True Crime (PC)
True Crime: Streets of LA for PS2/XBox is an Editor’s Choice winner here at Gaming Illustrated, and now we get to see the much anticipated release for the PC. Offering much better graphics, new features, and an on-line mode, True Crime is back for fans of the game as well as PC gamers.
so what’s new for the PC?
True Crime: Streets of LA for the PC includes five exclusive multiplayer modes — The Chase, Dojo Master, Street Racing, Crime Stoppers and Battle Master. Plus, players will get to utilize new weapons such as rocket launchers, crossbows or bats and check out even more music and character skins. The graphics, with the right hardware, can be boosted up to offer some of the best detailed gameplay for PC gamers today.
“Branching storyline”
True Crime: Streets of LA takes the existing concept of mission-based gameplay and takes it to a whole new level, by immersing players into a revolutionary branching concept where your actions have consequences. Missions are not repeated, but rather you continue seamlessly through the game, living with your decisions and actions.
This makes the re-playability of the game extremely high – you’ll want to take the different paths through the game to play the different missions and sub-missions. You also get “points” based on your behavior as a “good cop” or “bad cop” … all this also factors into the gameplay and ending.
gameplay
True Crime was a lot of fun on the PS2, and it became a regular title when I had the boys over for some gaming fun. Playing it on the PC however, brought things to a whole new level for me personally because of the new interactivity that the PC brings, as well as the amazing level of detail provided by the PC hardware. Playing with the Sapphire X800 Pro video card on a P4 2.53GHz system with 512MB of RAM offered up very impressive gameplay at 1600×1200 resolution levels.
The interface takes some getting used to after playing it for dozens of hours on a console, but after the first few missions you get used to all the controls. It’s probably harder for True Crime vets to get used to the new PC controls than it will be for PC gamers trying the game out for the first time.
Graphics & Sound
Amazing graphics – plain and simple. I still have no idea how the people at Activision captured Los Angeles so well, but my friend Dan Culver and I (both former LA residents) drove around the city pointing out places we used to frequent often (UCLA, LAX, Staples Center, it goes on and on…). The characters are rendered very well and the slow motion attack scenes are actually pulled off really well. For the PC, it just looks all the better with the improved graphics on the superior hardware.
The sounds are equally impressive with fantastic ambient sounds. Using a 5.1 speaker system, you’ll definitely enjoy the sounds of gunblasts, cars crashing, and pimps taunting you … you know, all the regular things that happen during daily city life. You’ll be in hand-to-hand combat with a hooker on the street, and a crowd will gather and start rooting for you or her with verbal taunts and gibes. It’s fantastic! Explosions, car sounds, gunfire … it all sounds so great and gives the auditory experience the right amount of love.
how about some cheats and easter eggs?
Fortunately, the PR group for True Crime forwarded along some Easter Eggs and cheats for the game on PC … enjoy!
Once unlocked you must create a saved game with the correct license plate name to play as the unlocked character.
Sandwich Guy Icons
11th St. (Downtown on top of Staples Center
Santa Fe and 1st St
On 6th St. between Grand and Hope
8 th St. Between Main and Spring St
Grand St Between Olympic and 11th
Melrose and El Centro
Cherokee and Hollywood Blvd
La Brea and De Longpre
Sunset Blvd and Sweetzer
Robertson Blvd and Santa Monica
License Plate: nomayo
Call Of Duty Soldier Icons
Wilshire and Veteran
Kelton and Strathmore
Landfair and Strathmore
Weyburn and Broxton
Manning and Pico
National and Overland
Clarington and Tabor
Cardiff and Regent
Bentley and Clover
Boise and Venice
License Plate: dogtags
Ayame Objective
M3-G5 Knock out all enemies in Spa
License Plate: knoichi
Rikimaru Objective
M6-G2 Stealth kill all enemies
License Plate: genin
Jeanette Objective
M6-G4 Kill all zombies
License Plate: vaklam
Taurus Objective
M4-G7 Beat clock without damaging vehicle
License Plate: awyeah
Officer Dick Objective
M10-G6 Beat level without killing hostages
License Plate: thuglyf
Desperado Objective
100% Game complete Get all Endings
License Plate: Reckon
Snoop Dogg – Pick all 30 Dogg Bones throughout the city. The first is located across from City Hall at 1st and Hill.
Weapon Unlockables:
Rocket Launcher – To the left of your start position in “Bank Standoff”.
Crossbow – In the middle of the map on “Chinatown Showdown”
Baseball Bat – Back of the room in “Bum Encounter,” near the refrigerator.
Overall Impressions
True Crime: Streets of LA was one of the top titles in 2003, and the PC release makes it one of the top releases for 2004. Straight up – if you’re a PC gamer that saw the ads and are mildly curious about this game, go out and buy it … you won’t be disappointed. The PC highlights include the multiplayer version (which is definitely a lot of fun) and the much-much-much improved graphics (of course, you got to have the right tools for the job).
I’m really happy that this game got released for the PC. Even if you bought and played the game through on the PS2 or XBox, I have a feeling that you’d still have a lot of fun playing through the branching storyline like I did while reviewing this title. The graphics of True Crime: Streets of LA for the PC are absolutely superior, and the sounds are also big highlights of playing the game. The gameplay takes some getting used to – especially if you’re a TC veteran. The longevity of the game is pretty high, extended by that PC exclusive multiplayer mode, and the game is pretty original, but elements of the gameplay have been inspired by other titles.
Overall, the PC release of True Crime: Streets of LA is a fantastic game that should have PC gamers beaming with excitement. The game is definitely fun, but we already knew that – however the PC version takes things to a whole new level with the new features and much improved PC graphics. A definite Editor’s Choice winner.
OVERALL SCORE: 94%
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Sean W. Gibson
@gamingillustrat
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