First Level: GTA: Chinatown Wars (PSP)
Hands on with Rockstar's latest in the Grand Theft Auto series.Published 22/10/2009 at 13:15 by nofi
First Level: Bioshock 2 [17]
First Level: Army Of Two: 40th Day [14]
First Level: Avatar [15]
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting a PSP version of the hugely successful (and previously exclusive) DS Grand Theft Auto title, and the initial confirmation totally took me by surprise. Chinatown Wars, a return to the classic top-down format that defined the early GTA titles, is still sitting pretty at the top of the Metacritic chart with 93% making it the highest critically reviewed DS game in existence.
You’d expect, then, the PSP version to be just as good, right? Well it’s not – it’s better. Firstly, the visuals are now super sharp, impressively smooth and much higher detailed – the textures are a huge improvement and everything just looks so much cleaner. The lighting and animation are about the same, but they were areas that the DS version managed perfectly well anyway, so no complaints there.
The mini-games, something that always felt a little bit shoe-horned on the Nintendo platform, work better here too – there’s no switching of the controls to pull out the stylus, everything’s handled in cool little comic book cutaways and require just the analog stick and a button or two, with things like the initial breaking of the car window done with the triggers, and the hot-wiring with a twist of the nub. Perfect.
All the other controls just seem to fit in fine, too, there’s nothing about the PSP version that feels compromised and things like the Badger PDA seem more fluid and intuitive with the PSP’s widescreen format. Audio’s just as good, the music’s great and the slightly pulled back camera mean it’s easier to drive at high speeds without hitting anything. Of course, the story’s exactly the same, but that’s not a negative.
So, yeah, a brief First Level but I just wanted to get this out there before the PSN version went public later this afternoon. It’s seriously very, very good, at least as good as the DS version and frequently betters it. There’s a raft of multiplayer options too, although I’ll need to look more closely at those. If you’ve any questions drop us a comment and I’ll see if I can get the time today to answer your queries.
Well worth the £30 in my opinion, and that’s after dropping the same on the DS version.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Person678 | 22/10/2009 13:26
BOOM! Headshot!
1792 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
If I’m not mistaken theres a set of new mission for PSP too.
gazo69 | 22/10/2009 13:28
Member
1152 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Well i want this game even more now, but IMO it’s not worth £30, i picked up Uncharted 2 for £33 so that kind of puts it into perspective for me.
nofi | 22/10/2009 13:31
Wants a custom tag.
4292 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
It’ll be cheaper in shops, the £30 is the PSN price.
gazo69 | 22/10/2009 13:55
Member
1152 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Yeah i know it’s just i wanted d/load this game, shame really!
TheDeathAvenger | 22/10/2009 14:22
Member
1653 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Now that i have my Go and want to buy my games for it, I’m glad i have PSN cards which bring the cost down (e.g. about 24 quid for GTA). Still can’t believe that all new PSP games don’t have to be released on the PSN Store though.
Crazy_Del | 22/10/2009 14:38
Member
478 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Don’t forget in a few months time it will be half priced – Special Offer lol. I got Monster Hunter for £16.99 and loving it every minute of it. Will keep an eye on this game in a few months maybe Christmas.
BadBoyBoogie | 22/10/2009 17:28
Let There Be Rock
2689 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
I’ll be getting the UMD version eventually, as I’m not paying £30 for it on the PSN store.
forevermacin | 24/10/2009 23:53
Member
259 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
Hi nofi. I know this is a non PSN related post but HELP !
Please tell me how do I get a picture of a TSA themed BMW from FORZA 3 to post in the forums. Thanks. B
nofi | 22/10/2009 13:40
Wants a custom tag.
4292 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Those screens make it look crappy, btw. Wish I could grab screens from my Go.
gazo69 | 22/10/2009 13:45
Member
1152 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I can tell how sharp it is from the trailers, it looks fantastic.
paxpacis | 23/10/2009 08:38
Member
561 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I really like the iPhone screen-grap option, they should build it in the psp/ps3 firwares.
bunimomike | 22/10/2009 13:54
Member
4733 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Not about to go over to portable gaming but a great article, nofi. Showing how well GTA can work on the little fellow. It would be my first choice if someone bought me a PSP for Christmas *reads last sentence out loudly*.
jimmy-google | 22/10/2009 14:02
Member
1708 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
I really miss the top down view – it was part of GTAs charm. Very tempted to pick this up.
iiekka | 22/10/2009 14:11
Member
187 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
i wasnt even gona consider this, but now its tempting me, havnt bought uncharted 2 yet tho and im trying to save my wallet abit
LivedeviL | 22/10/2009 14:12
Member
303 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Bugrit, it’s £5 cheaper on amazon but I’d have to wait til tommorow to get it (same with ASDA), think I’ll be downloading it tonight instead, should sit nicely alongside FFVII on the ‘P
Thanks for making up my mind Nofi
AcidCrashX | 22/10/2009 14:13
Member
597 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
you know a quick look video would go great with this
Ryan1991 | 22/10/2009 14:15
Member
1972 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Right. Now all I need is a PSP and £30 left over.
TheDeathAvenger | 22/10/2009 14:26
Member
1653 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Is it out today on the PSN Store? I thought it was tomorrow.
a inferior race | 22/10/2009 20:13
I'm special
1995 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
It came out early on the US PSN.
superjag86 | 22/10/2009 14:30
Member
713 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
I’ve heard of other sites that the PSN doiwnload version is the way to go as the saving and loading times are much better than the UMD version.
I had this on the DS but will still be picking it up again for my PSP as it’s such a fun game.
nofi | 22/10/2009 14:32
Wants a custom tag.
4292 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Loading times on the download were really fast, yes. Haven’t tried the UMD yet.
killquick | 22/10/2009 15:01
Member
150 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I had it on ds but I will wait for it to go on sale to pick it up at that time it’s to much now for me to kick out.
Karlos | 22/10/2009 15:47
Member
307 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
How big is the download file for it? I dont want to start downloading it to then find Iv run out of space on my memory stick.
superjag86 | 22/10/2009 15:50
Member
713 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Just under 600mb according to the US PSN Store
coltsrule18 | 22/10/2009 16:19
Member
45 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
i dont have a handheld system
iNsAnE_gAmInG | 22/10/2009 16:42
* Banned *
-1930 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Missed this on DS so might pick up this improved version at Xmas. Nice article.