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[Creamium]

Genre: Action-Adventure/Sandbox
Platform: Nintendo DS
Players: Single Player/Local and Wi-Fi Multiplayer
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release:
- North America: March 17th
- Europe: March 20th

WHAT IS GTA DS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown_Wars

Chinatown Wars has a different presentation from previous games in the series. Instead of a ground-level view behind the protagonist or a top-down perspective, Chinatown Wars uses a fully rotatable aerial camera angled down at the action. Chinatown Wars also uses cel-shaded polygons with black outlines to produce a comic book-like aesthetic — a first for the series. The title takes place in the Grand Theft Auto IV rendition of Liberty City, sans Alderney.

The story begins when a triad boss from Hong Kong in Kowloon (the father of Huang Lee, a spoiled, rich kid used to getting everything he wants without having to do the footwork) is assassinated. Now Huang Lee needs to bring the Yu Jian (a sacred sword won by Huang's father and now an heirloom) to his Uncle Kenny to assure the inheritance of the Triad Bosses. But Huang is in for a big surprise when he reaches Liberty City and is thrown into the Humboldt River in the trunk of a truck by the two assassins of Mr. Lee and left for dead. This is where the game begins with your new Hong Kong protagonist

GAMEPLAY DETAILS

- In IV you had a cell phone, in Chinatown Wars you get a PDA to play around with. With the touch screen you control the important stuff: check emails for missions, manage the GPS, play music... You can also order guns online now.
- As expected, CW is all about the touch screen. Some cars will take some extra effort to jack, so you'll have to take a screwdriver to the ignition. It's also used in missions. In drug deals you will need to move drug packages from one backpack to another with the stylus. Making molotovs is also a minigame. Luckily, the gimmicky stuff comes in small doses.
- When you get tailed by the cops in IV escape was the only option. Things get a little more agressive in CW. For every star you get, you need to ram a number of cop cars.
- There is an option to replay missions. Get record times to earn trophies.
- The hidden packages in this game are surveillance cameras. Since this game is all about dealing drugs, destroying these has a use: the area is no longer being watched, which affects the price of the goods.
- You can recruit new Triad members off the streets and give them their initiation tattoo with the touch screen.

- There a lot of side missions: vigilante stuff in cop cars, food delivery, fire truck and taxi missions. Rampage missions also make a return.

- The game also has a beefy multiplayer component, but not a lot is known at this point. There is local (4p) and online play. Modes:

LC Survivor
Defend The Base (this is co-op, gta horde)
Stash Dash
Season Race
Single Race
Gang Bang

PREVIEWS

IGN
Eurogamer
1UP

REVIEWS

MTV multiplayer: five out of five thumbs up

It’s from this other world that “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” arrives, a game that’s essentially an alternate-universe “Grand Theft Auto III” boasting all the design smarts and daring of an official “GTA” as well as the creative risks not seen in the PSP “GTA”s.

1UP: A-

Altogether, Chinatown Wars is what I expected -- it takes an understandable few steps back from GTA4, but also takes a couple forward (a touch screen can do that). It's a well-honed "core" GTA on the handheld, not merely a one-to-one clone of its console parents.

Eurogamer: 10

Those hoping for another gritty, complex narrative spine bound in the flesh of an openworld action-adventure may be disappointed by the rather more frivolous and silly antics of the Chinatown Wars cast, but even cynics should be converted by the huge, densely packed action playground we've been given instead. Overall this is GTA as it first was, with the inherited wisdom of GTA as it's been since, finished off with all sorts of things that would happily belong in a GTA of the future.

IGN: 9.5

Though it might look like a lot has changed in the move to the handheld platform, more has been added than taken away - there's so much to do in this Liberty City, and it's hard not to be impressed and amazed at some of the things the developer's managed to pull off on the hardware. GTA: Chinatown Wars is easily one of the best Nintendo DS games on the platform.

SCREENS

A thread like this needs screenshots, but this game looks a lot better in motion. I'd suggest you scroll down a bit and watch some videos.

