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Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

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Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Developer(s)Rockstar Leeds,
Rockstar North[6]
Publisher(s)Rockstar Games
SeriesGrand Theft Auto
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
PlayStation Portable[7]
iPhone OS[4][5]
ReleaseNintendo DS
PlayStation Portable

iPhone OS

January 17, 2010[4][5]
Genre(s)Sandbox, action-adventure[8]

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a video game for Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable,[7] and iPhone OS[4][5], developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with Rockstar North. It is the thirteenth game in the Grand Theft Auto series, the fourth released on a Nintendo console, after Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2 for the Game Boy Color and Grand Theft Auto Advance for the Game Boy Advance and the very first for iPhone OS.

Gameplay

Cognoscenti being stolen with a 3 star wanted level

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 camera angled down at the action.[9] 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, with the exception of Alderney.

Unlike Grand Theft Auto IV, the player can disable as many cop cars as possible to escape the police instead of leaving a "wanted zone". The more stars the player has, the more cops they have to take out for each level. For example, for a six star level, they have to take out six cop cars to get down to a five star wanted level, and so on.[10] Also unlike Grand Theft Auto IV, when the player is shooting at an enemy, and has killed the person, it locks onto another enemy, instead of still aiming at the dead person. There is also a drug dealing sub plot which allows players to peddle six types of drugs around the city. Players can make a profit by recognizing market conditions and demands based on geography and plying their wares accordingly. CCTV cameras work as this game's secret packages which is destroyable via throwing a Molotov cocktail bottle & decreases the chances of being caught while making a drug deal .[11] Chinatown Wars applies many Grand Theft Auto IV features such as the new next gen HUD. Ammu-nation returns in the form of an in-game website where the player can order various weapons through their PDA to be delivered to their safehouse. Official Nintendo Magazine described the game as "one of the largest, most complex DS games ever made", with over 900,000 lines of code.[citation needed]

Platform differences

  • The Nintendo DS version of the game takes advantage of the touch screen with functions such as controlling the PDA, GPS, the radio, access to the people on the map, or using Molotov cocktails and grenades. The top screen shows the game and storyboard. Taxi whistling is supported by the DS microphone.[12]
  • The PSP version features updated graphics, which are no longer cel-shaded, thus sporting a more "classic" look akin to previous games in the series (however, cutscenes are stylistically identical). Mini-games (such as filling Molotov bottles, drawing tattoos, unscrewing the car and boom panels, etc.) have been adapted from their touch-screen functionality to simpler, QTE-like mini-games. The PSP version also features extra missions and exclusive radio stations not found in the Nintendo DS version. However, PSP multiplayer supports only 2 players.[13]

Vehicles

While stealing a moving vehicle is similar to that of previous GTA games, Chinatown Wars uses a different system for stealing parked vehicles. Depending on the car, it can be started in one of a few ways. Older cars require a few turns of a screwdriver in the ignition, while other cars require hotwiring. Newer, more expensive cars require the player to "hack" the computerized immobilizer. It is still possible to flip cars or set them on fire. The player is unable to pilot any of the helicopters in the game, but he can still see the ones flying above him.

Social Club

Main article: Rockstar Games Social Club

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars uses Rockstar's Rockstar Games Social Club. Players can use this service to upload their gameplay statistics. Competitive and co-operative multiplayer modes are only available through DS to DS local wireless.

The features available through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection include chatting, trading items and sharing favorite GPS markers and stats with other players. Through the Social Club, players are also able to download new missions.

Soundtrack

Main article: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars soundtrack

Music for the opening titles of gameplay is the track 'Chinatown Wars' performed by Ghostface Killah and MF Doom[14] and produced by Oh No of the Stones Throw Records.[15][16]

The DS version of the game features music by Deadmau5 among others.[17]

On top of the soundtrack featured in the DS version of the game the PSP version will exclusively feature music by Anvil[18], Tortoise[19], DFA Records[20], Turntables on the Hudson[21][22] and DJ Khalil[23].

The iPhone/iPod Touch version originally featured all the music from the DS version and also allowed the player to customize a music playlist using songs from their music library. A subsequent update added all the music from the PSP version.

Synopsis

Template:Grand Theft Auto chronology

Setting

The setting of Chinatown Wars is the version of Liberty City from Grand Theft Auto IV, minus the area of Alderney. The map is the same as the previous game, including landmarks and some locations.

