Sleeping Dogs

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 767 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 578 out of 767
  2. Mixed: 102 out of 767
  3. Negative: 87 out of 767
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  1. TheTactician
    Sep 6, 2023
    8
    Its a good game,when thinking its from 2012.Very good graphics for its release date and good combat.The story was very good, butt side quests was not soo good.I had fun while playing it.
  2. Maksims130199
    Aug 27, 2023
    9
    Данная игра принесла мне очень много удовольствия, супер крутая игра.
  3. RTCWFAN
    Jun 13, 2023
    9
    Despite the similarities to the GTA series, this is a strong open world action game. The focus is on the cool story, the martial arts fights and the style. Overall rating: 8.7.
  4. kolarz3
    May 19, 2023
    9
    Very good game with Chinese climate. It's pretty similar to GTA. It had nice turning point. Interesting that main character was a coop
  5. bianweiqu123
    Mar 4, 2023
    8
    The game is amazing!!! great hand-to-hand combat, driving is pretty good, and the gunplay is good. I don't know how they did it but they have amazing actors from both Hong Kong cinema and hollywood.(Emma Stone, Edison Chen, Lucy Liu and many more).Overall i would say go get this game now!!!
  6. Joe2539
    Jan 3, 2023
    10
    Very Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
  7. HuevoAlce
    Jun 27, 2022
    8
    Sleeping Dogs will give you much to do in its open world. It also provides a great story.
  8. Domdom21br
    Nov 9, 2021
    8
    o gta de hong kong! graficos excelentes, as lutas são sensacionais, eu nao vou falar da historia porque eu nao entendo muito bem ingles, mas vale a pena jogar
  9. Ardho
    Aug 29, 2021
    9
    My favorite type of fighting game, and the open world makes this game even more interesting, a very satisfying fight, remembered me of jackie chan stuntmaster
  10. arostislavna
    Oct 21, 2020
    9
    I give this a 9 but really it should be a 10. Why it doesn't get full marks is because they decided to gender swap the main protagonist. I will always say they should have gambled with it's predecessor "Black Lotus". The game play is great, and considering the locale, there is reason behind not being a shooter. It is unique to have a martial arts focused game.
  11. TheSnitchfather
    Sep 9, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Easily 10/10
    This game is very unique in every single way.
    I love the way they focused on martial arts instead of gun crime, since guns are very hard to come buy in Hong Kong, even worse than England as a matter of fact.
    Characters are interesting and I even got attached to the homie Jackie, was sad as a motherf*cker when he died.
    The controls are nice and smooth and the graphics are ret*rded, the best looking PS3 game I know of, by far.
    When there are weapons, the controls when shooting are easy af, but bare in mind, you'll drop very fast from bullets in this game, since it's portrayed a bit more realistic, and isn't the main focus anyway. The guns have nice designs, even thought he generic chrome/burshed steel look on every gun is a bit boring. The DLCs are fun, the clothing is amazingly good. As a matter of fact, the "very baggy jeans" in this game are my 2nd favourite pair of jeans in any game right after Saints Row (2006) baggy jeans. Love it and try to play it at least 2 times per year.    … Expand
  12. storygamer
    Sep 3, 2020
    8
    I had no expectations regarding the release of Sleeping Dogs. There are so many undercooked Grand Theft Auto clones. But this one blew me away! Beautiful aesthetics, great gameplay and guess what...an unique setting and atmosphere! The only point of criticism is a little lack of polish but I don´t want to be fussy! Every open world action fan should check this one out!
  13. BenisDetrov
    Jun 26, 2020
    9
    Очень не хватает перестрелки, шикарная боёвка, сюжет неплохой но не прописаны персонажи. Играть стоит.
  14. khalid515
    May 2, 2020
    10
    its a great game the story is good i liked fight style and the missions and a lot more
  15. Flashyboy89
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    Sleeping Dogs is a damn good game! It’s a shame it didn’t sell too well and United Front Games shut down in 2016. For me, better than most of those stupid Saints Row games bar the first one.
  16. steverozada
    Mar 24, 2020
    8
    Una joya todavía oculta. Merece la pena jugarlo, incluso hoy día. La historia es genial. La gamificación es progresiva y bien conseguida. Es ademas bastante divertido y engancha desde el primer momento. Totalmente recomendable.
  17. Swagx
    Dec 8, 2019
    8
    Sleeping Dogs is an extremely fun game, the story captures, as well as the great characters of its great plot, and a very good game for fun
  18. Folmer
    Feb 23, 2019
    8
    Very interesting and beautiful game, and i still waiting its continuation. I think this game was undervalued.
  19. HTGamer
    Feb 13, 2019
    8
    Sleeping Dogs is a fun take on the GTA-like open world games. The 2 main differences between Sleeping Dogs and GTA are the setting and the gameplay style. You play in Hong Kong and the game plays as a brawler instead of a 3rd person shooter (in fact even when you get a gun it's bad and unwieldy IIRC). Imagine what a Yakuza game would have been like, if it embraced the open world template.Sleeping Dogs is a fun take on the GTA-like open world games. The 2 main differences between Sleeping Dogs and GTA are the setting and the gameplay style. You play in Hong Kong and the game plays as a brawler instead of a 3rd person shooter (in fact even when you get a gun it's bad and unwieldy IIRC). Imagine what a Yakuza game would have been like, if it embraced the open world template. Driving around with a motorcycle or a car is a joy, and there are many emergent gameplay scenarios like robberies or assaults to deal with. The game's got a relatively good story and character development, but technologically it was a bit left behind by its contemporaries. Still it's a good game for solo players, but there is no online mode of any kind. Too bad a sequel never happened.… Expand
  20. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    9
    This is really a great game, there is so much to love about it, must play for sure!
  21. evolution98
    Sep 17, 2018
    9
    The spiritual successor to True Crime. It was mindblowing. I remember reading reviews and PlayStation Official about this when it was in development and it took me by surprise.

    The graphics looked mesmerizing. Square Enix captured the look and feel of Hong Kong greatly. It was so lifelike. The soundtrack was decent. I loved the gameplay. Wei Chen is a badass. I love the combat system    The spiritual successor to True Crime. It was mindblowing. I remember reading reviews and PlayStation Official about this when it was in development and it took me by surprise.

    The graphics looked mesmerizing. Square Enix captured the look and feel of Hong Kong greatly. It was so lifelike. The soundtrack was decent. I loved the gameplay. Wei Chen is a badass. I love the combat system and the special/counter moves. The story was captivating. I loved the voice acting from everyone involved.

    The only things I didn't like was that the story was too short, some of the radio soundtracks weren't great and the game was too easy. The dlc did give the game more longevity and customization options but some were too expensive.

