Official details surface for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on DS

So far, details have been scant concerning GTA: Chinatown Wars. We think it's got 20 hours or more of gameplay, that it's for grown-ups, and that the stylus will somehow be involved. We know it's on DS. But apart from that, we don't know much.

Except now we do, because this month's edition of Nintendo Power contains first details of the much-anticipated obscenity fest. Apparently (thanks Kotaku) it uses cel-shaded graphics and an isometric 3D perspective (like Zelda), and it makes use of the mobile phone deployed to such good effect in GTA IV.

Those of you who played that game may also be interested to learn that the GPS system, which made it possible to navigate without constantly switching back and forth between the map screen and the road, will also be present. The wanted system, however, is expected to be different. Instead of escaping from your pursuers' field of awareness, you'll have to "disable police cars any way possible."

In other words, "with great violence."

You'll aim with the D-pad and auto-target with R shoulder, and the weapons you aim will include a chain gun and a flamethrower. Being a DS title, it'll also contain mini-games. Disappointingly, these are said to be "tasteful."

People who like community features will be glad to hear that it'll be possible to upload stats via wi-fi to the Rockstar Social Club.

Here's a list of features, list fans.

"- True GTA game - sandbox gameplay, open-world environment, gritty crime narrative.
- M-rating
- Isometric camera angle
- Cel-shaded polygons w/ black borders
- good touch-screen implementation - "tasteful" mini-games, streamlining interface
- UI based on a PDA - hub for email, contacts, map, music player, GPS, stat-tracking
- stats uploaded to Rockstar Social Club website via Wi-Fi
- finger-sized icons
- missions designed for shorter periods of play, arcade quality
- aiming with control pad, auto targeting with R button
- subtle autosteer
- if you fail a mission, you can jump back to the action sequence
- chain gun, flamethrower
- good portion of Liberty City is modeled in the game (different routes than console games)
- no probems with load times, draw-in or frame rate
- lots of pedestrians, cars, etc on screen
- Wanted system - objective is to disable police cars any way possible
- real-time weather effects, 24-hour day/night cycle
- lots of radio stations to listen to (more instrumentals than vocals)
- 800,000 lines of hand-optimized source code (hey, the people like the info, right?)
- no details yet on multiplayer/wi-fi features."