VIDEOS

Various trailers. Watch Dealing and Delivery to get a good idea of the gameplay.
Complete intro movie. Watch in HQ to read the dialogue.

As you see, this game will be rad.

 

[Costanza]

I had no idea this was out so soon... definitely getting it.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Screw my 360. Between this and new Pikmin and Madworld, I should be cool thru the end of the month.

 

[Frencherman]

Please don't bomb, please don't bomb...

 

[Xater]

I have it already pre-ordered. The game looks totally awesome except that I already know that I will be missing the amazing voice work + cinematics Rockstar usually does.

 

[Scipius]

Didn't know this was based on the Liberty City for IV. If the reviews hold up, this will be my first foray into that version of LC.

Is this the first 18+/M-rated game for the DS?

 

[Median]

I'm really hoping this turns out well. The latest gameplay trailers have been really nice, and that Dealing and Delivering video has sort of sold me on the game. It's street dated too, so I'm gonna be able to grab it during the day on Tuesday and play it on the train ride home.

 

[Pseudo_Sam]

Didn't know this was based on the Liberty City for IV. If the reviews hold up, this will be my first foray into that version of LC.

Is this the first 18+/M-rated game for the DS?

:lol

...No.

 

[Infernal Monkey]

Is this the first 18+/M-rated game for the DS?

Nope, but there's really not that many.

 

[Nemo]

:lol

...No.

DS for the hardcore confirmed!

Hopefully I can play whip this out everytime I want to wreck some havoc, then it'll be true GTA

 

[CiSTM]

I haven't been this hyped for a GTA game for years (didn't like the 3d games) ! I have been watching some of those mini game vids and they seem genuinely funny Drug dealing minigame looked like lots of fun. I'm gonna buy this for sure. But maybe not in this month, too much good games coming at the same time period

 

[CrunchinJelly]

Amazon.co.uk and Play.com have both got this for £17.99. Amazing price.

 

[Apenheul]

The screenshots give me a GTA2 vibe, which is good because I still like GTA2 more than any other installation. Will buy.

 

[Gwanatu T]

The screenshots give me a GTA2 vibe, which is good because I still like GTA2 more than any other installation. Will buy.

I absolutely loved GTA 2, although my favorite in the entire GTA series is definitely San Andreas, GTA 2 is the best 2D GTA there is. This looks like it's definitely going to out do it though.

 

[bridegur]

If this gets good reviews I'll probably pick it up after Henry Hatsworth.

 

[Moz La Punk]

I'm about halfway through and I must say I am really enjoying it. I don't think any long-term GTA fan should miss out on this.

 

[Creamium]

I'm about halfway through and I must say I am really enjoying it. I don't think any long-term GTA fan should miss out on this.

nice. any chance you could give us some more detailed impressions?

 

[Moz La Punk]

Well, I guess I can talk about it since there are previews out there (I previewed it as well).

Let's see, gameplay feels solid, very solid, which is the most important thing so the fact that they got it right should be a relieve for everyone. Controlling cars and on foot is all done with the buttons on the DS. It's handy to keep the stylus in one hand while playing though cause you will need it regulary.

I feel that the inclusion of the stylus is what makes the game just that bit extra special, and truly a fresh experience after all previous GTA's. It's not overdone, so every time you use the stylus feels like a little party and I always look forward to the moments that I use it in the game.

Examples are jacking cars (that are parked), turning bombs off, throwing molotov cocktails, putting tattoos on newly reqruit gang members... and lots more. Actually, making molotov cocktails is also done with the stylus. You go to a gas station and fill a bottle up with gas by targeting the bottle. Takes some practice but not too hard. Then put a paper in it and it's finished. You pay for a certain amount of gas so the point is to make as many molotov cocktails as possible.

