Just goes to show you that it's not how much power you have but how you use that matters the most. Clearly Leeds knows exactly how to develop for the DS, this purchase is a no brainer. However why Nintendo thought it was a good idea to release the DSi before this game beats the hell out of me, some of my friends are holding out on this game until the DSi gets released in the States.

Looks like a lot of fun, I'm definitely gonna go pick it up tomorrow.  I havent played my DS in a while so it will be a good time.

This is going to be the first game I purchase with my shiny new DSi when it comes out.

Looks like a lot of fun, too bad the only handheld I have is a phone. :(

 it sounds like a awesome game. A score as good as that makes it impossible to pass up.

I hope GB reviews this, definitively worth a look.

EuroGamer Review 10/10
 
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-review


IGN Video Review (9.5)

The game has been getting great scores from pretty much everyone right now...I figured the game would be well received, but I am a bit shocked at just how high all the scores have been so far.

How was this surprising >.>

Where are the nay-sayers now?  I believe that I am finally going to actually enjoy a Grand Theft Auto game.  Now bring on a proper, built from the ground up, Wii GTA.

100

GamePro

This is Grand Theft Auto the way you love it: all of the innovation, charm and thrills from its past installations neatly tied together in a creative package worthy of any DS owner. 

100

EuroGamer

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a triumph, not just in terms of bringing a difficult game to a new platform intact, but because it actually improves it in the process, and demonstrates a mastery of DS form and function. 

100

Cynamite

Great scope, nice car handling, awesome multiplayer – Rockstar delivers extraordinary GTA quality on a small display. 

100

Games Radar (in-house)

Shameless developers trotting out shallow minigame anthologies and SNES era RPGs should stand in embarrassment at just how much potential Rockstar Leeds managed to wring from a console this late in its lifespan. Gentlemen, it’s time to beg your girlfriend for that DS back. Perhaps you could trade in your PS3 - it’s not like that’s getting more GTA anytime soon. 

95

IGN

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars continues GTA's legacy as the premiere "sandbox" game design. Though it might look like a lot has changed in the move to the handheld platform, more has been added than taken away. 

95

Gameplayer

The game is also unashamedly adult in its content and we, for one, see as a breath of fresh (marijuana scented) air on the platform. Dealing drugs, hand making molotovs, chainsawing people in half, swearing up a storm, blowing people’s heads off with a sniper rifle – it’s all in here, and if you’re underage you had better check with your olds before getting it. Or don’t, and just hide it really well. Whatever works. 

93

IGN AU

For Nintendo-only gamers out there – and these days, there are more of you than ever – this is an authentic Grand Theft Auto experience. It isn't watered down; it's as fun and foul-mouthed as any series-proper installment. While not perfect, it'll suck you in and keep you up at night like a chronic addiction. Hook it to our veins. 

93

Game Informer

Don’t let the diminutive size or nostalgic look fool you, this is just as complete of a Grand Theft Auto experience as any of the console iterations. 

92

Computer and Video Games

A seriously good, fat-free but surprisingly deep GTA experience - that you can play on the toilet. 

92

IGN UK

The definitive GTA? That depends where your tastes lie, but either way there’s no denying this is a masterpiece of handheld gaming. 

91

1UP

Chinatown Wars is what I expected -- it takes an understandable few steps back from GTA4, but also takes a couple forward (a touch screen can do that). It's a well-honed "core" GTA on the handheld, not merely a one-to-one clone of its console parents. 

90

GameSpy

My highest recommendation: Though I'm done with my review, I'm far from done playing. In spite of my early kneejerk dismissal, I can't get enough of this crazy little unregulated dystopia where you can get heavy assault weapons delivered to your doorstep. 

90

Total Video Games

The faster pace, variety, and use of the touchscreen makes for a less real, yet more entertaining GTA experience perfectly suited for the popular handheld. 

I wonder how these final scores will compare to the two PSP games when it's already getting so many perfect scores already.

I'm still weary of this game... GTAIV got a lot of 10/10 scores and GOTY awards, but I hated what I played(I don't actually own the game). I'll probably get this though...

I hope GB reviews it as well. I haven't had anything to play on my DS for a while... I think I'll pick this up in a few weeks :)

Woah. I knew this would be well received but, honestly, I'm blown away that it's been this well received.

Amazing scores. Makes me want to click that "Add To Basket" button.

OldSchool, if you didn't think GTA IV was a superb game, you must be very spoilt and have a terrible taste in video-games.

Also, a Wii only GTA?

Don't make me laugh...

"OldSchool, if you didn't think GTA IV was a superb game, you must be very spoilt and have a terrible taste in video-games.Also, a Wii only GTA? Don't make me laugh..."

"OldSchool, if you didn't think GTA IV was a superb game, you must be very spoilt and have a terrible taste in video-games.Also, a Wii only GTA? Don't make me laugh..."

