It’s really difficult for me to sit down and write this review.  After my time with Tri-Crescendo’s Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon, I can honestly say that I was dumbfounded by how emotionally engaged I was by the story.  Rest assured, the experience to be had here is a memorable one, one way or the other.  And I will tell you why, in due time.

First, however, I want to cover the flaws.  There aren’t that many of them (by my reckoning, anyway), and getting them out of the way leaves me even more time to gush about this stand-out title.

Let’s not waste time here – combat is not Fragile Dreams’ strong suit.  Most encounters dissolve into muttered expletives and frustrated proclamations of “Why the hell can’t I reach this bastard!?”  However, this is certainly one of those games where combat doesn’t really matter so much as the main experience, as I will get to in short order.  The most consistent offender is the annoying tendency of enemies to float out of your reach.  Combat isn’t tough, it’s just drawn out.  It gets better towards the end of the game (which is a godsend, allowing you to contentedly finish the title off).  Other than that, fighting won’t test your skills exponentially.

The only other real flaw I can touch upon for Fragile is its obvious technical and budgetary limitations.  This wasn’t a particularly huge release, and by coupling that with the platform its on, you aren’t looking at anything revolutionary in the texture or resolution departments.  That’s really the only other qualm I have here, and so from here on out, consider this a love letter to Fragile Dreams.

While we’re on the subject of visuals, let me point out that the technical limitations of this game by no means take away from the  brilliant art style featured.  In that sense, this is probably the prettiest, most imaginative title I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing on the Wii.  Character design is paramount in anything as story heavy as this, and Fragile hits on all cylinders.  From protagonist Seto, to Ren – the object of his curiosity very early on in the game – to any of the colorful cast that populate this barren, post-apocalyptic (well, sort of) atmosphere, you’ll see a vast amount of creativity.

Working hand-in-hand with the visuals is the utterly fantastic audio component of the game.  The voice acting (and more specifically, the pacing of the script) is great, with Bleach star Johnny Yong Bosch leading an excellent cast.  Granted, he sounds like Michael Jackson when doing his younger voice, but he really breaths life into Seto, and makes us connect with the timid youth.  In a game like this, where there is such limited interaction with a huge variety of other people, having a character you connect with is critical.

Not only is the voice and ambient sound great, but the soundtrack is stunning.  Seriously, if you have the chance get it and put it on as you’re going to sleep one night.  An adventure in and of itself, standout tracks include “The Girl With Silver Hair”, “Beautiful”, and “Together With the Moon”.  As I’ve repeated multiple times in this review, and likely will again, the main draw of this game is its emotional journey, and the soundtrack bolsters that.

It helps that the environments you traverse are, for the most part, awe inspiring.  Levels are not needlessly shrouded in darkness, but are expertly lit, as if by a film’s DP.  Generally, these are great and evocative, but you will notice sections that seem a bit too barren, and more like mere transit locales to get you to the next awesome area.  Don’t worry though, kids, it’s all good in the hood (the “hood” being deserted Japan).  The boring bits of the game are mostly just sprinkled throughout, and rarely last long enough to pull you out of the game.

When my time with Fragile Dreams finally concluded, I was extremely pleased.  The game doesn’t at any point jump the shark, and wraps up nicely.  However, I can’t help but feel that playing through it again would be counter-productive.  Like a movie that’s great the first time, but exposes its flaws more and more with repeat viewings, Fragile Dreams is no doubt a game meant to be played once and once only.  This isn’t an issue, since it has a decent length (about 9-10 hours for most), and it’s so well put together that it’s one hell of a ride.

I have no problem recommending a purchase, since it’s well worth the money, but keep in mind that it’s most likely a one-way ticket.  Finally, I’d like to leave you with a question.  Was Ico all about its puzzles and gameplay, or about its over arching experience as a whole?  Keep that in mind while wandering through the beautiful world of Fragile.

Since it seems that every game and their grandmothers have midnight release bonanzas these days, I thought it best to share with you a few tips. You might laugh and say that none of these things are particularly vital to getting that prime midnight release real estate, but you’ll still print out 87 copies of this web page, just in case.

