Crackdown is made by Real Time Worlds, which is a development house started by the man who created GTA. This is the first game released from them and surprise, the basic design is very similar to that of GTA. The open-world genre has been really taking off lately, and what makes Crackdown stand out is its absolutely fantastic, vertical environment and, of course, the inclusion of coop play. Let's see how the game turned out.

The game starts off with a movie that sets the scene for all that has gone wrong in Pacific City and how you, a genetically altered superagent, is the answer to it's problems. The story from their is sparse and doesn't get much better by the time you're through. The bosses are all unique, interesting and colorful in design, but the same can't be said when you face them in combat, with only the size of their healthbar distinguishing them from a common street thug. I had heard RTW was having some initial trouble with their AI, and had to license third party technology to solve the problem, so that may account for why they didn't want to undertake the task of programming for superhuman bad guys. Still, the game quickly becomes repetitive with only one type of enemy, and so it just feels like a missed oppurtunity. Their is a second type of enemy in the game, but their impact is very minimal.

Where the game shines though is in the map design, as it is an absolute joy to explore. The platforming element in this game is first rate, and those orbs are very addicting. The RPG aspect of leveling up works very well, if not a bit slow in the full version. The problem with the game is that leveling up to four stars in the game takes A LOT of orbs and work, so playing through the game a second time isn't something most people are going to want to do. The game also does the action very well. The gunplay and explosions are fun and interesting, and allow for some very satisfying gameplay. Alot of this is due to the technical brilliance of Crackdown. The game open-world design has never been so seamless, the draw distances never greater, and it is all held together by a silky smooth framerate. It's ironic that this game was criticized for it's graphics, and it ends up being such a strength in the end. Going to the top of the agency tower for one provides a breathtaking vista. This is one of the top titles graphically for the 360.

The other technology, like physics and sound, are also done very well. The game puts the 360's upgraded memory to good use, and so there is always a good amount characters and objects on screen. The sound for the guns and other effects is also done very well, but the custom music is a weakness.

Replay value is where the game hurts though. It's like the developers designed a great map for characters to interact with and explore, and then just decided that we would find our own things to do with it. This just feels like another huge missed opportunity. I mean, imagine some of the creative missions they could have implemented had the developers chosen to do so. Something involving rival genetically advanced criminals would certaintly have been nice. Even some standard find and retreive, escort, chase, or go destroy this type missions would have been fun. Creating a multiplayer focused game, especially one that that is hinged on coop, needs to be backed by a strong single player game. So Crackdown just feels like an unfinished game. What the game does right, it does really right, but there is also a lot of missed opportunity. They built an absolutely fantastic map for people to play around in, but then just decided that people would figure out on their own what to do with it. Couple that with the underwhelming story and bosses, and you end up with a good, solid core experience that could've been a great one if they had added some depth. That's why I recommend you rent before you buy, as the experience is over far too soon for those not in love with the coop, and not as replayable as I'd initially hoped. However, the still high score I give the game is a testament to just how enjoyable the core gaming experiene is.