Crackdown

By Oli Welsh Published 26 January, 2007

Heroin' up.

It's GTA in the future. Or how about: GTA where you're the cop. GTA with superheroes perhaps - but like 2000AD superheroes, not Marvel superheroes. It's a cel-shaded GTA. Right, GTA with 2000AD-style cel-shaded superhero cops from the future. Will that do?

It happens every time a new free-roaming, third-person game set in a city comes out. There's an embarrassing scramble to stick Grand Theft Auto and one or two other easy-to-understand labels (e.g. 'cowboys', 'Simpsons', 'reduced to £9.99') on the front of it to make it more palatable and enticing to supposedly GTA-obsessed gamers. Fair enough, GTA is a massively influential and popular series, and a reference point for a whole genre. And it's true that the comparisons are particularly apt here, because Crackdown creator David Jones worked on the original GTA at DMA Design. But these epithets seldom tell you anything you couldn't work out from a quick glance at some artwork and a screenshot or two, and worse, they can be quite misleading, or undersell a game that dares to be different from its ubiquitous inspiration. So here's a more useful one for you:

'Crackdown' Screenshot 1

The maxed-out supercar has mounted machine guns, and rumours persist that the top SUV can actually jump.

Crackdown is GTA with no missions. At all.

You see, Crackdown is that rare thing, a genuinely free-roaming free-roaming game. Absolutely none of Pacific City - a near-future amalgam of Miami, New York, and Chicago - is locked at the start; you can go anywhere you like. And save for a couple of gentle shoves at the beginning, you're never sent anywhere in particular or told to do anything, so you actually do go anywhere you like.

There is no story to speak of, either. You are a genetically-engineered super-agent, or rather, a whole army of genetically-engineered super-agent clones (who can unfortunately only operate one at a time). You were created by the Agency, a slightly fascist police force that has more or less retreated to its immense control tower after losing control of Pacific City. The three districts of the city have been overrun by three crime syndicates - Latino gangstas Los Muertos, Eastern European mafia the Volk, and slick Asian corporate crims the Shai Gen. Each gang is tougher than the last, and each is composed of a hierarchy of seven bosses. As for where those bosses are - you're on your own with that one. (Although to be fair, if you look lost for long enough, the game's sarcastic Agency narrator will start dropping some heavy hints.)

The only thing the game requires you to do is kill the top boss of each clan, but you can significantly weaken their organisations by killing the sub-bosses in rough order. Needless to say it's a good idea to do so, and it's essential that you improve your own abilities too. This you'll do as you go along, either by tackling bosses in their lairs, or by simply exploring, fighting the low-level criminals and hit squads that wander around the town, and undertaking time trials behind the wheel and on foot.

'Crackdown' Screenshot 2

Buildings can look plain up close, but the views from on high are breathtakingly detailed, so get climbing.

You can improve your attributes in five areas: agility (which improves running speed and jump height), strength (lifting, throwing, hand-to-hand combat), explosives (accuracy and blast radius with grenades and rockets), firearms (accuracy and range) and driving (handling, speed, and mid-air stunt control). For every criminal killed you're awarded points in these areas according to how you kill them; in addition, agility and driving can be improved in the time trials, through stunt driving, and by collecting the agility orbs scattered around the city in enticingly remote spots that can require a good deal of daring, skill and ingenuity to reach. Each attribute can be levelled up from zero to four stars.

And this, frankly, is what Crackdown is really all about. Having played a preview version of the entire game, and sampled the skills of a fully maxed-out agent (well not quite fully... driving is tough to improve, and somewhat peripheral to the others) it looks like Crackdown will provide a sense of mounting, unbridled power that few action games - and not even all that many RPGs - can match. There's a very direct connection between how you play the game and what you get good at, so you're rewarded for what you enjoy. And oh, what rewards they are.

At less than full power, you can already literally leap over buildings in a single bound, and run faster than some cars. Or kick them out of the way, or pick them up and throw them, or do that and then lock on and fire a homing rocket at them as they arc through the air and watch as the resulting explosion takes out an entire road-block's worth of villains and you hoover up a thousand little multicoloured sweeties that will make you more powerful yet. And driving, as well as improving your skills, upgrades the three special agency vehicles available when you return to or regenerate at base: the supercar, SUV and truck cab. Even in basic form these can scoop under, clamber over or smash through everything short of a sheer brick wall, but as you improve they transform into ever more outlandishly cool-looking variants of themselves (accompanied by a visible sonic boom of power) and eventually acquire some pretty special abilities.

'Crackdown' Screenshot 3

Consider the room well and truly shaken.

The three agency vehicles - especially the incredible, indestructible, go-anywhere SUV - are amazing creations, but every single car or van or truck or Greyhound bus handles in a convincing, responsive manner. Initial impressions are that the depth and quality of the driving and gunplay - which operates with a sort of semi-lock-on that you need to aim first - are way beyond what you'd normally expect from an all-rounder game like this, certainly better than GTA. However, melee combat is rather basic, and some elements of the control scheme are on the fiddly side.

Make no mistake, Crackdown is a technical marvel. The game engine is stupendously good, hardly breaking sweat or dropping a frame despite the unruly chaos of the action, the exaggerated physics, and the densely populated city. Not everyone will like the flat, strong colours and low detail of the cel-shaded visual style - it's practically the polar opposite of 360 graphics darling Gears of War - but there's no denying that it pops off the screen. And the sound is superb, being both meaty and precise, and boasting an eclectic licensed soundtrack.

'Crackdown' Screenshot 4

The ragdoll effects on airborne villains are deliberately stupid. At least, we hope it's deliberate.

Where Crackdown will divide people - and where it's not easy to judge at preview stage - is in its brave, almost complete lack of structure. Many may feel that there just isn't enough to do, or alternatively get lost; there's definitely a sense that the game is a little lightweight. Early boss encounters are so open-ended that it's easy to blunder and bungle your way through them without getting to grips with the combat at all, and only later in the game will we discover if there's real tactical challenge behind all these dazzling pyrotechnics. A lot will also depend on the quality of the online co-op, a very exciting proposition, but one we sadly weren't able to test.

