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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Real Time Worlds Publisher: Microsoft |
Sometimes it is best to take the simple and straightforward approach when creating a game. That is exactly what Real Time Worlds did
when creating “Crackdown,” the new third person perspective action game that takes place in Pacific City, a sandbox style environment
consisting of three different islands. Players quickly learn that the local government has been weakened and powerful weapon rich and
drug rich gangs have spread throughout the city. In Pacific City there are three gangs that rules, Los Muertos, the Volk and Shai-Gen.
Players take on the role of a rookie Agency cop in Pacific City. The Agency is an organization of police from around the world, joined
together to create a powerful team of peace keepers. The have used questionable steps towards using biogenetic engineering to
increase the powers of Agents and it has incorporated human cloning. When players die, which will happen often, a clone will be
supplied.
The majority of “Crackdown” consists in Campaign and Time Trail modes, the Time Trail mode being mini games that are unlocked
from within the Campaign mode. It is a single player game, but there is an online cooperative mode that allows players to team up over
Xbox Live or System Link. Unfortunately there is no local or split screen multiplayer available. However, for those who do play with
friends over Xbox Live or System Link, that cooperative mode is amazing. Players can jump in and out of a friend’s game at any time
without any restrictions. Players can even complete the entire game together. The world is open for both players and each can play
independently or as a team.
One of the best features of “Crackdown” is the bioengineering and physical leveling up. Like many role playing games with level ups,
player’s Agent will be able to improve in five core skills, agility, strength, firearms, explosives and driving, by simply using them. The
agility power is by far the most useful of the abilities. When players max out their agility, they will be bouncing through the city like a flea
on crack. Players will be able to jump from one rooftop to the next in a single jump. To power up using the other abilities, players will
drive in races to gain driving experience; use grenades, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers to build explosives; pick up and throw
things and people to build strength; and finally, shoot people to maximize the firearms power. The visual particle effect that
demonstrates a level power-up looks awesome to look at and rewarding all in one action.
Controlling an Agent is a matter that is very straightforward. Players will aim the Agent’s body with the left analog stick while rotating the
camera using the right analog stick. Agents can walk, run, crouch, jump, swim, drive cars, use weapons and more. The aiming
mechanic in the game is a mix between freeform shooting with lock on targeting. Freeform feels very similar to other games of this
type, though not quite as balanced. The lock on targeting is very functional’ press the left trigger to lock onto a target and the right trigger
to shoot. Players will find themselves using the lock on targeting more often than the freeform mode. Though neither method is perfect,
they both have their use in the game.
As if this game doesn’t have enough already packed into it this action adventure game, fans of the racing and driving genre will also be
treated in this game, though not to the same extent. While everything else in the game is a lot of fun, the driving aspect of the game
suffers. All of the civilian cars drive terribly, which seems to be on purpose in order to show how amazing the Agency vehicles drive.
However, the Agency vehicles drive just as poorly. All the vehicles are slow, their turning is very poor and there is very little acceleration.
There are only a select few vehicles in the game that are worth driving.
During the heat of the campaign, the game has many elements that work very well. The game overall feels very fluid and natural in
design. Players are only able to go to the Los Muertos’ district at the beginning of the game. Though the player’s world starts out
small, it grows very quickly. They will notice that the Low Muertos’ buildings are shorter in order to accommodate the low level jumping
abilities that players will have. The district is fill with agility orbs, making it easy for players to travel anywhere and still have something
to do, whether it be fighting enemies or collecting orbs. Also, when players get close to a boss, a tracker identifies them, and for those
players who take the time to the dossier, players will learn how each member fits into their respective organization. Each boss has a
special use in the gang, and once they are taken out certain aspects of the overall gang is reduced, meaning that the chances of
defeating the final boss increase dramatically.
