New ‘Grand Theft Auto’ morally bankrupt but way fun

I want to begin with a rare change of heart. Previously, I gave "Resident Evil 5" a three-star rating. I think it deserves three and one-half stars.

That's not a huge swing. But it is a notable variation, signifying "RE5" isn't just good, it's very good. This isn't brought on by pressure. I received no complaints from the makers of "RE5" or from gamers.

I just played it some more and have enjoyed it more. I still contend "Resident Evil 5" could have been a better horror-shooting game if it allowed you to fire a gun at zombies while you are walking, rather than having to halt to shoot and reload.

But it's a very well-made piece of action that, for me, just misses being addictive, which is the trait that earns four-star reviews. So to the game's designers and to gamers, I'm sorry for selling "RE5" a little short.

Meanwhile, the hand-held Nintendo DS has a new four-star game on the market: "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars."

If you're familiar with the "GTA" brand, you know what "GTA: Chinatown Wars" is all about. It's about killing, hijacking cars, dealing drugs and completing missions for mob bosses, who want you to ... steal cars, deal drugs and kill people.

What's striking about "Chinatown Wars" is it's a big game on the little DS, with its two little screens. The DS game disk is, as usual, the size of a postage stamp. You'd never expect the disk to supply the artistry and game play of "GTA's" giant Liberty City.

But it does so on a small scale. Most of the typical "GTA" elements are here and are way fun, and morally bankrupt.

One of the DS screens displays single-cell cut scenes of characters talking to each other. You don't hear them. You read dialogue. You can drive taxis for fares. Slay pedestrians. And you can play multiplayer, head-to-head or in cooperative mode.

Yet another pretty good hand-held game out now is "Resistance: Retribution," a Sony PSP game based on the Sony PS 3 shooting series, based on the "alternative history" that aliens successfully invaded Earth in 1951 and built forts everywhere.

"Retribution" is fun and easy offline and online. You play as a private in a military force of sorts, as led by the French (the French!), who are leading the fight against the alien Chimera -- on piers, in forts and in cities, from the Netherlands to Germany and beyond.

Basically, "Retribution" works well as a "Rambo"-esque shooting adventure, shooting bloated-headed aliens, big-strong aliens and evil bugs with machine guns, sniper rifles and a very cool gun that slings blades at their heads.

Wow, zombies, mobsters and soldiers. That's a lot of gun-toting on the game market this week. I don't make 'em. I just review 'em.

("Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars" retails for $35 for DS -- Plays very fun. Looks very good for a DS game. Rated "M" for blood, gore, drug reference, strong language, violence and sexual content. Four stars out of four.)

("Resident Evil 5" retails for $60 for Xbox 360 and PS 3 -- Plays fun. Looks great. Moderately challenging. Rated "M" for blood, gore, intense violence, strong language. Three and one-half stars.)

("Resistance: Retribution" retails for $40 for PSP -- Plays quite fun. Looks very good. Rated "M" for blood, gore, partial nudity, strong language, suggestive themes and violence. Three and one-half stars.)

What do you think? Tell me at delfman@ reviewjournal.com, or post your reviews and rants at reviewjournal.com/elfman. My column appears Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.