True Crime: Streets of L.A. Review by Hector Cortez
You are Nick Kang, 32, half Asian, half Caucasian. He's tough, honorable and cool as a bullet. Kang never met a crook that didn't need his butt kicked. After his father's murder, Nick's mother raised him on the streets of Hong Kong. Now he's a cop on a crusade, back in L.A. Kang is a consummate detective, but remains a lone wolf in the department, because where Nick goes, collateral damage follows. Nick is a go to man, and knows that being reinstated to the Chief's task force is his only chance of redemption, and saving the city he's grown to love. Your goal, take out the Russian and Chinese crime syndicates plaguing the city. Because we all know, crime is bad, crime syndicates even worse!
True Crime allows you to drive through 250 square miles of accurately recreated Los Angeles. While it may not be 100% accurate, meaning you probably won't see your house, the streets and landmarks are all where they should be, even the freeways. While driving you can solve random crimes such as chasing down a thief who stole a truckload of Activision games. All this is done while just crusin' around the city.
You can also go through the mission story mode. I must say I was a bit disappointed with the game's story. Let's just say mythology shouldn't mix with action games of this type. Anyways, if you don't pass one of the missions you can still continue the game but you will get a different cut-scene and you might even go in a completely different direction in the branching storyline.
Visually, True Crime: Streets of L.A. is above average but not cutting edge. Models are nicely done with good animation. Cars are detailed to the point of being rip-offs of their real life counterparts. The cars aren't licensed, but look close enough to real cars that you'll know what kind of car it is. But shhhh, don't tell that to the lawyers. *Wink, Wink* Considering the size of the city, I was surprised at the amount of detail; buildings are accurate in size and design.
Voice acting is pretty good with Hollywood talent lending their vocal chords to the game. You'll hear voices from the following: Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Michael Madsen, Michelle Rodriguez, and CCH Pounder to name a few. The in-game soundtrack is somewhat an accurate depiction of Los Angeles. Me being born and raised in Los Angeles can attest to the fact that indeed, hip-hop is the musical style with the strongest following so it is fitting that True Crime's soundtrack is filled with noteworthy rappers such as the shizzle dizzle Snoop D-O-Double Jizzle (Snoop Dogg for you non-hip people). While I personally enjoy the rock scene, I was pleased to find out that the game supports Custom Soundtracks. In no time I was blastin' thugs will bumpin' some Rage Against the Machine!
Overall, True Crime: Streets of L.A. is finely crafted game that is highly entertaining. A huge city to drive, fight, and shoot in along with nice visuals make True Crime: Streets of L.A. a game you should check out.
Report Card:
Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 8
Audio: 8
Replay Value: 8 Overall: 8 out of 10
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