Crackdown 2 Review

Developer: Ruffian Games / Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios / ESRB: Mature (Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence) / Played on: Xbox 360 / Price: $39.99

Welcome to another video game review here on Machinima.com I’m Rob Talbert and today we are jumping into Crackdown 2 for the Xbox 360. Can the game improve on the shortcomings of the first title or will this be just another familiar outing in Pacific City?

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Story

There really isn’t much story expose in Crackdown 2′s fictional Pacific City. As the game starts you are told about a virus that has turned the citizens into mutants. They come out at night and like to break things. There is also a terrorist group called Cell that’s out to stop the mutants and the Agency at all costs. The city is about to collapse and it’s up to you as an Agent to bring about order to Pacific City. That’s all the story you’re given; the rest emerges via audio logs hidden around the city. Collecting audio logs to advance the story isn’t a fun experience… having to work to figure out why my character is doing what he’s doing just doesn’t feel natural to me.

Gameplay

Crackdown 2 will feel very similar to those of you who played the first game, largely due to the fact that not much has changed in the way the game plays. You start off as an Agent with above average strengths and abilities. The guns and vehicles at your disposal in the early game are adequate enough to complete the opening missions. But the whole point of this game is leveling up your character and unlocking more badass guns, vehicles, abilities, and strengths. The more you use each of these skills or items in-game the more your character will advance in level, providing more options in the types of guns, vehicles, and moves at your disposal. When it comes to upgrading your agility Crackdown 2 follows the same formula as the first game: you have to collect orbs that are scattered all over the city. This, for me, was the main driving force in the game. I couldn’t resist collecting these damn orbs no matter what I was doing in the game. If I saw an orb, I had to collect it. So needless to say, if you aren’t into collecting things then Crackdown 2 may not be up your alley. Other then collecting orbs, the game offers other tasks for you to complete as well. You can choose from cleaning out Cell strongholds, rooftop races, car races, and shutting down freak holes. All of these are side quests and while they can be fun for a while, they really start to feel very similar.

As far as progressing the main story, Crackdown 2 offers no variety whatsoever. The game has you running all over the city activating satellites in groups of three that will then allow you to jump down into a mutant freak stronghold where you have to protect a beacon until it detonates. That’s the whole game. I was really disappointed in the lack of variety in the main story missions and was hoping for a bit more from this sequel. That being said, Crackdown 2 can be fun. Blowing stuff up and jumping over buildings has a certain appeal to it that can’t be denied. I just wish there was more to do.

Graphics

Crackdown 2’s graphics are a bit lackluster. The game looks like it was rushed through production as the entire game is set in the exact same city as the first. Sure, the city is in ruin, but it still feels too familiar. All of the graphics in Crackdown 2 look like they could have lived in the first Crackdown. Little has been updated or changed, but that seems to be a running theme in Crackdown 2. The cell-shaded, stylized look of Pacific City just doesn’t have the same impact this time around.

Multiplayer

One of the new additions to Crackdown 2 is the ability to play four player co-op with your friends via Xbox Live. This can be a lot of fun, running around in packs, blowing stuff up, and tackling missions. Unfortunately, it’s a little hard to coordinate with other players. The game uses a map but you can’t place waypoints or markers, which makes coordinating with teammates near impossible unless you are all on headset and communicating with each other.

Crackdown 2 also has arena combat modes for you to play against other players. Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, and Rocket Tag are the three modes available for play. The first two are pretty standard and self explanatory, but I found Rocket Tag to be the most fun out of the three. All combatants race to grab an orb and once collected, you gain points for holding on to the orb without dying. The other players, however, are armed with rocket launchers and chase you around the map trying to kill you and collect the orb for themselves. It’s fast-paced and a lot of fun. When it comes to the overall multiplayer experience though, I was left wanting more variety.

Bottom Line

If you loved the first Crackdown, then you are going to love Crackdown 2. It’s a lot of the same. But if, like me, you were expecting more variety and new additions then you might be a bit disappointed.

7/10

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