The first Crackdown was an unsung hero of the Xbox 360. With its slightly cartoon graphics, many actually wrote the game off before it had even been released.
I was actually thrilled though to see that this game hadn't updated its image too much. The look of the game is superb, and fits perfectly with the setting. In the same way you wish your sports team wouldn't change its image – generally classy players, great academy set up, controllable egos, strong work ethic – since turning into a bunch of ruthless mercenaries/thugs for hire who love a dive more than anyone over 16 on facebook despises the “like” button on there. (A heads up for Manchester City fans around before 2006) – I wished this game would stick to its style.
Crackdown 2 is just really, really fun. The game itself is simple, some say repetitive, but theres no real frustration. The large (without comparison to Fallout, Red Dead Redemption, Far Cry 2 etc) open world map is actually pretty easy to distinguish between different areas, and landmarks add to this – meaning you, with enough game time, can actually feel like you know the neighbourhoods. There is so much to do – as you increase your characters abilities, different areas become open to you, and different challenges too. There is a real difference in the abilities of individual agents too, your character will very quickly improve in areas you excel in (for me it was explosions and agility), and the other areas, that maybe you don't use as much, will take more time for you to level up on (for me it was driving and firearms).
As well as fighting the criminal underworld, Crackdown 2 also features the surge of mutants to deal with. As well as taking over Criminal strongholds, you must now also clear mutant pits, using the Agencies technology. Whilst some will no doubt criticise the games lack of variations in missions, I rarely played more than a couple of missions in a row.. I was far too busy just mucking around. Picking up and throwing cars, blowing pretty much everything up, driving around and ploughing down mutants, this game is extremely personalised. Its often only that you are reminded that you remember that you have to do some missions. The game is as engrossing as Angry Birds.
Online, the game adds another dimension. With so many games pushing towards the main emphasis of itself to online play – its refreshing to see a game that could be pushed down the similar path.. not. Online was an afterthought, not that that statement is meant negatively. With a good group of friends, the game is extremely good online. Crackdown 2 is just pure fun. Sure, if you so choose you can run around killing the other players, but for the most, its more fun to much around with the environment. (However Tim, Kieron and John may have a duck grenade heading there way for forgetting to text me when they were playing!)
In conclusion, I am extremely impressed by the game. Would I want a few more and varied missions? Absolutely. Would I be pleased with a few more weapons? Of course.. But it is just a fun, exciting, great game. Highly recommended.
Rating – 9/10
Fair Price - £42.99
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