Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

 PSP
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 268 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 172 out of 268
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 268
  3. Negative: 38 out of 268
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MutiG
    Oct 30, 2009
    6
    This game must be phenomenal on the DS. It may even be a breakthrough game. This is NOT the case on the PSP. There have already been two GTAs on the PSP, and they both trump Chinatown Wars in every way. The graphics are a HUGE backstep, and there are NO VOICE OVERS! The gameplay has been dumbed down, and the characters are candy coated and pg-13. I am not sure where all this positive This game must be phenomenal on the DS. It may even be a breakthrough game. This is NOT the case on the PSP. There have already been two GTAs on the PSP, and they both trump Chinatown Wars in every way. The graphics are a HUGE backstep, and there are NO VOICE OVERS! The gameplay has been dumbed down, and the characters are candy coated and pg-13. I am not sure where all this positive attention is coming from, but I can tell you one thing, the cheers originate from DS owners, and we are simply hearing echoes on the PSP. I am not saying Chinatown wars is a bad game, it is just not NEARLY as good as either of the other two offerings on the PSP. Congratulations DS, you finally have one in your stable. PSP owners, keep your expectations low.… Expand
  2. Wormoid
    Sep 9, 2011
    7
    Take-Two have obviously payed for reviews. The game is well structured, and is fun quite a lot, but it's not amazing. I would recommend you buy it, but don't expect something amazing.
  3. trixw
    Dec 28, 2009
    6
    Didn't like the music, the gameplay is less immersive than the other GTA games, weak story...not a 10.
  4. Kross466
    Dec 19, 2018
    5
    Chinatown Wars is a awesome game, but the best version is the DS version, the PSP version didn't innovate.
  5. MarcDoyle(GamesEditor&Co-Founder-Metacritic)
    Oct 23, 2009
    7
    GameSpy reviewed GTA: Chinatown Wars (PSP), but they have since removed the review from their site. I removed the review exerpt and 70 score (originally a 3.5 stars on their site) from Metacritic after speaking with the GameSpy team regarding the situation. I am satified that GameSpy's decision to de-publish the review was an independent and principled one. Per GameSpy's GameSpy reviewed GTA: Chinatown Wars (PSP), but they have since removed the review from their site. I removed the review exerpt and 70 score (originally a 3.5 stars on their site) from Metacritic after speaking with the GameSpy team regarding the situation. I am satified that GameSpy's decision to de-publish the review was an independent and principled one. Per GameSpy's Editor's Note: "We have decided to remove our review of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars after finding some factual inaccuracies in the text. We apologize for the error and any confusion this might have caused, but we're dedicated to making sure we bring you the most informed and honest reviews possible." (http://bit.ly/3Kak8v) Metacritic's original excerpt taken from the de-published review reads as follows: "So, while Chinatown Wars is a solid, entertaining title for the PSP, it simply lacks the oomph and 'oh wow!' factor that it had on DS."… Expand
  6. Shadow1
    Jul 31, 2016
    6
    Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars is good Gta, but in this game view from above and in this game normal graphics for view from above and in this game not bad main character and not bad storyline, big open world, big city . Move this game was in China . Normal Game, Good.
  7. Mr_Kein
    Jun 21, 2018
    7
    Last GTA I think was better. This game looks like what will be if rockstar wanted to do remaster of first games of GTA. This game can tickle fancy by gamers which started play GTA from first or second part of serias. But in PSP already are GTA LCS and VCS.

    Gameplay: First, camera on top. It has consequences in the form of simplifying the texture of that detail in the game world. But    Last GTA I think was better. This game looks like what will be if rockstar wanted to do remaster of first games of GTA. This game can tickle fancy by gamers which started play GTA from first or second part of serias. But in PSP already are GTA LCS and VCS.

    Gameplay: First, camera on top. It has consequences in the form of simplifying the texture of that detail in the game world. But if play only for skirmish and races with police. This GTA can do it better than LCS and VCS, but camera on top causes new problems for gamers GTA 3, VC, SA , LCS, VCS like simplified shooting. For shoot you must press L1 and O. Driving better than in GTA LCS and VCS, but they make me more discriminating. In this part , you can buy drugs and sell them. In general this is intresting. Some dealers sale more expensive, but some dealers they could already sell. This system looks intresting in start, but then you don't use it for earning money. Civilian work remained, but there isn't helicopter for firefighter and doctors. Then I think this job bory. There is new system with conecting gamer with game taxi. Then you can skip travel , this will be cost twice as much. New way getting guns. You can collect new gun from bin, but weapon can not be found in every bin. In general gameplay : 7/10 looks intresting

    Skript: don't intresting. After completing game for 100% , I can't remeber skript. Then I think skript in GTA Chinatown wars skript bory. But but someone might like it. ,

    Graphics: This is game for Portable console. In my opinion , graphics not main. For people who realy want see Full HD on portanle console , I say that graphic on PSP looks great for 2009 and 2018

    Total: 7/10    … Expand
  8. Bethrewhy
    Apr 10, 2022
    7
    2.5D perspective game, The story is basically around with triad and really got me at the ending, if you tidy up the story after you played it, you'll amazed by how complicated is the character of this game. Gameplay is not really that interested honestly, it lacks of many minigame like
  9. The_D4RknesS
    Jan 26, 2023
    7
    It's not the best GTA but it's a lot of fun and 100x better than the Android version

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PSP Game of 2009
2
#2 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2009
1
#1 Most Shared PSP Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 77 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 77
  3. Negative: 0 out of 77
  1. 1UP
    91
    As a PSP game, it's still a well-done portable GTA; not necessarily a better one than before. But that's fine; it's still worth playing Chinatown Wars for those bite-size bits of the GTA formula, and if you're still warm to it, then definitely give it a go.
    Read full review
  2. GamePro
    90
    An absolute blast from start to finish with plenty of trademark Liberty City locales ripe for exploration, not to mention a cast of incredibly memory characters (Chan Jaoming, I hardly knew ya.) If you're looking for a good action adventure experience that harkens back to the more cartoony Grand Theft Auto days, then Chinatown Wars is certainly worth the investment.
    Read full review
  3. Computer and Video Games
    87
    Chinatown Wars on PSP was always going to be a port job, and though it soils some of DS original's intuitive mini-games it maintains the inventive, thoroughly entertaining and built-for-handheld mission structure of the original - and that's what we loved most in the first place.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »