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>> Super sandbox cop

by ERIK LEIJON

In the not too distant future, the three major consoles (and Vista) will be firmly entrenched in the marketplace, leaving the software as the only unknown variable. Possibly even by the end of this year, we will finally see returns on every ridiculous idea that has been stewing in the brains of developers (from Will Wright’s Petri dish spectacular to mind-numbing action using a motion-sensor remote).

But for now, there’s Crackdown (X360/Microsoft, Realtime) to remind us that great gaming doesn’t have to be innovative, just an improvement on familiar ideas.

David Jones, the mastermind behind the original Grand Theft Auto, has created a very similar game in Crackdown, but a decade’s worth of technological advances has transformed GTA’s rudimentary world into a hedonistic playground of destruction. Crackdown is highly enjoyable for a very simple reason as well: you blow shit up 24/7.

PLAYGROUND OF DESTRUCTION: Crackdown

In a crime-ridden future, an agent with superhuman abilities must take out three gangs and their many kingpins any way possible. Whereas some sandbox games have explored the notion of altering gameplay and story by allowing players to make moral decisions, Crackdown forces players to be good (although it’s not uncommon for civilians and fellow cops to get in your line of fire). It’s a relief there are no consequences to your actions, and it’s a welcome change to be in law enforcement.

Crackdown takes place in Pacific City, which is divided into four islands, each controlled by the main factions (who also conform to blatant stereotypes): the Latinos, the Ruskies, the Asians and the cops. You can complete the missions in any order you want, but the invisible hand that is the game’s narrative will guide you in a set order. Your cop’s super-abilities are straight out of a comic book and befit the game’s pumped up cel-shaded graphics (the developers will be pissed I used that term, probably preferring “graphic novel style”). It takes time to upgrade your abilities, but soon enough, your grenades will cause full-screen-sized explosions. The easiest and most enjoyable skill is agility, which you increase by jumping from rooftops, grabbing designated orbs. Besides the missions, scaling every building is a veritable treat since every edifice has a unique design.

The online multiplayer, a major breakthrough since it allows two players to play every mission and access the entire city at the same time, is slightly underwhelming since there isn’t much strategy to fighting, making any double-team combat feel no different than single-player with an added hand. During single-player, other players can ask to join your game. Unfortunately, it resets my position back to police HQ, and most online strangers were douchebags who only wanted to prevent me from cleaning the streets.

Crackdown contains hundreds of simple thrills. I can only imagine how long it will take to get all 300 special orbs, or all 600 agility orbs. San Andreas may be bigger, but Crackdown is the most fun you’ll ever have playing a sandbox game.

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

I’m no connoisseur of film or graphic novels, but my guess is that the Ghost Rider movie blows. Ghost Rider (PSP/2k, Climax), the game adaptation, doesn’t blow as much as one might think. The game is a series of short missions that are either God of War brawler clones or kick-ass Hell-cycle races. Naturally, the bike racing is the raison d’être, so it’s disappointing there’s more of the former.

Graphically, the game is on par with PSP standards, and there are classic comics to unlock. Four players can race using Wi-Fi, and it makes the inadequacies of the action levels even more apparent. Hopefully, if sales are strong, 2k will revisit the series and create a racing-only title.