Plot

Huang Lee, the spoiled son of a recently murdered Triad boss, arrives by plane in Liberty City with Yu Jian, a sword that Huang's father won in a poker game and has decided to use as an heirloom, to deliver it to the new patriarch of the family, Huang's uncle Wu "Kenny" Lee. Shortly after landing, Huang's escorts are killed by assassins and he is shot and kidnapped. The assailants steal the sword and, thinking Huang is dead, dump his body in the water. Huang manages to survive and informs Kenny that Yu Jian has been taken. Kenny explains that he had intended to offer the sword to Hsin Jaoming, the aging Triad boss in Liberty City, as a means of securing a position as his replacement. Kenny is dishonored and reduced in power due to the loss of Yu Jian, leaving him and Huang working to keep their businesses afloat.

Eventually, Huang is contacted by Zhou Ming, a high-ranking Triad member, and Chan Jaoming, son of Hsin. Both men are also competing to be Hsin's replacement, and employ Huang to combat each other's efforts. After Chan hires Huang for a deal that goes badly, Huang is intercepted by LCPD Detective Wade Heston, a crooked cop under pressure from Internal Affairs. Heston offers an alliance with Huang to find the men responsible for the theft of Yu Jian and the murder of Huang's father. Huang agrees and finds that Heston suspects a Korean gang allied with the Triads is behind the events. After combating the Koreans for a while, Heston plants a bug in the Koreans' headquarters, from which he learns that there is a splinter group inside the gang called the Wonsu. Heston determines that the leader of the Wonsu will be the one responsible for Yu Jian's theft, and is also a police informant who has been causing trouble for the Triads.

Meanwhile, Hsin enlists Huang in finding the informant, only to then suspect Huang himself and attempt to kill him. Kenny arrives and convinces Hsin to give them time to find the real rat, bringing haste to Huang's mission. Hsin puts Huang on to investigate two gangs who may be housing the rat: the Angels of Death, and the Korean Mob. Huang gets into contact with Lester Leroc, a PI inside the Angels of Death, and performs his own work against the Koreans. Huang is temporarily thrown off course by the intervention of mafia member Rudy D'Avanzo, who tricks Huang into believing the mole is a Messina Family member named Jimmy Capra. Hsin later reveals D'Avanzo's trickery and Huang kills him.

Both the Koreans and the Angels are found to be innocent, leading to a new course of investigation. Heston employs Huang to hack into the servers of the FIB in order to find the informant. The information recovered names both Zhou Ming and Chan Jaoming as having talked to the police about Triads. This is taken to Hsin, who, disgraced that his own son is a suspect, instantly steps down as leader and appoints Kenny as the new head of the Liberty City Triads. Huang then executes both Chan and Zhou, despite each of them denying their guilt. Shortly after the killings, Huang is contacted by Heston, who informs him the information they recovered was fake, and that he has learned of a meeting between the leader of the Wonsu and his allies. Huang and Heston go to the meeting and find Kenny, who admits that he was responsible for the theft of Yu Jian and Huang's father's death. Heston and Huang pursue Kenny across town, cornering him at Hsin's residence. Here Kenny explains that he was tasked by Hsin to retrieve Yu Jian, thus Huang's father would have to die for it to be passed on to him, in exchange for a position underneath Chan. Kenny complied with this, but attempted to have Yu Jian stolen to keep himself from such a dishonorable position and later framed Zhou and Chan to cover his tracks.

After a final confrontation between Hsin and Kenny, Hsin demands the hand over of Yu Jian. Kenny ironically responds by stabbing Hsin with the sword as his way of presenting it to him. With Huang as witness to the murder and truth, Kenny engages in an inevitable final battle with Huang, who is the only one left in the way of Kenny's undisputed rise to power. Centered on a fountain with Kenny slashing away, Huang eventually kills Kenny, fulfilling his promise to avenge his father. Immediately the IAD and FIB arrive to arrest Heston and Huang, however Heston claims that he was in deep undercover and orders the arrest of everyone except Huang. Hsin praises Huang with the loyalty and nobility to become his true successor as Triad Boss.

