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Posted: Mar 14 2009 05:35 am

At least, it's on romsites already. It was scheduled to be released on Tuesday in America and on Friday in Europe, but I'm already downloading the game. I shall be back in an hour or so to give you my first impressions of the game.

(Note: Yes, I am planning on purchasing the game.)

Joined: Jul 06 2008 Posts: 142

hope it don't suck like the other gta games on gameboy

Posted: Mar 14 2009 05:45 am

From what I saw, the GBC games were pretty much ports of 1 and 2. I haven't played GTA Advance much, but from what I played it seemed kinda mediocre.

EDIT: Woo, shit hits the fan as soon as you decide whether you want auto-saving or not. It seems the ROM is either badly dumped (although my friend plays it on an emulator), or the Supercard software is a piece of shit.

EDIT THE SECOND: Most flashcarts shit themselves with this game, so I don't think I'll be able to run it anytime soon... Unless I buy a better card, that is.

Posted: Mar 14 2009 05:03 pm

So you know, it's because the rom uses a relatively-unknown savetype (or a new savetype, I cannot remember what). Said savetype is supported by No$GBA (a DS and GBA emulator), but due to not being used in commercial games until just now, isn't suported by flashcarts, unless the manufacturers update their firmware, or the more intelligent members of the DS Scene do so for them. The game itself doesn't have any piracy protection, which is pretty good, so the only real drawback is that only like 3 flashcarts support the savetype (officially,anyway) at this very moment in time.

Not that this matters, I'm buying this game. This is one of those DS games I will actually force myself to buy. (This has nothing to do with the fact I've got an R4, and that has a snowball's chance in hell of getting an update any time soon)

edit- a savefix (by iND) was released, so (apparently) this game works on nearly all flashcarts now. I've tested it on my R4 and it works fine.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 09:00 am

Okay, I managed to get it to run - here's my first impression of the game.

The graphics are GORGEOUS. Cel-shaded 3D goodness, with a perspective reminescent of both GTA 3/VC/SA/4 and the classic ones.

The controls are AWESOME on foot and HALF-AWESOME while driving. The first thing you should do is turn off the driving assistance.

The DS capabilities are all spot-on. You have to hotwire some cars (three different methods so far), for example. You can deal drugs a'la Drugwars, steal Ammu-Nation vans (and then pilfer the contents) and so on.

Weapons are no longer randomly found on the streets, apparently - you have to search red dumpsters to get them. They refill automatically after some time and are found all over the city.

The weirdest thing is the wanted level. Like in 3 / Vice City / San Andreas it disappears when you save a game in a safehouse (more on saving later), but you can also lower it by BLOWING UP POLICE CARS. Seriously. Try that shit in San Andreas, I dare you.

You can also save wherever you are, and the game has an autosave function which saves your game after every mission.

If you have any questions about the game, ask away.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 09:23 am

Okay, double-post time, I'll tell you more about the drug dealing.

It works like this - after a few storyline trades, you get an application for your PDA that tracks the drug market in Liberty City. Basically, it shows you which gangs control what territory and what are the supplies and demands in each.

For example, the Triads control Chinatown, and their primary supply are downers. So you select the turf, in this case, Chinatown, and the GPS starts pointing to the dealer of that turf. You go there, buy the entire supply of downers and - what now?

You go back to the application again, and see which gang's preferred purchase are downers. In this case, the Jamaicans like them very much, so select a Jamaican territory (Schottler) and go meet up with the dealer there. Sell your downers to him for a big profit.

Also, Jamaicans supply weed, so find a gang that wants it and dump your load, take their supply, and so on.

The drug that is listed as a primary supply for the gang means they sell it for the lowest price, so always check that. You'll be rich in no time.

Still, sometimes cops are on your tail and when you get busted, they take all your drugs away. Your safehouses have a big red box in them - that's your stash. When the drugs are there, these drugs are safe. You can't deal them, however (duh!).

So, word of advice - don't deal with the gangs hate you, because of the risk. Your life (and stash!) is more important than the profit. When you go out to deal, only take drugs that you will sell in your carryall and store the rest in the stash. Never take any drugs with you on a mission, and all that.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 01:15 pm

This sounds pretty good, I'll pick it up when I get my DSI.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 05:53 pm

Since I enjoyed making that last post, here's another. This time, we talk about car-jacking.

