Hands On With Crackdown 2 Demo
by Rob Vicars | Wednesday 7th July 2010
So the game is much less than a month away now, and agents still buzzing from an OD of agility orbs from the previous game are no doubt
counting down the days. Luckily, GamerCorner managed to get hold of the demo an astonishing FOUR DAYS early. So. What's it like?
Cracking would be an appropriate word, but I won't use it at the risk of being hunted down by, well anyone who read it really, and having them insert screwdrivers into my face. I'm one of the unlucky few who hasn't managed to play the first game to any considerable degree, and this information has, once or twice, resulted in a scoffing face from the recipient. So I hear it's cracking. Er, good, sorry.
Booting the demo up and jumping into the game, the instantly recognizable cell-shaded style makes a return and it's been given a rather posh overcoat. From what I can remember of the original, they've added a bit more zeal to the colours and this helps promote that comic book look the game is running for, and it works. The fluidity in the controls is excellent again, and it lead to a solid amount of my time being spent practising melee combat and perfecting jumping off of really really big things. Whilst the running and jumping is strangely addictive, I found the targeting system for shooting to still be a bit wacky. It often decides that, rather than the bloke stood in front of you about to feed you a delicious bullet sandwich, the exploding barrel barely visible in the distance is surely what you'd RATHER aim at.
The orbs make a return in the demo, and the levelling up system appears to have been given a fresh new look. Each of your several categories can be upgraded, simply by doing them over and over, or by finding the correct orb. I found myself jumping up through the early levels relatively quickly. The agility category is most obvious, as naturally it makes you run faster and jump higher, aiding you in your quest to jump off of really really big things. These new additions constantly being introduced kept it fresh, adding something new as you continued to grow as a character.
The Freaks, which are the inhabitants of your playground during the night, come out in their hundreds and there are few things I've played this year quite as satisfying as ploughing your way through streets full of strange looking mutants in a fast car, squishing them beneath your tyres. Naturally the city is huge and bustling with activity, every street has something going on in the form of a battle you feel you must get involved with, if only to pick up your enemies car and beat them to death with it. There was a smattering of extras to do in the city too, typical GTA-style mission markers flag up, indicating races, escaping orbs you have to catch, areas for you to clear and likely many more than I could find.
There are a couple of issues in the demo with the aforementioned targeting system and I encountered one or two questionable glitches with the driving, however, there's still time for these to be worked out before the game hits the stores. All in all though, I had tremendous FUN with it. In fact, from my time with the demo, it looks like Crackdown 2's going to be the most fun you'll have had not on a horse so far this year.
The demo hits Xbox LIVE on Monday 21st June, and the full game has a 9th July release.
Cracking would be an appropriate word, but I won't use it at the risk of being hunted down by, well anyone who read it really, and having them insert screwdrivers into my face. I'm one of the unlucky few who hasn't managed to play the first game to any considerable degree, and this information has, once or twice, resulted in a scoffing face from the recipient. So I hear it's cracking. Er, good, sorry.
Booting the demo up and jumping into the game, the instantly recognizable cell-shaded style makes a return and it's been given a rather posh overcoat. From what I can remember of the original, they've added a bit more zeal to the colours and this helps promote that comic book look the game is running for, and it works. The fluidity in the controls is excellent again, and it lead to a solid amount of my time being spent practising melee combat and perfecting jumping off of really really big things. Whilst the running and jumping is strangely addictive, I found the targeting system for shooting to still be a bit wacky. It often decides that, rather than the bloke stood in front of you about to feed you a delicious bullet sandwich, the exploding barrel barely visible in the distance is surely what you'd RATHER aim at.
The orbs make a return in the demo, and the levelling up system appears to have been given a fresh new look. Each of your several categories can be upgraded, simply by doing them over and over, or by finding the correct orb. I found myself jumping up through the early levels relatively quickly. The agility category is most obvious, as naturally it makes you run faster and jump higher, aiding you in your quest to jump off of really really big things. These new additions constantly being introduced kept it fresh, adding something new as you continued to grow as a character.
The Freaks, which are the inhabitants of your playground during the night, come out in their hundreds and there are few things I've played this year quite as satisfying as ploughing your way through streets full of strange looking mutants in a fast car, squishing them beneath your tyres. Naturally the city is huge and bustling with activity, every street has something going on in the form of a battle you feel you must get involved with, if only to pick up your enemies car and beat them to death with it. There was a smattering of extras to do in the city too, typical GTA-style mission markers flag up, indicating races, escaping orbs you have to catch, areas for you to clear and likely many more than I could find.
There are a couple of issues in the demo with the aforementioned targeting system and I encountered one or two questionable glitches with the driving, however, there's still time for these to be worked out before the game hits the stores. All in all though, I had tremendous FUN with it. In fact, from my time with the demo, it looks like Crackdown 2's going to be the most fun you'll have had not on a horse so far this year.
The demo hits Xbox LIVE on Monday 21st June, and the full game has a 9th July release.