Sleeping Dogs

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1564 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,234 out of 1564
  2. Mixed: 247 out of 1564
  3. Negative: 83 out of 1564
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  1. Dimnz
    Aug 25, 2012
    9
    Simply GOTY, lets face it, the year 2012 was not a good year for video games, and this game was the best game this year so I'l give it a 9, it's a console port, but a console port which runs flawlessly, even on old PC's the controls are pretty solid, the game itself is an arcade type GTA, the combat is really enjoyable, they story is interesting and keeps you going, side missions are fun,Simply GOTY, lets face it, the year 2012 was not a good year for video games, and this game was the best game this year so I'l give it a 9, it's a console port, but a console port which runs flawlessly, even on old PC's the controls are pretty solid, the game itself is an arcade type GTA, the combat is really enjoyable, they story is interesting and keeps you going, side missions are fun, but the gunplay could use some improvement and the only reason I'm giving it a 9, other then that I definitively recommend purchasing this game.… Expand
  2. Zudeare
    Sep 24, 2012
    9
    I really thought that Sleeping Dogs would be just another open world game, But for me, it was way more than that, it has such a good story line, excellent voice acting and the PC Port is actually very good, i've heard alot of people complain about the camera issues, but honestly i didn't really have that much problems with it. I just wish this game was longer. Getting every achievement andI really thought that Sleeping Dogs would be just another open world game, But for me, it was way more than that, it has such a good story line, excellent voice acting and the PC Port is actually very good, i've heard alot of people complain about the camera issues, but honestly i didn't really have that much problems with it. I just wish this game was longer. Getting every achievement and 100% takes you around 40 hours, I don't think that is long enough, And the AI is pretty crappy sometimes. The main story is pretty linear and doesn't offer any branching paths, But i was okay with that because the story was so good.… Expand
  3. Miheil
    Sep 9, 2014
    9
    Sleeping Dogs is a addictive and fun game. The interpretation of Hong Kong is amazing though as someone who lived in Hong Kong for most of their lives, i cant help but feel that they could have included more areas.
    The fighting mechanic of the game is really clean and fun. Driving can be at times a bit "floaty".
    The sounds are very authentic and i look forward to the new sequel. A    Sleeping Dogs is a addictive and fun game. The interpretation of Hong Kong is amazing though as someone who lived in Hong Kong for most of their lives, i cant help but feel that they could have included more areas.
    The fighting mechanic of the game is really clean and fun. Driving can be at times a bit "floaty".
    The sounds are very authentic and i look forward to the new sequel.
    A must try game for those who want a different setting to an open world game!    … Expand
  4. Rawberrie
    Nov 4, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm actually really really surprised about this game. I was originally approaching it as just another GTA Clone but it's not just a straight clone it adds it's own things and is original in some areas. The game looks amazing on the PC if you have installed the High Resolution Textures DLC but be warned you will need a somewhat good gaming rig if you want it to be playable. The melee combat is freaking awesome. If you've played any of the Arkham Batman games you will feel right at home it's somewhat the same system with quick counters and the like. But with that being said the shooting portions of the game really let the combat down it's mediocre at best but luckily a huge portion of the combat is melee orientated. The driving is average. Nothing special to scream about cept the option to jump out your car action movie style onto another one and the physics defying sideways shunting you can do to take down pursuing vehicles. The story is enough at least for me to be entertained for a while. It's not overly action movie like but it is predictable in some spots. I really like the system of leveling up both your gang level and your cop level to really tailor the character to your liking. Even though from the sounds of it this game was in a development hell for a while I'm glad the developers stuck by until a publisher finally saw the great potential the game had and released it. This game wasn't even on my radar until I saw it for sale for 50% off and for 25$ I think it's a great game worth the pick up.… Expand
  5. SJ555
    Aug 27, 2012
    9
    More than a surprise ! .... i know that Square and United's are good company but make games on an "Average" basis .... BUT THIS!! .. is as surprising like Saints Row of THQ .. well optimized , good visuals .. fine story .... nice core elemental gameplay ... in short .... it seems to be worked and polished a great way ..... There are some texture failures and hiccups.. but still worth Port for PC
  6. KillJoyKJ
    Dec 28, 2012
    9
    For me, SD was a complete surprise. 9/10 Story, 10/10 AMAZING Graphics, 10/10 GamePlay, StreetFighter-like Combat, Overall 9.5/10.

