Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (iPhone) Review

Considering the growing popularity of Apple's iPod Touch and iPhone, we knew it would only be a matter of time before Rockstar ported Grand Theft Auto in some form or another. And here it is, a modified version of the hit Nintendo DS/PSP game, Chinatown Wars. Most of the content remains the same, but that's no reason to turn away from this impressive tale of violence, especially when it sells for a third of the price.

In the game, you're Huang Lee, a spoiled kid whose Triad gangster father has taken care of him most of his life. One ambush, however, turns things upside down. Dad gets killed, a prized sword goes missing and all hell breaks loose as Huang fights to get it back. Like previous versions of Chinatown Wars, you'll have to travel across the city completing a variety of missions, from gunning down thugs to stealing important vehicles to losing the cops in a high-speed pursuit.

Rockstar made a few changes to the interface to get Chinatown Wars working on the touch-screen. It's a mostly acceptable set-up, but you'll need to get used to it. For instance, the buttons are too small, crammed into the corner of the screen. When you're trying to shift between braking and accelerating during a high-speed chase, for example, there are times when you'll awkwardly come to a stop, letting the cops catch up. There are also instances when you mean to shoot someone and perform a melee attack instead. Rockstar should have considered bigger buttons or a customization feature to put them wherever you wanted.

Get over this control issue, however, and you'll promptly be rewarded. Chinatown Wars has hours' worth of missions, including escort, theft, robbery and our favorite, battles. Here, you'll shoot four or five enemies (at least) and then evade the police in an intense pursuit. This game follows the same formula as previous GTA games, where you can go anywhere and do anything, rather than following a straight and narrow plotline. It's that sense of freedom that really gives you, and your device's battery, a run for your money.

Not an ounce of detail was lost in the game's transition to iPhone. It looks just as remarkable as previous versions, with a cool top-down perspective and terrific little details that bring the seedy Liberty City to life. Trains pass overhead, cop headlights flash like crazy and bodies crumple everywhere as you fire your weapon. (We love the explosions, too.) The helpful HUD in the corner also shows you where everything is located, so you'll never become lost, not even when the LCPD is bearing down on you with helicopters.

With the music, there is one minor complaint. Unlike previous entries in the GTA series, Chinatown Wars on the iPod Touch/iPhone doesn't use licensed music. It still has five great radio stations, but most of the songs are instrumentals. You won't mind, though, as there are more than enough quality sound effects (gunfire, sirens, thugs going "Ughhh") to fill the void.

The PSP version of Chinatown Wars is still superior, due to the less clumsy controls and included soundtrack. However, if an iPhone is all you have, this definitely doesn't feel like a second rate effort. The variety of missions, mostly top-notch presentation and incredibly cheap price tag ($9.99, a steal compared to the other $30-$40 versions) make this a one-way trip to Liberty City you shouldn't pass up.