Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars returns the series to Liberty City but presents it from a perspective not seen in years. You play as Huang Lee, the spoiled son of a murdered Triad boss. After arriving from Hong Kong with a ceremonial sword intended as a peace offering for his uncle, Kenny, Huang is ambushed, robbed, and left for dead. With the family's honor at stake, Huang must navigate the treacherous and corrupt world of Liberty City's Triad gangs to reclaim the sword and avenge his father's death.

The game marks a stylish return to the top-down view of the original GTA titles, but with a modern, cel-shaded art style that gives it the feel of a living comic book. The camera is dynamic, rotating to give players the best view of the action as they navigate the dense city streets. The core gameplay is pure Grand Theft Auto: you'll complete a huge variety of missions for a cast of untrustworthy characters, engage in high-speed chases, and get into intense shootouts with rival gangs and the Liberty City Police Department.

What made Chinatown Wars truly stand out on the Nintendo DS was its brilliant use of the touch screen. The bottom screen acts as your PDA, used for managing your GPS, emails, and music. But it's the interactive mini-games that make the criminal activities feel personal. You'll use the stylus to hotwire cars by connecting wires, assemble a sniper rifle before a mission, search through dumpsters for contraband, scratch off lottery tickets for a chance at cash, and even arm molotov cocktails at the gas station. These tactile moments bring you closer to the action than ever before.

Beyond the main story, Chinatown Wars introduced one of the most in-depth side hustles in the series: a fully-featured drug-dealing economy. Players can buy and sell six different types of drugs across the city's various districts. The goal is to buy low and sell high, paying attention to tips from dealers and avoiding police stings to build a criminal empire. This, combined with classic rampages, stunt jumps, and the freedom to cause chaos, makes Chinatown Wars a massive and complete GTA experience that was expertly crafted for a handheld device.