    I personally loved the storyline; this can be viewed as an Asian version of GTA with much improvements. The city size is comparable to GTAIV, and is busily packed as expected in Hong Kong. More importantly, this game felt REAL. Although a variety of firearms    For me, SD was a complete surprise. 9/10 Story, 10/10 AMAZING Graphics, 10/10 GamePlay, StreetFighter-like Combat, Overall 9.5/10.

    I personally loved the storyline; this can be viewed as an Asian version of GTA with much improvements. The city size is comparable to GTAIV, and is busily packed as expected in Hong Kong. More importantly, this game felt REAL. Although a variety of firearms can be had, the fighting is primarily combat based; Brawling. Although you ultimately unlock all character abilities for the 3 categories (police, triad, respect) by leveling up with experience gained from missions, special combat moves can only be unlocked by finding hidden statues delivered to this master guru. If you have ever played Batman Arkham (Asylum or City), this is a much more refined and developed fighting system. You must respond swiftly to counter attack, or utilize the environment for awesome finishing moves. (smash head repeated with car door or refridgerator, smash them into a dumpster, or telephone booth.. so many more!) You are also able to open trunks of cars to search for weapons like a tire iron, knife, or pistol. All of these aspects seem very fitting and realistic; No, you wont be able to cycle through all 8 weapons you are carrying, or customize your car beyond its paint job, but you can get some 'asian massages' which always help, heh heh. The story line is terrific, but then again, I'm asian. Nonetheless, I felt vested with Shen, which I think is cornerstone to a good gaming experience. As an undercover cop / asian triad gangster... my number one challenge was driving on the left side of the road. At high speeds it can get quite challenging to drive on the opposite isde of the road. Especially in police missions, you lose points for stealing cars, hurting civilians, or damaging public property. You can also lose points for being 'clumsy', such as running into a table or tripping when chasing an enemy. I thought that was quirky. Upon completing the main story, I had maxed out my Respect, Police, and Combat abilities. I was short on triad points; apparently I was not violent enough! I think this helps reinforce generating cool, unique combo attacks for more exp points than shooting with a gun (unless headshot, some bonus exp). During long fights, subsequent combos will charge and release your 'fear meter', when your enemies basically cower for several seconds at your awesomeness while you do some extra damage, ha! There are several in-game puzzles, like cracking a safe or 'grid', but they were all trivial at best, which I preferred. I dont like games that make you stop your intense action to play sudoku before unlocking your objective. Anyways, the graphics are AMAZING. And the atmosphere of the City makes you feel 'in the zone'. At 54hrs, I completed the main story line with >50% progress for most of the side stories, missions. Obviously you can finish the game much faster, but I really enjoyed the environment and took my time. Unlike GTA, and esp SR3, this is not a city-rampage style game (although you could do that, Tactical/SWAT DLC). It's harder to lose cops / stars when you are being chased, because its HongKong, and its crowded and you;re driving on the left side of the road. Ultimately, completing the main story was bitter-sweet. Thankfully, SteamSale for Shaolin, Nightmare, and SWAT DLCs, I can hopefully add on some more hours of play. Overall, Sleeping Dogs did an excellent job recreating HongKong, the bright vibrant atmosphere, and keeping me vested and engaged with the antagonist. The Graphics were Amazing (rainfall?! city night lights reflecting from my kick-ass car wax-job?!) Gameplay was very engaging and precise; it was like gangster Streetfighter, sorta. Don't Miss this Game!    … Expand
  7. Simon8000
    Mar 20, 2013
    9
    This is a great game, all in all amazing, first lets start with the graphics. This game has nice visuals, but the best part is how it handles hong kong at night, its a vibrant and neon city, and it looks amazing when your driving through the city at lightning speeds. The combat is also nice, and its focused on melee, which is a nice change. You use counters and enviroment kills to take outThis is a great game, all in all amazing, first lets start with the graphics. This game has nice visuals, but the best part is how it handles hong kong at night, its a vibrant and neon city, and it looks amazing when your driving through the city at lightning speeds. The combat is also nice, and its focused on melee, which is a nice change. You use counters and enviroment kills to take out your opponents, and the enviorment kills are especially brutal. You can throw a enemy into a giant oven and watch him burn, toss him into a phone booth and beat him with the phone until his face is all bloody, stick his head into a rooftop AC fan for a bloody explosion, or anything else. The story was also suprisingly good. Your boss and his wife are gunned down at their wedding, and you actually feel sad.… Expand
  8. Evil_Peaver
    Jan 2, 2013
    9
    This game was obviously made with a lot of love, and they managed to get a lot done before the budgets ran out. I wanst expecting it to be this good based on some reviews i had read, but i kind of understand them.

