Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is one of the most eclectic titles in the Grand Theft Auto series, and its world is one that desperately needs to be revisited in a sequel. It already holds a unique distinction as the only game in the series to see its original release on the Nintendo DS, and it performed well on the handheld console's hardware. With the power of current-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S behind it, a GTA: Chinatown Wars sequel could be even better.
[Warning: full spoilers for GTA: Chinatown Wars follow.]
GTA: Chinatown Wars released in 2009 and was met with strong reviews from critics. Focusing on Triad gangs within GTA 4's Liberty City, Chinatown Wars spotlighted different gangs and criminals compared to other Grand Theft Auto games. Despite being met with a strong response from fans and critics, however, Chinatown Wars hasn't developed the same kind of fan following as other games in the series, despite its proven quality.
With the recent GTA Trilogy remastered releases, it is clear that Rockstar has no qualms with revisiting older ground. While Chinatown Wars is not as well-known as the games from GTA Trilogy, it is still a cult classic and a strong entry to the series in its own right. Although many fans are thinking about GTA 6, Chinatown Wars still has potential in the franchise's future. GTA: Chinatown Wars introduced new characters, new mechanics, and a new side to Liberty City that had not been focused on before. With Grand Theft Auto having spent much of the last decade in Los Santos, it may be time for a change. These are just a few reasons why Chinatown Wars deserves a sequel.
Huang Lee Is GTA's Best, Most Reluctant Protagonist
Huang Lee, the protagonist of Chinatown Wars, is unique in that he in no way desires to be a GTA protagonist. He had little interest in crime and was only associated with the Liberty City Triads through his family connections. He would have been perfectly happy continuing his life as a rich kid in Hong Kong, but his father's death brings him to Liberty City. His story is essentially an inverse of what happened to Franklin after GTA 5. Instead of escaping from crime, he got dragged into it.
Despite quickly proving himself to be extremely competent, it seems that nothing in Liberty City ever turns out well for Huang. He quickly befriends his gang's combat expert Ling Shan, but she is killed shortly after their first meeting, leaving him to deal with a collection of much less personable allies. By the end of the game, almost everyone that he associated with in Liberty City is dead, and he is forced to kill his uncle after learning that he was responsible for Huang's father's death. The only thing that Huang gains from his adventure is leadership of Liberty City's Triads, which is something that he never wanted.
Despite Huang's many misfortunes, he stands out as a very entertaining protagonist. He is aware of how confusing and ridiculous the GTA world is, and is freely sarcastic about his situation. In a potential sequel, possibly with some voice acting to give him more life, it would be interesting to see how Huang deals with yet another cavalcade of Liberty City's unrelentingly strange criminal underworld.
Chinatown Wars Has Mechanics GTA Hasn't Explored Since
Being on the Nintendo DS means that Chinatown Wars had the opportunity to experiment in ways that other games in the series could not. Of course, gimmicks requiring two screens could not be recreated on current consoles, but Chinatown Wars still had plenty of new ideas. Surprisingly, a few of the game's new ideas have not come back since.
One of these mechanics is the ability to make molotov cocktails at gas stations by paying for gas and filling bottles with it. This provided an innovative way to give the player multipurpose explosives. Unlike GTA 3's car bombs, the molotovs are readily available from any gas station and can be used without having to set up beforehand. Another much seedier mechanic from Chinatown Wars is drug dealing. Huang could buy drugs from one dealer, and find another dealer who will buy them for a profit. This was the biggest tool for moneymaking in Chinatown Wars, especially in the early game, and it revealed some odd quirks in Liberty City's criminal economy.
Neither of these mechanics have made an appearance in any Grand Theft Auto game since, and one has to wonder why. This is especially odd when one re GTA 5's most demonic lead Trevor, running his own drug operation, one would think that he would have some sort of dealing side mission of his own. If Huang's adventures were to continue, then it is safe to assume that some of Chinatown Wars' other ideas may make a return to the series alongside him.
Chinatown Wars Brought A Unique POV To GTA's Universe
Chinatown Wars is still the only GTA title to focus on the Triads as the main part of the game's criminal element. Past games have featured various flavors of mafia families and drug rings, but have always featured Triads as a side element at best. Before Chinatown Wars, the most prominent Triad characters in the series were Wu Zi Mu and the Mountain Cloud Boys from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Wei Cheng's Los Santos Triads who menaced Trevor from GTA 5. In this sense alone, Chinatown Wars stands out as unique.
In addition, there is Huang's own story that gave Chinatown Wars its distinctive feel. While he is not the only reluctant criminal in the series, he is one of the few characters to have very little in ways of a criminal past, only to be thrust straight into the depths of Liberty City's underbelly. He more or less picks up on things at the same rate as the player, and he is fully aware of just how reckless and pointless many of his errands are, yet he does them anyone because he doesn't have any other direction.
Both of these elements combined show that a sequel could definitely bring a new outlook on the GTA universe. While fans are imagining their dream GTA 6 protagonists, a more experienced Huang could suit that role perfectly. It would be interesting to see if his worldview has changed since the last time players saw him. Given how Chinatown Wars ended, Huang would definitely have some stories to tell.
It may be one of the less well-known Grand Theft Auto titles, but GTA: Chinatown Wars deserves a full sequel. Between an entertaining protagonist, a return to Liberty City with a chance to see lesser-explored parts of the game's world, and forgotten mechanics to experiment with, there is every reason to expect that a sequel would be even better than the first installment. With any luck, players may be able to head into Liberty City with Huang Lee once more.