Head inside to learn some nifty tips for a midnight launch!

Don’t Wait for More People to Show

We’ve all done it.  You’re super-psyched for a midnight release camp-out, only to arrive eight hours early and find no one else around.  In a silly and completely random pang of embarrassment, many gamers will sit in their cars and wait for someone else to start the line.  Get over it, you’ve already lost respect amongst most of your peers by waiting in line for the midnight launch anyway. Grab your lawn chairs and proceed to prime spot #1 at the front of the non-existent line.

Always Bring Jackets

Yeah, I know.  You checked the forecast for tonight, and it said warm with no chance of rain.  Let’s face it, weathermen suck.  If some higher power is alerted to a midnight release, he will doubtless cause terrible, terrible acts of nature to occur.  For example, as I sat camped out in front of Toys ‘R’ Us waiting for my as-yet-unreleased Nintendo Wii, it started snowing like crazy.  And, that’s right, the forecast hadn’t predicted anything of the sort.  A word to the wise: always bring jackets!

Evaluate Your Neighbors

If you’re going to a midnight release, then plan on going early.  And I mean several hours early.  While jumping at the first open spot you see might sound appealing, one has to be extremely cautious when selecting a place to dig in for the night.  If you aren’t starting the line (refer above), then you have some options available to you.  Sitting next to that bearded dude with the ridiculous Mario/Scarface mash-up shirt might be a great way to kick off discussions about who has the bigger game collection, but it’s also going to get old, fast.  And when delirium sets in as the midnight hour approaches, you definitely don’t want an angry nerd next to you.  Instead, find a guy who dragged his hot girlfriend along to the launch, and sit next to her.  Who knows, she might decide to character-swap to you instead.

Bring Extra Cash

Never, EVER, bring the minimum amount of money required for your purchase to a midnight release.  Sure, you’re going there for one thing and one thing only, but rarely does that remain the case for long.  Retailers know what you’re there for, and so they re-arrange their wares to accommodate this.  As soon as you enter, you’ll see plenty of other stuff related to the game you’re about to get, and it will be near impossible not to spring for something else.  Maybe it’s a Halo game, or the life-sized Master Chief replicas that litter the store floor – goodbye, $2,500 (ok, maybe this only happened to me).  Or maybe a 3,000 page strategy guide for the latest Bethesda release.  I’ll take one of those, please!  Or hell, maybe you feel like buying two copies of Uncharted 2, because it’s just that awesome.  Whatever the case, chances are you won’t be leaving there with just the game.

Don’t Go to a Midnight Release

This is the most important piece of advice we have for you.  Don’t go.  Just don’t do it.  What are you really gaining here?  Getting the game a few hours early?  Playing it for 30 minutes at home before realizing you’re exhausted and going to bed?  In the end, it’s usually not worth it to get the thing early. Just go to bed, and go to the store when it opens in the morning. You’ll actually be awake to play, and will enjoy the game all the more for it.  Plus, it saves you from having to worry about any of the things I mentioned above.  The only downside? The staff at your local retailer will probably despise everything about the game and you by the time you go to pick it up, so your transaction experience will be diminished.  Oh wait, that’s how they always are.  It’s a win/win!

So remember friends, heed my words.  Or, if you have some better advice for midnight game perusers, heed your own words and list it in the comments below.  Have fun ignoring everything I said and going to a midnight release anyway!  I know I will.

After playing one of 2010′s more solid titles, Bayonetta, from SEGA earlier this year, I was extremely impressed (as were a lot of people) with the slick presentation and incredibly fluid and fun combat system.  As we reported last month,  gamers in Japan agreed, with the game selling 1.1 million copies within a very small exclusive window in the Land of the Rising Sun.  This was followed by surprising critical and commercial success in the States.