    Its a very strange game to score. The driving feels weaker, and the controls/camera can sometimes be a bit wanky, but I feel it deserves a 9 based on how much ive enjoyed    This game was obviously made with a lot of love, and they managed to get a lot done before the budgets ran out. I wanst expecting it to be this good based on some reviews i had read, but i kind of understand them.

    Its a very strange game to score. The driving feels weaker, and the controls/camera can sometimes be a bit wanky, but I feel it deserves a 9 based on how much ive enjoyed playing it. Its definitely a game thats greater than the sum of its parts, and there are alot of parts. Driving, missions with lots of mini games for hacking, lock picking, bug calibration, cell phone triangulation. Foot and vehicle chases. Shoot-outs and lots of asskicking Kung-fu. Aswell as the great Hong Kong environments, the combat is very much its strong point and feels really satisfying. Im going to say it, the fighting is better than the GTA series by miles!

    If you get the chance to grab this in the sales, i would suggest you do. I've really enjoyed my fortnight in Hong Kong for the price of a few pints.

    Is it better than GTA IV.....Well maybe not. But GTA doesnt have bloody Kung-Fu and meat cleavers.    … Expand
  9. BuckNasty84
    Aug 14, 2012
    9
    Bought the Steam copy and I can't imagine playing it on any other platform than the PC. I usually get concerned of multiplats being poorly optimized, but this is running great in Crossfire mode. I enjoyed the hell out of GTA4 and Saints Row 3, but feel that this is waaaaaaaaaayyyy more accessible (and mildly more entertaining). It did kinda remind me of Infernal Affairs, but not entirely.Bought the Steam copy and I can't imagine playing it on any other platform than the PC. I usually get concerned of multiplats being poorly optimized, but this is running great in Crossfire mode. I enjoyed the hell out of GTA4 and Saints Row 3, but feel that this is waaaaaaaaaayyyy more accessible (and mildly more entertaining). It did kinda remind me of Infernal Affairs, but not entirely. It still feels like a well-written video game all on it's own. This game also excited me because a good single-player experience with a decent script is very hard to come by, and it's why my must-play list isn't as long as other gamers (Bioshock Infinite and Dishonored are what I'm anticipating most).… Expand
  10. MaxGhost
    Aug 14, 2012
    9
    I love the attention to detail. The audio and voice acting is stellar. The driving has easy handling that doesn't want to make me tear my hair out (GTA4... rofl) and a great arcade feel to it. The upgrade trees are pretty cool. The fighting is an awesome combination of Assassin's Creed, Batman: Arkham Asylum/City. Lots of customization all over the place. Tons of stuff to explore. The cityI love the attention to detail. The audio and voice acting is stellar. The driving has easy handling that doesn't want to make me tear my hair out (GTA4... rofl) and a great arcade feel to it. The upgrade trees are pretty cool. The fighting is an awesome combination of Assassin's Creed, Batman: Arkham Asylum/City. Lots of customization all over the place. Tons of stuff to explore. The city as a whole looks great even if the game doesn't have the best graphics to date. I like the Morse code-style combos (short click is a quick hit, long click is a heavy attack). I really like that you have both cop and triad missions to do. It adds a ton of more variety. All the minigames are very cool and pretty innovative. To me, this is easily the game of the summer.… Expand
  11. DeckardPain
    Aug 16, 2012
    9
