Rather than featuring one protagonist, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor are the three playable characters.
Because of this, there's quite a debate among fans regarding which version is superior. Lastly, iOS and Android devices provide something of an in-between experience with the added convenience factor of having it right on your phone. The DS was designed with touchscreen controls in mind, while the PSP version has more missions and a sharper screen resolution. The game can be played on the DS, PSP, and Mobile devices, and each version has its own pros and cons. "Chinatown" is a bit of a rarity when it comes to its platforms. "Chinatown Wars" also ratchets up the action, with Kotaku loving the sheer amount of mission variety present, giving way to action-packed challenges involving guns, flamethrowers, and chainsaws. While admitting that the camera can occasionally be oscured, GameSpot felt that the new camera system "does a superb job" of keeping track of the player. Rather than directly atop the player, the camera is now positioned in such a way that provides increased vision. This game seems to have taken everything from the original "GTA" games and sought to improve every element of them, including the awkward camera and navigation. "Chinatown Wars" fixes this issue by enforcing a canted angle. For instance, in sticking with the prequel angle, there are several construction sites that hint at future buildings seen in "GTA 3." Fortunately, "Liberty City Stories" defies expectations, and map comparison videos have been made to show off the differences. Since the game takes place prior to "GTA 3," one might expect the map to be copied and pasted from that game. Of course Liberty City would look better in later games, but for the time, this PSP rendition was nothing short of a marvel. The game does deliver in the visuals department, with IGN praising the overall presentation and giving it props for looking great on a portable device. Darkstation's review argued that the storyline is "lacking depth and sense of humor." This can be seen as a missed opportunity when returning to classic environments and beloved characters. Unfortunately, the characters aren't all that interesting in this go around. In "Liberty City Stories," players take control of Toni Cipriani, who returns to Liberty City after murdering a made man.