True Crime: Streets of LA

Lacks polish and, in some cases, feels unfinished. It makes decent attempts with its different styles of gameplay, but none of them are particularly well done, and the game's storyline doesn't tie them together in a satisfying way.

It's so-so styleless graphics fail to impress, and the whole thing's too short and easy. [Jan 2003, p.107]

As a place, Los Angeles simply isn't as much fun as Liberty or Vice. Too much of this silicon LA exists simply because the designers wanted to show that it could be done rather than because it serves any gameplay purpose. [Christmas 2003, p.107]

The hand-to-hand combat is, despite a handful of unlockable combos, pure button-mashing chaos. There's a clever fight in which you shove your opponent into a fiery stove, but that's the only strategic scrap.

I found the driving parts lacking and dull – the shooting wasn’t as refined as it could be, though it was a step above the driving elements.

The heart of Crime's problems: the driving is OK, but the shooting interface manages to be worse than "GTA's"... You'll spend more time in L.A. frustrated than having fun. [Jan 2004, p.64]

The True Crime universe feels emotionally and psychologically barren - and, therefore, inconsequential. [Mar 2004, p.76]

Possibly the biggest disappointment of the year. What could have been this year's "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" turns out to be a shoddily executed, clumsy and unrewarding experience.

Maybe the problem is True Crime tries too hard to be all things to all people, and in the process, neglects to do anything especially well.

Despite the unnatural and unexplained control system, some graphical anomalies and downright terrible voice acting, True Crime: Streets of LA does manage to expand upon the open-ended style of Grand Theft Auto and others like it in some considerable ways. It’s a shame that the complex default control setup and strange camera behavior give such a negative first impression.