Well, it appears that SEGA took notice.  In a recent interview with CVG, SEGA’s Mike Hayes, after speaking about things like Sony’s ‘Move’ and Microsofts ‘Natal’ motion technologies and the markets SEGA has never conquered (in the MMO department), spoke on the possible franchising of their recent exciting IP’s and successes.

“We’ve got our shooter with AvP and our RPG with Alpha Protocol – we really want to make that into a franchise. That’s the area where we need some success, to sequel-ise that.

If you think about it, we can sequel-ise Bayonetta, AVP, Alpha Protocol – if we can make a hit of something like Vanquish – then you add that to Football Manager and Virtua Tennis – we actually have a broad portfolio.”

If, like me, you enjoyed the hell out of Bayonetta, and are super disappointed with all the delays surrounding Alpha Protocol (because it looks so darn awesome!), then this could potentially be awesome.  I want to see more from the sultry Bayonetta (as does any male/female worth his/her hormone count), and Alpha Protocol has the potential to be a Bourne/KOTOR/Mission Impossible hybrid that will rock all facets of my world.  Fingers crossed that things pan out as well as they potentially could.

Agree with me?  Or did AvP burn your face off Raiders of the Lost Ark style?  Let us know!

I have a distinct memory of playing Raiden II when I was younger, and loving the hell out of it.  There’s something immediately fun and nostalgic about playing a classic top down shmup.  This is why that memory of Raiden II stays with me to this very day, and also what led to my interest in Shoot 1UP.

An indie title from developer Mommys Best Games, Shoot 1UP is very much in the vain of the Raiden series, in that it’s full of the top-down goodness that has kept this genre prominent (and more importantly, fun) for so many years.  However, the game adds in a unique, and dare I say brilliant, mechanic that really differentiates it from the multitude of other similarly designed titles.

This mechanic revolves around the idea that, in place of building up a reserve store of lives to fall back on should you fall in combat, the game instead grants you any 1UPs you earn as active ships to aid your cause.  In other words, for every new life you get, a new ship appears on your screen immediately.  Should you be successful enough, you can take up a nice chunk (30 ships worth) of the screen with your squadron.  Not to mention, the game supports Co-Op play, upping the total ship count to 60 on screen at once, chugging away at your enemies.  And the great design doesn’t stop there.

Along with the ability to amass an army of fighters, the game also adds a layer of complex strategical maneuvering.  Basically, you have the option to spread your ships out across the map, or pull them all in for a single line of attack.  There is positive and negative strategic value for both of these options.  When spread out, your ships cover more area with their fire, and eliminate more enemies.  You also gain the ability to launch a beam of energy at your foes, great for tackling bosses.  However, the downside is that dodging incoming ships and fire is much more difficult when in a wider formation.  Should you choose to keep your squad close together, you will lose the ability to use the beam attack, but will ensure the survival of more units.

Graphically, the game exudes classic charm.  In the same way that Mega Man 9‘s retro visuals can still look pretty damn good, so too do Shoot 1UP‘s.  The level design in particular is also surprisingly interesting, albeit a little crowded with stuff to look at.  The basic enemy ship designs are generally pretty solid, if not too varied or detailed.  However, when it comes to boss designs, this game is awesome.  Every single boss battle is interesting and fun to look at – which is pretty rare in shooters these days.  However, since the firepower upgrades are nearly non-existent, it’s tough not to grow tired of the basic fire animations.

Another interesting design choice is the ability to choose your path at certain times in the game.  Mostly, this consists of simple commands such as “Continue Ahead” or “Go Back”, which plays out exactly as you’d expect.  At other intervals, you’ll receive the option to free roam.  While that concept is a bit deceiving (you can’t exactly fly wherever you want), you do switch to a diagonal-focused combat scenario.  It’s a refreshing break from the typical straightforward path of top down shooters, and it fits well.

I think Shoot 1UP is a fine addition to the genre, something that we don’t see nearly enough of nowadays.  Sure, it has a paper thin story (something about flagella and almost naked women decorating a level, I’m pretty sure), but for this genre, that neither comes as a surprise, nor particularly as a fault.