While there are elements on both sides of the tracks, good and bad, the overall enjoyment of using the different abilities makes the
game worthwhile. Also, with the side mission of collecting orbs in a fully vertical world while constantly being rewarded with power up,
the fun of the game is very addictive. Even though it may only last a short amount of time, players will have a blast with this game.
when creating “Crackdown,” the new third person perspective action game that takes place in Pacific City, a sandbox style environment
consisting of three different islands. Players quickly learn that the local government has been weakened and powerful weapon rich and
drug rich gangs have spread throughout the city. In Pacific City there are three gangs that rules, Los Muertos, the Volk and Shai-Gen.
Players take on the role of a rookie Agency cop in Pacific City. The Agency is an organization of police from around the world, joined
together to create a powerful team of peace keepers. The have used questionable steps towards using biogenetic engineering to
increase the powers of Agents and it has incorporated human cloning. When players die, which will happen often, a clone will be
supplied.
The majority of “Crackdown” consists in Campaign and Time Trail modes, the Time Trail mode being mini games that are unlocked
from within the Campaign mode. It is a single player game, but there is an online cooperative mode that allows players to team up over
Xbox Live or System Link. Unfortunately there is no local or split screen multiplayer available. However, for those who do play with
friends over Xbox Live or System Link, that cooperative mode is amazing. Players can jump in and out of a friend’s game at any time
without any restrictions. Players can even complete the entire game together. The world is open for both players and each can play
independently or as a team.
One of the best features of “Crackdown” is the bioengineering and physical leveling up. Like many role playing games with level ups,
player’s Agent will be able to improve in five core skills, agility, strength, firearms, explosives and driving, by simply using them. The
agility power is by far the most useful of the abilities. When players max out their agility, they will be bouncing through the city like a flea
on crack. Players will be able to jump from one rooftop to the next in a single jump. To power up using the other abilities, players will
drive in races to gain driving experience; use grenades, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers to build explosives; pick up and throw
things and people to build strength; and finally, shoot people to maximize the firearms power. The visual particle effect that
demonstrates a level power-up looks awesome to look at and rewarding all in one action.
Controlling an Agent is a matter that is very straightforward. Players will aim the Agent’s body with the left analog stick while rotating the
camera using the right analog stick. Agents can walk, run, crouch, jump, swim, drive cars, use weapons and more. The aiming
mechanic in the game is a mix between freeform shooting with lock on targeting. Freeform feels very similar to other games of this
type, though not quite as balanced. The lock on targeting is very functional’ press the left trigger to lock onto a target and the right trigger
to shoot. Players will find themselves using the lock on targeting more often than the freeform mode. Though neither method is perfect,
they both have their use in the game.
As if this game doesn’t have enough already packed into it this action adventure game, fans of the racing and driving genre will also be
treated in this game, though not to the same extent. While everything else in the game is a lot of fun, the driving aspect of the game
suffers. All of the civilian cars drive terribly, which seems to be on purpose in order to show how amazing the Agency vehicles drive.
However, the Agency vehicles drive just as poorly. All the vehicles are slow, their turning is very poor and there is very little acceleration.
There are only a select few vehicles in the game that are worth driving.
During the heat of the campaign, the game has many elements that work very well. The game overall feels very fluid and natural in
design. Players are only able to go to the Los Muertos’ district at the beginning of the game. Though the player’s world starts out
small, it grows very quickly. They will notice that the Low Muertos’ buildings are shorter in order to accommodate the low level jumping
abilities that players will have. The district is fill with agility orbs, making it easy for players to travel anywhere and still have something
to do, whether it be fighting enemies or collecting orbs. Also, when players get close to a boss, a tracker identifies them, and for those
players who take the time to the dossier, players will learn how each member fits into their respective organization. Each boss has a
special use in the gang, and once they are taken out certain aspects of the overall gang is reduced, meaning that the chances of
defeating the final boss increase dramatically.
While there are elements on both sides of the tracks, good and bad, the overall enjoyment of using the different abilities makes the
game worthwhile. Also, with the side mission of collecting orbs in a fully vertical world while constantly being rewarded with power up,
the fun of the game is very addictive. Even though it may only last a short amount of time, players will have a blast with this game.
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