Metascore
49

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 19
  2. Negative: 9 out of 19
  1. Mar 9, 2015
    75
    A good little shooter that could have been great, L.A Cops is like a nicer version of Hotline Miami that's a bit on the blander side.
  2. Mar 14, 2015
    68
    It takes the Hotline Miami formula and adds some unique features, but it has some rough edges that prevent it from becoming a more solid experience. Still, it's a challenging experience that might be worth the try.
  3. Mar 18, 2015
    66
    While the gameplay is similar to Hotline Miami, there are some positive differences that help make L.A. Cops interesting. It adds a few unique gameplay elements, such as isometric camera movement, but the game lacks in categories like speed, strong personality and a compelling narrative to drive it above a game like Hotline Miami.
  4. Mar 13, 2015
    65
    This is the law-abiding step brother of Hotline Miami. But while the concept with the cop duo suggests tactical depth, it stumbles over AI faults. So in the end in terms of intensity, style and atmosphere there still is half a continent between the east and the west coast.
  5. Mar 13, 2015
    65
    LA Cops is a neat diversion with some fantastic style. I had a blast in the short time I played it, but feel like it grows stale far too fast. This is the perfect game to snag during a sale, it is fun for the time it lasts, I just wish there was more to come back to once the raiding was over.
  6. Mar 16, 2015
    60
    Unique art style, clichéd humour, irritating controls.
  7. Mar 14, 2015
    60
    LA Cops is a neat game of cops and criminals that's just too short-lived and lacking. The 70s style is a nice touch and the partner dynamic adds a strategic bent (even if we did mostly just use the second cop as an extra life) to what is otherwise a fairly sterile twin-stick shooter.
  8. Mar 11, 2015
    55
    A nice setting and good art design are hindered by too many problems like a weird and unpredictable AI, uneven difficulty, shortness and intangible storytelling.
  9. Mar 25, 2015
    50
    Ultimately, LA Cops is a decent, short run through a cop-themed shooter that doesn't do enough to really impress.
  10. Mar 16, 2015
    50
    Regardless of it all, levels are still replayable, and at a price of 15 bucks, LA Cops is a bargain deal.
  11. Apr 13, 2015
    42
    One that's fun to look at, sure, but one worth playing? Until and unless there's a balancing patch on the way, probably not.
  12. X-ONE Magazine UK
    May 5, 2015
    40
    A choppy, piecemeal shooter. [Issue#123, p.82]
  13. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Apr 28, 2015
    40
    Fairly rubbish. [May 2015, p.80]
  14. Apr 10, 2015
    40
    Ultimately though, LA Cops is a very mediocre experience. The 1970s theme is largely unexplored, the story is almost non-existent and its gameplay is flawed in a number of ways.
  15. Apr 8, 2015
    40
    On the surface LA Cops appears to be a solid top-down shooter. Unfortunately, it relies too heavily on a broken teamwork system. The shoddy AI works against the game and results in the game being more of a frustrating title than an fun one.
  16. Mar 14, 2015
    40
    As far as indie titles on the Xbox One go, there is a ton coming out this year, and LA Cops is one game that can safely be ignored for better things.
  17. Mar 20, 2015
    35
    You might dig the groovy aesthetic for a short while but inevitably you’ll walk away either bored or frustrated.
  18. Mar 17, 2015
    30
    A frequently maddening slog through isometric hell, framed by a broken story and sloppy mechanics, suggesting that what the game needed more than anything was further play testing and refinement.
  19. 30
    LA Cops is an offensive and sh.tty video game, which does itself injustices by mixing terrible writing with bad and incredibly frustrating gameplay.
User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Negative: 6 out of 19
  1. Dec 20, 2015
    0
    Beautiful look, colors, animations; fun cut scenes; short game; but SUPER hard--so frustrating--why ruin it, developers, by making it SOOOOBeautiful look, colors, animations; fun cut scenes; short game; but SUPER hard--so frustrating--why ruin it, developers, by making it SOOOO tough?! I don't mind a challenge but not one where my blood pressure is rising. I've finished many long, semi-difficult games but...

    It became so tough on the 4th level, for me, that I just had to quit after dying, frustratingly, about 100 times. That's why I gave it a zero, it became unplayable and, therefore, a waste of money. It was set on the easiest play, too.
    Full Review »
  2. Apr 14, 2015
    4
    This game is mediocre at best. I have heard many people compare it to hotline miami, but they are sorely mistaken.

    The Gameplay: The
    This game is mediocre at best. I have heard many people compare it to hotline miami, but they are sorely mistaken.

    The Gameplay:
    The gameplay is composed entirely of: "Kill thr baddies, then break some objects". If doing that eighteen or nineteen times if interesting to you, then stop lying to yourself. This game has absolutely no variety whatsoever. Combine that with only around three enemy types and only five guns, and you have absolute boredom and frustration packed into one " fun" package.

    The Music:
    Literrally just the same generic rock song over and over again untill you go insane.

    Story:
    Story in this game is very hard to find. Cutscenes are brief, minute and a half scenes that are surprisingly delivered well. The problem is that none of the cutscenes are connected. This makes little sense, as any story elements will not show up again.

    The Partner System/Upgrade System:
    The partner system is litterally the worst thing ever put in a video game. Instead of an AI controlled partner, the player must point with the cursor and press A to make the partner move. The partner stops moving when an enemy comes into his or her very small field of vision. This makes breaching a room very hard, as your partner will either stop in his tracks, blocking the player, getting both people killed. The lack of a decent AI makes your partner as helpful in combat as a dishrag. The partner will also wait untill the player is the correct amount of dead before engaging hostiles. The frustration from this alone is enough to make even the most hardened veterans of dark souls and hotline miami quit. The upgrade system was a good idea, but you only ever have enough XP to level up one guy, so you will inevitably leave your partner behind in favor of one overpowered cop.

    This game is a frustrating, broken, nearly uncontrollable mess, and i urge you not to waste your fifteen dollars, ans buy some pizza rolls or something instead.
    Full Review »
  3. Mar 27, 2015
    8
    This one can be very, very frustrating on the higher levels. That being said, if you are a fan of the isometric shooter, like a bit ofThis one can be very, very frustrating on the higher levels. That being said, if you are a fan of the isometric shooter, like a bit of strategy and don't mind dying a lot this game might be right up your ally. Full Review »