Games like this are meant to be played, enjoyed, and played again.  The only real problem I have with Shoot 1UP is how quickly it’s over.  In total, there are only six levels.  But for something this cheap ($1!), you’re definitely getting your moneys worth and more.  I hope to see this expanded on in the future.

Gamer Limit gives Shoot 1UP an 8.5/10

Since it first saw release in South Korea in August of 2001, Ragnarok Online (or RO for short) has built a huge following.  It has since been released all over the world – its player base growing exponentially in the process.  In fact, there are over three million registered users in North America.  In a post WoW world, that’s not too shabby.

While fans wait for the sequel to arrive, Ragnarok Online 2: The Gate of the World (which has been in limbo since it was announced in 2005), they must tide themselves over with Ragnarok DS, from publisher XSEED and developer GungHo Works.

Ragnarok DS represents a distinct departure from its online counterpart, in that it isn’t an MMO.  Instead, Ragnarok DS follows the single player adventures of Ales, an orphan full of regret from the loss of his mother, and full of spite for his father’s abandonment.  From the very onset of the game, it’s clear that Ales isn’t going to be the coolest protagonist you’ve ever seen.  Overly whiny and single-minded, he’s a bit of a jerk.  But hey, it worked for Cloud Strife, why not Ales?

In fact, the similarities to Final Fantasy don’t stop there.  The game takes place in the world of Midgard (one letter removed from the setting of Final Fantasy VII‘s Midgar).  However, there is a pretty clear cut gap between Ragnarok DS and FFVII.  This is due to the simple fact that FFVII had characters you cared about.  Ragnarok never really does.  Instead, the cast found here is simply annoying.  Thus, your favorite character in the game will likely be the one you who whines the least.

The story here centers around Ales and a mysterious girl named Sierra.  In the process of escaping pursuers with an unnamed adventurer and scientist, Sierra falls off a cliff.  After that, she is discovered by Ales.  But hey, guess what!?  She’s developed amnesia!  That’s right, in an incredible burst of originality and ingenuity, instead of following RPG conventions and thrusting cliche’ numero uno onto the player’s character, the developers instead bestow it upon your primary companion.  This plays out precisely as it usually does, except now your character is tasked with explaining the tutorial.  Great.

For all the complaining I’ve done thus far regarding story, fans of the online game will most likely enjoy it.  After all, there’s significantly more to be experienced here then there is online, so it’s certainly better than nothing.  That said, there’s nothing particularly engaging or new about this tale.  You pick up various companions along the way, each representing a typical mainstay of the RPG genre, and none of them shows much growth.

Naturally, the shortcomings of the storyline could easily be forgiven if the gameplay itself were any good.  Saying that a game needs a great story to be fun is like saying that one needs to do a Quad to win gold in Men’s Olympic Skating (which, guess what Russia, you don’t).  They needn’t go hand in hand. Sadly, what we find here isn’t anything special.  Let me preface this by saying that the combat in Ragnarok DS is by no means terrible.  It’s actually quite adequate.  However, like so many other aspects of the game, it’s just monotonous, verging on plain boring.

Considering how much grinding the game forces you to do, in order to find a specific item or reach a minimum level to properly progress, the combat would have to be pretty excellent to hold your attention.  Instead, it consists of tapping an enemy, causing your character to continuously attack the creature until it’s dead.  That’s it.  Occasionally, as you level up, you’ll gain new skills and abilities, which you keep track through a bar on the top right of your screen.  These skills can be selected and used in combat.  However, this also breaks the flow of combat, as you must then re-select your opponent to begin your assault anew.

Speaking of which, this brings up one of the few truly bright spots in this title.  The screen layout is absolutely brilliant in its execution.  Informational bars alerting you to your team’s status, as well as the powers and skills available to you, are all collapsible with a simple tap of the stylus.  Not only that, but navigating the menus to upgrade and level up and your companions is streamlined and simple.  However, that isn’t enough to save a game that falls a bit short in most other areas.