To get into a car, press X. If you steal the car right off the street, chances are you need to start the engine. The engine might be one of three types encountered in Liberty City and each has to be started in a specific way. Be quick about it, though, as the car alarm goes off quite quickly.

The most common type is the normal keyswitch - simply jam your trusty screwdriver inside and turn it around a few times and it'll start.

Sometimes you need to hotwire the car. There will be a small plaque held together by four screws. Unscrew those and two wires will be visible. Take them out and tie them together.

The rarest type is the electronic car-lock which locks the car with a 4-digit combination. Connect your PDA to the car computer and it will run a jammer signal, allowing you to enter the code that's displayed on your PDA. Simple as that.

Now, the cops. For some odd reason they don't like stealing cars and they will chase you. In order to lose them, get into a chase. Then, either make the cops run into obstacles, or smash their engines by plowing into them with your car. Seriously, just give 'em hell. You need to take out one car for one star, three cars for two stars, five cars for three cars and so on.

Now, because Ammu-nation works on a home-delivery system now (not unlike the pizza men, which are considerably slower than Ammu-nation), you'll sometimes spot their delivery trucks on the road. If you somehow manage to get the driver out of the car and steal it, you can drive it to your nearest secluded safehouse and take the delivery for yourself. Be careful, though, because the drivers have shotguns and AKs.

At some point in the game, you can also steal other gang's delivery vans - they usually have drugs and are considerably easier to steal.

More on drugs - sometimes you get a tip-off e-mail on your PDA. This means that either someone has some very cheap drugs for you, or that someone will pay ridiculous prices for some drugs. They have a time limit (usually two days), so you'd better take care of them as soon as you get them. Such is the life of an Asian immigrant.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:07 pm

this game sounds fun from what Nek has described.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:12 pm

Wow, looking more into this game, I can't believe how much you really deal drugs in this game. I was watching a vid, and you have separately manage coke, ecstacy, weed, acid and heroin supplies. That is pretty wild.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:13 pm

username wrote:

this game sounds fun from what Nek has described.

I've played it for circa 1 hour (too busy with college work and other stuff to play GTA), and I can tell you, it is fun. If you liked GTA 1 and 2 on the PS1, or PC, or whatever you played it on, you'll enjoy this.

Though for some reason, I like playing with the DS speakers turned down, and listening to Surfin' Bird.

... then again, I like playing Super Mario Bros while listening to Surfin' Bird, so I presume that song's just my gaming theme tune or something.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:24 pm

Let's just spoil the whole game, Nekkoru! LOL

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:26 pm

I still want my San Andreas Stories god dammit! *sore*

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:35 pm

Great idea, DarknessDeku! Here are some of the touch-screen implementations!

The first implementation you encounter in the game is the only one of a kind - you need to smash a window of a car to get out.

During gameplay the touchscreen accesses some PDA functions (GPS, e-mail), as well as selects your weapons and aims grenades.

To use grenades, you touch and hold the icon, and an aim will appear on the top screen. You must move your thumb to aim, like you were moving an analog stick.

Some minigames that include the touch screen involve tattooing new Triad members or smashing a car engine or even planting a bug in a car.

I already described the car jacking in my previous post...

You also deal drugs using the bottom screen.

You rip open vans using the touchscreen.

You disarm bombs in a minigame using the touch screen.

And, while you don't use the touch screen, you whistle into the microphone to stop a cab and get inside. Yes, you can ride cabs in the game.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:42 pm

Nekkoru wrote:

Great idea, DarknessDeku! Here are some of the touch-screen implementations!

The first implementation you encounter in the game is the only one of a kind - you need to smash a window of a car to get out.

During gameplay the touchscreen accesses some PDA functions (GPS, e-mail), as well as selects your weapons and aims grenades.

To use grenades, you touch and hold the icon, and an aim will appear on the top screen. You must move your thumb to aim, like you were moving an analog stick.

Some minigames that include the touch screen involve tattooing new Triad members or smashing a car engine or even planting a bug in a car.