Crackdown is shaping up to be a true sandbox game, a game where you really have to make your own fun. The toys it provides you with are pretty much unrivalled, and so is the playpen - Pacific City may be smaller than some open gameworlds, but it's far more intricately designed and dense with possibilities (something that makes us very excited for Real Time Worlds' forthcoming cops-and-robbers MMO, A.P.B.). At its best - in the thick of some improvised, explosive chain reaction that you couldn't reproduce if you tried - it recalls nothing less than the emergent action of the first Halo. But only time (and our review) will tell if all this boundless potential gels into half the adventure that did.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (121) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Guff-Pipe #1 5 years ago

    Im washing my dog twice a week, and saving a pound each time, so this will be through my letterbox come release day. yeeehaaa!!

  • InfiniteFury #2 5 years ago

    Does it have planes that shoot?

  • RedPanda #3 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • djchump #4 5 years ago

    Love the demo, really want the full game, but I'd have to buy a 360 to play it. The demo has sold me on how fun the game is though, that I'm considering buying a 360 for it :-)

  • Der_tolle_Emil #5 5 years ago

    I was not really interested in this game (don't care about the Halo 3 beta at all) and so I did not even know what it was about until I saw some footage in the last 1up show. I guess the name turned me off because what I don't need is a GTA style fueled by violence. Personally I still think GTA died as soon as it went 3D, I always hated GTA3 and every other GTA title after that.

    But now I definetly want to try the demo. The game definetly makes the impression it does not take itself too serious which for me makes the game interesting again. It will probably be one of the games I could not care less about a year after I played it the last time but until it's worn out it sounds like good, solid gaming fun.
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 14:11

  • Schiraman #6 5 years ago

    If this lives up to its potential it might be the game to finally make me crack and buy a 360.

  • MrChuckles #7 5 years ago

    'I always hated GTA3 and every other GTA title after that. ' - Wow, i thought i was the only one......

    Hurrah, am not insane on my own...

    (Pity i can't fecking type)
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 14:25

  • Ceatlan #8 5 years ago

    Sounds like the game could be fun, just a shame that with no story and structure to follow or drive the game along I doubt it will keep interested for more than 10 minutes.

  • Uncle_Fishboy #9 5 years ago

    Ceatlan

    Bell end

  • DutchDemons #10 5 years ago

    you'd be suprised how much more fun you can have than just 10 minutes.

    In the demo I had a blast for over 30 minutes just shooting at cars making them explode ( 4 cars exploding at the same time = niiiice) and kill tons of bad guys, only to stop doing that because i wanted to leap over this major building....only to turn back and drop grenades at the silly civilian cars that were filling the streets

    yes i like violence:-)
    Edited by 2 at 26/01/07 @ 14:18

  • Der_tolle_Emil #11 5 years ago

    @DutchDemons: I did that with the first GTA's too when I got them. But GTA had some nice missions that kept me going after I was used to shooting and hijacking cars.

    I am also afraid that this is the type of game that leaves you a little disappointed after playing the demo because it seems like you already know the entire game*. Those sandbox types game are the type that may suffer from this.

    Edit: * When you finally buy the full version I mean.
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 14:22

  • Nesty #12 5 years ago

    A lack of story and characterisation kind of troubles me when you are in control of the powerful hand of a "facist police force" given no disernable purpose other than to annihilate ethnic minorties stereotyped into gangs. Anyone else not think this is a bit creepy?

  • Rambaldi #13 5 years ago

    "At its best it recalls nothing less than the emergent action of the first Halo"

    WTF? Don't get me wrong: I'm exited about Crackdown for many reasons but this is just plain WRONG!

    Halo is about stellar, human-esque AI borne out through varied and engaging dogfights. Crackdown has enemies that, well, stand still whilst you autolock. Thankfuly the game is about much more than that (hence my anticipation), but action like Halo?

    What HAS this boy been smoking?
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 14:26

  • crazyhorse174 #14 5 years ago

    I reckon this could be a laugh.

    It does sound more like an offline MMORPG though...hang on...does that even make sense?!

    What I mean is, it sounds like the sort of open ended gameplay that you'd expect from a MMORPG, but offline...

    Yeah, thats better!

  • UncleLou #15 5 years ago

    Now I am not the biggest GTA fan to begin with, but this game sounds just dull.

  • The-Bodybuilder #16 5 years ago

    >" to annihilate ethnic minorties stereotyped into gangs. Anyone else not think this is a bit creepy?"

    The main character is black.

  • asphaltcowboy #17 5 years ago

    I'd actually say this game is a lot more of a "supercharged" Mercenaries than GTA, certainly in terms of the open-ended structure and just concentrating on killing bosses, but regardless, it's awesome and I can't wait to get it, if only to try and get all their crazy achievements!

  • BadDevotions #18 5 years ago

    i really wasn't arsed by this whatsoever. But it might be quite good. the whole running around doing what you want when you want appeals. Especially if you can blow stuff up whilst running around. I am still not that optimistic about it....

  • glaeken #19 5 years ago

    The lack of story I actually see as a bonus.

    /Remembers when games used to be more dynamic and not rely on canned stories

  • PapaSmurf630 #20 5 years ago

    This game is awesome. Demo has me sold. I do enjoy playing violent games, but this isn't exactly violent. Just good, solid, enjoyable gameplay. Sometimes I just don't understand what people are expecting when they say it's 'dull'.

    Being able to throw trucks + cars (and I know this has been talked about so much, but it is so COOL!), leap 50ft into the air, jump across highways from building to building, blow traffic jams up, drive awesome cars that go under, over and through anything and kill gangs of thugs! I don't know, but in my dictionary, dull doesn't describe anyone of those things. But of course, that's my opinion.

    I also prefer sand box games. Games like Gears of War are great, but sometimes I get in and I don't want to have to 'try' (for want of a better phrase) Sometimes I just like to start up sand-box game and just drive/walk about. Perhaps explore new places. If I want to try to progress the game, I will...if I don't, I wont bother and will instead do something else. Sometimes being constantly spoon-fed dialogue and story isn't what I feel like and the fact that this game doesn't force you into anything is something that really attracts me (Just like all the previous GTA titles and even Saints Row)

    Just wanted to add, I don't think I've played a game where the story has actually interested me (Perhaps FF7) Even GoW's was dull and I ended up skipping or just not ingesting half of it. For that reason, lack of another poorly written, obtrusive and downright boring story won't effect my enjoyment!
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 14:48

  • lambtron #21 5 years ago

    From playing the demo this is the game that has persuaded me to buy a 360.

