 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Logo by Max Layne Photography
| Microsoft Xbox 360 |
Many game developers often look at a sequel to be their chance to make things bigger and better. However, Ruffian Games decided
that their follow-up to “Crackdown” doesn’t need to go above and beyond the original game. This time around, “Crackdown 2” offers
players with a nearly identical game. Players will play with the same open world formula, the same locations, the graphics are the
same and some of the issues from the original game are the same.
Luckily there have been a few additions to the game that help give it its own feel. There’s four play co-op, some new weapons and
vehicles, as well as a 16 player arena combat mode. For those that were getting worried, the orbs are back again, and there are even a
new set of orbs for players to attempt to collect.
In the years since the events of the first game, mutant freaks have destroyed much of beautiful Pacific City. Terrorists who call
themselves The Cell have done their best to destroy the rest of the city. Now it is up to the player, a superhero member of the Agency, to
restore order so that the good citizens can go back to life as usual. That's the introduction players get at the start of “Crackdown 2,” and
they won't get much more exposition outside of collectible audio logs until the disappointing finish. To say that “Crackdown 2” has an
actual storyline at all is being generous.
The beginning of “Crackdown 2,” players will find themselves in the shoes of a member of the Agency, capable of dishing out pain and
stomping out the freaks. Players have a few guns in their arsenal, a decent car, and athletic abilities that are well above average. By the
end of the game players will be able to leap from rooftop to rooftop with ease, pick up and toss vehicles, fill the sky with homing
missiles, and even glide through the air like a flying squirrel. To become that ultimate superhero, players will have to collect orbs. That
seems to be the whole point of the game, collecting orbs, and a little bit of shooting.
Orbs are collected by completing various tasks. Driving skill orbs can be earn by running over enemies, winning races, doing stunts
and soaring through rings in the air. When enough are collected, new cars are unlocked. Progression is similar for strength, guns,
explosives and combat.
It is quickly realized that “Crackdown 2” is a game for people who enjoy collecting things. The main items to collect are agility orbs,
found on rooftops or other places that require agility. On top of agility orbs, players will have hidden orbs, Xbox Live orbs which can only
be grabbed in online co-op and renegade orbs that rub away from the player. The orbs, along with some audio file collectibles, players
will have roughly 1,000 items to seek out. It may sound like an odd focus to build a game on, but this game is extremely addictive.
The main campaign involved players doing the same mission over and over again at a different location. Some of the quests are no
more complex than running to an area and killing everything. Other than that, there are a few races and stunt rings, both of which have
vehicle and on-foot varieties. This somehow manages to be a step backwards in terms of mission design and structure from the
already lacking original game.
Players are able to play online with their friends in co-op mode, but if players want more live targets it will be necessary to move over to
the arena combat mode. Up to 16 players can take part in three different modes, including DeathMatch, Team DeathMatch and Rocket
Tag. The names of the modes pretty much sum up what each one involves. All of them involve rockets and grenades, while vehicles
like helicopters can offer huge advantages. The DeathMatches prove to be nothing special. However, Rocket Tag is a fun little
diversion.
Things get pretty crazy when everybody is targeting just one player with rocket launchers but the team multiplayer mode overall feels
more like a missed opportunity than anything else that was rushed a little bit in order to make the release deadline. There aren’t any
free form races or climbing challenges and no game customization.
For those who have played the original game and loved it and are looking for more of the same thing, “Crackdown 2” is sure to offer just
that, the same thing. Those who have never had the pleasure of running around a town searching for orbs, “Crackdown 2” is sure to be
a great choice. Collecting agility orbs, leaping from rooftop to rooftop and playing around in the virtual sandbox known as Pacific City is
a lot of fun. There is no doubt that the formula from the original game still works.
For those who enjoyed the first game will probably still be looking forward to more than the original, and may be a bit disappointed at
first. The new additions, especially the expansion to four-play co-op, are great but this doesn’t feel like it was worth the three years of
waiting. Players will get the same addictive collecting style game, but everything down to the city that the game takes place in is the
same. Overall “Crackdown 2” feels a bit uninspired and rushed, not something anyone wants to see is a sequel to a great game.
that their follow-up to “Crackdown” doesn’t need to go above and beyond the original game. This time around, “Crackdown 2” offers
players with a nearly identical game. Players will play with the same open world formula, the same locations, the graphics are the
same and some of the issues from the original game are the same.