By completion of the story and locating the two Lions of Fo for the Rockstar Games Social Club, you can open up Xin Shan's missions. Xin instructs Huang to steal a Rhino to distract the police from a planned robbery. However, Xin is ambushed by the cops; Huang takes him to safety where he learns that Xin was Lin's brother and partner in crime. And that the money was used to pay for his sister's funeral. Huang tells Xin to lay low and heal up and once recovered should become partners in crime. Signifying his first connection as a Triad Boss

Development

Release

Marketing

In Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars' GameStop preorder commercial, the dialog referred to the real-life corporate bailout in 2008.[24][25] A new gameplay trailer was released on March 6, 2009, showing gameplay involving using a sniper rifle and interacting with keypads with the Nintendo DS' stylus.[26] GameStop had a promotion where they sent around a van letting people try the game before it was released.[27] GameStop in the United States and Game in the United Kingdom are giving away a "credit card" which activates $10,000 of in-game money and earlier access to better weapons.[25][28] Amazon.com is providing a code to unlock an exclusive bulletproof Infernus with preorders.[29]

Reception

At the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars received the Best Handheld Game award. However, the version was not specified. It also won the Best Nintendo DS Game of 2009 Award from Gamespot.

Nintendo DS version

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars has received highly positive reviews. On GameRankings, it is currently the highest rated Nintendo DS game ever, with an average review score of 93.02%.[48] The game hold a 93 aggregate score on Metacritic which is the highest score on that site for a DS game.[49] The game also has the highest rank for the Nintendo DS at GameSpot, with a rating of 9.5/10.[50], and was later nominated for gamespots game of the year for 2009, action game of the year, and was nominated and won gamespot's DS game of the year award. Official Nintendo Magazine rated the game 94%, praising the visuals and variety in gameplay, concluding in their review that "Rockstar has captured and condensed the Grand Theft Auto series' high points and crammed them into one terrific title. Think the DS can't handle GTA? Think again." IGN UK gave it a rating of 9.2, calling it a "a masterpiece of handheld gaming" while IGN US gave the game a 9.5 out of 10. Eurogamer gave it a rating of 10/10, saying "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." 1up.com gave it a A-, saying that it is "impressive from the start". X-Play gave it a 5/5, calling it a "Must Have" game for the Nintendo DS.

Chinatown Wars generated lower than expected sales in its first week in the United Kingdom, and did not even sell to level with the debut of Vice City Stories, which was Rockstar's expectation.[51] In the United States, it sold just under 90,000 units during its first two weeks on the American market.[52] This led Best Buy to sell the game at a reduced price for a limited time; the response to this was very positive.[53]

PSP version

Rockstar confirmed via a press release that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was going to be released for the PlayStation Portable on 20 October 2009.[2] The game is available on UMD as well as via the PlayStation Network.[54] 1up.com gave the PSP version an A-, citing the experience is good second time around, and it is efficient for people who are playing for the first time. IGN gave the PSP version a 9.3/10, compared to the 9.5/10 on DS.

Unlike the DS version which reached #5,[55] the PSP game did not chart in the UK top 40 upon release,[56] nor did it chart in the US monthly top 20.[57]

iPhone OS version

The iPhone OS version was released on January 17, 2010. The touchscreen minigame mechanics originally seen in the Nintendo DS version have returned in a similar fashion. The graphics, when compared to the DS and PSP versions, are not cel-shaded like the DS version but lack the ambient lighting and effects seen in the PSP version. An update released on March 28, 2010 added the radio stations that were formerly exclusive to the PSP version.

On May 10, 2010 Rockstar Games made available Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Lite for free download through the Apple App Store playable on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The lite version of the game allows one to play the first three missions from the paid full-version.[58]