  • prettyboytim #22 5 years ago

    This is another game that makes me want a 360...

  • Super_Zee #23 5 years ago

    Didn't really care much for it when I first played the demo, but my second play got me hooked completely. I love the feeling of getting stronger and everything that comes with it. Definitely getting.

  • GamesConnoisseur #24 5 years ago

    It would may be better to try the demo first hand, I found it a lot more fun than I expected. The one thing that stands out for me from the demo was the variety of ways to explore the rooftops of the city. Buildings are various in scale and size and range of difficulties in ascending and jumping across.

    Felt more Spidey than most of spiderman games!

    /staying in from Fri nites beerfest to save up until release day


  • spongebob #25 5 years ago

    I am really waiting to play this game. Now, if I only had the dough to buy a X360 :)

  • BadDevotions #26 5 years ago

    bugger. i keep missing demos.

    is it still on live?

  • InfiniteFury #27 5 years ago

    Can you fly planes? Can you shoot things from planes?

    That's the clincher for me, after San Andreas, I can't just drive around, I need to fly about, see everything from the sky, and blow people up.

  • dirigiblebill #28 5 years ago

    Isn't it just the Hulk with driving, no missions and no combo system?

  • djchump #29 5 years ago

    To anyone who isn't aware of what the game is like - just try the demo. It's free, so what have you got to lose?
    If you haven't got an Xbox360, find a mate who does and get them to download it so you can have a go.
    It's probably the most fun game I've played since Guitar Hero 1 & 2 and Katamari :-)

  • El_MUERkO #30 5 years ago

    8/10 as good as halo



    ...


    ..


    .


    sorry, couldnt resist

  • rodpad #31 5 years ago

    Didn't like the demo at all.

    /end
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 15:16

  • sanctusmortis #32 5 years ago

    Look at it this way: imagine a game where, if you want, there is a story to follow, and objectives to complete. Or, if you want, you're free to explore, to build yourself up. And all in the same, expansive city, which is about the size of Vice City.

    And those tall buildings? With a little building up, you can climb them all. That island you can see? Swim to it, you can. Or jump off a high building so you can cover a load of watcer to cut down the journey. If you can see it, you can go there. You can drive any car, all the weapons you pick up can be stored at supply points so you can reissue yourself ammo at any time, and you can tackle the gangs however you want.

    If you're obsessed with having a plot, follow the Agency bulletins as you get them. They'll show you your enemy, give you some background on them, and then show you where they are. How you take them out... well, that's your choice.

    And I got all that from the DEMO. The finished article will be better. This is everything GTA and its ilk (especially Saints Row) could have been, with the added bonus of being like Morpheus in the first movie.

    Personally? I may use that Halo 3 key. But it'll be to let my mates have a bash. I'll be too busy climbing Agency Tower and using it as a... shortcut.

  • lazygamer #33 5 years ago

    Preordered this, and not just for the Halo 3 beta :)

    Online co-op is excellent, but I'm not sure how it'll fare up in the long term.

    Although you can't invite a friend in the demo, a friend and myself managed to time it well and ended up playing the demo together. After the tutorial elements, we went our separate ways in the game, with the odd bit of shouting between us when we needed some help fighting a gang. It works perfectly even when you're not helping each other (contests to see who can jump the farthest and so on are a good laugh too).

  • sharpfish #34 5 years ago

    The demo was cool for an hour or two, leveling up and seeing the city.

    After that it felt old, dead and without a sense of vitality or purpose.

    I'm a bit bored with the stereotyped ethnic minority gangs also, though some of the style of the game is nice and not overly serious. Lighting is great in places.

    Worst thing?

    Controls aren't quite smooth enough (nor the camera) which makes it feel not fully finished and not up there with the true AAA X360 games of recent times.

  • Carpathian #35 5 years ago

    papasmurf630 wrote:Sometimes I just like to start up sand-box game and just drive/walk about. Perhaps explore new places. If I want to try to progress the game, I will...if I don't, I wont bother and will instead do something else. Sometimes being constantly spoon-fed dialogue and story isn't what I feel like"

    Spot on - that's my exact reason for wanting this and slapping a pre-order in. That "lack of focus" which some tout as being such a negative thing is for some of us a positive advantage. Missions if you want them but unhindered messing around if you don't......

  • markypants #36 5 years ago

    If Guff-Pipe is getting it then I'm not.

  • jellyhead #37 5 years ago

    Does it have /\/\0t0rB1k3s?

  • Sid-Nice #38 5 years ago

    I've played the demo and all I can say is Crapdown; I'd rather watch Countdown. :)

  • Guff-Pipe #39 5 years ago

    markypant, I need to drill you. x

  • Xerx3s #40 5 years ago

    Of all the games that could make you want a 360, people say that this is the one.

    ....

    o_o

  • djchump #41 5 years ago

    Xerxes - yes, because it's great fun and not available on any other platform... hence I'm thinking about buying a 360.
    What's so difficult to understand about that?

  • lennon #42 5 years ago

    I managed to play the demo for an hour the other day and not bother with any of the agency prompts that were being given to me. Loved the abilities and the incentive each gives you to level it up. Only downside is when I get to the top level of agility I still wanted to go higher! :(

    A must have game for me.

  • markypants #43 5 years ago

    Guff-Pipe - Bring your magic meat wand.

  • lambtron #44 5 years ago

    /puts on some Barry White for markypants and Guff Pipe.
    /leaves them to it.

  • muters #45 5 years ago

    I really want this to be good, but judging by the preview and demo I can't imagine how I'm not going to be disappointed. With no missions and no story (even a shit narrative can hold a game together) I fear it's just going to be like the times in GTA where I promise myself a kill-crazy rampage, get bored after ten minutes and drive into the sea. Even before the half-hour demo times out I find myself idley shuffling about rooftops, having got bored shooting ethnic stereotypes in the face.

