Loose Threads: Is GTA on the DS really such a good idea?

[Fraser]

Time for a spot of advocating old nick. Don't get us wrong, we are all for GTA Chinatown Wars, but we feel it's necessary to ask the tough questions.

So...

Is the DS really packing enough muscle to do an open world game any sort of justice?

The quality of voice acting has been one of the GTA series' crowning achievements. Will the absence of spoken dialogue rob the game of much of its charm and character?

Is the touchscreen really the best interface for coping with all of the different playing styles that a GTA game demands?

Are hot wiring mini-games really such a necessary advance for the series?

Is the console that gave us Nintendogs really the best fit for a GTA game in the first place?

Don't hate us for asking, someone has to...

[danskmacabre]

Personally I prefer the simplicity of DS games, with a few exceptions, games that try to be really complex don't work out so well on the DS.
But, there's no harm in trying I guess, the DS is pretty versatile, it might work out, but I doubt it.
Take for example Warhammer 40k, which was pretty dire.

[hunter_alien]

Im not seeing why the DS couldent have a GTA game... its actually a pretty good idea IMO seeing how few M rated games the hand-held has. Will it be as good as the PSP iterations? Not a chance. It doesnt packs by far such a powerful hardware, and the controls might not be the best for it neither. But it could be fun... I hope that they wont take the game to seriously and they will put more attention into creating a more arcade-style open-end world, and not into making a bloody, way to serious, boring, violent game.

Oh, and will it sell as well as it did on the PSP? Again, I wouldent expect that seeing that the 2 PSP game had sold over 8 million copies from which Liberty City Stories did over 5. But it could generate a nice little profit for Take 2

[GideonB]

If GTA on the DS was a good idea, why would they be making it? It's not a good idea, It's really only for the people who don't have a PSP, I mean, who wants to get a PSP just for a few games by rockstar called GTA. It makes more sense to release the game like they did on the Game Boy Color, devoid of all of the bad stuff, just with a few people being run over, but they want to make an actual game, so let them do it, just let another guy go on about how GTA isn't that good. For Once, I actually should point out that this is Rockstar's first game on the DS, and it better be good, because a lot of gamers are expecting it to be.
Why can't we have Saints Row on the DS or PSP? That game is fun, but no, GTA should not be on the DS unless it contains everything the GTA series is known for, including the controversy.

[Bludhavenn]

I don't understand it honestly, why even bother when there's so many of the game on the PSP? I agree that it's more so for people that don't have PSP.

[SciFiTY]

I'm here in the US and I tried the GTA versin on the 360 and wasn't impressed but on the DS it's just right. It's doing very very well here in the US and starting to sell like a starter game for the DSi. I really enjoy it as the 360 versin was too much for me and my highly mobile lifestyle, little time for gaming. This seems to be the type of gamer the DS/DSi is aimed at in the first place, 'touch and go gamers' (no pun intended).

The voice acting is taken over by reading but there is more than enough to this game to keeep the charm of the original GTA style and the art style keeps it far different than the GBA version... the map of things to do is impresssive for the DS also.

It's an adult game without being too adult. I personally observe that around here the DS(i) caters to two different demographics, both widely seperated by years between them; children and Mid Age Adults. (here meaning in the United States)

[Pants McGewen]

I agree - I've never had anything more than a casual interest in the GTA series, usually losing patience and interest fairly early on thanks to the clunky mission structure. Chinatown Wars, though, gets it just right. As a result, it's the first GTA game I've actually finished.

[MasterHeywood]

I thought GTA: CW came close to getting it right, largely thanks to the drug dealing. The series lost its oomph after Vice City I thought, when money stopped meaning anything. In CW you get that sense that you're progressing organically by making money, but it's far too easy to amass a vast fortune, rendering the drug dealing pointless and leaving the same barebones mission structure behind. Saying that, it was a lot better than I expected it to be.

[chris_pg]

GTA worked out pretty well on DS in the end, although I don't think it's the natural home for it, it's a PC/console game really and a hardcore title, I don't think you can transfer any game to any format.

[Fraser]

It certainly did, Rockstar did a great job. Now everyone go and buy it so that Rockstar hurries up and makes some more handheld GTA games. *pssst-iPhone*

[Owain]

You've got to admire Rockstar. They really walk it like they talk it.

[OutRun]

I think they have an uncommon ability to follow their beliefs and not be sidetracked by all the noise surrounding them. I also think there's a not insignificant level of arrogance that they could do with toning down, along with their obsession with controversy.

But to take GTA to the DS and seemingly succeed (my copy's sat on my desk still wrapped at the mo) is a considerable achievement, sure.

[yiyi]

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