Brought to you by Ruffian Games, Crackdown 2 is the mind blowingly addictive sequel to Real-Time World’s Crackdown.
Set in the same city as the first game, Crackdown 2 sees you once again take up the mantle of one of the ever watching agents of Pacific City. Players begin as a standard Agent with the lowest possible stats. As players traverse the city they can find various collectable orbs to help increase said stats (or skills). The skills included are the same as those in the first game, agility, strength, driving, explosives and firearms. Players will be gifted with corresponding orbs when completing actives that relate to that skill, e.g. shooting someone or pummelling an enemy to death with your bare fists. Orbs collected automatically level up the skill unlocking more weapons/vehicles at local air drop locations.
If you remember, the first game’s enemies were separate gangs that the player had to work their way though then eventually kill the gang’s leader that is no longer the case. Set some years on from Crackdown, Crackdown 2 see’s only one gang, known as CELL, appear in the city. CELL have taken a strong grasp on the city and many of the infamous areas & building from the first game now lay in ruins. As the Agent, the player must crack down on the CELL’s strongholds (forgive the pun). Different Cell strongholds can be liberated providing the player with more locations to call in supply drops. There is however, another enemy that appears in the game. Straight out of the end of the first game, freaks have spread and taken root in various locations of the city. During missions involving the freaks, players are guided by the voice of the mysterious overseer who points the players to beacons which must be activated. One surrounding CELL troops are killed & 3 corresponding beacons are activated, the player can delve deep into the heart of a freak lair. Freak lairs are large cavernous spaces found underneath Pacific city. Players must fend of freaks whist defending a large Sunburst device that will kill all surrounding freaks once charged.
Although very similar to it’s predecessor, Crackdown 2 offers more in the way of unlockables that the first game did. With added features like the unlockable gliding suit and the agency tank, players are in for a long gaming experience. Orb fever soon hits in with players as it did in the first game, ensuring even more game time with the addition of orbs that can run away from the Agent.
Crackdown 2 builds on the successful formula of the first game whilst adding even more. A gripping storyline and riveting game play make it a champion in the world of free roaming games. The general feel of the game is almost exactly the same as the first with the game play being the same, still great, but still the same. I personally would’ve like to have seen slight adjustments in the controls and perhaps a new area to explore aside from Pacific City. Apart from my opinions, it’s still a cracker of a game .Great to play co-op with a friend, or on our own, Crackdown 2 is a must have for people who liked the first game.
Score: 4/5
- Michael Hillman