    Still. Please be good. I loved Mercenaries so it might still win me over (though Mercenaries had helicopters and Peter Stormare)
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 16:57

  • The-Bodybuilder #46 5 years ago

    >"What's so difficult to understand about that?"

    Out of all the websites, this is the only place were MANY people seem to struggle with the fact that people have a different taste to them.
    None so more than the "halo sucks" groups. But that's a dance we've all danced before.

    I wrote this game off a long time ago. But my interest has risen greatly (not played the demo though). I always hated the GTA3 and above games, but the idea of a loose structureless world has appealed to me ever since the crappy superman demo ended up being one of my most played demo games (second to the lost planet demo).

  • lambtron #47 5 years ago

    "Average, unoriginal, no brain shooty-shooty bollocks for teens.

    It's games like this that give the 360, and games in general, a bad name. Not because it's controversial or anything, but because it's moronic, shallow and shite.

    No wonder normal people think gamers are sad fucks when they see uninspired, skunk-pussy garbage like this."

    You're entitled to your opinion. But I wonder - have you actually played it? I'm guessing the answer is no...

  • glaeken #48 5 years ago

    Congrats Greg. One of the more moronic things I have read for quite some time which given how much I read Eurogamer comments is quite an accomplishment :)

  • lambtron #49 5 years ago

    "Why would I say all that if I hadn't played it?"

    Dunno. It just had the tone of one those rants where someone hates something they've never actually experienced ;).

  • NthSimulachum #50 5 years ago

    I quite like the cartoony style of it, also leveling up your explosives to max and taking out a whole intersection. The joy of leaping from building to building also can't be understated. And the announcer just makes it.

    True, it doesn't have a good story...but then, very few games do. I always appreciate a good story, but it always feels a little tacked on in a sandbox game.

  • Yossarian #51 5 years ago

    the demo was more fun on my third run through than the second, and more fun on the second than on my first.

    sold (well I was anyway because of the HALO 3 BETA INVITE OMG, but sold on Crackdown alone now too)

  • captainrentboy #52 5 years ago

    I love guys like ole Greggy,gamers that feel the need to add the awful insult ''for teens'' whenever they're laying into a particular game.
    I don't get it,when you say that are you implying that an older gamer aged 20+ should feel a lil ashamed for buying these awfully immature titles,and that older gamers who enjoy these ''shooty shooty'' games are not quite at the same intellectual level as you?
    It's facking cheeky I say :)
    Anyway I'll be buying Crackdown cuz I likes all the explosions and big boooms and stuff,and when the cars blowed up the fire went everywhere,real pritty.

  • Whizzo #53 5 years ago

    The maxed-out supercar has mounted machine guns, and rumours persist that the top SUV can actually jump.

    The SUV can indeed bounce, quite a reasonable height too. If you concentrate on running down enemies you can hit level 4 in the demo, you'll probably not have a huge amount of time to play with the fully upgraded vehicles though. Quite what the level 4 truck does I'm not sure, pressing B makes a rushing sound but it didn't feel hugely quicker than when not pressing it.

  • foamy #54 5 years ago

    that would be the horn, no?

  • Scimarad #55 5 years ago

    Sounds a lot fun and I'll definitely try it but it sounds a little too lacking in structure for my liking. Makes a change to not be playing the crims as well...

  • Whizzo #56 5 years ago

    that would be the horn, no?

    You have not reached level 4 in driving and I claim my five pounds.

    When you are in an agency car and are fully upgraded in driving the B button activates the car's special ability, take a look at the control setup.

  • mattigan #57 5 years ago

    Apparently, at level 4 the truck instantly explodes anything it hits.

  • BabaBooey #58 5 years ago

    I was so excited about this game, but after playing a demo I realized what makes GTA such a good game.

    You actually have a choice between exploring the gigantic landscape or following specific missions or storylines. Sure, driving around, killing some innocent people and using your superpowers sounds like great fun. But apart from the superpower angle it's not that different from GTA. At least GTA gives you a choice, has funny dialogues, is filled with easter eggs and has awesome radio stations.

    For a game entirely based around exploring and using the environment as your toy, it's a little disappointing it's just... a city. At least San Andreas had highways, small hillbilly towns, forests and several distinctive areas.

  • asphaltcowboy #59 5 years ago

    "At least San Andreas had highways, small hillbilly towns, forests and several distinctive areas.

    I don't know how you can say this having only seen one island of 3 in the demo?

  • Whizzo #60 5 years ago

    Apparently, at level 4 the truck instantly explodes anything it hits.

    After some "scientific experimentation"* a level 4 truck at 130+ will destroy a vehicle it hits, it's rather fun tossing it to one side then exploding. The B is a boost button which improves acceleration quite a bit but I'd obviously not really noticed it as I didn't have much time to test it last time I hit driver level 4.

    Not hitting Peacekeeper and civvie traffic at those sort of speeds is quite tricky but Peacekeeper cars blow up nicely and their hit squad was rubbish! :-)


    *Brainiac level of science
    Edited by 2 at 26/01/07 @ 21:02

  • figaro7 #61 5 years ago

    This sounds so much like the Hulk: Ultimate destruction its not funny! Which was one of the few sandbox games i did enjoy. What is the combat system like? Do you pick up special moves along the way, combos along the way? Or is it just your abilities increase as you level up? What about side missions, ie not killing bosses or sub bosses? Having no access to live so cant dl the demo. One final question, do the bosses come in gigantic sizes to co-incide with you getting more powerful? Tossing tanks at that massive mech while he was levelling builds was insane!

  • ronuds #62 5 years ago

    I dunno about this one... I like structure, but I also like sand-box. I'm torn!

  • ~j~ #63 5 years ago

    Looks good, just have to buy a 360!

  • effinwooly #64 5 years ago

    i am SO surprised how good this game is !!!

  • Nemesis #65 5 years ago

    Based on the demo, this is a buy for me. Not too fussed about the H3 invite; I'll wait for the final version to hit retail.

    The urban look of Crackdown reminds me of Deus Ex coupled with the art style of Jet Set Radio AND slap in a bit of Robocop. Which is a good thing!

    /Rick Flair woo

  • ph101 #66 5 years ago

    you guys...

