GTA: Chinatown Wars

About

GTA: Chinatown Wars is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Rockstar Games and was released on January 18, 2010. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"GTA: Chinatown Wars" is an action-packed game set in the Grand Theft Auto universe. With a wonderful story, compelling game mechanics, and pretty visuals, players are drawn into the world of organized crime in Liberty City. The game also features an awesome music score and plenty of hilarious moments, making it a must-play for fans of the series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,688 reviews

story144 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Great port of a classic game, retains the charm of the original.
Fun gameplay with engaging missions and a good storyline.
No in-game purchases, providing a complete experience for a one-time fee.

Crashes on startup for many users, making it unplayable.
Requires proof of purchase to access the game, causing frustration for previous buyers.
Controls are often unresponsive or poorly designed, making gameplay difficult.

story
329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging narrative and humorous dialogue, particularly highlighting the protagonist's sarcasm and the overall plot involving triad gang dynamics. However, some users found the storyline predictable and felt that it lacked depth, with certain missions being repetitive or frustrating due to control issues. Overall, while the story is considered enjoyable and entertaining, it is marred by technical problems and a desire for more content.
- “I loved the story and the gameplay is phenomenal.”
- “The story is good, the dialogues are hilarious and I really enjoy Huang's sarcasm.”
- “Great story, plenty of side missions to stay entertained, and the main story is well done.”
- “The story's writing is somewhat hammy and stilted on occasion, but beyond that, it's exactly what you'd expect from an overhead-view GTA, including the occasional issue with not being able to see what the heck is going on thanks to the camera.”
- “The cut-scenes/story is uninspiring and doesn't get you excited or interested in the slightest about being in this game world.”
- “The story is bad; I did the first few missions and got bored and deleted it.”
graphics
231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
38%
16%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting significant improvements over previous versions, particularly the Nintendo DS. While some praise the vibrant art style and overall visual quality, others criticize the graphics as outdated or inferior to console versions, highlighting issues like poor resolution and inconsistent performance on certain devices. Overall, the graphics are generally considered decent for a mobile game, but expectations should be tempered compared to higher-end console titles.
- “The graphics are beautiful and it makes driving through the surprisingly large Liberty City even more enjoyable.”
- “Graphics look a lot better than the DS version.”
- “This game has loads of detail and the graphics are amazing.”
- “The graphics are horrible and so is the camera angle.”
- “This game is just terrible today, the graphics are junk, controls are impossible to use. Save your money, I wish I did!”
- “Horrible graphics and horrible gameplay, stay away from this garbage.”
gameplay
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative mechanics, engaging story, and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic GTA titles. However, several users have expressed frustration with control issues, particularly regarding driving mechanics and touchscreen responsiveness, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players found the gameplay enjoyable and immersive, highlighting the fun mini-games and dynamic mission structure.
- “I loved the story and the gameplay is phenomenal.”
- “Fantastic stuff and you can get 8+ hours worth of storyline gameplay along with an endless amount of free roam fun.”
- “Great gameplay, art style, exploration, mini games, cut-scenes, voice-acting, this game has it all and is by far the best mobile GTA.”
- “The gameplay is a bit difficult to tolerate.”
- “I'm glad I didn't pay for it; I tried the free 30 minutes and the gameplay is horrible, horrible graphics, horrible control, horrible gameplay. Just don't spend your money on it or even download it.”
- “Less than 24 hours from purchase and less than 20 minutes of frustrating gameplay and I'm already seriously regretting my purchase, with no way to get a refund.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The music in the game has received high praise for its catchy, custom-made soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience with its engaging themes, particularly the standout Zhou's theme. However, some players have expressed frustration with issues like random music playback despite volume settings and a desire for the option to use personal music playlists. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The soundtrack is awesome too even though there are no vocals.”
- “I love this game; it has a good story with gun shooting craziness in the missions, has good controls, and the songs (especially Zhou's theme song) sound awesome.”
- “And the soundtrack is made up of custom songs (really catchy ones) specifically for the game itself.”
- “Total BS... first 15 minutes just wasted time playing intro music like in movies. Wake up developers... this is supposed to be a mobile game, not a movie.”
- “The only two problems I have are that the control stick isn't in a fixed position, which can make moving awkward, and music starts playing randomly despite the fact that I have the music volume turned all the way down.”