    This game is way superior to the GTA series. It takes the best aspects of the GTA series and then adds in an actual fighting system. Sure GTA was fun to load of some cheats and blast some people / cars away, but this game doesn't give you a gun until around 4 hours in, which is a good thing. The fighting system is awesome, which is why the previous statement holds true. Even after I hadThis game is way superior to the GTA series. It takes the best aspects of the GTA series and then adds in an actual fighting system. Sure GTA was fun to load of some cheats and blast some people / cars away, but this game doesn't give you a gun until around 4 hours in, which is a good thing. The fighting system is awesome, which is why the previous statement holds true. Even after I had access to a handful of guns, I found myself avoiding the guns unless I had to use them and running up to fist fight.
    The only downfall to this game is that the story only runs about 20 hours, I wish it had more, but then again I'm sure there will be DLC for this title. At least I hope so.    … Expand
  12. MJohnny09
    Aug 27, 2012
    9
    The game's story is excellent. Everything about the game is good. The only thing lacking in Sleeping Dogs compared to GTA or Saints Row, is there isn't really much car customization, which I always liked. One of the reasons I'm not giving it a 10 is that when aiming with a gun, or with your phone camera, I found it hard to actually aim and shoot/take the picture. It wouldn't be smoothThe game's story is excellent. Everything about the game is good. The only thing lacking in Sleeping Dogs compared to GTA or Saints Row, is there isn't really much car customization, which I always liked. One of the reasons I'm not giving it a 10 is that when aiming with a gun, or with your phone camera, I found it hard to actually aim and shoot/take the picture. It wouldn't be smooth movement, very jumpy and it would take a while to get a picture. Through the game I was able to get used to it, if you learn to know where your gun/camera WILL be aiming then you can just do that. Overall, an excellent game, I enjoyed this more than Saints Row and GTA, just wished it had more customization.… Expand
  13. Eleci
    Sep 4, 2012
    9
    Must have game for all GTA/SR fans. Superb gameplay, graphics and works smoothly with almost any pc. The best looking action game up-to-date. Only thing that I did not like, was the lack of DLC.
  14. MrRamen
    Sep 7, 2012
    9
    Compelling story and good open world action with a very nice and unique setting. Above average graphics too. No control problems and game breaking bugs whatsoever. Definitely worth your money.
  15. Prettehboii
    Sep 10, 2012
    9
    This is an excellent example of how great this genre of gaming truly is; Having only two other 'quality' titles which this can be compared against, does restrict (and sort-of bias) my review, but I will try my best.

    Many have complained of the sluggish camera and controls; I agree with these comments, to some extent and this is the only mark I have knocked off a perfect 10. The camera    This is an excellent example of how great this genre of gaming truly is; Having only two other 'quality' titles which this can be compared against, does restrict (and sort-of bias) my review, but I will try my best.

    Many have complained of the sluggish camera and controls; I agree with these comments, to some extent and this is the only mark I have knocked off a perfect 10. The camera seems as though it is just a little too slow and 'sluggish' for a pc game of this genre; you want to be taking in your environment as you speed down the highway or slice through the waters of the surrounding seas... and, sadly, with the current means of camera-control, you cannot thoroughly enjoy these things. The controls, however, are almost impeccable - combat is extremely responsive and diverse, even without the use of melee weapons or firearms, and I believe the combat is one of the best I've seen in this genre.