  • gaselite #67 5 years ago

    Sounds like tremendous fun, looking forward to it.

  • kaosridder #68 5 years ago

    pretty boring. The only objectives in the game seems to be killing bosses deeming from the achivement-list. And that was stale after two hours of demo-time. A good sandbox game comes with many different missiontypes. Not just one. Crackdown=yawn.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/07 @ 08:14

  • Tomo #69 5 years ago

    Someone please donate me a 360 :[

  • schoozzzmmii #70 5 years ago

    Had a quick play on this, but what is the deal with the 360 and its vsync problem. I don't know whether it's because i'm using the VGA cable on a monitor but every time there's a bunch of stuff on screen it gets loads of tearing all over the place. Makes me feel a bit queezy. This is supposed the be the next gen and all that. It makes me want to go back to PC gaming where you at least get the choice. I'd take a frame rate hit to get rid of the tearing.

    Maybe i'll have to hook my 360 up to a regular tv. Can anyone confirm, does this lessen the problem?

  • Stormflood #71 5 years ago

    Cell-shaded? To me it looks like the graphics weren't shaping up so they slapped on a thin dark edge. My definition of cell shading would be XIII.

  • PapaSmurf630 #72 5 years ago

    Cell Shadedish...I don't think anywhere on their website it says their game is 'cellshaded'. They've just gone with a very stylised, comicy look...

  • willvale #73 5 years ago

    I've just played the demo and loved it. Leaping huge gaps is great fun - like being the cyborgs in Ghost in the Shell or something.

    But the thing I'm really keen on, which doesn't seem to have been talked about much, is the lock-on system. It's similar to Eternal Darkness or Mark of Kri, where you can get a very quick initial lock-on and then nudge it up/down/left/right to hit specific body parts (to headshot, knockdown or disarm enemies.) The timing of headshots and crouching works quite well too, and it all feels really well-integrated - they've got a lot out of one mechanism.

    Has anyone else appreciated this part of it? It's more obvious if you play on the harder difficulty levels since you have to work a bit more to take out gangs - e.g. kneecap first then finish them off one by one, or sneak up and headshot.

    I'm a bit worried about the lack of missions, but I loved Mercenaries, so we'll see how it goes. Although it's perhaps an odd comparison - while Mercenaries had the 'kill the bosses' thread to it, it also had an excellent mission structure (seemingly modelled after GTA2?) to give you 'proper' goals and drip-feed you target information.

  • asphaltcowboy #74 5 years ago

    well, more fool you then wonka...

  • Les #75 5 years ago

    Looks like a game that might be interesting for short 10 minute bursts. More something you would expect from XBLA than from a full price game...

  • markypants #76 5 years ago

    Downloaded, played for a while, didn't like it.

    Played again today, and it suddenly clicked with me and I had a great time with it. Deffinately a pre-order now.

    Think the trouble is that it does have so much in common with GTA and if you play it like GTA you don't get the best out of it. You need to relax and aim for pure destruction and killing. Leveling up is satisfying and I think in the full game where you can level up everything and basically become a superhero, it will be even more fun.

  • Whizzo #77 5 years ago

    While I was really enjoying myself initially but having played the demo about half a dozen times, I'm getting the idea that the fact there is no structure other than killing the bosses and levelling up means it's about as deep as a puddle and won't have any real longevity.

    I will be buying but only once it's hit the 20 quid mark as a full price title I don't think it's got any legs to it.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/07 @ 13:10

  • captainrentboy #78 5 years ago

    Willvale I really liked the aiming too,just taking that few extra seconds to go for the head instead of the torso made the killing so much easier.
    BUT,not so great is the fact that it isn't very easy to switch between targets once you're locked on,and it bugged me quite a lot how my lock on kept targeting things that were either useless or bloody dead already.

  • Sid-Nice #79 5 years ago

    Well Crackdown isn’t my Earl Grey; I’d say the game was a mixture of GTA and XIII. The graphics go from good to bland and it’s nice to see that 360 games are consistent with slowdown and tearing included in the demo. If I was to score the game on my experience of the demo it would have to be a 4/10. There is nothing here for me to warrant a purchase.

  • asphaltcowboy #80 5 years ago

    I agree, to add a bit of challenge to the aiming (ie, you do have to actually pick your target rather than just aim at a group of people and hold LT), I think the lock should lock onto whatever you're directly aiming at (not civs obviously, but crims, barrels, cars, etc). It will mean you can make more strategical decisions and mean that you'll have to actually aim at stuff before you can kill it!

  • Yossarian #81 5 years ago

    still when you've alerted some hit squads, flipped your car, rolled clear and turned around to put one round in the gas tank just as several gang members charge past it towards you... it's a million times better than GTA's combat

  • matt__jon #82 5 years ago

    intriguing.. how come I never heard anything about it until now?

  • PapaSmurf630 #83 5 years ago

    "still when you've alerted some hit squads, flipped your car, rolled clear and turned around to put one round in the gas tank just as several gang members charge past it towards you... it's a million times better than GTA's combat"

    So true :D

    From what I've played, it does lock on precisly to whatever is closest to your aiming reticule at the time of pressing the Left Trigger....And to echo Willvale, I also really like the lockon system. Helps whilst jumping over buildings at the same time as dispatching 2-3 gang members at the same time.

    /cannot wait for 20th Feb.

  • foamy #84 5 years ago

    Had a quick play on this, but what is the deal with the 360 and its vsync problem. I don't know whether it's because i'm using the VGA cable on a monitor but every time there's a bunch of stuff on screen it gets loads of tearing all over the place. Makes me feel a bit queezy. This is supposed the be the next gen and all that. It makes me want to go back to PC gaming where you at least get the choice. I'd take a frame rate hit to get rid of the tearing.

    Maybe your monitor is set to 70 or 75hz, and should be set to 60? Just guessing. Maybe yes, maybe no. I'd give it a try though.

  • Dizzy #85 5 years ago

    It feels like a single player version of CoH. Tried the demo a few times and the hours always flew by (wel minutes :) With Co-op this will certainly be a must buy for me.

  • cyber_nicco #86 5 years ago

    Wow, this sounds good to me. Just that pic of the city from way up high got me excited.