- “All I ask for is my own music to listen to when you're riding a vehicle, just like the iOS version.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting hilarious dialogues, witty character interactions, and absurd scenarios that evoke laughter. Many reviews note the game's comedic elements as a standout feature, comparing it favorably to other titles in the franchise, while some mention occasional inconsistencies in the writing. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's enjoyment, making it a recommended experience for those with a good sense of humor.
- “The story is good, the dialogues are hilarious, and I really enjoy Huang's sarcasm.”
- “Simple story, funny dialogues, badass main character, ridiculous random characters... that's all you need from GTA games.”
- “Cutscenes are extremely funny!”
- “It's dead, took my money, it's not funny, so don't buy it.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The stability of the game varies significantly across different Android devices, with some users reporting smooth performance and minimal glitches, while others experience frequent freezes and control issues. Notably, the Android version has been criticized for its buggy interface and inconsistent touch controls, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable experience, many report significant stability issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Great game, no glitches or whatever.”
- “It runs great, doesn't ask for money after you buy it, and doesn't have any weird permissions.”
- “Runs great and looks good!”
- “So many glitches.”
- “The Android version is very buggy; for example, in the first Zhou mission for throwing crates, you can't aim the crates.”
- “It constantly glitches.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
21%
21%
The optimization of the game varies significantly across devices, with some users reporting smooth performance on lower-end phones, while others experience issues such as poorly optimized cutscenes and control difficulties, particularly on specific models like the Samsung S22 Ultra. While many players find the game runs well and is enjoyable on their devices, there are notable concerns regarding compatibility and optimization for certain Android versions and hardware. Overall, the game's performance is generally praised, but it is not universally optimized for all mobile devices.
- “Even on my low-end phone, the performance is amazingly smooth.”
- “Playing on my S9 Plus... so far works really well and is well optimized.”
- “No performance issues, works smooth like butter and does not drain battery; played for like 10 minutes and found only 2% loss of battery.”
- “Afterwards, the game you get is poorly optimized for mobile devices with no video or control options.”
- “I own a Samsung Flip 5 and the cutscenes aren't optimized properly; the dialogue is cut off, so story-wise I'm lost.”
- “Poor optimization and does not run on S22 Ultra.”
monetization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
35%
47%
The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the requirement for multiple purchases and a complicated restoration process for previous purchases. While some users note the absence of ads and in-app purchases, the overall sentiment reflects frustration over the perceived exploitation and lack of support from the developers.
- “There are no in-game purchases.”
- “No in-app purchases!”
- “One is there are no in-app purchases.”
- “Currently this game is just a cash grab, especially since it needs an update and hasn't in years.”
- “A total cash grab move.”
- “You guys used to put out good games, now you're just another cash grab company that doesn't care about your customers.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the game's controls, which hinder their ability to progress, particularly in emotionally charged moments like reviving a character. Despite their love for the game, technical issues detract from the emotional impact of critical scenes, leading to disappointment.
- “I love this game, but I can't get past the mission where you have to steal the ambulance with Uri, because when he flatlines, touching the heart rate monitor does not restart his heart.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the game's atmosphere as a standout feature, praising its immersive environment and engaging writing that enhances the overall experience. Despite some technical issues on newer devices, the atmosphere remains a key element that resonates positively with players.
- “The atmosphere was on point, creating an immersive experience that truly captured the essence of the game.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly engaging, drawing players into its world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that makes exploring the game a joy.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively challenging and monotonous, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “They make the process extremely difficult and tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and lacks any meaningful rewards.”
- “It takes too long to progress, making the game feel like a chore.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking after a short completion time of under six hours, others appreciate its high replay value, especially considering its low price point.
- “Finished it in under 6 hours, and it feels like there isn't any replayable value.”
- “Endless replay value for 6 bucks, can't beat that in a AAA title.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the visually appealing comic book-style character designs, which enhance the overall aesthetic experience of the game. However, there is no mention of depth or progression in character development, suggesting a focus on style over substance.
- “The comic book-like character designs are pleasing to watch.”