Chinatown Wars now on sale in App Store

By Ellie Gibson Published 18 January, 2010

Pick up the iPhone version for six quid.

A new version of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is now on sale in the App Store.

The game is priced at £5.99 and weighs in at 188MB. Just like in the PSP and DS versions, you play a bloke called Huang Lee dealing with the Triads in Liberty City. The App Store game is compatible with both iPhone and iPod Touch.

GTA: Chinatown Wars scored highly when it was released on the other two handhelds. Check out our reviews of both the PSP and DS versions for the full lowdown.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (27) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SYS64738 #1 2 years ago

    But surely a review would be worth doing for this version, rather than referring to the DS/PSP reviews, as the 'proper' handheld versions may not be representative of this one due to potential control issues?
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 08:53

  • Vroom #2 2 years ago

    Wow seems like even rockstar get bugger all info from apple about release dates etc.

    Surprised they didn't put this out at the £9.99 price point.

    /download
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 09:04

  • kincaide #3 2 years ago

    Tempted, but after playing it on DS (and loving it) I think I can resist. But if it is half decent then Nintendo and Sony must seriously be worried

  • dominalien #4 2 years ago

    A review of the iPhone version would be great. I'd been considering the psp version, but if it's essentially the same game for a much lower price, I'll happily get this one instead.

  • Thunderbolt #5 2 years ago

    I just cant get into the PSP version, as a GTA fan it seems a step back for the series.

  • StooMonster #6 2 years ago

    Nearly bought this on PSP yesterday, but glad I didn't.

    /download from iTunes

  • Flying_Pig #7 2 years ago

    Brilliant on the DS. Tempted to get it on the PSP too, but I'll wait to see a review of this first - the control scheme might be poo...

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #8 2 years ago

    is this the same game as the PSP\DS version?

    I know metal gear solid on the iPhone was more than dissapointing in comparison to portable ops

  • SYS64738 #9 2 years ago

    Well whaddaya know

    http://ww w.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/GT...

  • Mkwone #10 2 years ago

    So this is the full GTA game at half the price?

  • SYS64738 #11 2 years ago

    "So this is the full GTA game at half the price?"

    I assume more or less, depending on whether you can live with the niggles mentioned in the review (they don't seem to negatively impact the score at all). Also bear in mind that Pocketgamer does generally appear to favour the iphone so may need to judge the review with caution.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #12 2 years ago

    That looks like a dpad to me on the bottom left of the pocket gamer screen shots, so that's a no sale for me, on screen pads suck balls.

  • jonsaan #13 2 years ago

    Chinatown wars is not a 10/10 game. 6 or 7 IMO.

  • callum9999 #14 2 years ago

    "I just cant get into the PSP version, as a GTA fan it seems a step back for the series."

    I agree with that. Libery and Vice City Stories were amazing games imo and this just seems rubbish in comparison (maybe I just need to play it more to get into it, but it is nowhere near the quality of the original PSP games).

  • yegon #15 2 years ago

    A price to be applauded but, ouch, you just KNOW it'll control like crap. Been burnt far too many times with iPhone games that just aren't enjoyable due to the control. Thankfully, being burnt 10 times or so only amounts to about £20 or so :)

  • GamesConnoisseur #16 2 years ago

    Flaws seem to me should bring game down from 9/10 score given, but it's only a number and apps always get regularly patched. So if Rockstar can continue to support this post release and we get to play GTA game at mere £6 seem to me a bargain and another one downloading the game.

    So will be able to get a good impression of the game then and see how it compares to DS and PSP versions.

  • SYS64738 #17 2 years ago

    "I agree with that. Libery and Vice City Stories were amazing games imo and this just seems rubbish in comparison (maybe I just need to play it more to get into it, but it is nowhere near the quality of the original PSP games)."

    Do you really think so? I found both games to be an eyesore (even though fair play to Rockstar for pulling off 3D GTA's on a handheld, which at least on screenshots looks fine) due to the crazy amount of (gameplay affecting) slowdown and pop up... made me puke in anger at times, especially in Vice City Stories. The ultimate low happened when, after I managed to exterminate all other gangs, the game decided to default back to the gang situation as it was at the beginning of the game. I just thought WTF and didn't touch the game since.

    GTA:CW on the other hand feels smooth, slick and responsive (on the PSP at least), with a great user interface ideal for the handheld and more bite sized missions. To be fair though, I haven't really gotten that far in CW myself, GTA-fatique must be creeping in.

  • Caimbeul #18 2 years ago

    Six Quid!!??

  • malexous #19 2 years ago

    £15 on the other systems.

    [link url=http://www.gamestation.co.uk/Dsi-and-DS-Lite/Action/Adventu re/Adventure/~r409237/Grand-Theft-Auto-Chinatown-Wars/ ]http://ww w.gamestation.co.uk/Dsi-and-DS-...[/link]
    http://ww w.thehut.com/games/platforms/ps...

  • jonsaan #20 2 years ago

    The lack of radio DJs and licensed tunes really hits this game hard. They were so important to the immersion in other GTA games. The tunes that are there lack the social awareness that similar stuff in the first 2D GTA had. They were stunning.
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 17:27

  • Kinkster #21 2 years ago

    "I just cant get into the PSP version, as a GTA fan it seems a step back for the series."

    "I agree with that. Libery and Vice City Stories were amazing games imo and this just seems rubbish in comparison"

    I worked on GTA:LCS, and I can state categorically that CW kicks the hell out of it. It has so much more ambition, fun, variety, plus it's far more suited to handheld gaming. It understood the DS perfectly - I think it's a credit to R* Leeds and I'm a bit gutted I didn't get to work on it!

  • GitSomE_UK #22 2 years ago

    It's GTA, it's on an iPhone, that's a purchase.

    There's no way R* are going to release shonky goods for their debut on a new platform. People expect from R* and R* nearly always delivers.

    Edited by 1 at 19/01/10 @ 07:08

  • Lunatic4ever #23 2 years ago

    Man this game is awesome. Bought it yesterday night and was really fascinated by how good Rockstar managed to make this playable on an iphone. Thats jut crazy. ht elack of many radiostations...well its a sacrifice cause otherwise the datafile would have been waaaay too big. I think they should offer free downloaable radio stations for those who really need to more.

    Neverthelss the game looks great and EVEN THE CONTROLS ARE AWESOME :D

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #24 2 years ago

    It's GTA, it's on an iPhone, that's a purchase.

    There's no way R* are going to release shonky goods for their debut on a new platform. People expect from R* and R* nearly always delivers.

    erm... their debut game on the iPhone was Beaterator and, apparently, it's a dreadful port.

  • shinesevens #25 2 years ago

    I would have liked a review on this. Eurogamer's iPhone coverage is "limp" to say the least. Surely the iPhone is a ciable gaming platform now?

    Anyhoo at least I got the link out to the excellent pocket gamer website from SYS64738, cheers. I would prefer not to have to add another site to my gamin bookmarks but PG seems excellent and until things perk up here....

  • videogangs #26 2 years ago

    Bought it today, switching off driving assist helped a lot. Really haven't seen any glaring control issues, visual look fantastic, and Deadmau5 has his own Radio Station (I had DSI version, was this in it?).

    Anyway yeah, pretty impressed :-)

  • normannormal #27 2 years ago

    bought it. it doesn;t work on 1st gen iTouch, even if you pay apple £10 to upgrade your operating system to 3.1.2
    I though apple was supposed to provide ease of use. No way of getting the £6 back.
    ho hum.