GTA Chinatown Wars - PSP

Readers will know I have been amusing myself by playing some old Sony PSP games over the summer holidays. One of the games I picked out the box for this week was Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars. Unlike the other games in the series that have appeared over the years on the PSP, which have been cut down versions of the larger console and PC games, this one takes a step back to the original games on the PS One which a more two dimensional interface. 

My first impressions of this interface were one of shock and disappointment at first but then I realised on such a small console with limited storage and memory it made complete sense to the developers and a way forward and not backward. It allows the game to have more complete and larger city and much more game play. It also works very well when you are use to it and allow the same fun levels as the main game, even if you view is restricted at times. In general the graphics are look great having a sort of slight comic book effect which mirrored through the cut scenes in the game.

You play Huang Lee who following his father's murder,  has a simple mission: deliver an ancient sword to his Uncle Kenny to ensure his family retains control of the Triad gangs of Liberty City. Huang is a spoiled rich kid who expects everything to run smoothly, but his trip does not go exactly as planned. After being robbed and left to die, he will search for honor, riches and revenge in the most dangerous and morally bankrupt city in the world.

Like all GTA games you move from mission to mission with save points at the end of each mission. In between the missions you are free to roam the city collecting items, doing side missions of generally creating mayhem where ever you go. However you have to watch out the police always seem to be just around the corner and if you are seen breaking the law you will be in at best for a chase and at worse get yourself killed.

The game was well received in all it versions and scored in reviews consistently over 9 out of 10 and won a number of awards including the "Best Handheld Game" award at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards. It was also nominated for various other awards in the same year. It also wasn't without it fair share of controversy because of its depiction of a drug dealing and a minigame that includes heroin and ecstasy use.

Well I looking forward to playing it again, it must be a year or so since I last played  the game. If you don't have a Sony PSP you can always play the game on the following systes: Nintendo DS, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.