Urban Chaos: Riot Response

It's really a testament to the game's quality that even though I found its politics and implications deeply troubling I was still won over by the amazing gameplay.

Always enjoyable and never dull. It might lack polish in some areas but it makes up for it with loads of character and plenty of kick-ass, laugh-out-loud aggression. [June 2006, p.52]

I'll admit, I really would have liked better AI and a jump button. But at the end of the day, I'm still playing this game to try and get the mini-goals.

A wonderful, must-play action game.

Urban Chaos brings together some solid gameplay that integrates the gimmick as well as can be done. Over that lies a layer of old school sensibilities and a feeling that'll have you jamming to Team America's infamous "America, **** Yeah.” Put all of that together, and you’ve got a killer game.

Great shooting, epic-set pieces, regrettable sewer level. This is a satirical, heartfelt love letter to the kind of police force we'd like to join. [May 2006, p.74]

If you like your game with punch, this is as hard-hitting as they come. Varied missions and non-stop chaos make this a winner. [Issue 81]

The game never advances the genre, but its use of a protective riot shield, one that progressively takes damage to the point where it's almost impossible to see through, is certainly a nice touch. [July 2006, p.72]

Despite the relative shortness of the single player mode, I can't recommend Urban Chaos: Riot Response enough.

Ignoring the tacked-on 9/11 vibe, Riot Response manages to be a first-person shooter with enough new stuff to make it a worthwhile experience. It may not be a looker, and some of the characters might seem a little cookie cutter, but it's still a blast.

The graphics are among the best PS2 can produce, with realistic heat shimmer and good physics effects, but it's the gameplay that will keep you coming back, with intelligent level design and a variety of mission objectives(including awesome shoot-the-guy-holding-the-hostage bits)that keep the game feeling fresh. [Aug 2006, p.83]

As someone that's pretty much bored to tears with the FPS genre, I personally found Urban Chaos to be a breath of fresh air.

While the story and some of the gameplay elements could use some work, the sheer variety of action is enough to set it apart from a lot of so called “run and shoot” FPS games out there.

If you can get past the ordinary textures, bland character designs, and strange presentation of Urban Chaos: Riot Response, you'll find a technically capable game that offers a lovely little surfeit of gameplay touches that make it very worthwhile.

The game's twisted sense of humor and tendency toward overindulgence make it that much more enjoyable. If you're looking for a fun, pick-up-and-play shooter, and don't mind a lot of senseless brutality, Urban Chaos is the game for you.

It's by no means a blocckbuster that can suck away years of your life, but it offers up memorable thrills that you won't find anywhere else. [Ju;y 2006, p.105]

It’s not the best FPS ever made, but it is one of the more action-packed and genuinely interesting titles to come out in recent memory.

Urban Chaos is definitely worth a rental. If you’re good, there’s no reason that you can’t complete it in a weekend. There are plenty of side missions that will extend the replay value if you purchase the game and want to wring every second of enjoyment out of it, but you don’t have to take on these side missions if you just want to blast your way through it.

The game can be finished on easy overnight with just 12 missions to play, but there are a lot of reasons to go back and play each of the levels, especially with the medal system.