    The storyline is so good; no, really....it is so so sooooo much better than both GTA IV and Saints Row 3, albeit, a little short. You feel attached to many of the main characters; feeling what Wei feels. You hate who he hates, you care for his friends, you feel almost happy when you see an enemy get what they deserve. The only downside is that the story ends, leaving me wanting more!

    The side missions are pretty diverse, allowing for racing, kidnapping, killing, stealing, and the occasional hacking. These give great rewards and really help to extend the play-time of the game. Overall, I highly recommend this game and to anyone "on the fence" as to whether this game is worth picking up (lack of advertising and hype really made this game fly under the radar), I say; buy it! It's incredible!

    -Pretteh    … Expand
  16. theoldgamer
    Sep 19, 2012
    9
    As a 31 year old avid "gamer" I've become quite frugal on which games to buy as there is a lot of crappy games out there to simply blow money on. Sleeping Dogs so far has been a real treat and well worth the money I spent to download. (steam purchase for PC).

    The story is mature enough to keep my attention, the voice acting etc.. is top notch and believable and the "Hong Kong"    As a 31 year old avid "gamer" I've become quite frugal on which games to buy as there is a lot of crappy games out there to simply blow money on. Sleeping Dogs so far has been a real treat and well worth the money I spent to download. (steam purchase for PC).

    The story is mature enough to keep my attention, the voice acting etc.. is top notch and believable and the "Hong Kong" atmosphere the game is able to portray is fantastic.

    Combat is fun and fluid and even after several hours of gameplay hasn't gotten stale yet... The combos are hard to remember (Am I just old?) but that doesn't detract from the combat, it's still fun. There is lots of potential for more content in form of DLC and even more games for the series and I would likely purchase again. If you like open world style games like GTA and Saints Row then you'd definitely be happy with this game.    … Expand
  17. Beni_Madrid
    Oct 3, 2012
    9
    Sleeping Dogs is a great game with lots of action. The game has a great story, combat high level kung fu, giant chases, fights with a lot of shots, karaoke, huge and beautiful city, very good graphics and a lot of cool stuff . But the game also has its drawbacks, not all people look good and they look like dolls and control is not good in the beginning. Eventually the game is great andSleeping Dogs is a great game with lots of action. The game has a great story, combat high level kung fu, giant chases, fights with a lot of shots, karaoke, huge and beautiful city, very good graphics and a lot of cool stuff . But the game also has its drawbacks, not all people look good and they look like dolls and control is not good in the beginning. Eventually the game is great and is recommended for all those who love the GTA series and open world games… Expand
  18. KingMob4313
    Aug 21, 2013
    9
    Born from a sullied and worthless lineage: the completely forgettable True Crime series, Sleeping dogs is yet another Sandbox GTA clone. But with clever writing, a memorable locale of Hong Kong, vibrant and terrifying characters and a soundtrack that may be the best in the GTA style games since the very first 3d GTA... Sleeping Dogs is greater than the sum of all it's parts.

    Be wary of    Born from a sullied and worthless lineage: the completely forgettable True Crime series, Sleeping dogs is yet another Sandbox GTA clone. But with clever writing, a memorable locale of Hong Kong, vibrant and terrifying characters and a soundtrack that may be the best in the GTA style games since the very first 3d GTA... Sleeping Dogs is greater than the sum of all it's parts.

    Be wary of the DLC, but most of the mission packs are worth it, especially the brief but awesome 'Zodiac Island'.