    Overall a great GTA clone.    … Expand
  22. Empyrea
    Mar 24, 2018
    10
    This is an underrated game. Some people compare it to GTA but it has nothing to do with that. It reminds me to Shenmue from Dreamcast. I didn't like Just Cause 2 because you had to destroy lots of things with small weapons to advance in the game but Sleeping Dogs... I just love it. For me is one of the best games for ps3. Graphics are great. In this game there's shooting but speciallyThis is an underrated game. Some people compare it to GTA but it has nothing to do with that. It reminds me to Shenmue from Dreamcast. I didn't like Just Cause 2 because you had to destroy lots of things with small weapons to advance in the game but Sleeping Dogs... I just love it. For me is one of the best games for ps3. Graphics are great. In this game there's shooting but specially kicks and driving. It took me 17 hours to beat. The only bad thing of this game is the subtitles. For some reason the letters are tiny and there's no way to make them bigger. Apart from this I have no other complaints. For me this is a must have game.… Expand
  23. HoverReid
    Aug 21, 2016
    10
    It was a very great experience for me.
    Best city open world experience on PS3. The storyline was great, dramatic and surprising.
    The gameplay is very polished and very fun. -combat is very dynamic and there is lots of variety with all the moves you have, it's similar to the Batman Arkham series, but even better. The city feels alive and the characters were memorable. I am going to    It was a very great experience for me.
    Best city open world experience on PS3. The storyline was great, dramatic and surprising.
    The gameplay is very polished and very fun.
    -combat is very dynamic and there is lots of variety with all the moves you have, it's similar to the Batman Arkham series, but even better.
    The city feels alive and the characters were memorable.
    I am going to compare it to GTA series but the city here feels way more alive and the main character is not dumb. Unlike the fat characters in GTA, you can vault over things, wall run and climb. ( In GTA V if you jump towards a wall, you will simply bump into it like a retard and your character will go all ragdoll-ish with the euphoria physics).
    The final fight was pretty epic as well and the game ended on a calmer note after the final battle, I appreciate something like that.
    Soundtrack was fine, nothing memorable but it did the job.
    Overall it's a great experience and I recommend this game to anyone competent enough to see that there are better open world games than GTA.    … Expand
  24. cumarrom
    Aug 12, 2016
    10
    VAI TOMA NO RABO PUTA JOGO BOM !! PROSTITUTA LITERALMENTE SUASUHAUSHUAHSHUAUHSAHSUHAUSHAUSHjsdjjiajsiajsiajsjaijaisjaijsiajsiajsjaadjasjoaijsAUSHAUHSUAHS TO DOIDO DE DROGA
  25. BananaReviews
    Jul 5, 2016
    9
    Amazing game with a good story, a way of spectacular combat, easy driveability fit and an excellent open world, but the game contains several bugs and errors in the rendering, but other than that SUPER RECOMMENDED !!!
  26. amateurcritic2
    May 30, 2016
    10
    so much fun its amazing fighting sytem was great appart from making it hard to make a boss which is my only complaint. It also feature one of the best stories in a video game because its so unexpected and smart with an interesting setting. People also complain about the driving wch admitedly isnt great but its a martial arts game if someone wants to drive play a racing game. The dlc isso much fun its amazing fighting sytem was great appart from making it hard to make a boss which is my only complaint. It also feature one of the best stories in a video game because its so unexpected and smart with an interesting setting. People also complain about the driving wch admitedly isnt great but its a martial arts game if someone wants to drive play a racing game. The dlc is also quite fun adding some things i would like to have done in the main game.… Expand
  27. bulletchan
    Apr 11, 2016
    8
    The game is amazing!!! great hand-to-hand combat, driving is pretty good, and the gunplay is good. I don't know how they did it but they have amazing actors from both Hong Kong cinema and hollywood.(Emma Stone, Edison Chen, Lucy Liu and many more).Overall i would say go get this game now!!!
  28. Abhaygamin2002
    Dec 29, 2015
    10
    This is phenomenon.its a amazing piece of of open world,martial arts,action,adventure and fantastic game.Its driving mechanism is very bad.and can a car slam an other car by magic no lol.but no doubt i spent hours playing and its amazing.must buy
  29. BBoondocks
    Jan 25, 2015
    10
    To me, Sleeping Dogs is the best open world game ever made. I enjoyed everything about it - the fighting is smooth and violent, the driving is fast and fun and the shooting is spectacular and explosive! On top of that, the story is extremely engaging, the narrative is outsanding and the voice acting is as good as it gets. Hong Kong is also a great setting for a sandbox game, it looksTo me, Sleeping Dogs is the best open world game ever made. I enjoyed everything about it - the fighting is smooth and violent, the driving is fast and fun and the shooting is spectacular and explosive! On top of that, the story is extremely engaging, the narrative is outsanding and the voice acting is as good as it gets. Hong Kong is also a great setting for a sandbox game, it looks beautiful and full of life. There is so much to do and so many things to collect, you don't even know what to do sometimes, you have so many options. The developers also did a great job getting the player deep into two different worlds - the triads and the Hong Kong police force. The main hero, Wei Shen, is an undercover cop who without spoiling the story too much has to make some really hard decisions sometimes regarding what's right and what's wrong. The music and the graphics are superb, and I love how the gameplay focuses so much on combat. The environemntal executions are so brutal and they just never get old! The upgarde system is also very well done, as Wei's martial arts skills get better as you progress, and at the end he becomes an unstoppable badass. There are plenty of weapons as well, and they all feel as they should! From knives to grenade lunchers, you can find them all! And just to name a few things you can do in the city - stop street crimes, help pedestrians, buy cars, clothes, jewelry, apartments, pets, eat and drink at many different spots, go to fight clubs, engage in street races, date girls, do karaoke, collect health shrines, lockboxes, jade statues, do parkour and so many more...it has so much content and there are plenty of awesome DLCs as well. And just top top it all, the last two missions in the story are too of the best missions I played in ANY game. So intense, I had the best time with this game! A must have!… Expand
  30. Freddo222
    Dec 18, 2014
    9
    Great open world game. The undercover-cop story is believeable and interesting. Graphics are good, shooting is solid, driving is good, fighting is absolutely awesome! Only the map is a little bit small for a gta-style game!
  31. beatlemnkyhuman
    Nov 27, 2014
    9
    Solid gameplay, solid combat, solid voice acting, solid story and beautiful art design make this game a 9.

    The DLC is all fantastic.

    The park-our is a blast.

    The puzzles are a little bit off but other then that it's amazing.
  32. mrnice
    Jul 30, 2014
    8
    Tighter than recent GTAs, with more variety and more to-the-point action. Oh and it's set in freaking Hong Kong. Like, well-made open-world martial arts Hong Kong, with local radio songs and all. How cool is that? It works so well you'll wonder why Rockstar didn't attempt something similar.

    A tight campaign is something I missed in GTA V, but Sleeping Dogs doesn't make you walk a dog    Tighter than recent GTAs, with more variety and more to-the-point action. Oh and it's set in freaking Hong Kong. Like, well-made open-world martial arts Hong Kong, with local radio songs and all. How cool is that? It works so well you'll wonder why Rockstar didn't attempt something similar.

    A tight campaign is something I missed in GTA V, but Sleeping Dogs doesn't make you walk a dog around or do in-game yoga. It has similarly weird activities, but the campaign itself is kept tight and fun, and with a relate-able and classically designed action hero rather than someone you watch from a distance.

    The whole package is well made, both when the fights make you feel like the star of a martial arts cult hit, when the driving makes you think you changed game to Burnout or Need For Speed, and when you're on low-key investigative adventures. It's more mature, brutal and serious than GTA, but also more fun and arcade-like. Each element seems built from arcade-inspiration rather than realism, for example the combo-based combat and the wild explosions when you shoot out a car's tire.

    But the game remains immersive and epic thanks to the varied side jobs that are original enough to make a new city rather than a rerun of other games. Melee combat is usually a weak part of GTA-like games, but Sleeping Dogs has a deep, thoughtful combat system with unlockable moves.

    The game is not super polished, but the glitches had me giggling, so I kept playing a non-patched, offline version. 18 hours in, I feel like I got my money's worth. I could play on for further collectibles or small tasks, but the meat of the game is done with after 17 hours or so.    … Expand
  33. SayHeyToPhillip
    Jun 25, 2014
    10
    It finally happened! They put Hong Kong in one of greatest open-world games of all time! They put so much work in to Sleeping Dogs. The focus on the Kung Fu was so crazy sick. Let me just say there's so much to do with this game and I should know cause I have 100% game completion & 20 DLC packs. From a great storyline to an amazing world where you can break Chinese bones. Honestly this isIt finally happened! They put Hong Kong in one of greatest open-world games of all time! They put so much work in to Sleeping Dogs. The focus on the Kung Fu was so crazy sick. Let me just say there's so much to do with this game and I should know cause I have 100% game completion & 20 DLC packs. From a great storyline to an amazing world where you can break Chinese bones. Honestly this is a pure masterpiece.… Expand
  34. i5750R9270
    May 23, 2014
    10
    These type of games are the only games real gamers want! And the only type of game a real gamer needs! Glad this game came to PC since Rockstar decided to deny PC gamers GTA 5 , I suppose Rockstar no longer has the skill to bring a good PC game anymore! We know how bad GTA 4 ran on the PC, Another testament to how far behind Rockstar is compared to others. I congratulate United FrontThese type of games are the only games real gamers want! And the only type of game a real gamer needs! Glad this game came to PC since Rockstar decided to deny PC gamers GTA 5 , I suppose Rockstar no longer has the skill to bring a good PC game anymore! We know how bad GTA 4 ran on the PC, Another testament to how far behind Rockstar is compared to others. I congratulate United Front Games/Square Enix for their job on this, They also did the game right. It runs very smooth with no bugs.… Expand
  35. MatthewDon2002
    May 18, 2014
    8
    As theatrical as gaming gets, Sleeping Dogs is totally engaging, expertly homicidal and brilliantly voiced, resulting in an enveloping free-roamer, equipped with some breath-taking visuals. The plot lowers the game's quality, as it is middle-of-the-road, standard, "Revenge against you!!!!" fare.
  36. DaaS
    Mar 6, 2014
    9
    Really good open world game, take you to china and make you fell that is an authentic city, good story and a well made combat system, i prefer to fight people rather than use the weapons :D
  37. MrRPG
    Jan 5, 2014
    9
    Easily one of the best games on the ps3 and Xbox 360.
    A living breathing open world of crime, street racing and martial arts, what more could you want?
    From the seamless combat to the fast pace racing, united front games knew exactly what they were doing, and pulled it all off amazingly.
    If your a fan of open world sandbox games this is a must buy!
  38. Krizuwe
    Nov 20, 2013
    9
    Para ser un Sand Box a la sombra de GTA no tiene nada que envidiarle, Sleeping Dogs es un juegazo distinto, una jugabilidad exquisita, unos graficos bastantes buenos, divertido, te enganchara de principio a final, las contras: no esta doblado al español...una lastima, pasandotelo al 100% dificilmente supera las 25 horas, pero en definitiva es un gran juego, de hecho para mi es el mejorPara ser un Sand Box a la sombra de GTA no tiene nada que envidiarle, Sleeping Dogs es un juegazo distinto, una jugabilidad exquisita, unos graficos bastantes buenos, divertido, te enganchara de principio a final, las contras: no esta doblado al español...una lastima, pasandotelo al 100% dificilmente supera las 25 horas, pero en definitiva es un gran juego, de hecho para mi es el mejor Sand Box de esta generación.… Expand
  39. huss2215
    Nov 14, 2013
    8
    Graphics: The graphics aren’t the best, some character models aren’t too detailed, the water in the game with the ripple effects from the boat look almost last gen. Honk Kong looks good, and so do the vehicles. 7.5.

