Summary
Rockstar is commonly known for releasingGrand Theft Auto 5andRed Dead Redemption. However, before thesepopular titles of modern gamingand the excitement ofGrand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar was well known for its handheld titles that could be commonly enjoyed on the PSP or the Game Boy.
There are still games published by Rockstar today that can be played on newer handheld consoles, which include even the Nintendo Switch, though players may be looking for more than that.
Starting off strong,L.A. Noireis a game that many players forget was published by Rockstar Games. Although it wasn’t originally released on handheld platforms, the game that was developed by Team Bondi was then released on the Nintendo Switch in 2017.
Players work their way through various police departments in Los Angeles as they solve a variety of cases. In aneo-noir crime game, it’s also important for players to pay attention to their witnesses and suspects, as even on the handheld version ofL.A. Noire,NPCs will give away if they’re lying or not.
Beateratormay not be entirely a game, but it is ahandheld music mixertool that Rockstar Games published for players. On the PlayStation Portable, and later also iOS, players had the freedom to mix and create their own music using tracks created specifically for theBeateratortitle.
Some may argueBeateratorhas puzzle elements as players attempt to put tracks together to make some great music. It is unlike anything else Rockstar has ever published. Besides creating music, Rockstar encourages players to also share their creations with other players ofBeateratorto show how players experience the tracks in different ways.
The Warriorsis a beat ‘em up title that was originally released in 2005 based on the film of the same name from 1979. While the game was originally released on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the game was later released on the PSP in 2007.
The beat ‘em up received a surprising amount of praise due to the game originally containing music from the original film as well as many of the actors fromThe Warriorsreturning to voice their characters in the game created by Rockstar Toronto. Besides the film connection,The Warriorswas also greatly praised for its combat, with many believing the beat ‘em up breathed new life into the brawler genre.
Some of the best handheld games to be played are part of the racing game genre. With the majority ofGrand Theft Autotitles revolving around cars, it’s of no surprise to see that Rockstar has even published their own racing game franchise known asMidnight Club.
InMidnight Club: LA, players are allowed to pick from an assortment of vehicles from muscle cars, exotics, and superbikes which they can easily race around the streets of LA. Players are likely to get involved in a variety ofillegal street racesthat happen with no load times as they explore this bustling city made to be raced upon.
Red Dead Redemptionis a Rockstar franchise that continues to be quite popular. While the original game, when it was first released, wasn’t available on any handheld devices,Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmarewas remastered and then released onto not only the PlayStation 4 but also the Nintendo Switch.
This meant that players could experience the story of John Marston and the zombie apocalypse spin-off game through the Nintendo handheld console. Players may be surprised to see how well this classic Rockstar title plays on the Nintendo Switch, with many hoping that newer titles will also be considered for further handhelds.
While players can’t play the originalGrand Theft Auto: Vice Cityon a handheld console, titles likeGrand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, which is a prequel that came after its release, were released on platforms such as the PSP.Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Storiesplays exactly like the otherGrand Theft Autotitles of the franchise as players explore froma third-person perspectivewith plenty of gunplay that works incredibly on PlayStation handheld.
The only issue this title ever received was how the PlayStation 2 version was ported directly from the PSP. This means the best experience can be found purely on the handheld version, which was also awarded the Best Handheld Game at the Golden Joystick Awards in 2007.
BeforeVice City Stories,Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Storieswas released on the PlayStation Portable. In a similar format, this was another third-person shooter that allowed players to experience a different story from the world thatGrand Theft Auto: Liberty Citywas set within.
Since its original release in 2005, the game has traveled to other handheld consoles like the PlayStation Vita, where players can continue to enjoy some of the classics ofGrand Theft Autoinstead ofGTA 5,which continues to bring in fans with many looking forward to the next game in the franchise.
Out of all the games published by Rockstar, it’s no surprise to see that the best handheld game they created wasGrand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. This game was only released on portable platforms such as the Nintendo DS andPlayStation Portable, and mobile.
InGrand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, players take on the role of Huang Lee as he brings an ancient sword to his uncle in the hopes of his family retaining their control of the Triad gangs in Liberty City after his father was murdered. Being a rich kid who expects everything to go smoothly makesGTA: Chinatown Warsan interesting action-adventure that fits perfectly into a player’s hands.