There are tons and tons of save houses, you unlock plenty by just playing but you can buy more. The city is large, it's basically GTA IV minus the third island. Also, there are lots of characters that can give you missions. There's a whole drug dealing ecosystem in the game where prices to buy and to sell vary from place to place, so you can make a lot of profit. You can also replay all missions. You can skip certain tedious parts in missions you've already tried but where you died somewhere in the middle.

Yeah it's a great game. I found myself playing my DS at home, wereas I normally play games on consoles at home and play DS if I'm somewhere else.

 

[Xater]

Can you say something about the length of the game? Is it a 20 hours+ adventure like the other games? I kinda hope it is.

 

[Moz La Punk]

Well... I think I won't say anything about that. I know there's a certain date when I can say more (and the reviews will start coming online I guess), so I won't go too much into details. Sorry. I can say that the length up until now satisfies me a great deal and I think it's impressive for a DS game. When I think about it, DS games can be lengthy, I mean why not, but I guess almost no game on the DS actually is. So yeah there are definitely enough missions, although there's no pleasing some people.

 

[leroidys]

Always hated the 3-d GTAs (only played III and VC though). This looks like a return to the glory days of gta 2.

 

[Gamecocks625]

What is the language like? I ask this because I'd rather not have my little girl hear "shit" all the time on my DS speakers while I'm playing. Are those type of words audible or simply in the text?

 

[EatChildren]

The screenshots give me a GTA2 vibe, which is good because I still like GTA2 more than any other installation. Will buy.

I second this. As much as I enjoy the 3D GTAs, the 2D ones hold a much bigger place in my heart. An extremely large portion of why I'm so excited for Chinatown Wars is because it looks to be returning to its 2D roots, while still giving it a fresh coat of paint.

 

[djtiesto]

Well... I think I won't say anything about that. I know there's a certain date when I can say more (and the reviews will start coming online I guess), so I won't go too much into details. Sorry. I can say that the length up until now satisfies me a great deal and I think it's impressive for a DS game. When I think about it, DS games can be lengthy, I mean why not, but I guess almost no game on the DS actually is. So yeah there are definitely enough missions, although there's no pleasing some people.

Many of the RPGs and SRPGs on the system are quite lengthy...

 

[jrricky]

There is a good sign that this will be really successful cause of the decent amount of preorders we got for it last time I checked. Hope it has increased since I last checked.

 

[mjc]

It needs to have diverse missions otherwise I'm passing. I got tired of all the ridiculous escort missions in GTAIV.

 

[PIMPBYBLUD]

I didn't preorder this but I do plan to purchase it. I'm really surprised what R* was able to do with the DS limitiations. This looks like another one of their quality products. Any idea how this ties into social club?

 

[Moz La Punk]

Many of the RPGs and SRPGs on the system are quite lengthy...

yea ok, I guess so. I don't play a lot of traditional RPG's so that explains it

 

[Rufus]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Touch_the_Dead.jpeg

Touch the Dead!? :lol Poke the Dead - With a Stick

 

[slaughterking]

I know there's a certain date when I can say more (and the reviews will start coming online I guess),

And this certain date would be? :I

 

[BrodiemanTTR]

For as big a deal as this is I'm surprised I haven't really heard or seen anything about it since E3. Nintendo should be pushing the crap out of this game. Sigh.

 

[bdouble]

For as big a deal as this is I'm surprised I haven't really heard or seen anything about it since E3. Nintendo should be pushing the crap out of this game. Sigh.

missed the trailers all last week? Also they have done plenty of TV spots.

 

[frankie_baby]

Didn't know this was based on the Liberty City for IV. If the reviews hold up, this will be my first foray into that version of LC.

Is this the first 18+/M-rated game for the DS?

as mentioned by others there are other m rated games in the us but in the uk i believe its the first ds game to get the bbfc 18 rating

 

[Fantastical]

Oh my god this sounds delicious.

 

[Moz La Punk]

Yeah I don't know I don't think it's an exact copy of the Liberty City of GTA IV but it at least has the same map. It's not an exact copy I think, that would be too much.