Most notable of those shortcomings is the audio.  The soundtrack is overwhelmingly average.  There’s little to no variation between tunes.  Often times, you’ll find yourself soldiering on to get to the next area, just for the sake of hearing some new music, only to have it be just as annoying as the last.  However, it can be said that the music does slightly improve as you move through the game, so if you’re in this for the long haul, things do get a little better.

Visually, the game is a bit of an oddity.  This is one of the few games I’ve ever seen in my life that looks better under closer speculation.  The game offers you three camera views.  “Zoomed out”, “sorta zoomed out”, and “way too close to play with.”  No, those aren’t the official names of the views, but they are quite fitting.  When on the “way too close to play with” setting, the artistic style of the game is interesting, and will certainly please fans of the online games.  However, as the name may have clued you in, the camera on that setting does not show nearly enough of the surrounding area to merit true playability.  Move to one of the other two options, and the game becomes a pixelated and an uninteresting mess.

This is a shame, because for the most part, the game features some truly interesting and cool looking character designs.  The same cannot be said for the environments you traverse, as those are mostly bland and uninspired.  It’s a shame that the team couldn’t figure out a camera option that really suited the level of detail they’d put into their characters.

Finally, we arrive at the online portion of the game.  While not retaining the MMO qualities of the online title, Ragnarok DS still allows you to take the fight online with up to two other friends.  However, instead of allowing you and your pals to take on quests that relate in some way to the story, or the many guilds in the game, you are instead relegated to “The Mirage Tower”.  To reach the tower, you and your pals must unlock the Sograt Dessert area first.  The tower itself is simply a test of stamina, with over fifty levels to battle through and the possibility of getting rare gear.  The multiplayer is actually quite cool, in that you can customize your character to offer something to differentiate between you and your friends.  However, the mode itself doesn’t offer much lasting value, and you will soon lose interest.

Overall, my time with Ragnarok DS wasn’t awful.  There were times when I genuinely got into the grind of leveling up and getting new equipment.  However, the game can become so unnecessarily tedious and dull that you won’t really see yourself following all the way through to the end.

Certain design choices simply don’t work out, like the camera options, but others pick up the slack, like the incredibly simple-but-perfect screen and information layout.  While there is a lengthy adventure to be had here, it’s not a certainty that you’ll want to get all the way through, as the story isn’t exactly inspiring.  However, I would definitely recommend this for fans of the online game.

We all knew the iPhone adaptation of Plants Vs. Zombies was going to be a huge hit with consumers.  For one thing, almost anything PopCap touches turns to gold (Bejeweled, Peggle).  For another, it’s tough for people not to fall in love with PvZ‘s addictive strategic gameplay.

However, results that arrived yesterday add solid statistical fact to our assumptions.  Plants Vs. Zombies for iPhone is an absolute mobile phenomena.  As of yesterday, February 24th, over 300,000 iPhones have downloaded PopCaps latest release for the Apple device, with the number growing everyday.  Added to the fact that the game is now the fastest selling iPhone release in the first 24 hours of availability, and you have yourself a bonafide success.

These reports of commercial success join the already huge critical reception of the game.  In fact, our very own Sean Carey awarded the game an excellent score for its iPhone debut in his review. Pretty much anyone that has played it walks away just as impressed.  Well, actually, they don’t really ever walk away – they can’t stop playing.  Nonetheless, impressed!

Source: Game Informer

If you’ll recall, last week we reported that gamers who redeemed a code acquired by purchasing a copy of Darksiders early on would receive a free copy of another THQ title, Red Faction: Guerrilla.  Well, it appears that THQ really wants you to play Red Faction, because another offer pertaining to a free copy of the game has sprung up.

According to THQ, if you pre-order their upcoming horror title Metro 2033 on the digital distribution platform Steam, you will be gifted a free copy of Red Faction: Guerrilla for your trouble.  It would appear that there are a wealth of extras sitting around the THQ offices.

