True Crime: Streets of LA

True Crime owes a lot, if not everything, to the Grand Theft Auto series. Indeed it is very difficult these days to have a free-roaming action game and not compare it to GTA but True Crime is so alarmingly similar that I'm surprised Rockstar didn't try to sue.

The story of True Crime is right out of a direct-to-video action film of the late 80s. It starts out as your typical renegade cop shoots first and ask questions later kind of pulp but ends up being about ancient Chinese wizards, huge fire-breathing dragons and sewer-dwelling zombies. If it began far-fetched then what it ends up as is just plain weird. However, that's not to say you'll not have fun. The plot is spread out over 9 different stages each with about 10 individual missions. It's possible to replay your favorite missions too.

True crime has 5 different styles of play. First their is the free-roaming bit where you can run all over LA solving street crimes. There there's the car chases in which you run bad guys (and sometimes airplanes) off the road. Third is the stealth missions in which you must sneak into places unnoticed and render unconscious anyone you see. Fourth is the one on one combat and fifth, my favorite, is the shoot-em-up levels, where you can do loads of stunts and diving through the air blasting away at bad guys. The slow motion as you zero in on the targets is brilliant. But I would have preferred if the game was bloodier. A few splatters here and there ain't enough.

But much of this game is boring, aesthetically at the least. The geographically accurate LA is impressive but it's so unbelievably bland. The dullest colors are used to paint the environment and the city is pretty made up of grey-scale. The cars also cannot do stunts. Which is crap. How brilliant would it be to drive right off the freeway and fly into the sky before plummeting 100 feet? Too bad, you can't do it because of the pointless invisible wall.

Pros:

Loads of action.

Blowing up stuff is fun.

Cool cut scenes with funny dialogue.

Great tunes.

Cons:

Some missions are boring.

No stunts.

LA is bland and thoroughly NON-interactive.

The fights with General Kim are IMPOSSIBLE!

Loads of very long loading times!

No matter how disappointing some parts of the game are I will still be getting the sequel, True Crime: New York City. But please do not make as boring as LA was and cut out those awful loading times!

Graphics B+ Sound A Gameplay A- Lasting Appeal A-

I really enjoyed playing True Crime it plays out like grand theft auto, but having you take the position of being a cop the creators did a very nice thing you go up to peoples cars and go police need to borrow your car. The game also isn't perfect it's kind of short not to short just don't think it's going to be as long as the grand theft games and you'll love it. Ok to the story it's about a cop who is assigned a new partner. They don't get along at first, but then they start to get used to one another. The levels are really fun you can drive around destroying most of the city, you can make arrests which is cool, and for the people that can't pass a level and are tired of playing a level you can start another one. my advixe is to rent it first because you migh beat it and get bored of it I just rented it and I am going to tell all of my friends to buy this game and give it a try. *** and a half out of **** really good game.

This game is just beautiful to look at and play, The story-line actualy keeps you in the game *unlike VICE CITY*. You play a cop in this one not a ganster which is kool becuase you can arrest people now.

But If I could change or add something to this game then I would add more weapons, more missions, New cars, more charactors to choice from,And the chance to fly a plane or helicopter.

My rating for this game -------

8/10

Looking forward to the movie! (coming the fall of 2005)

Don't listen to frank gifford. I don't know who gave him a computer to use, but he's wrong.

Sure, there are games that will and have taken the GTA go anywhere, do anything gameplay and the attitude that keeps you playing, but there was so much put into True Crime that you have to applaud it. Russel Wong must have gotten a lot of cash for lending his voice to this game, because he's all over it. There are hours of his dialogue, wisecracks and his grunts and groans as his character, Nick Kang, fights. Christopher Walken is in here as well, playing the old friend of Nick Kang's father.

The major similarity to GTA is that you can do what you want when you want, and you can go on to the next mission when you feel like it. The twist is that you're a cop and if you act violently, you become a bad cop, making cops your enemy as well.

There is a large soundtrack- about 50 songs or so- that are unedited. There are also some nice cheats and options as well for replayability.

So If you're looking for a game to hold you over until the next GTA, this is definitely it.

Sound: 8/10 Graphics: 8.5/10 Gameplay: 8.0

"True Crime: Streets of LA" came across to me somehow by accident, but after learning that the game has a cool action movie, I decided to explore this product. The abstract promised an exciting open world and the opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Los Angeles with elements of detective and action. In those years, such games were at the peak of popularity, and "True Crime" tried to meet expectations. However, despite the many positive aspects, she left behind mixed feelings.

The first thing that attracts attention is the huge map of Los Angeles, which the developers have tried to recreate with a high degree of detail. At the beginning of the game, it's impressive: the ability to move freely around the metropolis, patrol the streets, deal with criminals and complete various missions seems exciting. However, the scale of the map turns into a disadvantage over time. The locations begin to seem monotonous: the streets of the districts, although different at first glance, soon begin to repeat themselves, and it becomes difficult for the player to remember or study them. This has a negative effect on the immersion process, since Los Angeles in the game does not feel like a living city, but like a set of identical streets and buildings.

On the other hand, the combat mechanics are pleasantly surprising. The game has a decent hand-to-hand combat system with the possibility of using various techniques. The fights feel dynamic and spectacular, allowing the player to apply a variety of combinations of punches and blocks. Shooting also does not disappoint: in addition to an arsenal of firearms, the player can improve his character's skills, which adds tactical depth. Leveling up firearms and skills makes gunfights all the more exciting, especially in the later stages of the game, where skills are key. By the end, the main character's gun turns into some kind of futuristic cannon with an unprecedented list of improvements.

However, this is where the strengths of the game end. Despite attempts to add non-linearity and variability, the tasks and missions in the game are often of the same type and do not offer significant variety. As a result, "True Crime: Streets of LA" begins to feel routine, and because of the repetitive streets and neighborhoods, the motivation to explore the world is rapidly fading.

This project could be something more. It offers a good combat system and leveling elements, but suffers from a monotonous open world and repetitive missions. This is a good game for its time, but it does not reach the level of the best representatives of the genre.

6 out of 10.