I already described the car jacking in my previous post...

You also deal drugs using the bottom screen.

You rip open vans using the touchscreen.

You disarm bombs in a minigame using the touch screen.

And, while you don't use the touch screen, you whistle into the microphone to stop a cab and get inside. Yes, you can ride cabs in the game.

Wow, the whistling to catch a cab is a verrrry slick touch, haha.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 06:43 pm

I will likely see what IGN gives it before deciding to buy it or not. If it is 45$ I will probably pass, if it's 30-35, it will get strong consideration.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 07:03 pm

anorexorcist wrote:

I will likely see what IGN gives it before deciding to buy it or not. If it is 45$ I will probably pass, if it's 30-35, it will get strong consideration.

This game appears to have enough content to warrant a $45 pricetag, but I heard it was only going to be $35.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 07:07 pm

Andrew Man: I literally spent six hours today whistling for cabs and dealing drugs. IT IS JUST SO FUN EH

Posted: Mar 15 2009 07:19 pm

Nekkoru wrote:

Andrew Man: I literally spent six hours today whistling for cabs and dealing drugs. IT IS JUST SO FUN EH

hahaha, that sounds like my kind of game. I really can't wait. The devs really got clever with this one.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 07:19 pm

AAAAHHHH I would so be in this if I didn't break the internet on thursday.

Posted: Mar 15 2009 08:43 pm

It sounds pretty sweet but I want to see what IGN and whatnot give it, but you guys recomend it? I don't play my DS enough, havnt finished New Super Mario, Chrono Trigger or either of my 2 Advance Wars games, I did beat Castlevania DoS though. I should be playing more DS but I only really like to play it when travelling and I never travel anymore.

Posted: Mar 17 2009 03:10 pm

IGN gave this a 9.5, looks very well done. Need a new DS damnit!

Posted: Mar 17 2009 03:46 pm

I am definately buying this. There is just so much to do, hopefully it gets me back into hardcore DS gaming.

EDIT: I have reserved my copy.

Title: Comic Author Joined: Dec 12 2008 Posts: 1179

Reviews across the board have been outstanding, I don't think I've seen a single official review give it anything less than a 9. Having played it for at least 5 hours already myself, I have to say I agree with them.

Posted: Mar 17 2009 06:33 pm

I've got it yesterday and played for about two hours.

(Possible Spoilers, but not many)

My adventure so far:

After the intros I broke out of the window of the car and made my way to my uncle's. He wasn't happy to see me, but decided to put me to work. I had to go save some of my uncles associates, and met this really hot chick, who I kept hitting on, but she didn't seem to like me much. It turns out, that she is my Uncle's weapons master, and she tested my on my martial arts abilites, and had me do some target practice with her gun. We then went to save the manager of one of my uncle's restruants. The hot chick got shot, which made me sad, and then when I saved the manager instead of thanking me, he got all mad. Asshole... So then I went and had to steal three cars, and that was alot of fun. Though, I still need to learn how to drive better , as I am all over the road, and hate the fact that if you so much as brush against a cop car, you get a wanted level, and then have to smash up the cops chasing you, to get rid of it. Kinda stupid. So after I all that, I decided to take a break from missions and wonder around Liberty City a bit to see what neat things I could find. I met a man on the street selling hotdogs who was talking about how he wife didn't like his hotdog anymore, and maybe like someone else's foot long, and he wanted me to see who was putting thier meatballs into his wife's pasta. Weird Guy. He wanted me to drive to his house and put a bug on her car. I said okay, and got into my car. The GPS said I had to go the other way, so I backed up to make a three point turn, and I ran over the Hotdog guy. So I failed that side mission. Oops. So then I drove around for a bit, and was comparing how things looked between GTA 4 and Chinatown Wars. I found Belic's Taxi Shop, and stole a cab from it. That was pretty cool. And, then I remembered about the cab feature, so I thought I would try it out. I whistled for a cab and when it came near, the license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror. If anything I can say this cab is rare, but I thought "Naw,forget it, Yo homes to Bel Air!" I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8, And I yelled to the cabbie "Yo homes smell ya later", I looked at my kingdom, I was finally there to sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air.