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| | Title:
True Crime: New York City
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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
Action/Shooter
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Publisher:
Activision
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Developer:
Luxoflux Corp.
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Release:
Q4 2005
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Rating Pending
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The original True Crime: Streets of LA made waves with its GTA style action, fighting, vehicular manipulation, and open-ended environments. While reviews scored mixed results, gamers were enchanted with an alternative to Rockstar’s free-roaming masterpiece. Again Activision is looking to hit the market big, with Luxoflux Corp., as the True Crime sequel stars New York City. With talented voice actors from the big (and small) screen, 80 vehicles and tons of enhanced gameplay, GTA’s arch-rival is looking to be a big contender.
Stars of the story
With video games becoming more and more mainstream, it’s no wonder to see a big name here or there in a video game. Sometimes, though, it’s quite surprising to see the list of names who signed on as voices for some games. Here, True Crime boasts the likes of Christopher Walken, Mariska Hargitay, Lawrence Fishburne, Beetlejuice, Mickey Rourke and John Melendez as just a few of the star-filled voice acting cast.
The story of True Crime NYC follows a cop drama in the shoes of Marcus Reed (voiced by Avery Waddell). Born into the woodworks of Isaiah Reed’s (Lawrence Fishburne), crime syndicate, Marcus is expected to be the heir of his father’s underground crime legacy. Things don’t quite turn out the way Isaiah hoped, as he is busted and sent to prison. In the turn of events, ironically, Isaiah’s friend, and NY police officer, Terry Higgins, is left to look after Marcus Reed.
When older, Marcus Reed joins the police force as a kick-butt cop. However, soon after making the rank of Detective, Marcus’ friend, Terry, turns up dead and everyone in the department is trying to cover up the murder. Therefore, Marcus Reed is set to venture out for revenge, and resolve his friend’s death.
Getting gritty with it
Like recent action titles, True Crime: New York City allows players to interrogate criminals by any means necessary. Persuading criminals by talking to or threatening them are as viable options as feeding their head to a shark. Slamming a criminal’s face into a boiling pot or drowning them in a sink full of dirty water is just a few of the torture techniques available. Yet there is a limit on how much punishment a crook can handle before they are broken to the point of uselessness. Discerning how much torture is necessary is something that will be up to players to decide. Given that True Crime’s ending is determined by the “moral” actions of the player made throughout the game, there are multiple paths to take; good or bad.
Therefore, Marcus Reed’s character development is something that’s altered for better or for worse as players progress through the game. Physically and psychologically, Marcus can be altered from his head to his toes (i.e., GTA: San Andreas). Players can purchase or change Marcus’ clothes, hair styles, facial hair, and clothing attire to their liking. Choosing to harass civilians or make unlawful citations all play a part in the “good” cop, “bad” cop outcome for Marcus. The ability to use the authority of a police officer is something players will have the option of using or abusing in whichever way they see fit. So the experience in True Crime NYC is a constant element for the effects of Marcus’ character, not unlike Fable.
Living in the big city
Bringing New York to life couldn’t have been easy for Kuju Entertainment, considering the game features one of the most interactive cities in video game history. The game has been graphically over-hauled with a much darker tone. Kuju Entertainment paints New York with a more nefarious nature; gritty alley ways and rundown neighborhoods are abundant in True Crime. There’s even a cycle in TC, which shifts from day to night, and vice-versa. Nevertheless, looks aren’t everything when it comes to game play, as the designers were intent on making huge steps above True Crime’s predecessor.
Almost every building, apartment, station, restaurant, etc., etc., can be entered and explored. Buildings related to a mission are highlighted, so players know they are entering the building for story/mission purposes. However, entering a building isn’t the only thing you can do. Many parts of the surrounding environment can be broken or destroyed. If you want, you can also take down criminals, or violators of the law, in your spare time.
Mission orientation has also changed, so the story branches more fluently and the mission variety is more diverse. True Crime gives players a mix of stealth related missions, informant interrogations, pick-up and drop-off missions, chases, and more. How each mission is completed lies entirely up to the player and whatever means they see fit as necessary. So, Kuju is giving all sorts of different approaches and ways for players to handle and complete a mission.
Traveling distance
With more than 80 unlicensed vehicles in stock, it won’t be hard finding transportation in True Crime. From the standard police cars, sedans, vans, ambulances, sporty motorcycles and cars, True Crime hosts all the necessary modes of locomotion and then some. Yet considering the vast expanse of the city itself, Kuju has given players the ability to travel from one end of the city to the next, using a map screen. A subway train, taxi cab or other means of travel will allow players to use the map instantly to get to where they need to go, really quick. Otherwise, the option to manually walk or drive is still available, as the developers are leaving the freedom of choice up to the player.
Kung-fu and Guns
The original True Crime allowed players to learn new moves and fighting techniques from dojos. In True Crime New York City, players can learn new fighting moves and several different fighting styles from the police training center. Marcus can also switch between fighting styles easily and effectively during the game, yet the combat system is much more expansive in True Crime: New York City. For instance, melee weapons such as knives and a variety of swords play a big part in how gruesome and fierce melee combat plays out.
With more than 20 melee weapons, 30 firearms, and a city full of interactive objects and torturing devices, this game is definitely noteworthy for the weapon selection alone. Handguns, shotguns, assault rifles, sub-machine guns and rocket launchers are just a few of the selections available for players to use in True Crime. Still, the selection alone isn’t the only noteworthy aspect of True Crime. There’s also the ability to duel-wield certain classes of weapons and objects, including swords. This feature isn’t particularly new so much as it is revised and revamped as True Crime has undergone some fine tuning for more intense shoot-outs and dynamic weapon usage. Players are also able to switch between firing rates for more accurate, aimed shots. That gives players more of an option to develop their playing style and weapon preference.
Influence of the Apple
The sequel to True Crime: Streets of LA is boasting a new and varied soundtrack. Instead of being focused on one genre or style of music, TC: New York City takes the likes of multiple genres into context. Nearly everything that composes the New York underbelly is present in some way musically. A bit of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and today’s generation of musical bands or artists make their way into the soundtrack of True Crime. Therefore, TC: NYC is giving players a mixed variety of musical genres that branch from rock to pop, country and rap, making sure there’s at least something in there for almost everyone. But just in case, the game also comes with the Xbox exclusive, custom soundtrack feature so you can have your own custom mix. Look for this game to hit store shelves November 15, 2005.
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