    Sound: A nice soundtrack not a lot of variety but good. The voice acting is decent, and the gun sounds/vehicles are average. 7.5. Gameplay: An open sandbox game    Graphics: The graphics aren’t the best, some character models aren’t too detailed, the water in the game with the ripple effects from the boat look almost last gen. Honk Kong looks good, and so do the vehicles. 7.5.

    Sound: A nice soundtrack not a lot of variety but good. The voice acting is decent, and the gun sounds/vehicles are average. 7.5.

    Gameplay: An open sandbox game like GTA but with its own flavor. The game does an excellent job of mixing up the main missions so they never feel repetitive. The combat is great and you learn more combos. You also level up you’re cop status, and triad status which is done similar to a talent tree. Vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, and boats are drivable, and you can commandeer each. The gunplay is good but the aiming could be reworked to feel more realistic. The slow-mo effect is also very useful but without a limit it makes the game too easy. 9.

    Story: The story flow progresses great, keeping an interest, but there aren’t any amazing moments. It’s still a fresh story, and worth a playthrough. 9.

    Replay Value: The game clocks from 8 to 20 hours depending on how many side missions, and collectibles you go for. It’s definitely worth getting. 10.

    Overall Score: 8.6 out of 10.    … Expand
  40. SJ-ULTI-Reiews
    Oct 5, 2013
    8
    Sleeping Dogs is True Crime: Hong Kong, as you may know it was sold by Activision and Square Enix bought the property, boy was that a mistake by Activision. I loved True Crime: Streets of L.A but i thought that New York City was disappointing. Sleeping Dogs is definitely a great continuation of the series. The Story of Triad/Cop is really good, the combat is amazing and fun as hell. TheSleeping Dogs is True Crime: Hong Kong, as you may know it was sold by Activision and Square Enix bought the property, boy was that a mistake by Activision. I loved True Crime: Streets of L.A but i thought that New York City was disappointing. Sleeping Dogs is definitely a great continuation of the series. The Story of Triad/Cop is really good, the combat is amazing and fun as hell. The shooting mechanics are okay, the racing and car control are great, its fun jumping from car to car. I take this game as a reboot to the True Crime series and i cant wait for a sequel.… Expand
  41. MovieGuys
    Sep 17, 2013
    10
    One of the best sandbox games I've played, Sleeping Dogs is actually very realistic. If you steal a car in front of the cops, they try to arrest you. If you kill someone and then go into a building, they don't give up searching; they weren't born yesterday. I actually like that aspect a lot. It makes the playing experience seem very real and authentic. Also, the story is very engrossing,One of the best sandbox games I've played, Sleeping Dogs is actually very realistic. If you steal a car in front of the cops, they try to arrest you. If you kill someone and then go into a building, they don't give up searching; they weren't born yesterday. I actually like that aspect a lot. It makes the playing experience seem very real and authentic. Also, the story is very engrossing, and there are a lot of options to do, such as change clothes. And best of all, it's FUN.… Expand
  42. feistin
    Sep 17, 2013
    8
    Had a helluva time playing this game as a warmup before GTA V. It is a GTA clone but made with a nice sense of humour and also with the addition of a nice combat system where you dwelve in martial arts.

    After awhile, just like GTA, it can get a bit repetitive but still a fun ride. Graphicwise it is not up to the GTA standard but does not bother the gameplay.
  43. Byr84
    Sep 13, 2013
    8
    Open world game at it's finest. Many people say that it's a rip off from GTA series. So what? Many games use this genre and Sleeping Dogs does it perfect. A fast action game with tons of side quests like helping other people, racing, hacking and fighting. Repetitive in some parts but still a great entertainment.
  44. REfreakk55
    Aug 21, 2013
    8
    Despite not being able to carry all sorts of weapons on you at all times like in GTA IV, I did enjoy the game, good graphics, gameplay, story, it was definitely worth the $60 and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an open-world shooter game.
  45. Danneskjold
    Jul 28, 2013
    8
    This game was highly enjoyable and I don't know why I waited so long to play it. It is indeed a GTA clone but it has more life than GTA IV and more seriousness than Saints Row III.

    In addition to the Hong Kong setting, one of the key differences in this game is the focus on hand-to-hand combat. You can't even buy guns in this game or carry multiple guns at once. I missed this at    This game was highly enjoyable and I don't know why I waited so long to play it. It is indeed a GTA clone but it has more life than GTA IV and more seriousness than Saints Row III.

    In addition to the Hong Kong setting, one of the key differences in this game is the focus on hand-to-hand combat. You can't even buy guns in this game or carry multiple guns at once. I missed this at first but I realized that this helped limit the player going around the city causing random mayhem like you can in GTA or Saints Row because you're supposed to be an undercover cop.    … Expand
  46. Shahzaky
    Jul 23, 2013
    9
    Terrific game and a pleasant surprise. I didn't think I would enjoy the Hong-Kong theme as much as I did.
    The biggest strengths about Sleeping dogs is the story and character development and the story missions are both entertaining and varied. If you have played GTA you know what to expect of this type of open world. You can steal cars, hire a cab, find easter eggs and so forth. Some    Terrific game and a pleasant surprise. I didn't think I would enjoy the Hong-Kong theme as much as I did.
    The biggest strengths about Sleeping dogs is the story and character development and the story missions are both entertaining and varied. If you have played GTA you know what to expect of this type of open world. You can steal cars, hire a cab, find easter eggs and so forth. Some things are better than GTA, like the obvious fighting mechanic but also the shooting feels more responsive and fun because of bulletime and that it doesn't get as repetitive. Graphics and especially lightning is very well done. The reason Sleeping dogs gets a nine and not a ten is because of some bugs and glitches, like the terrific "trapped on a bus" bug, as well as a few random console freezes. Also if you stop playing for a second and start observing the world its pretty clear the world doesn't move by its own. Cars can appear behind you on a closed road and emergency personnel never leaves a crash site. Some proper ragdoll physics would be appreciated too. Despite these issues, its a great action game with a proper story and interesting characters. A good buy!    … Expand
  47. Teh_Beavs
    Jul 21, 2013
    9
    Combat is excellent and entertaining with simple upgrading system, to add some combat progression as well. Graphics are excellent. Sound track/radio is excellent. Extra mission system is exactly what I want in these types of game, has a good amount of stuff to go do but not so much you lose sight of what the actual game is. Glad i finally picked it up!
  48. kev_i_n
    Jul 11, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Summary of the Game
    +Great car and foot chase sequences that are a nice addition to the open world genre.
    +Nice use of RPG elements, through upgrading Wei (the main character).
    +Well executed melee combat system which while being too simple/easy, is a lot of fun and demonstrates originality within the game.
    +Interesting story, particularly through the use of cut scenes that are cinematic and demonstrate Wei conflicts.
    +Great voice acting
    +Good variety of side activities like Camera hacking, racing (which is better here than in GTA 4), fighting etc.
    -Some of the activities are not well polished like karaoke (which amounts to an easy matching game, with too few songs to choice from [8 in total]).
    -The story is too predictable and unfortunately lacks choice reducing replay ability.
    -The gun fights are too easy as the enemy A.I isn’t great.

    Full Review (I haven’t played any of the DLC)
    One the great things about “Sleeping Dogs” are its chases on foot, as you perform parkour to catch people. This is an iconic feature of the game, that I hope is to be a continuing presence in open world games. Unfortunately this isn’t exploited enough and you can’t actually catch the people your chasing instead you have to take them down after they get in a car. Therefore the on foot chase sequences are nice but not developed enough.

    Furthermore another aspect of the game that isn’t fully developed is the melee combat. It is simple, but still great. The variety of the combos, and the unlocking of new moves, and the variety of enemies (normal, brawlers and grapplers), help enhance the melee combat. The greatest enhancement though is the environmental kills which come in a wide variety, and a huge amount of fun, while helping to reverse these unfair odds. However where it falls down is how it fails to provide a great experience due to the tendency just to counter the enemies attacks which is too easy to exploit. Nevertheless the melee is great. Furthermore the lack of the use of gun fights in this game make the melee combat actually worthwhile, as you use it frequently. Such a balance between gun and melee combat is a great feature and is far superior to GTA4 and Saints Row 2 where you just shoot stuff.

    The other major great feature is the RPG elements of the game, via improving your character through both cop/triad/face/melee and health upgrades. These while not to the same degree as Saints Row, is much superior to that of GTA4 where Niko remains the same character throughout. However unfortunately this doesn’t translate into effect customisation, as the only real variation in Wei’s look is clothing, and the clothes aren’t the same level of variety that they are in SR2.

    The final thing that is a great feature of the game is the driving on the whole. It is far superior to Saints Row 2 and GTA4, as it is a lovely balance between realism and damn right insanity. The driver is definitely enhanced by the unique Radio stations that give it a more Hong Kong like experience e.g. the song Yellow Fever. This is particularly the case with action hijacks where you fling yourself onto cars and then clamber into the driver seat. Such driving is enhanced via the use of chase sequences with guns while driving, where you get to shoot out the tires of enemies etc. This is again a better feature of the game when compared to Saints Row and GTA (where the shooting while driving is less dramatic).

