True Crime: Streets of LA - PS2

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Also for: PC, Power Mac, Xbox, GameCube
Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Adventure: Free Roaming
Shoot 'Em Up
Combat Game: Driving
Media: CD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Luxoflux Soft. Co.: Activision
Publishers: Activision (GB/GB/GB)
Released: 16 Jul 2004 (GB)
7 Nov 2003 (GB)
Unknown (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 16+, ESRB Rating Pending
Features: Vibration Function Compatible, Analogue Control Compatible: analogue sticks only
Accessories: Memory Card

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Summary

Think Grand Theft Auto 3 meets Shenmue and you're somewhere close to describing this latest martial arts-inspired cop adventure from Activision. In contrast to the former however, you actually play a good guy - an ex-cop by the name of Nick Kang - working as an operative for the Elite Operations Division. You'll be pleased to know he's not too much of a 'good' good guy, though - more of a bad-ass good guy. Yes!

The game places you in the midst of 250 virtual miles of Los Angeles and charges you with the task of taking out the merciless Russian and Chinese syndicates that are plaguing the city. You have a car, so there's plenty of GTA-style driving around to be done as you explore the expansive city. You also have two Baretta pistols, so, yes, shooting the bad dudes also plays a big part in the proceedings. What's probably the most emphasised element in the game, though, is the martial arts aspect. At certain points throughout, the showdown will end up with a bit of a hand-to-hand skirmish, at which point the game suddenly becomes a beat-em-up, and you have to show off your kung fu credentials and fell the felon.

There are over 100 missions to complete in total as you work your way through the branching storyline, which, along the way, is directly affected by your decisions, successes and failures. The missions are not repeated automatically so, if you do fail, you can choose whether to try again or carry on and bear the consequences. As well as these missions, there's also a host of random crimes occurring all over the city, which you stumble across on your travels. Again, whether you deal with them or not is up to you.

True Crime is certainly an ambitious project. It's a massive game that fuses an assortment of genres (as well as a number of cliches) to create a fairly unique experience.

Artwork

True Crime: Streets of LA - PS2 Artwork

True Crime: Streets of LA - PS2 Artwork