Rockstar Games released GTA Chinatown Wars in early 2009 on hand-held platforms like the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation Portable. While there are several fantastic elements in this game, it is, unfortunately, highly underrated. One of the reasons for this could be a lack of availability on mainstream gaming platforms like PC and the flagship PlayStation and Xbox consoles of the time.
Another reason could be its proximity to GTA 4's launch on PC, which was Rockstar's major release at the time. However, now that the current latest title in the series is a little over 10 years old and there is still time for the next one's arrival, you might want to give GTA Chinatown Wars a try as it is special in its own way.
Note: This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions.
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GTA Chinatown Wars was well ahead of its time
Set in Liberty City, GTA Chinatown Wars is played in a top-down format, much like some of the initial titles in the GTA series. Additionally, the 3D assets offer a unique gameplay experience. However, the same cannot be said for the current titles, since most modern games either choose a first- or third-person camera.
While the game's duration is rather less in comparison to its contemporaries, the missions are backed by a decent plot and are quite enjoyable. However, it is really the gameplay features that make GTA Chinatown Wars special. Iterations of some of these can even be seen in GTA Online.
A good example is the latter's Street Dealers feature, introduced in early 2023. It might have been inspired by the 2009 title's drug dealing mechanic that allows the sale and purchase of narcotics from different dealers around the map.
While players cannot buy drugs from Street Dealers in GTA Online, they can sell them to the dealers who own the required businesses. These dealers also spawn at different locations on the map.
Chinatown Wars has an interactive in-game internet as well. For instance, players can purchase weapons from the Ammu-Nation website. Interestingly, this mechanic is now a major GTA Online feature as in-game websites are used for purchasing all types of vehicles and properties.
Furthermore, GTA Chinatown Wars had a multiplayer mode on the original platforms that, albeit very different from GTA Online, included fun game modes such as Single Race, Stash Dash, Defend The Base, and LC Survivor to name a few. These are somewhat comparable to the latter's Adversary Modes.
It is common for a few features to be carried over from past titles. What makes GTA Chinatown Wars truly special is the idea of integral gameplay mechanics for modern GTA games, likely inspired by a title that is extremely underrated.
In a nutshell, this decade-old game can provide a refreshing experience even in 2024. It is also available on Android and iOS today, so those on the lookout for something different while waiting for GTA 6's release should definitely pick it up.