    There are only two major negative aspects of the game. The first is the gun fights, which are too easy and don’t offer much. While the cover system and aiming is well executed, enemy’s tendency to suicide charge and failure to fully utilize tactics like flanking, combined with the lack of variety of guns, remove tension from gun combat. Such drawbacks however can be somewhat forgiven by the fact that the games combat is focused mostly on melee.

    The second is the predictable nature of the story. Now Sleeping Dogs’ story is by no means a dull story, particularly with the conflict between Wei’s loyalty to the triads and his ever increasing conflicts with the police. Some of the more specular moments include (spoiler) the shoot out by a rival gang at your bosses’ wedding. Such moments in combination with excellent voice acting giving the characters real depth, help to progress the story, and make it more engaging than its competition. Unfortunately you see things coming from a mile away, and the ending fails to offer anything special, as instead of a choice between triad and cop, Wei just remains a cop but still remembered fondly by the triad.

    That said these drawbacks aren’t enough to prevent the game from being a great success, certainly more fun and more original than GTA 4 and more balances than SR3. However such drawbacks and lack of unique selling points prevent Sleeping Dogs from being as great as SR2, which for me (until GTA5 is released) will remain the king of open world sandbox games with a gang theme.    … Expand
  49. comiekilla
    Jun 22, 2013
    8
    I usually always hate sandbox games. This one grabbed me from the start and I loved it. I like the fact that in the game I get to drive on the left side of the road which I do here in Japan. In GTA I would always be on the wrong side and hit everything so that earned big points for me. Would have scored higher if there was a weapon upgrade system and a more about involved story. GreatI usually always hate sandbox games. This one grabbed me from the start and I loved it. I like the fact that in the game I get to drive on the left side of the road which I do here in Japan. In GTA I would always be on the wrong side and hit everything so that earned big points for me. Would have scored higher if there was a weapon upgrade system and a more about involved story. Great combat and plenty of outside things to do.… Expand
  50. Dark-Knight
    Jun 18, 2013
    10
    i played almost every GTA game and too many other sandbox games but sleeping dogs was different because the story was so damn good i even platinumed the game (which i dont do often)
  51. StereooWorxx
    Jun 9, 2013
    9
    Sleeping Dogs is a strange mix of Assassin's Creed, Arkham City, Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto and Yakuza. All this hodgepodge can be confusing reading it in a review, but trust me, this game is the surprise of the year. The parkour it's simple but fun, the combat is also simple, but can be complexed by improvements; the bullet time works great and the open-world gameplay is just really fun:Sleeping Dogs is a strange mix of Assassin's Creed, Arkham City, Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto and Yakuza. All this hodgepodge can be confusing reading it in a review, but trust me, this game is the surprise of the year. The parkour it's simple but fun, the combat is also simple, but can be complexed by improvements; the bullet time works great and the open-world gameplay is just really fun: you have tons of side missions and quests to do. The story is excellent, but the only problem I have with this is game is with the chinese that is spoken in the middle of an english conversation. What's up with that? It's just like the italian spoken in Assassin's Creed II! Why didn't they make the full game in Chinese? Is there a reason to put random sentences in another language? What's the point? Whatever, the game is great.… Expand
  52. garongoreng
    Jun 9, 2013
    8
    Personally, i really like the idea of having this kind of chinese action movie's game. It's looks different with all the similar games out there, and giving "different" feeling to the players. Very strong game play mechanics, solid characters, and most important, fun. the game is long enough but not too long to finish.sadly i feel the triads is too shallow, (you jump around the hierarchyPersonally, i really like the idea of having this kind of chinese action movie's game. It's looks different with all the similar games out there, and giving "different" feeling to the players. Very strong game play mechanics, solid characters, and most important, fun. the game is long enough but not too long to finish.sadly i feel the triads is too shallow, (you jump around the hierarchy so fast), and you didn't "really" the have choices to be triad or the cop. i wish the game expanded more and more in the future.… Expand
  53. mosessaur
    May 19, 2013
    9
    If you played GTA IV and enjoyed it. Then Sleeping Dogs is for you. It's almost the same as GTA IV in terms of experience and content. But different story and different region of the world. Also here you are a cop undercover.
    Car handling is was better and GTA so I'm enjoying racing much more. Character animation isn't as good as GTA but it's fine.
    You got similar content like GTA. e.g.    If you played GTA IV and enjoyed it. Then Sleeping Dogs is for you. It's almost the same as GTA IV in terms of experience and content. But different story and different region of the world. Also here you are a cop undercover.
    Car handling is was better and GTA so I'm enjoying racing much more. Character animation isn't as good as GTA but it's fine.
    You got similar content like GTA. e.g. Stealing cars and deliver them, races, dating, favours etc....
    There is also new contents like fighting clubs.
    The story is cool. I liked it. And side missions is kind of connected to the story.
    Over all 9/10    … Expand
  54. chrisjones914
    May 9, 2013
    9
    Really awesome game!! I loved the the undercover cop story, it played out in a way where no two missions were exactly the same; they were always mixing it up! On top of the that, the hand to hand combat is some of the best and most brutal i've seen in a game! Definitely go check this one out!
  55. sityoazzdown
    Apr 14, 2013
    9
    biggest sleeper and my personal favorite overall game of 2012. Think of a cross between gta and saints row, more gta-style gameplay, and the arcade style feel of saints row. I love the physical combat and interactive sets where you can drop a bad guy in. The story was pretty good and addicting although doesn't really bring anything new to the genre; but were anyone expecting anything elsebiggest sleeper and my personal favorite overall game of 2012. Think of a cross between gta and saints row, more gta-style gameplay, and the arcade style feel of saints row. I love the physical combat and interactive sets where you can drop a bad guy in. The story was pretty good and addicting although doesn't really bring anything new to the genre; but were anyone expecting anything else in this style of game?… Expand
  56. sJagstang
    Mar 15, 2013
    8
    Sleeping Dogs was probably one of the biggest surprises of 2012, It was a game that was fairly unknown until it's release where it turned out to be a great game with a great story, great hand to hand combat and a great open world to explore, It has a good amount of content. If you like games like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row then you will probably like this game, It's by no meansSleeping Dogs was probably one of the biggest surprises of 2012, It was a game that was fairly unknown until it's release where it turned out to be a great game with a great story, great hand to hand combat and a great open world to explore, It has a good amount of content. If you like games like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row then you will probably like this game, It's by no means perfect with some things missing that would of been nice but it's still worth a play.… Expand
  57. solidusnake
    Mar 14, 2013
    10
    I haven't had as much fun with an open world game since GTA 3. Sleeping dogs had me invested from the first moment to the last. Everything about the game is well executed, from the fighting, to the driving, to the cover based shooting, it's all very well executed. The thing that really got me though is the characters, from the main character, Wei, to any of the other various characters II haven't had as much fun with an open world game since GTA 3. Sleeping dogs had me invested from the first moment to the last. Everything about the game is well executed, from the fighting, to the driving, to the cover based shooting, it's all very well executed. The thing that really got me though is the characters, from the main character, Wei, to any of the other various characters I was impressed. The story is very well told and helps add depth to, Wei, as he goes deeper undercover. I came in alittle late on getting it, but I'm so glad I got this game! To sum it up, it's nothing short of amazing and deserves to be in everyone's library. It also had a butt load of DLC, all worth the investment. So of you haven't played sleeping dogs, go do so now!… Expand
  58. tariq
    Mar 6, 2013
    10
    great story ,,long ,great action,, nice visuals>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  59. bundykins
    Mar 4, 2013
    8
    There's loads to see and do here. The graphics are last-gen, but I think the playability makes up for it.
    The fist fighting is full of Yakuza's crunch and easy combos. The gun play is perfectly solid, complete with Max Payne slow-mo 'bullet time'. And right now it's free on plus.
    I'm hooked.
  60. jsonaut
    Mar 2, 2013
    9
    This game has a fantastic open world with plenty to do in it, but at the same time has an involved, engrossing story and excellent characters. The driving, fighting and exploration are well done, and I felt a part of the Hong Kong scene while playing this game. I highly recommend Sleepy Dogs to anyone who likes open world games with mature and often hardcore themes, and wants toThis game has a fantastic open world with plenty to do in it, but at the same time has an involved, engrossing story and excellent characters. The driving, fighting and exploration are well done, and I felt a part of the Hong Kong scene while playing this game. I highly recommend Sleepy Dogs to anyone who likes open world games with mature and often hardcore themes, and wants to experience gang-style life in the safety of their own home, with some wacky humour and crazy thrown in for good measure.… Expand
  61. th0rg1l
    Feb 27, 2013
    9
    Too bad a couple of trolls who are taking issue with one of the voice actors, are ruining the user score here.

    It is an exciting game with lots of depth, great hand-fights (the best in an open world) and better graphics than GTA. You reaally feel like the star in an exciting movie. Everything works well together, even the driving. You have to make moral choices, the characters are    Too bad a couple of trolls who are taking issue with one of the voice actors, are ruining the user score here.

