TL;DR
Crackdown 3 promised superhero action in a futuristic city but falls flat with repetitive gameplay and dated visuals, feeling more like a 2009 game than a modern release. Despite its unique traversal mechanics and the freedom to cause chaos, the uninspired missions, rudimentary enemy AI, and disappointing graphical fidelity, especially given its "Xbox One X enhanced" marketing, make for a mediocre and often frustrating experience. If you're curious about whether this long-awaited sequel lives up to its potential, dive into the full review!
There are few game genres as challenging to engage with seriously as sandbox games in the style of GTA. The inclination to deviate from the core mission and instead experiment with the game’s open world, often resulting in chaotic scenarios and encounters with law enforcement, is a common experience. While this can be enjoyable, Crackdown 3 presents a slight dissonance. Unlike GTA, the player character is intended to be a hero, yet the freedom to engage in destructive behavior towards civilians exists without significant repercussions to the character’s standing. This, however, is just one facet of the overall issues present in Crackdown 3.
The narrative premise is relatively straightforward: a city controlled by various factions that exert oppressive influence over its inhabitants. The player assumes the role of an agent tasked with restoring order and eliminating the leaders of these groups. The approach to completing this mission, including the order in which objectives are tackled, is left to the player’s discretion. Agents are enhanced super-soldiers, capable of exceptional feats of agility and resilience, with the ability to be rapidly regenerated upon death. The game offers a selection of six different agents to choose from.
Having previously played Crackdown 2 on the Xbox 360, the core gameplay loop failed to fully captivate. While the ability to traverse the environment with enhanced agility was initially appealing, it became repetitive over time. The fundamental issue is that the Crackdown series shares significant similarities with GTA, with three key distinctions: First: The player embodies a heroic figure. Second: The setting is a futuristic, fictional city. Third: Enhanced traversal capabilities, including wall-climbing and the ability to withstand significant falls. Beyond these elements, the gameplay experience tends to become monotonous. Missions frequently involve navigating to a location, eliminating all enemies present, and repeating this process in subsequent areas.
Crackdown 3, after a protracted development cycle, was released in 2019. However, its visual presentation suggests a game from a prior generation, perhaps 2009. The graphics lack detail and appear simplistic. Modern games often feature impressive lighting effects and intricate details, exemplified by titles such as The Division. The visual fidelity of The Division, released three years prior, far surpasses that of Crackdown 3. A significant point of contention is that Microsoft Studios, the publisher of Crackdown 3, promoted the game as being “enhanced for Xbox One X,” a platform known for its graphical capabilities. The resultant visual quality is thus disappointing.
Fun to be able to pick up things and use as a shield. Less fun that it doesn’t work…
The overall gameplay experience in Crackdown 3 can be described as mediocre. The issues extend beyond the lackluster visuals, with the game mechanics exhibiting significant flaws. Vehicle handling is one of the few aspects that function adequately, with smooth traversal across the game world. However, considering the relatively low level of graphical complexity, performance issues would be particularly egregious. Enemy AI is rudimentary, with opponents often rushing directly at the player and engaging in simplistic firefights.
Such basic AI behavior might be acceptable in a game like Wolfenstein 3D from 1992, but it is inadequate for a modern title. Furthermore, the omission of a ducking mechanic is a perplexing design choice. The game includes an auto-aim feature intended to simplify targeting, however, it can occasionally lock onto distant enemies, leading to frustration during intense combat situations. The combination of these factors results in a challenging and often frustrating gameplay experience, with frequent player deaths.
In conclusion, Crackdown 3 is a disappointing release. After a lengthy development period, the expectation was for a more contemporary experience than its predecessor. Instead, the game feels outdated and uninspired. The overall rating is therefore low, with the only redeeming quality being the ability to scale buildings and perform acrobatic descents. The absence of fall damage further contributes to the perception of the game’s lack of depth.
https://youtu.be/k_9fG8hPCi0
