Crackdown 2 twice as tall as predecessor

By Tom Bramwell Published 8 January, 2010

Ruffian scaling new heights and depths.

Ruffian Games has revealed that the Pacific City of Crackdown 2 isn't just broader and more diverse than its predecessor, but towers over it as well.

"All I can say is that in the first game, the distance between the highest and the lowest point was under 400 metres. Now we are looking at over 1000 metres," lead designer Steve Iannetta told Eurogamer when asked about major geographical shifts, and in particular new underground areas.

"While we have kept the basic island structure, and to some extent the road network, we have really focused on creating a city that shows the consequences of its history, specifically the 10 years that passed from Crackdown 1 to Crackdown 2.

"Basically, the city's history became our style guild. We wanted to see evidence of every battle fought, every area that was abandoned, every wall erected to contain the virus, and every breech point where they failed."

Beyond that, Ruffian has sought to reflect elements that proved unexpectedly popular in the first game, bringing them closer to the heart of the game's design in the process.

"At a building by building level, we have rebuilt swathes of the city, this time with a focus on Orb hunting," Iannetta explained. "We now have many new much taller buildings. Even the Agency Tower has a few surprises in store."

Like many of us, Iannetta also felt that one of the best things about Crackdown was the toybox players were left with - and particularly the feats some players were able to perform with a little help from vehicles and the game's physics - so many of the new items in Crackdown 2 have been seeded with potential for experimentation.

"We did not know that you could do half the things we have seen," Iannetta acknowledged. "Someone driving the SUV to the top of the Agency tower to firework displays using light shades, exploiting a cheeky wee bug. We always wanted to turn the contrast button up on toys and interaction.

"That is where the Mag Grenades came from. They are quintessentially Crackdown. They offer a use, but [offer more] when you abuse them. We are hoping for some spectacular results!"

Check out our recent Crackdown 2 hands-on preview for more on the game, or there's always our two-part interview with the developers (part one, part two).

According to Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg, Crackdown 2 should be out for Xbox 360 in the first half of 2010.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Der_tolle_Emil #1 2 years ago

    I just hope that it doesn't toy around too much and makes some places really hard to reach. I really enjoyed hunting for the orbs in Crackdown 1 because I could go wherever I want without too much hassle, made me really feel in control. That however only applies to running around on foot; I hated the vehicle jumps and stunts, I hope you don't have to constantly pull of rocket jumps or stuff like this (unless they are easy to pull of) to get around the city.

  • Max_Powers #2 2 years ago

    We've now probably all seen the gameplay trailer for Crackdown 2. It looks really rough. I'm preparing myself for a dissapointment.

  • X #3 2 years ago

    I'm sure I will get this as I would find it very hard to believe it would not be to the quality of Crackdown considering they can use hindsight of the pros and cons with the first one. Just not sure what to expect with them building on top of the original city and throwing lots of things into the mix.

  • Dogs-in-Hats #4 2 years ago

    @Max_Powers Keep the faith - the first game looked dodgy on screenshots

  • BillMurray #5 2 years ago

    I can't wait to jump off the highest building in this game.

  • darleysam #6 2 years ago

    ..and then glide for miles with the wingsuit.

  • kinky_mong #7 2 years ago

    @ Der_tolle_Emil: Couldn't agree more, the vehicle stunt jumps were a dire low of an otherwise brilliant game. Here's hoping they don't feature in the sequel.

  • remote #8 2 years ago

    It might be nice that some people could do some crazy stuff in the first game, but I hope they aren't seeing that as what regular players should be able to do. Hoping they don't fill the game full of achievements that only 0.000001% of the population are able to get.

    Really want this to be awesome, but I am worried that some small tweaks in the wrong direction could ruin the game. Please be good!!

  • welshben23 #9 2 years ago

    I totally disagree, hammerhead! inFAMOUS is much, much better and a lot more fun than Cackdown.

  • lordofthedunce #10 2 years ago

    Climbing the Agency HQ in the first game gave me sweaty palms, more of this please.

    And as others have said, less of the driving stunts.

  • RedSparrows #11 2 years ago

    It seems they know what they're doing - climbing ultra high places like the tower wasn't especially hard, but it was especially awesome. Moar plx.

  • Skooch #12 2 years ago

    I quite enjoyed the good driving stunts (one over the bow of a ship in the dockyard comes to mind) but I agree that the endlessly setting up of ramps to thread the SUV through the eye of a needle whilst vehicles are crashing into and wrecking the ramp was tedious and frustrating.

    More height and toys sounds all good. More of the first Crackdown but with an improved main storyline and some extra gadgets and vehicles will satisfy me.

  • OldK1ngCole #13 2 years ago

    lordofthedunce - Climbing the Agency HQ in the first game gave me sweaty palms, more of this please.

    Jumping off the top of the Agency HQ and plummeting to the water below actually made me feel a little sick. Loved doing it though.

  • SnakePlissken09 #14 2 years ago

    just sounds like a lot of bullshit to me to cover up the fact that this game is just a quick buck using the assets from the first game and throwing in some cliche gimmicks. The first game was ok and the style tried something new but this one looks seriously lame. As for the gliding and underground tunnels, this is just a blatant rip-off from infamous which is a far superior game.

  • Skooch #15 2 years ago

    Wow, looking at previous posts SnakePlissken09 has some serious beef with Crackdown 2 - all he's done is bash it to smithereens. It is interesting that he goes from "loving the first game" to finding it just "ok" in later comments.

    Look dude, your entitled to your opinion, but if you hate it so much why do persist with commenting on it so often. You don't have to buy it y'know.

  • Froggit #16 2 years ago

    Yes he does.

  • Diabeu #17 2 years ago

    go Ruffians!!!!!!
    this will be a coop blast, I can feel it in my bones

  • IMD1_Pk #18 2 years ago

    Hopefully the full 1000m is divable and not including the sewers undeground.

  • BlackKraken #19 2 years ago

    I found all of the agility orbs bar 1 in the original crackdown.

    That was the day i finally lost my mind completely.

  • WayMucho #20 2 years ago

    Twice as high!! I've never felt as tense as trying to get to the top of the Agency Tower (or sick) - bring it on!!

  • Hindle #21 2 years ago

    The first Crackdown got to repetitive fast, i hope this isnt the same.

  • belziah #22 2 years ago

    I loved the 1st one x)