    It is an exciting game with lots of depth, great hand-fights (the best in an open world) and better graphics than GTA. You reaally feel like the star in an exciting movie. Everything works well together, even the driving. You have to make moral choices, the characters are believable and everything is cool!    … Expand
  62. DrunkenCactuz
    Feb 9, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing it has an awesome story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The game play is great the fighting system is great, watching Wei Shen fight is crazy. The graphics are good but some textures look bad like the blood texture. Overall the game is great and fun you will love. I got it for 20 dollars on sale but it is worth the 59.99 dollars price tag
  63. StevenF
    Feb 5, 2013
    8
    Surprise of the year! I followed this game since it was sold by Activision under the working title "True Crime:Hong Kong", and it was an absolute to delight to play such a detailed and riveting game.
    The protagonist, Wei Shen, an undercover police detective, must infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad organisation to attempt to bring it down.
    The hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is brought to    Surprise of the year! I followed this game since it was sold by Activision under the working title "True Crime:Hong Kong", and it was an absolute to delight to play such a detailed and riveting game.
    The protagonist, Wei Shen, an undercover police detective, must infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad organisation to attempt to bring it down.
    The hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is brought to life through not the biggest, but certainly one of the more
    detailed and vibrant sandbox cities of this generation.
    The combat is something spectacular, it simply utilizes button mashing with fluid combos that result in some the most fun fights you will come across in a game.
    Its got a solid story, albeit a short one for an open-world game, but this doesnt take away from the sheer volume of activities that can be undertaken here.
    Whether you want to suit up in a vast array of clothing, save up and buy an extensive amount of vehicles, or simply steal an umbrella from a pedestrian and beat up a bad guy with it...why not.
    Cons? Sadly, yes, the driving graphics arent the most solid, its hard to appreciate many driving mechanics in games after GTA IV, the island can sometimes feel too restrained and incomplete, and the Chinese that is spoken in the middle of an english conversation just feels out of place.
    All of that aside, this is certainly a stepping stone in the right direction, hopefully bigger and better things to come.    … Expand
  64. Tall_But_Short
    Feb 2, 2013
    8
    Sleeping Dogs is a great game, but some glitches and dull moments prevent it from being an amazing one. The story in Sleeping Dogs is superb because of its uniqueness from other games like this (e.g., GTA, Saints Row, etc.). Play as Wei Shen, a character who truly sticks to you, as an Undercover cop in this fictionalized Hong Kong. The only real complaints I have of this game is that someSleeping Dogs is a great game, but some glitches and dull moments prevent it from being an amazing one. The story in Sleeping Dogs is superb because of its uniqueness from other games like this (e.g., GTA, Saints Row, etc.). Play as Wei Shen, a character who truly sticks to you, as an Undercover cop in this fictionalized Hong Kong. The only real complaints I have of this game is that some voice acting seems sketchy, the graphics in some scenes really lack, and there are some minor glitches in the game. But overall, Sleeping Dogs is worth a buy and its one of those games where you truly crave that platinum trophy.… Expand
  65. thenthomwaslike
    Jan 19, 2013
    9
    after a rocky launch squenix proved that they care about their customers and continue to patch the game (version 1.9 already!) its a great pc port with great performance, great voice acting, and good looking textures. and the melee fighting system is amazing.
  66. gamer2013
    Jan 9, 2013
    9
    DEMO Review the game is like saints row meets batman arkham city the graphics are really nice and the setting is really cool i also like how you get rewarded for hitting evil people and the asian accents r spot on
  67. JPG127
    Dec 3, 2012
    8
    This game was generally great and a bit underrated. I can understand people being angry that it was not a shooting game (I had the same frustration at first). But this game was good partially because it was not the standard Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row. This is the first beat em up I have played in awhile and it was generally good. Not quite as good as Batman: Arkham City, but stillThis game was generally great and a bit underrated. I can understand people being angry that it was not a shooting game (I had the same frustration at first). But this game was good partially because it was not the standard Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row. This is the first beat em up I have played in awhile and it was generally good. Not quite as good as Batman: Arkham City, but still good. Story could have used a little work, but not bad. graphics and sound were generally good. A lot to explore but never overwhelming. Once the kinks are worked out, truly worthy of a sequel.… Expand
  68. florgy
    Nov 27, 2012
    10
    Let me preface by saying that my actual score is 9.5. For the people who don't like to read, I can summarize my review by saying that Sleeping Dogs is an incredibly fun game with a gripping story, arkham city style combat, nfs style driving and gta style open world-ness (but better) - if you haven't bought it yet, then you should go do so NOW! Sleeping Dog's story revolves aroundLet me preface by saying that my actual score is 9.5. For the people who don't like to read, I can summarize my review by saying that Sleeping Dogs is an incredibly fun game with a gripping story, arkham city style combat, nfs style driving and gta style open world-ness (but better) - if you haven't bought it yet, then you should go do so NOW! Sleeping Dog's story revolves around Wei Shen, who is an undercover Hong Kong cop trying to infiltrate the fictional Sun-on-Yee - I'm not going to go further into detail, but suffice to say that it's a story that pays tribute to the classic Hong Kong flicks of yore, and has plenty of, "what a twist!", moments... The recreated Hong Kong feels bustling and alive - there's street vendors and whole bazaars, all of which you can interact with. I feel as though I should mention that as I looked at some of the stores near one of my apartments, they were literally cardboard cutouts, so while this is still one of the most interactive sandboxes out there, if United Front was given more time, they could have made the city even more alive. Even the side missions are, for the most part, awesome - the racing is expectedly great given that a lot of these guys used to work for Black box - you can bet on **** (get your mind out of the gutter), be IN fights, and clear out gangs (thought that does get repetitive). All of which fuels an upgrade system that has three branches; triad, cop and super awesome ninja stuff. That's not even mentioning the glorious amount of costumes! I also love the fact that they actually speak Chinese half the time (there's subtitles), and it further lends to the game's authenticity. The actors do an amazing job at portraying the characters as well. I have seen other reviews complaining about the graphics - I really don't understand that - to me, the graphics looked great, the animations where smooth as butter, the draw distance was good (little to no pop in), and the frame-rate was consistent. To me, this game is on par, graphically to red dead redemption, and certainly looks better than games like grand theft auto 4 and saints row 3. Maybe reviewers only care about particle effects and lighting... Also, I have to mention that the soundtrack is sublime; ninja tune and warp radio actually features some real dub-step and break-beat (not the skrillex style stuff) - here's a link to one of the songs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpgHyCNCDO4&feature=BFa&list=FLNJ6aRWikauOTEZlQZLNKUw Overall, this game is a true underrated gem, it should be experienced by anyone who owns a gaming system or PC - I have not had this much fun with a game in a long time! Stop reading stuff on meta-critic and go buy this game now, you won't regret it!… Expand
  69. GamersLikeABoss
    Nov 23, 2012
    10
    i re-write this review because i noctise that i rated it 7.5 but really, Sleeping Dog is the game that i played the most, i have got MW3, Assassin's Creed III those kind of popular games. If u let me choose i will play Sleeping Dogs. Good quailty, fun places, fun controls, hot charecters, excited street fighting, BOOM!!!!!
  70. sparky4223
    Nov 17, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. With great visuals, excellent voice work, an amazing story and the best combat in an open world game, Sleeping Dogs is a game that anyone that loves open world games should purchase. The story is about Wei Shen, an undercover cop that is assigned to take down the Triad (basically the Hong Kong mafia) They gang is suspicious at first but as Wei advances up the ladder, the gang begins to accept him. The story is well told with excellent voicework from such notables as Tom Wilkinson and Lucy Liu. Even Emma Stone makes a brief appearance. The driving has an arcadey style that works perfectly is this. Wei is very agile and skilled in combat with and without a gun. Most of the combat is hand to hand based and allows you to grab enemies and perform brutal environmental kills which range from tossing a guy in a dumpster to throwing thugs in ice chippers. Like many open world games, Sleeping Dogs contains minigames such as karaoke and majong but some feel a little underdeveloped such as the dating system. However, these are just minor gripes in an otherwise amazing game. Simply put, Sleeping Dogs should not be left to lie on the shelf.… Expand
  71. Samjagstang28
    Nov 13, 2012
    9
    This game was the biggest surprise of the year for me, I did not know it was coming out until a little bit before it released and picked it up shortly after and I can definitely say this is one of the best games of the year, The story is very interesting, the combat with both martial arts combat and shooting are both very fun to use, If you like games like Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row,This game was the biggest surprise of the year for me, I did not know it was coming out until a little bit before it released and picked it up shortly after and I can definitely say this is one of the best games of the year, The story is very interesting, the combat with both martial arts combat and shooting are both very fun to use, If you like games like Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row, or the combat from Batman: Arkham City/Asylum you will probably love this game, it is very polished, the missions are fun and varied, the side missions are not amazing, but they are fun distractions and there is other side content like racing missions and so on. Pick this game up if you have not already.… Expand
  72. wesker2012
    Nov 9, 2012
    10
    This game is so ridiculously fun....which is what most games are lacking nowadays. Its funny when I saw trailers of this game, it made me sick, I was just like o god, they are taking gta design and combining with hong kong, this is going to be atrocious, but this game is a definitely a sleeper hit...better than most of the hyped games this year. This game has top notch everything,This game is so ridiculously fun....which is what most games are lacking nowadays. Its funny when I saw trailers of this game, it made me sick, I was just like o god, they are taking gta design and combining with hong kong, this is going to be atrocious, but this game is a definitely a sleeper hit...better than most of the hyped games this year. This game has top notch everything, controls, scenery, graphics, color, lighting, detail, design, hong kong vibe, music, dialogue, story, characters, voice acting. I've already played halo 4 and assassins creed 3, but this game is so much more fun and all around better game. I love when a developer just blows all of my expectations away. This is one of those games. This is what an open world game should be like. Most open world games have the graphics and real life feeling but the game is not fun to play and more like a chore. Which kind of defeats the purpose of a game eh? This is the best open world game I've played. Not a chorefest like Red Dead or GTA, or Assassins Creed.… Expand
  73. Hurricane43
    Nov 9, 2012
    10
    Great story, the best combat in any open world game, rpg style combat system, amazing graphics, and Hong Kong, A great new IP. Interact with the environment, grappling npc and smashing them into a car door or put them in a trunk. Shooting is very fluid also and driving is top notch. Way better than GTA IV buy this game, it really is a sleeper.
  74. Reaperville
    Nov 8, 2012
    8
    if you liked grand theft auto this is basically the next installment ..... you get to play both sides as the cop and the gangster..... story was very well written along with the fighting mechanics..... the only down fall is there are basically no weapons ...... the few in the game are scarce at best......
  75. brifli
    Nov 5, 2012
    9
    I just finished this game and loved every minute of it! This game is my "sleeper retail game of the year" (no pun intended). This is obviously a GTA make-off, but it is done so well! I enjoyed this game more than the GTA and Saints Row series. If you are looking for an open world GTA, Saints Row, Red Dead, Max Payne type game... you have to give this a try. Here is what I liked mostI just finished this game and loved every minute of it! This game is my "sleeper retail game of the year" (no pun intended). This is obviously a GTA make-off, but it is done so well! I enjoyed this game more than the GTA and Saints Row series. If you are looking for an open world GTA, Saints Row, Red Dead, Max Payne type game... you have to give this a try. Here is what I liked most about the game:
    1. Fluid Combat - best open world combat system yet. 2. Engaging Story - This game is very story driven. I really got into the story and really enjoyed playing as an undercover cop. Great characters in the game as well as great voice acting.
    3. Great Pacing - This game has excellent pacing. In an open world, this is usually the struggle. Provide the ability to do anything, but still maintain direction for game/storyline progression. 4. RPG elements - I love that you level up your character! There are four categories to level up your character. Dojo Training, Triad skills, Police skills and building your "Health". Dojo training help you learn more combos and powerful moves in combat. The Triad and Police skills help you become deal more damage, take more damage, react quicker, help you shot better, slow down time while shooting, etc.
    5. High Replay - Even though I finished the main story line, I don't feel finished with the game. I am excited each time I re-enter the world of Hong Kong. There are still many things to achieve past the main story line. If you like to fight, there are always people to fight. If you like to race cars, there are always people to race. If you like to date, offer help to people in need (usually a chase involved), investigate murders or even gamble on **** fights... It's all there waiting for you!