References

  1. ^ a b Oli Welsh (2008-12-15). "GTA: Chinatown Wars dated News // DS /// Eurogamer - Games Reviews, News and More". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  2. ^ a b "Rockstar Twitter Update". Rockstar Games.
  3. ^ "First Reviews for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on PSP". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  4. ^ a b c http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-breaking-into-iphones-this-fall/
  5. ^ a b c http://ir.take2games.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=406130
  6. ^ "Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS" (Press release). Kotaku. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  7. ^ a b "Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Coming to the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system". June 22, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  8. ^ "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Page". GamePro. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  9. ^ "Chinatown Wars previews". 1UP. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  10. ^ "Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars Review". MyDS. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  11. ^ "CW side-missions". gtagaming. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  12. ^ "New Chinatown Wars information". gtagaming. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  13. ^ Gamespot.com GTA: Chinatown Wars review | url=http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/grandtheftautochinatownwars/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gsupdates&tag=updates;title;2
  14. ^ "DOOM AND GHOSTFACE - CHINATOWN WARS". Soul Assassins. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  15. ^ "Ghostface Killah & Doom "Chinatown Wars" Radio World Premiere". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  16. ^ "Ghostface Killah & Doom "Chinatown Wars" Double-Sided Single Now Available at iTunes". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  17. ^ "A Mau5 in Chinatown". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  18. ^ "Exclusive Music in Chinatown Wars PSP - Part One: ANVIL (Audio Preview)". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  19. ^ "Exclusive Music in Chinatown Wars PSP - Part Three: Tortoise (Audio Preview)". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  20. ^ "Exclusive Music in Chinatown Wars PSP - Part Two: DFA Records (Audio Preview)". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  21. ^ "Exclusive Music in Chinatown Wars PSP - Part Four: Turntables on the Hudson (Audio Preview)". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  22. ^ "Turntables On The Hudson on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  23. ^ "Exclusive Music in Chinatown Wars PSP - Part Five: DJ Khalil (Audio Preview)". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  24. ^ by JC Fletcher { Feb 23rd 2009 at 8:00AM } (2009-02-23). "GTA Chinatown Wars commercial shows off game, zings government". Joystiq.com. Retrieved 2009-03-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ a b "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars at GameStop". Youtube.com. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  26. ^ "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - Hacking and Sniper Rifle Gameplay Trailer". Gametrailers.com. 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  27. ^ "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - Pre-Launch Sampling Tour". Gamestop.com. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  28. ^ "GameStop Offers Exclusive Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Upgrade with Pre-Order". Gaming Today. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  29. ^ "Pre-order Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and get the Bulletproof Infernus". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  30. ^ "1Up review". 1up.com. 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  31. ^ "CVG review". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  32. ^ Tom Bramwell (2009-03-13). "EuroGamer review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  33. ^ B, K1774H. "Gameunition review". gameunition.com. Retrieved 2009-03-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Herring, Will. "GamePro review". GamePro. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  35. ^ "GamesRadar review". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  36. ^ "GameSpot review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  37. ^ "GiantBomb GTA:CW review". GiantBomb. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  38. ^ Lopez, Miguel. "GameSpy review". GameSpy. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  39. ^ Harris, Craig. "IGN review". Uk.ds.ign.com. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  40. ^ Robinson, Martin. "IGN UK review". IGN. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  41. ^ Kolan, Patrick. "IGN AU review". Uk.ds.ign.com. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  42. ^ "MyDS review". Myds.com.au. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  43. ^ DiMola, Nick. "DS Review: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  44. ^ "X-Play GTA:CW review". X-Play. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  45. ^ "GameRankings page". GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  46. ^ "Gamestats page". GameStats. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  47. ^ "Metacritic page". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  48. ^ "GameRankings page". Gamerankings.com. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  49. ^ "[[Metacritic]] DS page". Metacritic.com. March 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-01. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  50. ^ "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for DS - Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Nintendo DS - Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars DS Game". Gamespot.com. 2009-03-15. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  51. ^ http://www.mcvuk.com/news/33670/UK-CHARTS-Resident-Evil-5-fends-off-GTA
  52. ^ Thorsen, Tor. "Chinatown Wars sells under 90,000 units in March", GameSpot, 2009-04-16.
  53. ^ Thorsen, Tor. "GTA: Chinatown Wars jacks bargain bin", GameSpot, 2009-04-28.
  54. ^ "Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Coming to the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system". Rockstar Games. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is available at retail on UMD and digitally from the PlayStation Network in North America and Europe. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  55. ^ "UK Top 40 video game sales week 12, 2009". Chart Track. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  56. ^ "UK Top 40 video game sales week 43, 2009". Chart Track. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  57. ^ "NPD: October Top 20 Sees Impressive Demon's Souls Showing". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  58. ^ Rockstar Show Some Lite Love For GTA: Chinatown Wars http://www.theibug.com/articles/gta-chinatown-wars-lite-on-iphone-ipod/

External links

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