In all seriousness, most of you would probably view THQ’s Red Faction deal bonanza as an indication that the title isn’t particularly any good.  In most cases, this would make me feel the same way.  However, in our review of the title, we heaped praises on the game for being one of the better third person shooter experiences on the market at the time.  Most of us adored the game.

If anything, the game is most definitely worth checking out for free.

Over at 1UP, someone with access to an alpha build of the upcoming XBLA and PSN game Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 leaked a smattering of images (of which the header image is one) of the game in motion, along with a video.  While the video was clearly taken with a home video camera, it still gives us a (somewhat) clear look at what we can expect from the game.

Check out this nostalgic footage after the jump, along with some of the leaked images that accompanied the video.  Then, feel free to share your thoughts on what you’ve seen in the comments, or head over the official Sonic the Hedgehog forum thread for more in depth discussion!

What do people enjoy more than launching copies of Perfect Dark Zero extremely great distances?  Receiving any news, screens or video that they can on the Perfect Dark XBLA remake that’s set to release in March, that’s what!

At their ongoing X10 conference, Microsoft unveiled a new trailer for the remake.  The video featured the game running in glorious HD, as well as at 60 frames per second (which comes as a huge delight to anyone who played the crazy slow original).

Check out the trailer after the jump, and strap on your nostalgia goggles!  Everyone does have nostalgia goggles, right?

Perhaps the most important thing to notice about the remake is how true it stays to the original.  It looks better, but not in that “Completely redesigned from scratch!” kind of way.  More like a new coat of paint.  A very awesome new coat of paint.

Rare also put out some new screens for the game.  Check them out!

Share your thoughts in the comments.

According to Ars Technica, via an underground source, Microsoft is planning to announce two new Xbox 360 bundle packs by midnight tonight.  The two bundles in question are set to release alongside both Splinter Cell: Conviction and Final Fantasy XIII, setting their street dates for March 9th and April 13th, respectively.

These two bundles will apparently be similar in nature to the Modern Warfare 2 bundle released earlier in the fall, in that they will come packed with a sizable 250 gig hard drive, as well as two wireless controllers, color coordinated with the console.  Since the Splinter Cell console will be black and the FFXIII console white, the controllers included will follow suit.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a second 360 for a while now (it’s always best to have a backup when you’re a games journalist), and both of these bundles are pretty tempting.  However, they’re also both going to cost $400.  So the question becomes: are they worth the money?  Decide for yourself. Here’s a look at what exactly both bundles offer:

FFXIII Bundle                                      Splinter Cell Conviction Bundle

Expanding on our news post from yesterday, Ubisoft unveiled the very first teaser trailer for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Since the game is gearing up for a “Holiday 2010″ release, it’s safe to assume that production on the title is well underway.

While it doesn’t show much (do teasers ever?), the above footage is enough to get any Tom Clancy junkie pumped for the future.  And why shouldn’t they be?  Check out the awesome teaser after the jump.

The last game in the series, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 was met with some nice critical and commercial success, and the online community surrounding that and its predecessor, GRAW 1, were and are pretty substantial. With this new game promising even more high-tech weaponry and gadgetry (which apparently include Harry Potter Invisibility Cloaks.  Score!), it’s safe to say that people will pay attention.

The word is that the conflict will be set in the year 2020, with locales spread across the entire globe.  This means a distinct change in scenery for those tired of the South American basis from the last two titles.

The current formula used by Rockstar in their Grand Theft Auto franchise has been a staple of the industry for nearly a decade.  Ever since Grand Theft Auto III exploded onto the PS2 in October of 2001, the sandbox genre has never been the same.

Offering an incredible amount of freedom (and controversial content) for the time, Grand Theft Auto III represented a huge departure from the first two titles in the series.  The games that followed built on this foundation, culminating in the critically and commercially acclaimed Grand Theft Auto IV, and its downloadable episodes.

With IV, Rockstar placed a heavier focus on characters and story than ever before, resulting in Niko Bellic, the first character to really elicit emotional reactions and connections from players.  The franchise had really evolved from its early top-down days.

