Chinatown Wars (Sony PSP)
Genre: Third-Person Action Publisher: Rockstar Games Developer: Rockstar Leeds Players: 1
Visually there's a lot more polish here, with superb lighting effects, complex shadowing and the larger screen makes getting around and working the mini-games easier than before. Things like fog and night driving come alive on the PSP, and while it isn't the prettiest of PSP titles by a long shot, the additional effects make it shine beyond its DS roots. Losing the second screen also hasn't had the negative effect we'd envisaged, and while hopping in and out of the PDA through the Start button isn't the same, the trade off with the larger screen probably makes the PSP version a better all-round deal.
It's true that the touch screen on the DS made tasks like hotwiring a car or planting a bomb something exciting and interesting, and losing that functionality is definitely a big deal, but a new series of minigames has definitely softened the blow somewhat. Some critics have said they feel the side games now feel redundant but we disagree, they still offer value and an opportunity to get your fingers moving.
There is little doubt that this is a port, but the additional music added means that leaping in and out of cars feels more like the console big brother. While it's a simple fact that the existence of DS roots means the PSP could probably have handled more had Chinatown Wars been custom built for it from scratch, it shouldn't take away from the absolutely frantic fun you can have.
Through a campaign of 70 or so missions - with additional ones present from the DS version - and the addictive and rewarding drug dealing side game means there is more than enough here to keep you interested. Where our more recent exploits in Liberty City have followed an exciting if somewhat predictable path of kill this guy, steal that item, and so forth (that precedent is set to be smashed by the upcoming The Ballad of Gay Tony, by the way), the path through Huang's story in Chinatown Wars is often extremely varied and obviously well thought out. Individual missions will remain with you long after you've fled the scene in-game.
The dealing element mentioned above is simply superb, working on the simple premise of supply and demand, or like the stock market ethos of buy low, sell high. Connecting with the various dealers around the city opens up a network of contacts, and through your PDA you'll be informed of who wants to buy what, and at what price. It's a great distraction from the single player campaign and you can lose hours of your life wheeling between dealers, your storehouse and punters, moving marijuana and heroin for profit. Considering rewards for jobs are often small ($50-$200), if you want to get your hands on the weapons available then you need to bump up your account balance, and dealing is the way to do it.
The PSP has other GTA titles out on the system, and they are prettier, but have nothing on the depth of this. The almost-retro top down perspective is fun, the missions are deep, and should Chinatown Wars 2 see the light of day (and we sincerely hope it does), built from the ground up for the PSP, we have no doubt it will be staggering. For now, if you haven't done so already, get stuck into this, because it has depth, fun, excitement, and longevity. If you were to pick between formats, maybe the touch screen would swing you in the DS direction, but the improvements made on the whole for the PSP cannot be ignored, and the PSP version stands out for all the right reasons.
By Keith B (26th Oct 2009)
Rockstar's explosive Chinatown Wars has arrived on PSP, and like the DS version, has become one of the must-own games on the system.
Liberty City is one hell of a detailed place, although recreating that on a handheld has been no problem for Rockstar Leeds. The Nintendo DS version of the game has been a dream for reviewers, combining a wide array of elements to make it one of the most engaging experiences you can have on a portable device. Huang Lee's story has now launched on the PSP, and despite losing the touch screen interactivity, the minigames are still present, and everything looks much better in widescreen.
If you're new to the title, we'd encourage you to have a read of our Nintendo DS review to get the full back story on what's happening with the plot. Once you've done that, we can take a look at the big differences between the two.
Visually there's a lot more polish here, with superb lighting effects, complex shadowing and the larger screen makes getting around and working the mini-games easier than before. Things like fog and night driving come alive on the PSP, and while it isn't the prettiest of PSP titles by a long shot, the additional effects make it shine beyond its DS roots. Losing the second screen also hasn't had the negative effect we'd envisaged, and while hopping in and out of the PDA through the Start button isn't the same, the trade off with the larger screen probably makes the PSP version a better all-round deal.
It's true that the touch screen on the DS made tasks like hotwiring a car or planting a bomb something exciting and interesting, and losing that functionality is definitely a big deal, but a new series of minigames has definitely softened the blow somewhat. Some critics have said they feel the side games now feel redundant but we disagree, they still offer value and an opportunity to get your fingers moving.
There is little doubt that this is a port, but the additional music added means that leaping in and out of cars feels more like the console big brother. While it's a simple fact that the existence of DS roots means the PSP could probably have handled more had Chinatown Wars been custom built for it from scratch, it shouldn't take away from the absolutely frantic fun you can have.
Through a campaign of 70 or so missions - with additional ones present from the DS version - and the addictive and rewarding drug dealing side game means there is more than enough here to keep you interested. Where our more recent exploits in Liberty City have followed an exciting if somewhat predictable path of kill this guy, steal that item, and so forth (that precedent is set to be smashed by the upcoming The Ballad of Gay Tony, by the way), the path through Huang's story in Chinatown Wars is often extremely varied and obviously well thought out. Individual missions will remain with you long after you've fled the scene in-game.
The dealing element mentioned above is simply superb, working on the simple premise of supply and demand, or like the stock market ethos of buy low, sell high. Connecting with the various dealers around the city opens up a network of contacts, and through your PDA you'll be informed of who wants to buy what, and at what price. It's a great distraction from the single player campaign and you can lose hours of your life wheeling between dealers, your storehouse and punters, moving marijuana and heroin for profit. Considering rewards for jobs are often small ($50-$200), if you want to get your hands on the weapons available then you need to bump up your account balance, and dealing is the way to do it.
The PSP has other GTA titles out on the system, and they are prettier, but have nothing on the depth of this. The almost-retro top down perspective is fun, the missions are deep, and should Chinatown Wars 2 see the light of day (and we sincerely hope it does), built from the ground up for the PSP, we have no doubt it will be staggering. For now, if you haven't done so already, get stuck into this, because it has depth, fun, excitement, and longevity. If you were to pick between formats, maybe the touch screen would swing you in the DS direction, but the improvements made on the whole for the PSP cannot be ignored, and the PSP version stands out for all the right reasons.
9.2
Single Play
9.2
Friend Play
0.0
Multi Play
0.0
Graphics
8.4
Sound
8.5
Challenge
8.2
Entertainment
9.4
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Chinatown Wars
Vital stats
Chinatown Wars (PSP)
-
we say:
9.2 - you say: 9
- scores: 1 your score: 0/10
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Haha, yeah which port would you recommend or which one did you prefer?
Well, you can buy it from the PSN, but you still need a PSP. So you get half your wish.
Yeah, it would be good to see it as an arcade title on the Xbox Marketplace or PSN. I guess I'll have to by a DS or a PSP.
Damn shame its not out on the larger platforms.