With the Wii U version all done and dusted (well, done at least – even with 100% it’s still fun to play), it was time to start the 3DS prequel. Although I knew it wasn’t going to be as good, I hoped it would still be well worth playing.
And it is! Hurrah!
Sure, it’s cut down. There’s a much shorter draw distance, sections of the main map load in rather than stream fluidly, the controls aren’t quite as good (swapping character, in particular), and it is mostly played out in the same areas as the Wii U game – only much of the city is still under construction so there’s bits missing and no train, but it still stands out as a great game.
Unlike the Wii U game, there aren’t any “separate” missions (“Special Assignments”, as the Wii U game calls them) set in areas not accessible in the main map. Almost all of the game (so far, at least), bar a handful of small interior sections, are played out on the open world map. In terms of both area and things to do the game is much smaller than its big brother. I’ve spent about 10 hours on it so far and am around 30% complete, so it’s still pretty big with plenty to find. That 30% sets me just after rescuing Natalia’s dad, for what it’s worth.
In fact, the only real disappointments are that all the disguises you find are the same as those in the Wii U version (although some work slightly differently), and the lack of voice acting for the majority of the game – it’s only there in cutscenes, and even then absent from most of them. A real shame, as they made for much of the humour of the Wii U title. Oh! And no Frank Honey 
With retrospect, I’d say you’d get more from the 3DS game if you played it before playing the Wii U one. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with The Chase Begins, but compared to the “original” it’s obviously pared down. Play the 3DS version first, however, and you’d see it that the Wii U version was a built-up improvement. You’d get the story in chronological order then too, not that it really matters.
Whatever though – it is definitely worth playing.
