1. True Crime: Streets of LA
A Very Fun Package
True Crime: Streets of L.A. is a Grand-Theft-Auto-esque
action/driving/shooter that allows you to take control of Nick Kang, a cop
out to solve a strange rash of crimes and solve his fathers mysterious
murder. The game treats itself like a movie, with frequent dialogue and
cinematics, a soundtrack filled with some of raps heavy hitters, and some
surprising voiceover talent, like Christopher Walken and Snoop Dogg.
The missions given to you tend to involve shooting up or beating up (there
is a big distinction between gun fighting and kung fu) a room full of bad
guys, or simply have you racing against the clock in your car. In between,
you can roam around and solve simple street crimes (mugging, car
jackings, etc), or earn upgrades for your driving, shooting, and fighting
abilities. The upgrade mechanism is important because while its an
entertaining way to add new gameplay elements several hours in, the early
game leaves you with so few moves that the game is hard, or worse,
boring. The game also features a Good-Cop/Bad-Cop karma system that
rewards or punishes you for doing the right or wrong thing. Arrest criminals

2. in non-lethal manner to get better endings, or terrorize the populace and
have both citizens and police turn on you. While it can be an entertaining
take on the Grand Theft Auto genre, True Crime tends to suffer from hit
and miss execution. For every compelling game element, theres another
equally awful one. There are several mission types that are completely
devoid of any fun, melee fighting favors button mashing even after the
nearly-useless string of upgrades, and the controls and camera seem to
work against you more often than for you. Ultimately, hardcore Grand Theft
Auto fans and the infinitely patient may be in for a treat, but everyone else
is advised to think twice about this game.--Jon Safety Monkey Grover
Pros: Variety of mission types keeps game from getting overly repetitive
Karma system and plenty of alternate cinematics add to replay value
Excellent voice work and above average graphics Cons: Controls f eel
sloppy and the camera will make you want to punch out your TV Certain
mission-types are just plain boring Melee fighting favors button mashing
over thought-out, timed attacks
Features:
* Ex-cop Nick Kang is going deep undercover to stop the Chinese and
Russian gangs that are destroying the city. The mobsters have met their
match -- youre a one-man army, using their own tactics against them, to
shut them down!
* Bring down the crime syndicates of L.A. in driving missio ns, gunfights
and martial arts showdowns across hundreds of square miles
* The unpredictable branching storyline leads to a wide variety of new
choices, with mission you undertake
* Build skills as you travel across levels, as you explore the realistically
designed city
Personal Review: True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA was my first experience with the free-roaming
genre of games that Grand Theft Auto made famous. Ive never played any
of the GTA games so I cant compare them with True Crime, but on its own
merits I had a lot of fun with this game.
You are Nick Kang, an Asian-American cop working on a case involving
money laundering between various mafia groups in LA. Somehow, all this
ties in to the death of your father years earlier. As Nick, youll be sent on a
variety of missions all over LA. Youll have straight shoot-outs, hand-to-
hand combat, car chases, and stealth missions. In-between youll get some
free time where you can drive around solving random street crimes in GTA
fashion.
I give the developers credit for mapping out all of Los Angeles and letting
you drive around without any loading between city sections. Its a huge
environment, and its an amazing programming feat. I also like True Crimes
story structure: depending on if you solve or fail the current mission, you
get alternate cinematics and branching storylines that lead to different
endings. Its very immersive and engaging, plus you can go back any time

3. and try for a better outcome. There are tons of upgrades to collect
including faster cars, stronger guns and deadlier combat moves. Finally,
the voice cast rocks. The script is a pretty cliche mix of various cop
movies, but the voice-acting is top-notch (including Christopher Walken,
Michael Madsen and Michelle Rodriguez).
The game has some problems. The driving and shooting mechanics are
pretty solid, except the zooming function isnt as precise as it should be.
The stealth missions are a joke, and are more about running up and hitting
a guy before they see you rather than genuine sneaking. Hand-to-hand
combat can get frustrating when even after all the upgrades, it still boils
down to random button-mashing. And the storyline takes an odd
supernatural twist towards the end, which really kills the gritty True Crime
atmosphere the game is trying to deliver.
Despite the flaws, Im hooked. Maybe the GTA originals are stronger
games overall, but I love being able to drive anywhere and do anything
with Nick Kang. Some have criticzed the graphics engine for not cranking
out enough cars on the freeway, different NPC characters on the streets,
or making LA more interactive. Theyre valid complaints, but at the same
time I think weve come up against the current-generations graphical limits.
Hopefully the PS3 and Xbox 360 will fix the lingering imperfections.
Highly recommended if youve never played a GTA-style game, and worth
checking out for everyone who has.
eBay is the ULTIMATE shoppers paradise. At any given time eBay has millions
of auctions from the latest electronics, books and child products to the most
obsolete items that can’t be found in stores. eBay just announced the “eBay
Buyer Protection” plan that covers your purchases on eBay! Shop with
confidence and click the link below to see the BEST eBay Auctions right now:
Click To View The BEST eBay Auctions On True Crime: Streets of LA