    I especially loved heading into a group of 10-20 people knowing that I could most likely take them via "Kung Fu" and not guns. The combat in this game is the best I have played in an open world. I agree that the combat is very similar to Batman's combat system (Arkham games), but this combat system is even more fluid, faster and easier. Countering is brilliant in this game. The enemy will turn red when you need to counter. I loved how obvious they make it. When you have 15 people you are fighting, you will be glad the counter system is there to assist you!

    The only issues I had with the game were minimal:
    1. Depending on car placement, sometimes the door gets in the way. You can always climb on the car and usually overcome this.
    2. Main storyline was a bit short. I really liked the story and wanted more. As I understand there will be DLC to provide more story.
    3. When fighting "brawlers" there are often QTE (Quick Time Events). After awhile you realize it's always the same buttons based on a bear hug or a floor stomp.    … Expand
  76. RateGamesFever
    Nov 5, 2012
    9
    When True Crime: Hong Kong was cancelled, I was really sad. When Square
    Enix picked it back up, I was jumping for joy. When I got the game (Now
    named Sleeping Dogs), I can't say I'm not impressed. From jumping to moving cars, to fighting in street brawls, Sleeping Dogs works. You play as an under cover cop named Wei Shen. Your objective is to explore the criminal underworld in hopes of    When True Crime: Hong Kong was cancelled, I was really sad. When Square
    Enix picked it back up, I was jumping for joy. When I got the game (Now
    named Sleeping Dogs), I can't say I'm not impressed. From jumping to
    moving cars, to fighting in street brawls, Sleeping Dogs works. You play as an under cover cop named Wei Shen. Your objective is to explore
    the criminal underworld in hopes of creating a better tomorrow. Most
    people will have bought this game for the fighting. Easy enough,
    because it's really fun. It takes the fighting system from the Batman:
    Arkham games. Countering and combining moves is satisfying. I randomly
    join one of the various fight clubs when I think I have had enough time
    racing, doing errands, or busting bad guys for selling drugs. There are
    plenty of chases, fights and tension to go around in Sleeping Dogs. The
    game is open world, and features side quests and lots of activities.
    The game has also been said to be around 20 hours long without
    collecting the many collectibles, which is long for this type of game.