    While it is a little buggy, lacks the depth of some of the other sandbox games (when it's over, it's over), I still give it my Highest Possible Recommendation.    … Expand
  19. lifexux
    Oct 31, 2012
    9
    I started thisgame not having high hopes for it, as it seemed like more of a gta clone than an actual game with it's own identity. However, after the opening sequences, I find that this game is much more in-depth in terms of gameplay and storyline. The story is very immersive as it takes you through the life of an undercover cop which is an ideal character for this game. Visuals are prettyI started thisgame not having high hopes for it, as it seemed like more of a gta clone than an actual game with it's own identity. However, after the opening sequences, I find that this game is much more in-depth in terms of gameplay and storyline. The story is very immersive as it takes you through the life of an undercover cop which is an ideal character for this game. Visuals are pretty good as well especially the water effects which look astounding for me. Definitely recommended if you own a good pc.… Expand
  20. dattha
    Nov 6, 2012
    9
    sleeping dogs is said to clone of gta.........part of it yes but it had something that lacks in gta for me...fighting is a top notch resembles batman series but good with martial arts and brutal finishers...gun fights are pretty amazing for me with cinematic sequences....on a whole this is a pretty good sand box game that you might wanna try
  21. Mykwon
    Sep 15, 2013
    9
    Forget GTA: Sleeping Dogs has better graphics, better controls, better story and awesome fighting mechanisms. Just got glued for 50 hours, playing nothing else. I'm now considering travelling to Hong Kong to discover this crazy but amazing city!
  22. MagnesiumDew
    Dec 18, 2012
    9
    Having played True Crime L.A and then the abysmal True Crime New York, when Activision cancelled Sleeping Dogs (at that stage True Crime: Hong Kong) I wasn't hugely dissapointed. But when Square Enix took the reigns, it promised to be an exciting, gritty drama set in Hong Kong's triads. And It didn't disappoint. But unfortunately, it didn't exactly amaze.

    The core gameplay elements are    Having played True Crime L.A and then the abysmal True Crime New York, when Activision cancelled Sleeping Dogs (at that stage True Crime: Hong Kong) I wasn't hugely dissapointed. But when Square Enix took the reigns, it promised to be an exciting, gritty drama set in Hong Kong's triads. And It didn't disappoint. But unfortunately, it didn't exactly amaze.

    The core gameplay elements are excellent and the fighting feels refined and very fluid. Driving is very satisfying for an open world game and the amount of choice is good. This so far sounds perfect and mostly it is. But a thing that Sleeping Dogs didn't do was add anything new. The fighting is taken from Batman, driving almost from GT5 and slo-mo shooting from Max Payne. It only refines, but doesn't innovate. Its a shame to see where Square Enix have missed an opportunity for an eye-opener for the open world franchise, as it has been plagued with half decent releases such as Saints Row 3. But that's nearly enough moaning.

    The game has a good storyline and it is very easy to get sucked in by the triad centered missions. Although the game doesn't really add new elements, it polishes the core elements of other games and chucks it into its engine. One possible new gameplay addition are the environment kills which are gory but evilly fun ways of ridding of baddies. The guns are easy to use and the vault slo-mo shooting is very intuitive. Just worth the £30 rrp but I would wait for it to be on sale. Overall a very enjoyable experience and probably better than GTA 4 at allowing you to play the criminal lifestyle.    … Expand
  23. BlueFireGaming
    Jan 6, 2013
    9
    I love this game! The story isn't too original, but I still really liked it. The fighting is awesome and United Front Games did an amazing job to create a game that lasts a very long time by having for example a lot of collectibles, side missions (favors, finding cars for Tran etc.) and a lot more.
    Also, I didn't find or experience one single bug, glitch or crash.
    The only thing I didn't    I love this game! The story isn't too original, but I still really liked it. The fighting is awesome and United Front Games did an amazing job to create a game that lasts a very long time by having for example a lot of collectibles, side missions (favors, finding cars for Tran etc.) and a lot more.
    Also, I didn't find or experience one single bug, glitch or crash.
    The only thing I didn't like too much were the chasing parts of missions: in my opinion they were too easy, but that could be me too...

