas of
Liberty City) where bullets are unlimited.
Delightfully Distracting
In between fighting scum and running
from the cops, Chinatown Wars introduces a new gameplay element that is scarily
addictive: drug dealing. You won’t sell directly to users, thank goodness. But
by searching the city for men in dark alleys (marked on the map as blue dots
initially, then blue briefcases once discovered), you’ll be able to buy and sell
coke, heroine, acid, downers, weed and ecstasy to dozens of other dealers.
With e-mail taking the place of the
cell phone in GTAIV, you’ll receive messages not only regarding the main
missions but also to announce who’s buying or selling drugs at a better price.
In the real-world, the whole thing is disgusting, but in this fictional setting
it’s quite amusing. Cops show up all the time, turning your latest deal into a
speedy chase; if caught with drugs, they – along with all weapons – will be
confiscated.
Since this is a game, you don’t have
to worry about the real-world consequence of serving 10 years in prison. But you
do get some of the real-world benefits: dealing drugs is the quickest and
easiest way to earn money in a GTA game, allowing players to buy up every
safehouse and every weapon they desire and still have money left over. Weapons,
by the way, can now be delivered right to your doorstep thanks to a new Ammu-Nation
service.
Obviously, Chinatown Wars isn’t for
kids, so not every DS owner will (or should) have the joy of playing it. That
said, every player of appropriate age must play this game. Chinatown Wars is the
best handheld release on any platform since God of War: Chains of Olympus. In
fact, that’s the only title that can compare. If you love the GTA franchise and
want a GTA-sized experience on a handheld, Chinatown Wars will turn you into a
zombie – an addicted, unproductive, can’t-stop-smiling zombie that never wants
to put the game down.
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Gameplay: 9.5
The action is non-stop, and if you dissect the gunplay, it very much feels
like an inspired, modern-day version of Contra or Metal Slug meets Smash TV. The
mix is impeccably designed; conceptually, I would have had doubts. But the
developers made it work and it plays beautifully.
Graphics: 9.0
The miniscule characters won’t impress anyone. But the high-speed vehicles,
ultra-detailed city and impressive camera work will blow your mind.
Sound: 8.9
The sound effects could have come from a 16-bit game but the musical
presentation is amazing. The radio feature is back, and though none of the songs
feature vocals (presumably due to file size limitations), the quality is very
good. The story is presented without voice-overs (again due to limitations), but
that doesn’t hurt the game at all.
Difficulty: Medium
A fair challenge without any extreme parts in either direction.
Concept: 9.0
New additions, such as Rampage mode, drug dealing and improved car stealing
are perfect for the DS.
Multiplayer: 9.0
Stash Dash, Defend the Base and Single/Season Race modes take the action
online for extended fun. Gameplay is limited to just two players, but it rocks.
Overall: 9.3
An amazing and entrancing experience that lives up to the Grand Theft Auto
name.
