Publisher: Activision
Ages: Teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
Brutal violence,
sexual themes & language
With excessive violence, sexual themes and obscene language-elements that teens and pre-teen boys think they want in their games, Activision's True Crime: Streets of L.A. has the goods. Like Rockstar's notable Grand Theft Auto titles, True Crime: Streets of L.A. is a solid game that's filled with reckless driving, fighting, shooting and general depravity, and plays much like a brutal interactive movie.
The game immerses gamers in a crime drama that's filled with colorful characters, fast cars, weapons, criminal enemies and a branching storyline. Notably, the game uses some 240 square miles of L.A. as the backdrop for its action and story.
Players become rogue Elite Operations Division operative Nick Kang, whose brutal reputation and lethal skills have landed him the task of taking down the Chinese Triad and Russian Mafia cartel that have turned Los Angeles into a war zone. Gamers accept missions that include locating hostile witnesses, infiltrating criminal-infested locations, taking out evasive informants, busting heavily-armed bad guys and more, which result in lots of well done gun battles, martial arts brawls and high-speed shootouts.
The graphics are impressive and do a great job of creating a realistic, living city, as well as believable cars. The game features a voice cast of Hollywood talent that includes Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Michael Madsen, Russell Wong, Michelle Rodriguez, Ron Perlman and more. And the rap-oriented soundtrack features uncensored songs from Snoop Dogg (who may be unlocked as a playable character), Westside Connection and more, which lend to the gritty atmosphere.
Like the Grand Theft Auto games before it, True Crime: Streets of L.A. is a great game with lots of bad elements. Don't let the kids talk you into getting this one.
2/10/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