    All in all, the game isn't too original, but still really really enjoyable! I have spent a lot of time in this game, and I still really enjoy it and will spend a lot more time in Hong Kong.    … Expand
  24. Sofatayra
    Mar 5, 2017
    9
    Finished this game twice , now doing the PS4 on definitive , before on PC, this game has a very decent story along with the number of things that needs to be done , you could turn on every corner and still find things that needs to be completed , this game does not need to be compared to GTA series , as it has its own charm and different approach, just completed the game at 100% on PS4 toFinished this game twice , now doing the PS4 on definitive , before on PC, this game has a very decent story along with the number of things that needs to be done , you could turn on every corner and still find things that needs to be completed , this game does not need to be compared to GTA series , as it has its own charm and different approach, just completed the game at 100% on PS4 to obtain the platinum and it was a pleasure from begging till the end , so sad they did not announce a squeal… Expand
  25. UntoldAv3nGer
    Feb 23, 2013
    9
    Sleeping Dogs was a great game that centered around realistic gun play, high-speed chases and races, and hands down amazing combat. On PC, Hong Kong looks very realistic and nice. Cars handle very nicely and slow-motion 18K fights are great. There are many combat moves to unlock and are unlocked by collecting statues. You will learn from the martial arts master there. Fight clubs are funSleeping Dogs was a great game that centered around realistic gun play, high-speed chases and races, and hands down amazing combat. On PC, Hong Kong looks very realistic and nice. Cars handle very nicely and slow-motion 18K fights are great. There are many combat moves to unlock and are unlocked by collecting statues. You will learn from the martial arts master there. Fight clubs are fun and rewarding, and races are usually pretty good. Hijacking the trucks takes lots of luck and skill to evade the convoy of police that will chase you, and the player/people interaction is well done. Favors and chasing thieves are great time wasters. Buying food and drinks are rewarding, and the buildings you can go into are detailed and cool. The story is amazing, one of the best I've ever played. You feel like you really are part of the gang or police, and I felt very connected with the characters. If you can pick this up for a good price, get it.… Expand
  26. vegard
    Mar 5, 2013
    9
    Sleeping Dogs is a 2012 open world action-adventure video game developed by United Front Games in conjunction with Square Enix London Studios and published by Square Enix. I usually don’t buy AAA title the year they are released because the price is usually too high. But when Steam accidentally offered Sleeping Dogs at a 91% discount during their Christmas sale, I decided to go for it.Sleeping Dogs is a 2012 open world action-adventure video game developed by United Front Games in conjunction with Square Enix London Studios and published by Square Enix. I usually don’t buy AAA title the year they are released because the price is usually too high. But when Steam accidentally offered Sleeping Dogs at a 91% discount during their Christmas sale, I decided to go for it.

    The game takes place in a fictional modern day Hong Kong with players assuming control of Wei Shen, an officer of the San Francisco Police Department, who had been seconded to the Hong Kong Police Force. Wei has been assigned by the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau to go undercover and infiltrate the Triad society called Sun On Yee and take them down. There are two subplots contained within the main storyline: the first is Wei’s personal struggle between completing his mission as a police officer, and having to commit crimes to prove his worth to the triad. The other subplot consists of completing missions set out by a triad lieutenant, such as killing triad members who are loyal to competing lieutenants. The island is divided into four fictional districts which are named after real areas.

    Hong Kong is a fantastic backdrop for this game. It’s huge, but not too huge and you’ll soon start to recognize parts of the city and find your way around without using the GPS too much. The GPS works brilliantly, by the way. The city looks beautiful in the sunset, and if you’ve never been to Hong Kong yourself, I recommend that you drive to Victoria Peak in the game and have a look at the city in all its glory. The developers have made sure to build a digital version of Hong Kong that resembles the real thing. I’ve been there twice in real life, and recognize the Soho area and the escalators from Central. There is attention to detail everywhere; Soho is flooded with Gweilo; foreign devils.

    While similar titles, like Grand Theft Auto and Saint’s Row, are focused on gun combat, Sleeping Dogs is mostly about personal melee and boot-in-face combat. You do get access to firearms now and then, but only to a single weapon at the time and you’ll usually not use the gun outside of a mission. When levelling up, you’ll get access to new marshal arts actions that can be used to take out your enemies in all kinds of imaginative ways. Trying to perform these new actions with the keyboard, however, feels really awkward. You should definitely play this game with a Xbox 360 controller or some other game pad. With a game pad, controlling Wei, both in combat and in a vehicle, feels so much smoother than with the keyboard. I’m guessing the analogue sticks help a lot.