 

[cw_sasuke]

For as big a deal as this is I'm surprised I haven't really heard or seen anything about it since E3. Nintendo should be pushing the crap out of this game. Sigh.

How about Take 2 pushing/marketing their own Game ?

 

[soldat7]

Complete intro movie. Watch in HQ to read the dialogue.

Yikes, that dialog isn't very good. The game looks awesome however. I'm not a GTA fan but this looks like a Day-1.

 

[Zoramon089]

How about Take 2 pushing/marketing their own Game ?

Really! Why do people always expect Nintendo to advertise 3rd party games?

 

[whatdidyousay]

Got the game in NYC. Can't play until tonight but what a night it'll be.

 

[BrodiemanTTR]

missed the trailers all last week? Also they have done plenty of TV spots.

Haven't seen 'em, but I know when GTAIV was releasing I couldn't watch ESPN or Comedy Central (my main channels) for a half-hour without seeing the commercial twice.

Really! Why do people always expect Nintendo to advertise 3rd party games?

Because it's a big deal exclusive on their platform. Why didn't Take 2 announce it at E3 instead of Nintendo? It's an opportunity for Nintendo to go hard after a market that might not have been fully saturated by the DS yet.

 

[Tobor]

I'm incredibly stoked for this. That drug dealing video from the other thread was fantastic. I drove around today looking for a broken street date, but no luck. Tuesday, it will be mine.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Yeah I don't know I don't think it's an exact copy of the Liberty City of GTA IV but it at least has the same map. It's not an exact copy I think, that would be too much.

Hell, using the LC map from GTA 1 would be fine with me.

 

[EatChildren]

Game has already made its way onto the pirating scene. So fast.

I was going to pick this up day 1 but I think I'll hold off for a couple of weeks, simply because my money situation isn't too hot with rent and bills and what-not (plus I just bought Empire ). I'll eventually get it. I really think this will do well, sales wise.

 

[Mejilan]

Well, it's gotta be better than the GBA incarnation, yes?

 

[Tobor]

Well, it's gotta be better than the GBA incarnation, yes?

Have you seen the videos? It will sell the GBA version drugs, then run it over with a car and steal the money.

 

[Dash Kappei]

Thanks for making this thread!
I've got it preordered but it's from play.com (couldn't say no to €23 shipped) so I'll come late to the party, probably a couple of weeks from release date... damn.

But I'm soooo pumped for this game, and the funny thing is that I would've said this game was crap and of zero interest to me until I've started reading about it... and then the videos were released and holy shit it was all over my face!

This article is what got me excited in the first place, and I think it warrants a repost in this thread:

Rockstar Leeds is pretty much the handheld specialist of the Rockstar group - it handled the PSP GTA games, and now it's pulled out all the stops for this DS debut. Twice as many people have worked on Chinatown Wars as on the previous PSP

think about it as a console game rather than some handheld side project. The scale and complexity of the title is pretty much in the same league - and it shows. In terms of islands, the map is the same as in GTA IV, with the omission of Alderney - and it's all open from the beginning with no crossover to the storyline of Niko Bellic

the screenshots don't do justice to Chinatown Wars. Seeing the game moving and taking the time to play it, it quickly becomes obvious how much painstaking detail has gone into the production of the game, and how the world in motion lives up to the expectations you'd have from the company that brought you GTA IV.

As for the 3D perspective in general, we're sold. It's difficult to get a sense of how well the game works and moves without seeing it in motion, and you can forget any worries about a return to the more low-fidelity world of pure-top down era GTA; there are no tricks here - this is full 3D - and the perspective of the action, while generally from above, is actually very flexible, and supports lots of really nice detail. The perspectives you'll get used to are simply a fitting gameplay consideration. If you want to dapper things up you can also select a GTA IV-style cinematic cam. Whether on foot or in vehicle, the camera seems intelligent and gameplay feels natural, and in fact the 3D view often zooms in closer to the action

The top screen is where all the action happens in 3D, with the bottom screen reserved for the lion's share of HUD elements as well as certain touch-related actions like selecting weapons,
you can tweak where and how HUD elements are displayed on either screen in quite some detail, like having your GPS marked out on the actual road, or just on the map.