    Truth be told, I quite like really open-ended games, even if there are slow bits in them while you try to figure out what to do. This is the very reason why I enjoyed Morrowmind so much (haven't tried Oblivion yet).

    Woo hoo!

  • jlaakso #87 5 years ago

    The demo is precisely as good as I thought it could be after reading the Edge feature some months back. Great stuff. Just leaping all around the place is sublime.

    I am so favoring the decision to drop a useless story. More games should follow the lead: if you don't have anything to say... don't. Basic videogames do not need a story beyond what's on the back of the DVD case.

  • SomaticSense #88 5 years ago

    I really can't name what it is, but there was something about the demo that made me feel like I was playing something truly amazing. Something that the likes of GTA always promised but never quite reached, but I don't exactly know what as on paper GTA and Saints Row seems to carry off a lot of the mechanics better.

    Maybe that it's set in the future that appeals to my sci-fi side (been done many times before). Maybe it's the special abilities and the way they improve over time (seen in pretty much every RPG). Or maybe it's that for the first time in playing a game of this type have I felt that it was an actual living breathing city (no GTA to this date has felt anywhere near like that to me yet). Or maybe it's a combination of all of these, I dunno, but it felt much more fun than any other sandbox GTA-type I've played thus far, despite the feeling that it had quite a number of flaws.
    It just felt much more fun than any GTA-type game I've played, and I love the GTA games, so that's saying a lot.

    The thought of no actual story or missions at first sounds terrible, but after playing the demo it makes much more sense, and could actually deliver a completely different gaming experience to what's come before.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #89 5 years ago

    Tried the demo for a a good half an hour or so. The environment does indeed seem alive and the presentation is great. The outlined models give the graphics a nice comic like touch yet there is still great detail and real looking stuff going on. It is definetly unique and works really well. Too often have games tried to nail a mixture of real and comice like graphics but this game does it how it should be done. I also enjoy the totally over the top style of the cars (like the supercar changing form when you enter it - great!), the run down ghetto scenery and how it goes along with the futuristic setting. In short this is one reality that really appeals to me; Not many games pull this off. And the music in the title screen is great and is a really good mood setter.

    As for the game mechanics etc. I have not played it long enough yet and while I really enjoy looking at the game I don't know if it will keep me hooked. Rest assured the next time I play I will not skip every transmission which I did this time because I had a friend over and we wanted to fool around a bit; And it's great fun. If the various assignments prove to be worthwhile then I will probably get this game. We'll see tomorrow after a few more runs with the demo.

    But all in all the game is a positive surprise. I recommend everyone to at least try the demo because even if you hate GTA (I do) and don't think this game could possibly be any fun it very well just might be.

  • dllord #90 5 years ago

    Arsecrackdown!

  • GamesConnoisseur #91 5 years ago

    Wow!

    Opinions so divided, some is quickly put off with this, citing it either too bland a flavour, others identifying it as a platable fare. Few do find it an aquired taste after having giving it a several go!

    David Jones pioneered GTA before there was GTA3, and it is good Real Time World (Brit company no less) is braving a new direction with a sandbox game by making it a true sandbox with no structured boundaries. That may be both a strength and weakness depending perhaps on your need for total freedom or having forms of guidance?

    Still it may all be simply an uninformed opinion on either side until full game is properly tried and tasted.

  • mike_mgoblue #92 5 years ago

    Crackdown is the best game of this kind that I have ever played!!!

    Crackdown is like Grand Theft Auto, but it takes place in the future where you are a genetically engineered superhuman with superhuman abilities, like the ability to jump super high, throw enemies 50 yards, pick up cars, and all sorts of stuff. IT IS AWESOME!!!

    Crackdown isn't just a Grand Theft Auto clone like Saints Row was; Crackdown is literally an improvement on Grand Theft Auto!

  • effinwooly #93 5 years ago

    i totally agree Mike ! its a shame that a few people on here are slagging it off without playing it..........if you have played it and didn't like it then fair enough, but at least give it a go..................its 100% pure fun

  • Rambaldi #94 5 years ago

    @greggywocky

    "Average, unoriginal, no brain shooty-shooty bollocks for teens. It's games like this that give the 360, and games in general, a bad name. Not because it's controversial or anything, but because it's moronic, shallow and shite. No wonder normal people think gamers are sad fucks when they see uninspired, skunk-pussy garbage like this."

    Have you any idea how old and boring you sound?

  • Rambaldi #95 5 years ago

    @wonka

    "Crackdown - you can count me out. A. I don't own an X360 and B. even if it were ported to PS3, i'd still pass on it. It looks naff.

    @Les

    "looks like a game that might be interesting for short 10 minute bursts. More something you would expect from XBLA than from a full price game..."

    ..the key word in both these comments being 'looks' as in 'not played' as in 'won't play because it 's on 360 and against my religion' as in 'if I do play on PS3 I'll spend an extra £10 on the game and an extra £150 on the console for TH£ R£4L N£XT G£N!'.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #96 5 years ago

    No wonder normal people think gamers are sad fucks when they see uninspired, skunk-pussy garbage like this.

    What is a 'skunk-pussy'?

    Is it a cat with a white stripe down its back that gains the amorous attentions of Pepe le Pew?
    Edited by 1 at 28/01/07 @ 15:25

  • stormuk #97 5 years ago

    Started playing the Demo thinking clone time - and was suprised I enjoyed it so much..

  • Santino #98 5 years ago

    Mentalist... I asked my younger brother to question his biology lecturer on the 'skunk-pussy' matter. As it turns out the technical term for it is "smelly fud", although what relevance it has to do with a game i am clueless. Hopefully this little piece of info is helpful to finding out the deeper meaning behind such a phrase.

  • ishigo #99 5 years ago

    Just climbed to the top of the 'Nexus' building on the central island in the demo - great fun clambering up (did it on 3-star agilty), and you can look out over the whole city. Still at excellent framerate too, looks beautiful.

    Wasn't sure about the bright, cartoon-y art style, but its totally grown on me. Finally a game that isn't all dark browns :)

    Def. purchase, will tide me until GTA4 drops.