Now, imagine what would happen if you combined the best aspects from each different phase that the series has gone through into one game.  The resulting hybrid would be very similar to Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

Sporting the great characters, story, and freedom of IV, the portability of the Liberty City and Vice City Stories PSP games, and the top-down perspective of the originals, Chinatown Wars melds them all into a single entity.

I won’t simply regurgitate the two excellent reviews from my colleagues Christopher Matulich and Martin Bigg.  Both of those run-downs cover plenty of ground, and explain all the nuances that make this such a fun game.  Instead, I want to tell you how it plays on the iPhone.

Before I really get into the analysis, let me make one thing clear.  I’ve never cared about any GTA protagonist, nor have I ever cared about the story.  For any of them.  However, Chinatown Wars inspired a change in me.  I actually found myself much more interested in Huang Lee and his story than I did mindlessly running around slaughtering the masses.

The writing is often times hilarious, the main character relatable, and the groups involved FAR more interesting than ever before (come on, Triads are always better than the mafia).  So, long story short, this was the first ever GTA that I found myself actually wanting to complete story missions at all, let alone do it consistently.

Now, on to the technical aspects of the game.  I cannot begin to describe just how impressed I am with the tech behind this game. I will try though, if only for the sake of tradition (simply writing “Godly” probably wouldn’t go over well).  GTA: CW for the iPhone finds its place comfortably between the DS and PSP versions, looking slightly better than Nintendo’s outing, but not quite as polished as it does on Sony’s portable platform.

Think about that for a second.  A game on a mobile phone looks better than when it was published on the Nintendo DS.  That’s pretty incredible.  The stylized nature of the game remains wonderfully intact, and because of the top-down perspective, you never really notice any graphical deficiencies.

The stylish hub makes the transition intact as well, with some obvious changes made for the new platform.  Luckily, the onscreen joystick and action buttons never really obscure anything important, and unless you have some Megan Fox sized toe-thumbs, it stays that way, no matter what you do.

Meanwhile, the menu systems are all a bit hit-or-miss.  The buttons used when accessing your email or GPS are so small, you’ll find yourself tapping the screen repeatedly before you actually hit them.

This trouble with sensitivity carries over to some combat scenarios.  For instance, when the game wants you to lob a molotov cocktail or grenade, you must drag your finger over your character, then slide it along the screen until you reach the target you want to hit.

This is one of the few times that your finger will blatantly effect your view, and I died many times from being shot while trying to get the throw distance sorted out.  It also doesn’t help that most of the time, when trying to change the direction of your throw, the arc moves at a snails pace.  I almost never used grenades or molotovs if I could help it.

Sadly, this trend also branches out to include driving as well.  While I wasn’t expecting controls akin to the likes of Forza or Gran Turismo, it would be nice if driving were at least bearable.  It’s not, in any way, shape or form.  There is literally no point in this game where you feel like driving is any more than a nuisance.  Often, it’s much worse than that.

You must hold down the accelerate or brake buttons, while maneuvering is dictated to two arrows on the left hand side of the screen.  Doesn’t exactly sound like pinpoint control, right?  Well, it gets worse.  If you want to move faster than a crawl, you’ll be looking for the handful of sports cars found on the streets of Liberty City.  However, considering that controlling one is tougher than keeping James away from alcohol, you’re probably better off with the 5 mph tow-truck.

When it comes down to it, there’s a lot more good to be found in Chinatown Wars for the iPhone than there is bad.  A pretty expansive game, solid story, great graphical style and tons of humor make up for the touchy controls, questionable mission design and absolutely awful driving.

Combine that with the fact that, as of the most recent update, the game supported playlist integration (meaning you can listen to your own music while driving), and you have an extremely solid experience.  However, some might have trouble justifying that $9.99 price tag.

It definitely offers significantly more fun than most other non-PopCap games you’ll find on the iPhone.  I would recommend this to anyone who’s ever been a fan of past GTA releases, and is willing to tackle the controls for a bit of classic entertainment.

Gamer Limit gives Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the iPhone a 7.5/10