THIS IS AMAZING
Urban Chaos: Riot Response is a first person shooting game published by Eidos Interactive where you play as Nick Mason who joins the T-Zero unit to take out a gang called "The Burners" who are terrorizing his city.
Gameplay - If you have played any first person shooter then you will know what to expect from the basic shooting gameplay. Urban Chaos also features rag doll physics combined with slow motion deaths for some really cool kills. You have your usual selection of pistols, shotguns, rifles etc as well as a riot shield which can be used to protect you from most attacks and you can also bash enemies with it. There are three difficulty settings and a fourth if you complete the game.
The main game is divided into 11 story levels and 6 optional emergency situation levels. If you manage to incapacitate a gang leader during a normal mission then you can unlock one of the six emergency levels where you have to rescue a V.I.P. within a time limit. Finishing these levels give you new prototype T-zero weaponry.
One of the most unique parts of Urban Chaos is the game's medal system. At the start of each level you will have several different optional objectives which are usually like getting a certain number of headshots, incapacitating a number of enemies rather than killing them or collecting evidence during the level. If you manage to complete any of these objectives then you are awarded a medal for each (there are over 200 medals to get) and after you collect lots of medals you get a reward. Rewards can be anything from weapon damage upgrades to more body armour or even new equipment.
Story- The games story is told through Channel 7 news broadcasts using live-action actors and footage from real-life riots. A nice detail of these broadcasts is that the time actually changes depending on your PS2's clock.
Multiplayer- I haven't tried multiplayer but it can be played online or over LAN for up to 8 players and you play on 9 different Gangs vs Cops maps. It is supposed to be very tactical with both sides having their own advantages and disadvantages.
Graphics/Sound - The game's graphics aren't the best on the console but still very good, there are some effects that stand out like the way that your riot shield gets bullet holes, scratches and blood over it as you go through a level and the fire effects look really good.
Play Time/Replayability - It should take about 8-12 hours to finish the story for the first time but because of the medal and reward system you will be playing for a long time after you finish it. Plus you will want to complete the game on all four difficulty settings.
Final Recommendation - I would say that this game is worth buying if you like first person shooters or just good action games. If you can play online then it will probably be even better.
Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/05/2006