  • rotj #100 5 years ago

    Crackdown is a definite purchase for me, but make no mistake, it's merely a stop-gap until GTAIV arrives. I too have enjoyed the demo immensely, but without a story and missions... I just can't understand these people who are like "Gameplay > story". It's as retarded as the "Gameplay > graphics" Nintendo brigade. Am I the only one whose loves it when we get gameplay AND graphics AND story? Is that not the better overall package, instead of forsaking one or the other? Need they be mutually exclusive? Crackdown has the gameplay and the controls down pat, of that there is no doubt. But without a story and missions, it will always be second best to GTA in this gamers mind. As I said, Crackdown is a must buy for me. But the real feast is to come October 2007!

    :)

  • Sid-Nice #101 5 years ago

    Have you been playing on your brothers 360 again rotj? Sometimes you talk out of your hat. Your comment of "Am I the only one whose loves it when we get gameplay AND graphics AND story?" Well you certainly can't be talking about the GTA series on the Xbox.

    WHOSE LOVES YA BABY?</a>. HA HA HA HA HA.

  • rotj #102 5 years ago

    How wrong you are. GTA's gameplay was...greater than the sum of its parts. Individual mechanics? Not so great. Crackdown wins that duel. But all told, and when you add in the city plans, the diverse and interesting missions, the music, the radio stations, the characters, the screenplay, the voice acting, the social commentary, the satire, etc, etc, GTA is King. However, all that plus good graphics and better controls would make for a better game still. Is that much not obvious?

  • PapaSmurf630 #103 5 years ago

    Aaah christ...

    Crackdown is not GTA...Comparing the two is like comparing FarCry to Battlefield.
    Sure they're similar, but also totally different. So why bother?

  • NthSimulachum #104 5 years ago

    Seems this game is polarising opinion. Like Kameo. We all thought it was good except EG.

  • rotj #105 5 years ago

    "Crackdown is not GTA...Comparing the two is like comparing FarCry to Battlefield"

    I'd be more inclined to say Splinter Cell - Metal Gear Solid myself. In any case, I take your point. Those who approach Crackdown in the manner they'd approach a GTA game will be doomed to disappointment, whereas those who approach it on its own merits will uncover a veritable toy chest of possibilities.

    :)

  • Der_tolle_Emil #106 5 years ago

    The comparison with GTA is obvious because nearly everyone has played GTA. But at the core they are different games. The biggest difference still that Crackdown is fun compared to the imho totally shit and overrated GTA.

  • Genji #107 5 years ago

    "I just can't understand these people who are like "Gameplay > story". It's as retarded as the "Gameplay > graphics" Nintendo brigade. Am I the only one whose loves it when we get gameplay AND graphics AND story? Is that not the better overall package, instead of forsaking one or the other? Need they be mutually exclusive?"

    And who, exactly, has said that they need be mutually exclusive? Who has said that graphics or story do not matter at all in a good game?

    Would you, however, at least agree that - on a list of priorities - that gameplay would be higher up than graphics? My thinking is: there are plenty of great games that have less than stellar graphics, but few great games that have shit gameplay. So, while graphics are not *unimportant*, I would class them as *less important*. Hence, the "Gameplay > graphics" argument.

    Story is a little tricker. It simply doesn't matter if the story is any good in a lot of games, but for some genres I would place it at least on the same level of importance as gameplay. An RPG can have fantastic gameplay, but it's the story that keeps the player motivated in many cases. In fact, it was partly the story that turned me off GTA:SA.

    Am I retarded? Please, let me know so I can book myself into a clinic.

  • Darkbeat #108 5 years ago

    Ive tried the demo and its pretty neat. But I wonder how long lasting it is when theres no real story.

  • Rambaldi #109 5 years ago

    I wouldn't worry, it never seems to affect most driving or sports games...or Metal Gear games ;)

  • rotj #110 5 years ago

    @ Genji

    Of course there's a pecking order. Good gameplay + average graphics (ie. GTA) is greater than average gameplay + great graphics (ie. Fifa 07). All I was saying is that the best combo is always good gameplay + good graphics, and those that say "graphics don't matter" are fools, cause a game such as GTA will always be that bit better for having better graphics, no matter how good the gameplay.

    As for story, I agree some games don't need, and I especially agree that shoe-horning in a crap story for the sake of having one is probably counter-productive ie. Lost Planet. It all comes down to opinion though, and it is my belief that a good story innumerably benefits gameplay. I give you the biggest example. Halo. Do you not think people's attatchment and involvement in the game is partly down to their Star Wars-esque love for the world/story/characters as much as for the gameplay itself?

  • Sid-Nice #111 5 years ago

    Of course there's a pecking order. Good gameplay + average graphics (ie. GTA) is greater than average gameplay + great graphics (ie. Fifa 07).

    How big of a hole do you want to dig for yourself? Fifa 07 is the best football game on the 360; PES6 on the other hand has below average graphics and below average game play. Many moons ago I wouldn't touch a Fifa game with a barge pole; as I was brainwashed into thinking that the Fifa franchise was all fur coat and no knickers. Now it’s Konami who are taking the piss with poor quality updates; yet most PES reviews are viewed through rose tinted glasses, a game that should score a 5/10 or 6/10 receives an 8/10 or 9/10. PES is all about game play although the game hasn’t really evolved; it has revolved around 5 year old graphics and game play.

    A man from EA once told me “It’s in the game” a Konami representative told me “It’s in the game, but only in the PS2 version.” :)

  • asphaltcowboy #112 5 years ago

    What's that? A fur coat and no knickers? Sounds hawt! ;)

  • Carpathian #113 5 years ago

    The other thing to realise after playing the demo is that the fast levelling up means you can just wade in and cause havoc as you see fit. You know that after the hour it all resets so you can just go loony as you want.

    Once the full title hits the shelves you'll have to work for the levelling and also you'll know your actions will be saved. This will lead to more careful initial play, only later gravitating to the carazy antics most of us have got to in the demo. This can only be a good thing for the game proper and lead to a much more balanced run through.

    Also, people need to remember that the other two areas locked on the demo are VERY different from the one they've hopped about in. One is very much factory/docks/utilitarian and the other high tech/shiny and very VERY tall. Even just bringing these two other styles of area will mean more variety and, in the case of the skyscrapers, some real edge of the seat jumps and grabs.