The engine overall is really quite impressive and solid for the DS hardware. The frame rate is decent, there's no jerkiness or pre-rendered malarkey, and there's a definite feeling of real-world goings-on with pedestrians getting into audible dialogue with each other, getting into trouble with the law, scrambling for cover when it starts raining, being helped by paramedics when they're injured - it's like the AI simulated realism that we felt in GTA IV, and which is really quite unexpected for this edition of the game

plenty of visual detail - rooftops, detailed skyscrapers and bridges, trains rattling past right in front of your eyes, trees that are really detailed and not fake 2D sprites, telephone cables, street lights, busy and happening streets, all the recognisable joints and brands from IV, and best of all, gorgeous real time lighting and shadows in a full 24 hour day and night system. Even the pedestrians have shadows, and at night the hazy city is phased into cooler blue tones. On top of that there's a full weather system including light rain, heavy rain and thunder storms, and throughout the game you'll notice a variety of 'particle effects' like sewage steam, explosion fire and fog

In terms of controls, things have been kept very similar to the console layout, so if you want to jack a car, it's the Y button. Handbrake is the R trigger.
The best addition to the controls is the left trigger, which resets your view to behind, or better yet, if you keep it held down the camera locks into position to follow the character, which might feel more fluid.In terms of shooting it's auto lock-on, but if you want to specifically target anyone you just hit the left trigger.

The game's actually crammed full of side activities, including the return of favourites like the stunt jump, but moreover there's really a load of other DS style mini-games besides that watery car escape. Huang's PDA, accessed by pressing Select, is another important companion in the game, similar to the cellphone in IV. Email, Mission Briefs, Statistics and Social Club, Contacts (which get added as you progress and meet new people), Multiplayer (via LAN or Wi-Fi, which we'll learn more about soon), Music Player (called Alchemist), and Trade Info (more on that later). The PDA also gives access to Ammu-nation's new online business

Rockstar wanted to return to the fast-paced, over the top police chases of GTA1 and GTA2, and we found the police to be a little bit more persistent than in GTA IV. Pay and spray is also back in the game. Certainly, you're more likely to get arrested in Chinatown Wars than in GTA IV[/B]

the missions have a retry feature (similar to that of IV), but also Trip Skip, a nifty feature that IV could have benefitted from, allowing you to skip an initial long drive at the start of a mission to the end of that journey, and jump straight back into the action.

Rockstar is estimating "between 20 and 30 hours for the single player game"

 

[Saint Gregory]

Amazon had some sort of exclusive vehicle pre-order bonus so I got that with release day delivery a few weeks ago. I've seen lots of commercials for it on Adult Swim but it still doesn't seem to be getting that traditional GTA media push.

 

[CiSTM]

Thanks for making this thread!
I've got it preordered but it's from play.com (couldn't say no to €23 shipped) so I'll come late to the party, probably a couple of weeks from release date... damn.

But I'm soooo pumped for this game, and the funny thing is that I would've said this game was crap and of zero interest to me until I've started reading about it... and then the videos were released and holy shit it was all over my face!

This article is what got me excited in the first place, and I think it warrants a repost in this thread:

Woah, thanks for the article. This game sounds more and more interesting. It's a difficult choice between this and Henry Hatsworth. I'm low on cash so really can't buy both of 'em God dam !

 

[Xater]

Woah, thanks for the article. This game sounds more and more interesting. It's a difficult choice between this and Henry Hatsworth. I'm low on cash so really can't buy both of 'em God dam !

I am getting both from Play for about 44 €

And yeah that Kikizo article definately got me even more pumped for the game. Kinda sucks because I can't play it befoe I get my DSi. :lol

 

[whatdidyousay]

Got back earlier than I thought, so let the games begin.