    There are very few things wrong with Sleeping Dogs. There are the occasional bug, though, like the heads of people sticking out of cars roofs and the camera some times have a hard time following Wei. Every now and then he disappears off screen completely, which can be a tad annoying in the middle of combat. At one point I also managed to crash Wei’s so that he was thrown out of the vehicle and got stuck inside a large cage there was no way he could get out of. The only solution was to cancel the current mission and start again.

    But all in all, Sleeping Dogs is a great open world game. It plays great, it looks great (even on my three year old system on medium settings) and it sounds great (there’s a wide range of radio stations and some of the cars sound and handle absolutely beautifully). With the release of GTA V this year, it’s quite possible that Sleeping Dogs will be quickly forgotten, but that’s a faith it doesn’t deserve. It’s one of the best games of its genre.    … Expand
  27. raggamuffin
    Nov 6, 2013
    9
    Some little bugs, but besides that a pretty good game. Feels more realistic than GTA4. The driving is kind of bad imo but combat is really fun. Story wise I'd say its way better than GTA. All in all I got this game for like 4 bucks on steam and absolutely worth it. Great game.
  28. Jonathan117
    Aug 4, 2013
    9
    One of the best sandbox games I have ever played, GTA is nothing compared to this. This game actually has a good story, good action, good vehicle play and loads of content! Highly recommended! 9/10!
  29. hydo
    Apr 26, 2013
    9
    The game-play is great. The environment is beautiful. Wei is a BOSS. Has a mixture of lots game types; Hand to Hand combat, gunfights, racing, gambling, hacking etc. But unfortunately a very sad face for the dodgy console port, it is basically impossible to play with keyboard and mouse.
  30. sleeplust
    Mar 29, 2014
    9
    Great game!
    Streets and voices in it are well designed.
    Most of the action/fight part is great in control,while most of the QTE reaction timings are very limited and must be remembered inflexibly to avoid attack/damage in routined arrangement by repeatedly pushing keys. Very good work for people to see the dark side of Chinese/Hongkong society in a exaggerated way. Biggest    Great game!
    Streets and voices in it are well designed.
    Most of the action/fight part is great in control,while most of the QTE reaction timings are very limited and must be remembered inflexibly to avoid attack/damage in routined arrangement by repeatedly pushing keys.
    Very good work for people to see the dark side of Chinese/Hongkong society in a exaggerated way.
    Biggest falure:vehicle maneuver.Seems that the driving part was not tested sufficiently.When we want to just shift slightly for a better forward direction and are holding the backward button,the camera changes into a strange and useless side view,with the most important sraight forward or backward view blocked.
    Too much collectables.
    最大的缺点，车辆操控，即便不动鼠标，视角总是自动换成一个无用的方向，而最重要的正前和正后方却不能看到。
    补充：triad一词在西方世界的现代英语中仅仅指代主要由来自广东及其周边地区的华人组成的黑帮，至于其原意“三合”已经属于历史词汇了，所以游戏里的triad简单的翻译成黑帮就行了，而不是所谓“三合会”。    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best PC Game of 2012
26
#26 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 6, 2013
    90
    Unlike the previous ‘True Crime’ games, where there was a strict depiction of the city maps, Sleeping Dogs does not portray Hong Kong, inch by inch. United Front Games has implemented GTA’s novelties in way that winks slyly at Rockstar. In essence, what the GTA series has accomplished, Sleeping Dogs has carried out better and more elegantly. [October 2012]
  2. PC PowerPlay
    Oct 11, 2012
    60
    A solid GTA clone that ticks all the boxes but forgets to add the magic ingredient of improvisation. [Oct 2012, p.77]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 10, 2012
    80
    City action in an Asian style casts a fresh wind to the sandbox game genre, with attractive worlds full of details, great battle mechanics and cool free-run sections. [Sept 2012]
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