GTA: CHINATOWN WARS – NOW WITH MORE AWESOME!!

When GTA: Chinatown Wars released for the DS I felt that finally Nintendo had a mass-market winner with an exclusive game from a highly regarded third party developer. After hearing that the PSP was getting its own version I felt as if Sony was stealing Nintendo’s thunder. But more so than that I wondered about the inclusion of exclusive content, updated graphics and what would be done with the touch-screen segments from the DS version. Having played the PSP version in great length I can only say “Well, sorry Nintendo”. Somehow the incredible DS version has been topped in almost every way. And the PSP has a GTA that tops the story offshoots from GTA III and GTA: VC. What I’m trying to say is that Chinatown Wars for the PSP is the Shizznit. But I’ll explain more when you click this thing.

So much about this version is vastly improved it’s hard to know where to start. A game’s graphics are usually an afterthought with me, but this game has had such a huge overhaul done to it that mention must be made. The 3D modeling of Liberty City paired with the incredible lighting and particle effects has made CW so much more engrossing that it’s hard to put into words. Let’s go with ‘gorgeous’. Yeah, that works. Remember how you felt when you first saw GTA IV? This is the PSP version of that. The cutscenes have been redone for a great widescreen feel. Your apartment no longer looks like a closet. Your Badger PDA is much more easy to navigate and car models are great (the PSP’s control disc makes moving around a whole lot easier also). Extra stunt jumps have been added as have rampages. New story missions are available with you working for a bat-shit blonde making an indy drug documentary – hilarity ensues. I thought that the GTA III and VC offshoots were good. This beats them with a large stick. A stick with a rabid grizzly tied to it.

I have very few negative things to touch on. Some of the touch-screen segments have translated to the PSP with less of an intuitive feel to them. Hold on…yep, that’s all I have.

What more can I say. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an experience that every PSP owner should have. It is impossible to overstate how great this game turned out. Even for those who played the DS version to death (like myself), this version has a feel all its own. Buy immediately. Seriously, turn off your computer and go. Like now-ish.

[A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.]