    As with every game, It has a few weak spots. One of the things that
    stand out is the shooting. It's a little easy and stale, and some of
    the controls are slow to respond. The driving camera has become a
    bother because it wants to be behind you at all times despite your own
    wishes. But even with these things, Sleeping Dogs remains a blast to play.
    Anyone that is a fan of movies like The Raid: Redemption will want to
    play this game to get a small feel of what it's like to be the bad butt
    fighter that can't be hit.    … Expand
  77. benbancroft1989
    Oct 15, 2012
    9
    First of all I would just like to point out that in my opinion Sleeping Dogs is not better than Red Dead Redemption or GTAIV from R*. However is does run both games (especially GTAIV) very close. Sleeping dogs has a multitude of different play styles included in the overall package such as hand to hand combat, slo mo over the top gun play, high speed driving and small mini games. EachFirst of all I would just like to point out that in my opinion Sleeping Dogs is not better than Red Dead Redemption or GTAIV from R*. However is does run both games (especially GTAIV) very close. Sleeping dogs has a multitude of different play styles included in the overall package such as hand to hand combat, slo mo over the top gun play, high speed driving and small mini games. Each element borrows from other games (Arkham City, Max Payne 3, Need for Speed and Yakuza). None of these styles is better than what was in the games that clearly influenced Sleeping Dogs but neither are any of them bad, trumping most if not all other open world games. The missions are varied and the voice acting is superb (for the record the fact that Edison Chen has real world troubles should really not be used to criticise a game, if you really need to criticise the producers/developers for using him), the game is of a good length at approximately 20 hours but does fall short of Bethesda and R*'s open worlds for longevity. Another area where Sleeping Dogs falls short to R*'s recent titles is in the area of storytelling. Sleeping Dogs story is in no way bad and is entertaining throughout, however at times the plot is hard to follows and I occasionally felt as if I had missed something during a mission as I couldn't figure out why events were playing out the way they were. This occurred mostly in the middle of the game as the beginning and especially the end (which is a rip-roaring thrill ride like no other I have played in recent years) were very well paced and easy to follow. Despite its few flaws Sleeping Dogs is greater that the sum of its parts, Melee combat is intuitive and visceral with some truly gruesome moves, Shooting is a minor weak point but when transitioning from Melee to Slo-mo shooting while jumping off a flaming roof it can be exhilarating, Driving is fast, aggressive and easy to manoeuvre. If you enjoy open world games and need a fix before GTAV arrives (most probably in 2013) you really can not go wrong with United Front Games' effort. It imitates and in many ways eclipses its rivals and we should all be thank full to Square Enix for not letting this Sleeping Dog lie.… Expand
  78. partyintheback
    Oct 14, 2012
    10
    Sleeping Dogs is a game that almost never saw the light of day, which is shocking considering how good this game turned out. The core gameplay in Sleeping Dogs offers a lot of variety. The driving is fun and arcade-like, so the handling is simple and intuitive, but it offers depth, like ramming your enemies off of the road or jumping from your car to another car and jacking it. TheSleeping Dogs is a game that almost never saw the light of day, which is shocking considering how good this game turned out. The core gameplay in Sleeping Dogs offers a lot of variety. The driving is fun and arcade-like, so the handling is simple and intuitive, but it offers depth, like ramming your enemies off of the road or jumping from your car to another car and jacking it. The shooting is basic, so it doesn't offer much depth, but there is a bullet-time feature, a la Max Payne, which makes gun combat really fun, though it must be noted that gun combat is not the focus of the game. Now onto melee, which is the focus of the game, is similar to the combat in Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, meaning it's a ton of fun and pretty stylish. In addition, you can use context-sensitive environmental attacks, allowing you to shove an enemy's head in a fan, throw him in a dumpster, impale him on swordfish, etc. It's all handled pretty gracefully and flows together nicely. Now onto the parkour, which is a real blast. Your character can climb, jump, leap, etc., so your character has real agility and makes you feel like you can get away from any bad situation or chase after those who are trying to escape you. Sleeping Dogs has a lot of talent, all lending to the story, voice acting, and the cast of characters. In many pre-release trailers and previews, they pointed out Hollywood talent like Emma Stone, but just about everyone here contributes their voice talents to make the story and characters interesting and fully realized. While the story isn't original, it's done so well that originality isn't necessary. This is a game that knows what it wants to be and completely succeeds at it. This is a top notch production from beginning to end. Without a doubt, Sleeping Dogs is my favorite looking game of this kind. To compare, you have Grand Theft Auto IV and the Saints Row games, and I believe Sleeping Dogs is the most impressive looking of the bunch. While the map is smaller and surely allows for more details, it's those details that make the world feel like it's living and breathing, which adds to the overall atmosphere of this beautiful world that is yours to explore and discover all of the little secrets it has packed within it.… Expand
  79. DanMaster
    Oct 9, 2012
    8
    The center of Sleeping Dogs is Kung fu fighting with unlockable new combos that keep it interesting along with some kick @ss enviro kills. Driving and hijacking vehicles on the move ala Pursuit Force is fantastic, as is sliding over obstacles in slow mo and shooting baddies Matrix/ Max Payne style. The story is nothing new, It 's a GTA and True Crime L.A mixer about loyalty, revenge and aThe center of Sleeping Dogs is Kung fu fighting with unlockable new combos that keep it interesting along with some kick @ss enviro kills. Driving and hijacking vehicles on the move ala Pursuit Force is fantastic, as is sliding over obstacles in slow mo and shooting baddies Matrix/ Max Payne style. The story is nothing new, It 's a GTA and True Crime L.A mixer about loyalty, revenge and a twisted sense of justice ,there are a few funny moments, but the hardcore R rated moments are a majority. Sleeping Dogs has unoriginal major components : Fighting, driving, shooting, story, characters, sidequests: it has all been expertly sliced out of other games and movies and put into place here, it blends so many different ideas … Expand
  80. ReaIistiC
    Oct 9, 2012
    8
    Really enjoyed this game. The storyline is awesome. The hand-to-hand combat is very realistic going from throwing people into bins, hitting their heads of tables etc. The driving is not great after playing GTA IV
  81. Shutupdonny
    Sep 24, 2012
    10
    I can't believe this, but Sleeping Dogs is my game of the year so far and one of my favorite of the decade. It as one thing that most game lack and it's an amazing story. The action is great, you never know what is going to happen next and it keeps your adrenalin pumping. For me it's perfection!
  82. RUST
    Sep 21, 2012
    8
    Not a stretch of originality to be seen, but that's okay. It's fine if you blatantly skin your gameplay inspiration from some of the best games of the last three years, so long as you pull it off like Sleeping Dogs has. Combat is a simple, not-so-fluid, homage to Rocksteady's Arkham games. Free motion like a muscular dysfunctional Assassin's Creed and for transport/driving it rips a blankNot a stretch of originality to be seen, but that's okay. It's fine if you blatantly skin your gameplay inspiration from some of the best games of the last three years, so long as you pull it off like Sleeping Dogs has. Combat is a simple, not-so-fluid, homage to Rocksteady's Arkham games. Free motion like a muscular dysfunctional Assassin's Creed and for transport/driving it rips a blank page out of Square Enix's own Just Cause's manual while the narrative is your average hard boiled vice story with an American protagonist. Individually they falter, but as one game they all succeed. I enjoyed it, and maybe you will too.… Expand
  83. Faildude
    Sep 18, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When will the next generation console? Can no longer play this **** that is one-third the cost of the console itself! Enough to cheat on dollars people! Nice clean mushrooms machete than play this game.… Expand
  84. GrumpyReviewer
    Sep 14, 2012
    9
    I would give 10 out of 10 but there's no such a thing as a flawless game. That being said, Sleeping Dogs is nearly there. It drinks from the GTA fountain, obviously, but it takes the original concept further. We all know what's there, we've all seen everything here, but it never gets old somehow. Better, it feels fresh. It has personality, soul, charm. The Hong Kong setting fits this gameI would give 10 out of 10 but there's no such a thing as a flawless game. That being said, Sleeping Dogs is nearly there. It drinks from the GTA fountain, obviously, but it takes the original concept further. We all know what's there, we've all seen everything here, but it never gets old somehow. Better, it feels fresh. It has personality, soul, charm. The Hong Kong setting fits this game well and the [although a bit linear] story is interesting and engaging. There's a lot of violence, humour and fun to be had here. For many, many hours. This is a game no one was giving much credit and turns out it's simply one of the best games of 2012 and one that owns a solid ground on this generation's best titles. MUST NOT BE MISSED, even if you are not a sandbox fan.… Expand
  85. Mattaclysm
    Sep 13, 2012
    8
    Sleeping Dogs isn't a bad game. Fun gameplay elements GTA-esque with a more refined combat system. Story is decent basically it revolves around your character an undercover cop infiltrating Hong Kong triads. There is a lack of detail in the game however which didn't completely bug me but to some point it was kind of hilarious looking at some of the interiors of shops and seeing they didn'tSleeping Dogs isn't a bad game. Fun gameplay elements GTA-esque with a more refined combat system. Story is decent basically it revolves around your character an undercover cop infiltrating Hong Kong triads. There is a lack of detail in the game however which didn't completely bug me but to some point it was kind of hilarious looking at some of the interiors of shops and seeing they didn't even bother trying to put any attention to detail sparring a few places that did have interior - mainly shops. Graphics other then that were actually good, your main protagonists and villains looked excellent but people walking around the city looked terrible. Cars and scenery were good and the occasional raining was nice. Voice actors ranged from ok to terrible. I was not a fan of the overly gangster dialogue it did get annoying. I hated My main problem was the game felt like it was missing something. The RPG elements were a one up, but they could have added more abilities, weapons and maybe different way to show off side missions. This is a good game. I only rented it so I feel like I got my money's worth out of it. Had I payed 60 I may be singing a different tune. Definitely worth playing or at least trying.… Expand
  86. shark742
    Sep 12, 2012
    9
    Sleeping Dogs is an amazing game, very polished graphics, and fun varied missions. The story really draws you in, and the side missions are great fun.....if you like open world games in the mold of GTA then
    get this game
  87. M1stake1988
    Sep 8, 2012
    10
    Is it really possible that someone made an open world game better than GTA?! YES!!! Thank you UFG! One of the best games I have ever played. Great plot, missions, soundtrack, cars etc. Must buy and play for everyone. GOTY 2012!
  88. baddeadtaste
    Sep 7, 2012
    9
    Great game for sure. I really have nothing to complain about with this game at all. The driving is excellent as is the hand to hand combat. The hand to hand combat is actually fantastic, as good or better than the batman games IMO. Plenty to do and see all throughout Hong Kong. The story is typical gangster stuff but who cares when everything else is so good. Just the fact that it isGreat game for sure. I really have nothing to complain about with this game at all. The driving is excellent as is the hand to hand combat. The hand to hand combat is actually fantastic, as good or better than the batman games IMO. Plenty to do and see all throughout Hong Kong. The story is typical gangster stuff but who cares when everything else is so good. Just the fact that it is set in Hong Kong is a nice change of pace from some faux NYC setting. The gunplay is great as well...going on head shot rampages is great fun. Overall I highly recommend Sleeping Dogs, especially if you are a fan of GTA style games!… Expand
