Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

I am probably not the typical player of this type of game, I am a 40 something female who normally plays stuff like Professor Layton, Scrabble, My Health Coach and My Spanish Coach...so why Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars?

It may be explained by the fact that I caught the GTA San Andreas bug when I owned a Playstation 2, when I sold the console on because it simply stopped getting played due to lack of time, I also sold San Andreas, with genuine regret because I had spent a lot of time playing it and really enjoyed it (as far as I got). The DS was the perfect solution to me, because of its size and transportation advantages - being able to take it away in my camper van (with charger), at home whilst the other half is on the computer or watching TV and even to work to play in my lunch break if I wish - meant that I had more time to enjoy playing games.

When I saw that Rockstar were bringing out a GTA game for the DS I thought "Yippee!" as although I love my more conventional well-behaved games, it is always fun to have a walk on the wild side!

To me, as an adult who has never been in trouble with the law, this game is simply a great exercise in escapism - a bit like watching the early Die Hard Films. The other day I got up, had breakfast, fed the cat, stole three cars for Uncle Kenny and bought some coke which I then sold on for an enormous profit. After going shopping and having lunch I recruited some triad gang members, pinched a taxi and picked up some fares for fun. Then it was time to get the dinner on. GTA Chinatown Wars is fun and a bit of a laugh, and not to be taken seriously under any circumstances.

Game play wise, I had been concerned about the possible limitations the DS's size may have presented, but so far I would say it copes well with the obvious necessary downsizing required and I have quickly adjusted. The mapping/routing system makes getting around easier than I expected although it is taking me longer this time to get used to where I am on the map as a whole. I don't feel 'familiar' with the city yet, although I have only been playing a few days so probably just need to give it a bit more time, although you could argue that having the routes planned out makes one a little lazy when it comes to orientation.

Stealing many cars has the added feature having to either 'hot-wire' the vehicle or input its security code, courtesy of the stylus, this makes challenges such as an early one, of having to steal three cars in 'six hours' - actually more like six minutes - far from a doddle and requiring some serious planning and co-ordination - for me in any case.

To summarise, I am pleased with it so far and look forward to playing the rest of the game but maybe as an older player, I personally would be careful not to rush the experience and make sure I take breaks from it from time to time, to do other things, like write this review!!!! and head back to the real world.

Grand Theft Auto is one of my all time favourite games so I was thrilled when Chinatown Wars was released on the Nintendo DS. The DS version is shot from a birdseye view, and is a nostalgic throw back to the original GTA released on the first Playstation. Although in most recent years GTA has been adapted to visually high graphics on Playstation 2 and 3, the format translates incredibly well to the DS platform and makes for fantastic gameplay.

What makes GTA so addictive and enjoyable is that it is pretty much an open ended game. Along with the main missions, there are a wide range of side missions, such as warehouse raids, hijacking vans (many of which contain drugs and weapons), police car and ambulance missions, earning fares as a taxi driver, street races, rampages and missions involving helping random pedestrians on the street. Aside from completing the main missions, my favourite aspect of the game is the drug trading, where you will receive emails on the touch screen when traders are selling drugs cheaply or wanting to buy them for high amounts. In this game, trading drugs is the best way to earn lots of money, of which you can buy weapons from the ammunition store and buy safe houses all over the city. Owning lots of safe houses is ideal as you can flee to any one of them to get the police off your tail.

The use of the DS touch screen works really well in this game, for example when stealing a parked car you have to either hot-wire or input a security code into the vehicle using the stylus. You can also go to a tattoo parlour and give and receive tattoos using the stylus as well as going into a shop to buy scratch cards and using the stylus to scratch the cards. There is also the option to search dumpsters for treats which can result in either finding top prizes like weapons and drugs or nasty surprises such as used condoms and mouldy hot dogs! In addition to this, there is a useful PDA system which allows you to create routes to destinations such as safe houses, pay and sprays, as well as drug dealers, to name just a few. The PDA is particularly useful when trying to escape the police.

Overall, I would highly recommend Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars to anyone over 18 who wants a fun and exciting game for their DS. It is action packed with a great storyline and lots of exciting missions and interactions that will keep the player occupied for a very long time. In my opinion it is one of the best games for the DS and I am hoping for another GTA release in the near future.

You are Huang Lee, you have just been "Welcomed To America" in no uncertain terms, and you have work to do!

As with GTA games on other platforms, you can take and drive an assortment of vehicles as you go about your "business": chasing down opposing gang members, hunting for weapons, trying to make/take money, seeking vengeance and running from the police.

The DS controls for this game can take a bit of getting used to, for which you do get some help by a default option that aims to keep your vehicle on the road. The soundtrack inevitably lacks some of its big brothers' sophistication but the music is suitably atmospheric, backed up with suitably pithy comments from people you hit! The main characters do not "speak" though: as is common on the DS, dialogue takes the form of rolling comic book-style captions below drawings of the characters, which can get a little slow/annoying if you have to attempt a mission several times in a row.

The 3-D graphics are detailed and well executed within the limits available - especially the DS' screen size. The in-game GPS is easy to use and gives a handy means of locating important places and routes to follow - even updating in real time if you miss your turning (which, believe me, you often will). Just do keep your eyes on the road as well!

If you have enjoyed GTA games on other platforms and are looking for one you can carry around with you on your DS, this will not disappoint.