Luckily there have been a few additions to the game that help give it its own feel. There’s four play co-op, some new weapons and
vehicles, as well as a 16 player arena combat mode. For those that were getting worried, the orbs are back again, and there are even a
new set of orbs for players to attempt to collect.
In the years since the events of the first game, mutant freaks have destroyed much of beautiful Pacific City. Terrorists who call
themselves The Cell have done their best to destroy the rest of the city. Now it is up to the player, a superhero member of the Agency, to
restore order so that the good citizens can go back to life as usual. That's the introduction players get at the start of “Crackdown 2,” and
they won't get much more exposition outside of collectible audio logs until the disappointing finish. To say that “Crackdown 2” has an
actual storyline at all is being generous.
The beginning of “Crackdown 2,” players will find themselves in the shoes of a member of the Agency, capable of dishing out pain and
stomping out the freaks. Players have a few guns in their arsenal, a decent car, and athletic abilities that are well above average. By the
end of the game players will be able to leap from rooftop to rooftop with ease, pick up and toss vehicles, fill the sky with homing
missiles, and even glide through the air like a flying squirrel. To become that ultimate superhero, players will have to collect orbs. That
seems to be the whole point of the game, collecting orbs, and a little bit of shooting.
Orbs are collected by completing various tasks. Driving skill orbs can be earn by running over enemies, winning races, doing stunts
and soaring through rings in the air. When enough are collected, new cars are unlocked. Progression is similar for strength, guns,
explosives and combat.
It is quickly realized that “Crackdown 2” is a game for people who enjoy collecting things. The main items to collect are agility orbs,
found on rooftops or other places that require agility. On top of agility orbs, players will have hidden orbs, Xbox Live orbs which can only
be grabbed in online co-op and renegade orbs that rub away from the player. The orbs, along with some audio file collectibles, players
will have roughly 1,000 items to seek out. It may sound like an odd focus to build a game on, but this game is extremely addictive.
The main campaign involved players doing the same mission over and over again at a different location. Some of the quests are no
more complex than running to an area and killing everything. Other than that, there are a few races and stunt rings, both of which have
vehicle and on-foot varieties. This somehow manages to be a step backwards in terms of mission design and structure from the
already lacking original game.
Players are able to play online with their friends in co-op mode, but if players want more live targets it will be necessary to move over to
the arena combat mode. Up to 16 players can take part in three different modes, including DeathMatch, Team DeathMatch and Rocket
Tag. The names of the modes pretty much sum up what each one involves. All of them involve rockets and grenades, while vehicles
like helicopters can offer huge advantages. The DeathMatches prove to be nothing special. However, Rocket Tag is a fun little
diversion.
Things get pretty crazy when everybody is targeting just one player with rocket launchers but the team multiplayer mode overall feels
more like a missed opportunity than anything else that was rushed a little bit in order to make the release deadline. There aren’t any
free form races or climbing challenges and no game customization.
For those who have played the original game and loved it and are looking for more of the same thing, “Crackdown 2” is sure to offer just
that, the same thing. Those who have never had the pleasure of running around a town searching for orbs, “Crackdown 2” is sure to be
a great choice. Collecting agility orbs, leaping from rooftop to rooftop and playing around in the virtual sandbox known as Pacific City is
a lot of fun. There is no doubt that the formula from the original game still works.
For those who enjoyed the first game will probably still be looking forward to more than the original, and may be a bit disappointed at
first. The new additions, especially the expansion to four-play co-op, are great but this doesn’t feel like it was worth the three years of
waiting. Players will get the same addictive collecting style game, but everything down to the city that the game takes place in is the
same. Overall “Crackdown 2” feels a bit uninspired and rushed, not something anyone wants to see is a sequel to a great game.
| Genre: Action Developer: Ruffian Games Publisher: Microsoft |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
