POSTED 28/7/10


CRACKDOWN 2

Microsoft
Xbox 360

Robocop versus zombies – what’s not to like? Actually, we’d better not use the ‘z’ word, as it tends to upset some people. The mindless, shambling creatures that horde about you (the Robocop of the equation, except you’re not Robocop, you’re an ‘Agent’) are apparently not zombies, but ‘freaks’. Meh, tomato/tomato – they still makes for mighty fine killin’.

The original Crackdown is renowned as one of the acest third-person sandbox games ever, so it’s hard not to have high expectations for this sequel. It’s been made by a new dev team – and in a remarkably short eight months – so does it deliver where it should deliver?

For the most part, it does. The good bits of the original remain in place – lots of power-ups, heaps of killables by hand or by gun, bolstered by the new ability to hop in and out of vehicles. You can fang around for the hell of it, or use certain ve-hic-les to help access areas that require accessing. Splattering hapless zo… erm, ‘freaks’ is a joy too. Forwards, reversing, sideways, it’s the splatter that matters – and yeehaw boy, they give good splatter!

There’s super-fun four player co-op now, and the range of power-ups courtesy of those ever-so-desirable orbs has increased to include the likes of higher jumps (thankfully!) and gliding. Whilst adhering to the prescribed missions is alright, those who obsess about collecting collectibles will have a field day boinging about after orbs.

Take me down to the Pac-if-ic City – meh, it almost scans. Meanwhile, Crackdown 2 almost succeeds. Some shonky camera, average graphics and remarkable similarity to the first iteration let things down somewhat. But it does have lotsa ‘freaks’… ah fuck it, ZOMBIES!

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