Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the DS is one of those games that makes you forget you're playing on a handheld. You start off as Huang Lee, a spoiled rich kid who quickly learns the hard way that Liberty City doesn’t care about your family name. Within minutes, you're dodging cops, dealing drugs (yeah, they went there), and figuring out how to survive in a city that wants you dead.

The touchscreen stuff actually works—unlike some DS gimmicks—especially when you're hotwiring cars or defusing bombs. And the top-down view? Surprisingly smooth, like a modern take on the old-school GTA games. The missions are brutal in the best way, and the writing’s sharp enough to make you laugh while you’re getting shot at.

It’s wild how much they packed into a tiny cartridge. You’ll either love it or get wrecked trying.