Crackdown
Back on January 3rd, Microsoft announced two ways be eligible for the Halo3 beta. The first way was to be one of the first 13,333 to register at the Halo3 website. The other way was to purchase Crackdown. As details came out, we at MediaGeeks got more & more curious. After the demo came out, it became real tempting. Once it was confirmed that the none of us got into the beta via email, a few of us bought the game with continued skepticism.
In Crackdown, you play as a experimental new kind of police agent, set to take down the 3 major factions/gangs of Pacific City. The factions/gangs include a Latin type group called Los Muertos, a Russian type called the Volk, and an Asian corporation type called the Shai-Gen.
At first glance, Crackdown looks like a basic Grand Theft Auto clone. The sandbox gameplay, the cell shaded characters and environment, its not really surprising one would think that. What separates Crackdown from Grand Theft Auto, is a Gears of Wars type co-op mode and a bit of a role playing game element. While the most you can customize your character, is which skin/model you play as. The RPG element comes from the fact that with every bad guy killed, you receive experience. Gun them down, you get firearms experience. Run them over, you get driving experience. The real valuable trait you want to build-up is thru Agility Orbs. As you collect Agility Orbs, it increases your ability to jump higher and higher and thus access Hidden Orbs that give you handful of free experience in all five traits. Its hard to explain, but after you get 3 or 4 stars in your Agility experience, you are hoping rooftops like you were an Agent in the Matrix movies. In addition to character development, mission-based gameplay, and collecting of orbs, there are various side challenges such as races and stunt markers to jump a car through.
To be honest, the game is really not all that special. The main draw to the game is the Halo3 beta invite. Add in a slightly above average GTA style game with a little extra and its a purchase worth making.