  89. hamiltonreview
    Sep 7, 2012
    8
    There should be a rewind option during the credits, the people who made this are amazing. A good reason to buy or own a ps3. If you liked Grand Theft Auto IV and are waiting for V check this game out and be on the side of the law for a change. Ground combat system like Arkham games, solid vehicle mechanics too.
  90. idiot---boy
    Sep 4, 2012
    9
    This is a wonderful game! It is much more realistic compared to GTA IV! The storyline is fabulous and this time the characters are credible. The atmosphere is awesome, Hong Kong looks amazing and the missions are alternately. Driving is very smooth and shooting has a great, raw sound. There are different side characters who have a credible personality. A bad thing about it is the fact itThis is a wonderful game! It is much more realistic compared to GTA IV! The storyline is fabulous and this time the characters are credible. The atmosphere is awesome, Hong Kong looks amazing and the missions are alternately. Driving is very smooth and shooting has a great, raw sound. There are different side characters who have a credible personality. A bad thing about it is the fact it is at some points an exact copy of GTA, sometimes i got the feeling the were too lazy to make some small changes. Like when you drive someone to somewhere. At one moment they say: ''OMG WHAT ARE YOU DOING'' and the other moment they continue their scripted conversation, even if the car is spinning a 100 times around They were also too lazy to make a slightly different health bar, other place to put the mini map and so on. Other very good things are the ability to hijack cars when driving, to ram other vehicles, to shoot in slow motion while driving and not to mention the extensive combat system with a lot of upgrade possibilities. It is also great you gain more respect when the story goes on, which is a great role play element, just like the police upgradeds.
    The chases are also very spectacular and overall the missions are really originally and all have a connectedness, which all makes Sleeping Dogs an adventure to never forget.    … Expand
  91. hollowfication
    Sep 3, 2012
    9
    i love this game so good action voice actor of emma stone which provided to be cool the car super fast which everything nice crime open world only thing is wrong bout it that i did not give it a 10 is fighting part is bit dodge in a meaning where i bout to fight another Ai Enemy wei stop and get into attack pose and he get hit before i can react
  92. Zbox
    Sep 2, 2012
    10
    the best hand-to-hand combat you'll ever see on a open world game, gunfights are amazing and this game makes you feel human and not some rambo wich never can die. this game makes you feel on the skin of the character, story and all and not another game wich have shallow generic story but lives for the franchise name. tired of the same western car stealing cliché game? try this one,the best hand-to-hand combat you'll ever see on a open world game, gunfights are amazing and this game makes you feel human and not some rambo wich never can die. this game makes you feel on the skin of the character, story and all and not another game wich have shallow generic story but lives for the franchise name. tired of the same western car stealing cliché game? try this one, fresh and fun with the good old orient touch! if you don't buy, then you're missing a great game. word of advince don't miss a great game because of the trolls wich gives a 0 rating !!… Expand
  93. Truth1065
    Sep 2, 2012
    9
    SD is the only crime open world game were the shooting, driving and melee combat are done near perfection. The story is good and so is the voice acting but the story feels too short because I'm having too much fun with it. But don't think the game is short because it isn't, I just wish it was longer. The game includes some bugs some of which are actually funny and also the game looks goodSD is the only crime open world game were the shooting, driving and melee combat are done near perfection. The story is good and so is the voice acting but the story feels too short because I'm having too much fun with it. But don't think the game is short because it isn't, I just wish it was longer. The game includes some bugs some of which are actually funny and also the game looks good but it won't blow you away and it doesn't have to. This is a really, really good piece of entertainment. Sleeping Dogs is on par or even better than GTA IV in the gameplay department.… Expand
  94. BiboranXyecoc
    Aug 31, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Biboran xyecoc! And Pidoras ebanniy маму его в рот ебал!Адепты пидарасы,мэддисон намба ван.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Expand
  95. BaggedCat
    Aug 29, 2012
    10
    not as polished as GTA (newer ones). but does a lot of things better. hand to hand is better x100. context kills. slo mo. disarms. environment traversal. action hijack. weapons are infrequent and feel deadly. 2 chops from a cleaver and your dead. Hong Kong done well (not in america, yay!). particularly novel if you understand cantonese. you feel like your in a HK movie with all the kung funot as polished as GTA (newer ones). but does a lot of things better. hand to hand is better x100. context kills. slo mo. disarms. environment traversal. action hijack. weapons are infrequent and feel deadly. 2 chops from a cleaver and your dead. Hong Kong done well (not in america, yay!). particularly novel if you understand cantonese. you feel like your in a HK movie with all the kung fu counters, sliding across stuff into dudes and weapon disarms and kills.… Expand
  96. bsNYC
    Aug 27, 2012
    9
    For a game that is unoriginal insofar as it borrows its elements from existing games, Sleeping Dogs has actually broken all my once immutable and sacred rules for what makes a 'good' game. For one, Sleeping Dogs lacks polish. If you've played Arkham City, Sleeping Dog's combat can seem clunky and at times unresponsive. Admittedly, most games' combat would pale in comparison to Arkham butFor a game that is unoriginal insofar as it borrows its elements from existing games, Sleeping Dogs has actually broken all my once immutable and sacred rules for what makes a 'good' game. For one, Sleeping Dogs lacks polish. If you've played Arkham City, Sleeping Dog's combat can seem clunky and at times unresponsive. Admittedly, most games' combat would pale in comparison to Arkham but nonetheless, that bar has been set and SD falls short. Secondly, wonky camera angles. This used to be a deal-breaker, more for me than for most I've been told but nonetheless, prior to SD, I would never have praised a game with wonky camera angles. Thirdly, egregiously outdated graphics. I understand that SD has been in development for a long time but it looks almost last gen. All in all, SD seems like a game for which I would wait for a huge price drop before buying (19.99 - 29.99 tops). But strangely this is not the case. In word, SD is just plain FUN. And in the end, that's why I play games. Every moment I spent playing SD was a moment spent having so much fun. I was immersed in the story and didn't feel side-tracked by the extra missions, mini-games, and side-quests. I almost never enjoy mini-games and here I was, hoping I was going to have to hack a camera, plant a bug, crack a safe, etc. I'm not the biggest fan of open world games but I loved exploring Hong Kong, which was not an accurate recreation but still far from a simulacrum. I had more fun fighting in SD than I did in Arkham City, I had as much and at some points even more fun exploring and playing mini-games as I did in Red Dead, and I was almost as engrossed in the story as I was in Uncharted 2 and 3. I really don't know how to score this game. From a "fun-factor" perspective, buy this game now; it's worth every penny. I suppose if I were a critic, I would have to point out its flaws and give it a satisfactory score (7ish out of 10, perhaps) but that score does not illustrate the enjoyment you'll experience playing this game. So I guess I'll just recommend that you buy it and buy it today. Other good points: If you're busy and are forced to shun long, expansive, open-world games, SD is strangely a game you can play--the way the missions are broken down, the way the side quests don't distract from the main story, you'll be able to play this game in 45-60min chunks instead of the marathon sessions usually warranted by games in this genre. Worth the 59.99 US price. Highly recommend, flaws and all.… Expand
  97. Elfo-oscuro
    Aug 27, 2012
    9
    Me ha sorprendido este juego, no tendra lo ultimo en graficos como he podido ver en witcher 2 o skyrim pero si tiene una historia muy interesante, un modo de combate mejorado del visto en batman, con interaccion con escenarios y una jugabilidad que engancha desde el principio. Le ha faltado marketing o publicidad pero si le dais una oportunidad puede ser de lo mejor del año
  98. darkwraith
    Aug 27, 2012
    9
    Sleeping Dogs after over five years in production and changing publishers a few times finally arrives. and turns out to be pretty damn good. Great that square enix saw the games potential and decided to take a chance the programming team have done a great job on the mission structure and ingame graphics that it still looks good on a par graphically with gta4 for the main part. TheSleeping Dogs after over five years in production and changing publishers a few times finally arrives. and turns out to be pretty damn good. Great that square enix saw the games potential and decided to take a chance the programming team have done a great job on the mission structure and ingame graphics that it still looks good on a par graphically with gta4 for the main part. The combat is mainly unarmed close quarters with an array of martial arts moves to unlock as you progress by completing the cop/gangster missions and the side missions that give you a face bonus. face is a Japanese-Chinese for respect and it is very important in their societies that they must never lose face and strive to gain and keep face. the main story progresses thru completing the cop/gangster missions as you play officer shen wei who is an undercover cop entrenched in the triad gangs. you start out as a foot soldier and work youre way up the ranks. there are loads of mini sub challenges ie how many parking meters can you ram thru and collect cash from in arow, hijacking and robbing armored trucks for extra money,how many triads you can beat down with less than 5 seconds between the next one. car races in each area. some of these need unlocking by completing certain side missions. there are leader boards for the main game missions and side missions and you can replay them all simply by using your ingame phone to select a mission. there are also loads of collectables all over Hongkong to collect for the 100%achievement trophy. i completed the game in 35hrs main and sub missions but have still to collect all items and random face missions are still appearing. Sleeping dogs is one of the surprises of the year . yes you will have played similar missions before if you like open world games but sleeping dogs hong kong holds up well and its world is believable. Well worth buying if you love playing open world games at youre own pace. 8.5 but 9 for re-playability.… Expand
  99. Darkmack
    Aug 26, 2012
    9
    Well I wrote my PC review under the PS3 version and I have no idea how to delete a review. Great going, me! Regardless, the graphics may be poorer on the console w/o the high-res pack, but many of the bugs plaguing the port should not be there. A great game all-in-all.
  100. Digitalkid
    Aug 25, 2012
    9
    AWESOME! The only thing that lets me down is DRIVING. Physics is awful, but all the other things like FIGHTS, story, rainy Hong Kong, variety of missions, great design, where all skills ore useful and really make you walk through mission, and clothing not only looks good but raises your stats.. All those things are truly awesomely made! Great job guys!
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Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best PS3 Game of 2012
17
#17 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2012
18
#18 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 14, 2012
    88
    It's hard to imagine, that Activision let this one go. Sleeping Dogs is action packed sandbox shooter, which - in many ways - does things a lot better than GTA. Parkour, shooting and hand to hand combat are wrapped around a stunning virtual version of Hong Kong. The story isn't quite Rockstar, but it keeps the action going. The bar is set for the fifth Grand Theft Auto. [Sept 2012]
  2. Eurogamer Portugal
    Sep 17, 2012
    80
    Sleeping Dogs will quickly gain the attention of those who enjoy a good open world with infinity of missions to complete.
    Read full review
  3. Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux
    Sep 13, 2012
    82
    The reason why we go into so much detail about the fighting system is because we've never seen such deep and expansive mechanics in an open world game. You will fight until your knuckles are covered in blood and still won't have had enough of it. [September 2012, p.72]
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