    All in all I think the demo does go a long way to giving a flavour of the title but a lot of the "it'll get boring quickly" thoughts may not be as liable as feared once the full thing comes out.

    Just my thoughts, obviously........

  • kangarootoo #114 5 years ago

    Played the demo the other night and rather liked it.

    It is still tough to gauge whether it will keep me interested long term, but it definitely had a good vibe about it when jumping about the city (reminded me a little of Spiderman 2 on the XB).

    Seems like the control system has a few sharp edges, but will work well once you get used to it. The driving model in particular was kind of weird, but I would probably warm to it given time.

    Liked the skill system, especially the aspects related to physical agility. I can see being able to continually advance your jumping abilities as a real attention holder.

    Combat felt a little poor and is definitely the area that at this stage I could see annoying me eventually. But then the combar in SM2 blew and I still loved the game overall.

    I have yet to try out the co-op side of things. I can see that being the real seller with me. Might get a chance to try it out in the next day or so. I'll report back if this thread is still current by the time I get the chance (assuming anyone cares what I think of course :) )

  • drivenstorm #115 5 years ago

    I'm with those who thought this demo was brilliant fun. There's so much depth to the gameplay and what can happen. I must have played the demo about six times now doing different things each time.

    As Manic says, yes there is a bleeding "story" though if you think most videogames have involving stories you probably think Michael Bay films are deep.

    I remember enjoying Vice City on the PS2 then getting stuck on some horrendous mission that I couldn't get past. Guess what? I stopped playing the game and never went back. Crackdown is playing to it's strengths of having a really open structure. That makes it different and I'm all for that. Now let's wait for the full game.

  • bloodflowers #116 5 years ago

    I think I've reached 3D-sandbox saturation point. I could see that this game has good points from the demo, but I /just didn't care/. Hardly even grazed the surface before turning it off. I used to be enthusiastic about this sort of thing, just seen it enough now, even with new stuff on the table.

  • Yossarian #117 5 years ago

    I find I enjoy this the more I play it, so that's a good sign for the game's longevity. press types with preview builds continue to be positive too.

  • PapaSmurf630 #118 5 years ago

    "I think I've reached 3D-sandbox saturation point. I could see that this game has good points from the demo, but I /just didn't care/. Hardly even grazed the surface before turning it off. I used to be enthusiastic about this sort of thing, just seen it enough now, even with new stuff on the table."

    Now I know the chances of me changing your opinion are small but hear me out...PLEASE! Give it a go! Despite your first impressions, this is a lot different and I really think you might be missing out on a whole lot of fun...give it 45 minutes and you should get to see where the rest of us are coming from. Seems unfair to just 'graze the surface' of a compelling, free and ultimately rather fun peice of game.

    If you don't, well.....I may just cry.

  • kangarootoo #119 5 years ago

    Played it a bit more the other night. Still no multiplayer, but maxed out of the agility stat so I could jump really high in the air. That was rather a lot of fun. Chucking cars about is cool too.

    I still worry that it won't hold my interest long term. Need to try co-op play to get a better idea.

  • miiiguel #120 5 years ago

    I still wonder why people who worship a machine they never touched or even smelled, get upset for the spiking success of the 360 and its games.

    Pre-ordered for the sake of it, don't like demos, so I can give away my key to Halo3 if anyone wants.


    off-topic: Check out my Approved GamerScore, I'm Elite! (GT: miiiguel) ;)

  • davisorle #121 5 years ago

    I actually thought this game was going to be really stupid no matter how many videos and stuff I had watched... I end up playing the demo 2-3 times already and I enjoyed it as hell compared to what I was expecting! Love it when it comes out of nowhere, a game that I thought of it as trush and actually loving it's gameplay. And as for the pleople talking shit about it... I kept my mouth shut nomatter what I thought of it before I get to play it. So you can just ignore them. It's the least you could do for kids that love attention.

  • gamestester #122 5 years ago

    Definitely a grower. Started off thinking it's meh, but the more I played it, it just seemed like fun fun fun... something to do with the levelling up I guess.

    Gta clone - no. More of a cross breed of bits and ideas from Mercenaries, Spiderman, Hulk, Carmageddon, Judge Dredd, and Gta, plus some more ingredients in it's own unique fomula.

  • ronuds #123 5 years ago

    After I first played, I wasn't too into the game like many of you. Then I played again and liked it a lot more.

    It's different enough from GTA to not categorize it as exactly the same game, but the game does leave a little to be desired. Can't shoot through car windows? I could do that in Saint's Row, so I'd expect the same out of this game. That's just one of a few shortcomings, but the game is definitely fun.

  • ScottyXTUK #124 5 years ago

    I find that I agree with quite a few here. Got the demo, gave it a quick blast and thought it was ok. Then the other night I had a real good play with it and suddenly something just clicked. I realised that this game is bloody awesome. It just feels right, there's plenty to do, the graphics are very stylish and well done. It feels like a busy bustling metropolis in the future too. The vertical aspect of the game also adds a lot of gameplay potential and I love the powering up. At it's very basic it's still a blast to just tear around causing mayhem ala GTA but there's so much more to it.

    The demo has sold the game to me already as I've preordered the full game and really looking forward to it. I love it when a game arrives out of nowhere and blows you away.
    Edited by 1 at 05/02/07 @ 09:27

  • Barry619 #125 5 years ago

    I think i'm in the minority here that i've been following the progress of this game since it was first announced as i always thought it could be a cracker, and from the demo i think i'm right.

    I agree with many things people have said, yes it is a fun blast everything game, but it also can be a very deep game with some innovitve ways of doing missions. I think the people who say there is no story at all haven't gave the demo a proper go, you do get updated with info as you play, just because the game doesn't drag you from point A to point B, doesn't mean that there isn't a perfectly good story, a superhero-esqe copper clears the city of criminals the way he (you) likes it! bloody good idea in my eyes.

    Something i also haven't noticed anyone mention (but it might well have been, i haven't read every post) but has anyone played the co-op online mode yet? i played it with a mate last night, and i can tell you it was bloody good fun, bounding around the city like lunitics is as much fun as it sounds, you should try it on the demo rignt now!