Well it IS Grand Theft Auto... of course it's a masterpiece.

WOah thats a high score.

i'm remembering people going 2this game is teh vomit" because of it's 2-dimensionality. owned

When I pick up a DSi, I think I might have to get it. It sounds like it features some interesting new ideas that very well could work their way into GTAV. Even IGN comments about that possibility with the way that you lose cops by aggressively causing them to wreck their cars and such. I think that's definitely a cool idea. That's how it's usually done in the movies. Also, the drug dealing and hotwiring of cars... they seem like they'd be a good addition as well. I thought the drug dealing aspect in particular sounded pretty awesome. I found it to be a pretty enjoyable aspect when it was in Scarface: The World is Yours.

I had hope in this game from the beginning. I am very glad it actually turned out to match my expectations. This is a buy in a few days for me.

Good timing for Nintendo, coming out the similar time as the DSi, I don't think this will be enough for me to get a DS though

"How was this surprising >.>"

Looks so awesome, cant wait.

reminds me of the gta4 reviews and seeing how gta4 was for me i will prolly pass on this...

Cool, might be the first DS game I get in 2 years.
Edit:  Oh wait.  Its about chinatown...pass..

Well... who knew...

-- God Bless.

After playing it yesterday and today, I definitely believe this game deserves that score. It's pretty damn amazing.

also, the metacritic score right now is 95, the highest scoring DS game so far.

It's quite excellent.  I am addictied to the drug trading mini-game.  It's pretty much Drug Wars, and I played that on my caluclator when I should have been paying attention in high school.

"It's quite excellent.  I am addictied to the drug trading mini-game.  It's pretty much Drug Wars, and I played that on my caluclator when I should have been paying attention in high school."

Can't wait to pick this up. I wasn't expecting it to come close to being a full fledged GTA game but now it looks like it is doing just that in its own way.

I playedthe game several weeks ago, I can say it's worth 35 bucks.

I've payed close to no attention to this game, but seeing that video-review and reading the review on euro-gamer has immediately made me interested in it.

"I've payed close to no attention to this game, but seeing that video-review and reading the review on euro-gamer has immediately made me interested in it."

gamespot gave it a 9.5 as well =) and I thought the game looked lame at first.

SOLD!

"I wonder how these final scores will compare to the two PSP games when it's already getting so many perfect scores already.

A GTA Wii game will have to come about now.

PSP Games:

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/grandtheftautolibertycitystories

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/grandtheftautovicecitystories

"

"I wonder how these final scores will compare to the two PSP games when it's already getting so many perfect scores already.

A GTA Wii game will have to come about now.

PSP Games:

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/grandtheftautolibertycitystories

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/grandtheftautovicecitystories

"

GTA IV scored high and while it was a great game, I didn't find it fun. CW is scoring just as high and I'm deciding on whether I buy it or not. I probably will, even if its just to bring out my DS, which I haven't touched in nearly a year.

 I have not played it but I think that it would be better with a 3rd Person view. Other than that it seems good.

" I have not played it but I think that it would be better with a 3rd Person view. Other than that it seems good."

I got this today, with a card which unlocks free content online. I have to get home and play this,  now!

I'll totally have to buy this at some point...

I picked up GTA: CTW three days ago.  I think I've put like 15-20 hours in already.  This is the best game on DS, and may very well be the best game on a handheld this generation ( i don't own a PSP, so have only played select portions of a few games).

And this is not hyperbole: this game is better than GTA4.  Feel free to disagree, but this game brought back everything about GTA that I loved.  GTA4 was so dull.  if you weren't moved by the storyline (sorry Gerstmann et al., whatever connection you all felt with certain characters in the game was completely lost on me), then GTA4 was a weak third person shooter with excellent driving elements.  There was little reason to explore, because there were no hidden side missions and the 200 birds were annoying to have to hunt down.

Chinatown Wars is plain FUN.  And my God, I don't know what savants at Rockstar were working on this game, but the graphics are so far ahead of any other DS game that it makes me wonder if they somehow snuck a graphics chip into the DS cartridge.

"I picked up GTA: CTW three days ago.  I think I've put like 15-20 hours in already.  This is the best game on DS, and may very well be the best game on a handheld this generation ( i don't own a PSP, so have only played select portions of a few games).

And this is not hyperbole: this game is better than GTA4.  Feel free to disagree, but this game brought back everything about GTA that I loved.  GTA4 was so dull.  if you weren't moved by the storyline (sorry Gerstmann et al., whatever connection you all felt with certain characters in the game was completely lost on me), then GTA4 was a weak third person shooter with excellent driving elements.  There was little reason to explore, because there were no hidden side missions and the 200 birds were annoying to have to hunt down.Chinatown Wars is plain FUN.  And my God, I don't know what savants at Rockstar were working on this game, but the graphics are so far ahead of any other DS game that it makes me wonder if they somehow snuck a graphics chip into the DS cartridge."