The Precinct Review – Bake Him Away, Toys

by

The idea of “The Precinct” sounds captivating. Imagine if classic “Grand Theft Auto,” with its bird’s-eye view, was flipped on its head, and instead of being a criminal, you controlled the police. This would be quite different from Fallen Tree Games’ previous game, “American Fugitive.” They’re aiming to create an authentic policing experience here, even if it’s set in a fictional 1980s city that’s been binge-watching too many cop dramas. The intention is clear.

Despite its captivating mechanics and appealing visuals, the storytelling may not always hit the mark. The detective work tends to follow a familiar pattern and can become tedious at times, while the shooting sequences could benefit from some refinement. However, the gameplay concept is distinctly original.


 

While it’s entertaining to draw inspiration from the witty banter in classic detective shows, actually implementing that humor can be a challenge. When not aiming for comedic relief, the dialogues are generally acceptable, although Cordell Jr. doesn’t have many opportunities to contribute beyond the dialogue options you choose.

1983 finds me in the gritty heart of Averno City, a place that’s rotten to the core. Despite its menacing reputation, I seldom cross paths with the gangs that rule these streets. When I do, they show an uncanny knack for sticking to speed limits. I’m Nick Cordell Jr., a greenhorn cop, fresh off the academy, stepping into the force at a time when my father’s murder casts a long shadow over the department and the city as a whole.

Initially thwarting a bank heist, you soon find yourself tackling bigger investigations. These range from identifying the head of the August Gang to going deep undercover and dismantling an illegal street racing network. Ultimately, your goal is to unravel the mystery behind your father’s death and bring justice according to ACPD standards. While it follows a familiar pattern and carries an echo of classic cop movie aesthetics, the developer manages to draw you into the story effectively.

Similarly, the group of unusual characters is no different, starting with Kowalski, responsible for distributing shifts, followed by Chandler, his doppelganger with a mischievous streak. There’s also Christie, the jester, and Kelly, the laid-back one nearing retirement. As the story unfolds, additional characters join in, such as Eugene, the forensic expert, and detectives Li and Ferrera, who are easily identifiable by Li’s suspenders and Ferrera’s long coat. I can’t help but wish their traits were more distinctly defined.

The dialogue varies from overly sentimental to forced, but drawing upon classic cop show banter is one thing; making it work effectively is another challenge. While some conversations hold up reasonably well, Cordell Jr.’s lines mostly depend on the dialogue options chosen by the player.

Killing unarmed people is not an option – it’s an instant defeat. Interestingly enough, mowing down numerous civilians who evade in a manner similar to ‘Dark Souls’, isn’t.

Disregarding the characters, “The Precinct” primarily concentrates on replicating or executing the intricate details of authentic police work. This includes a designated work shift where you can concentrate on particular offenses such as vandalism, which typically involves managing graffiti artists and issuing speeding tickets (and occasionally chasing after lawbreakers who refuse to comply, conducting foot patrols).

Based on the task at hand, there’s room for a mix of activities. For instance, one moment might find you patrolling a particular area, only to receive a call about an ongoing altercation or break-in nearby. You may also occasionally spot-check license plates and speeds of various vehicles to decide if they need further investigation. As you successfully resolve various cases, you’ll make headway towards unlocking new locations and level up, earning upgrade tokens for acquiring fresh abilities.

In terms of real police duties, it’s not appropriate to resort to hitting people with a baton indiscriminately. Shooting civilians is absolutely off-limits and leads to an immediate failure. Interestingly, running over numerous civilians who evade in a manner similar to the dodge-roll mechanic in Dark Souls isn’t considered a violation. Instead, when dealing with a suspect, you need to follow several procedures, such as verifying their identity, searching them for any illicit items or weapons, administering a breathalyzer test if they appear intoxicated, and so on.

Based on the situation, you can accumulate various offenses. For instance, if you come across a burglar attempting to escape or even aggressively resisting, you can add evading arrest or assault to your tally for extra experience points (XP). Additional actions such as reading them their rights or hiding evidence of crimes also earn XP.

In a different approach: “Cover-based shooting isn’t flawless; it can be somewhat erratic with a controller, particularly when adjusting the height of your shots. It seems enemies are hitting their marks even when you barely expose yourself from cover, which adds to the frustration. While the mouse and keyboard work better for aiming, there are still moments where it feels cumbersome.

Mastering due process may require some patience, but there’s a certain thrill in identifying various offenses, as choosing incorrectly leads to a minor experience point deduction. However, despite the diversity of crimes available – from issuing parking tickets to pursuing a high-speed chase where the suspect flees their vehicle and kidnaps a hostage – many situations frequently lead back to the same booking process. This repetition can add monotony to your work, especially when you’re striving to gather evidence for your investigation into the city’s gangs.

You’ve got the flexibility to tailor your work schedule, ranging from length and location to task type. However, the main story missions are quite predictable and lack depth, primarily consisting of extended gunfights or chases. They could have been more impactful with better dialogue, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. There are other map-based activities to explore, such as jumping challenges and officer-set tasks. I’m not entirely clear on how these fit into the job description, but they certainly provide a welcome change from the routine.

As you progress through the game, more tools become available such as enhanced weapons like shotguns and durable vehicles like 4x4s. You’ll also receive additional assistance options which can be called upon when needed. While it can be amusing to crash an opponent’s car with a police cruiser, these support options sometimes seem unnecessary and unhelpful. I’m not entirely clear on the benefits of helicopter support early in the game, but at least flying around is enjoyable.

Cover-based shooting isn’t as smooth on the controller, especially for aligning shot heights. Enemies hitting their shots perfectly even when you barely peek from cover doesn’t make it any easier. Aiming seems better with mouse and keyboard, yet it can still be clumsy at times. The movement itself is acceptable, though it’s strange that crooks never run out of breath while you, a new recruit straight from the academy, are always winded. It’s also peculiar that Cordell performs ragdoll physics when tackling an escaping suspect. It’s amusing, but still feels unusual.

Although “The Precinct” recaptures the essence of older “Grand Theft Auto” games with its distinctive police-centric twists, it’s challenging to endorse it. Regardless of whether technical issues are resolved or performance is enhanced, the narrative and characters lack the appeal needed to keep players engaged.

The display of The Precinct is acceptable – Averno City is illuminated satisfactorily with good details, although the scope of the game world, such as dynamic NPC interactions and depth, is somewhat limited. Additionally, you may encounter repeated ID portraits, which isn’t a major issue but can detract slightly from the immersive experience.

As a devoted player, I can’t help but express my frustration with the game’s performance, which seems to be a bit of a letdown, especially considering it surpasses the system requirements. The occasional slowdown is so noticeable that I find myself adjusting the settings to minimize the impact, and even then, I encounter some persistent issues.

In essence, “The Precinct” resembles the classic style of “Grand Theft Auto,” but with its own distinct spin due to a police-oriented perspective. However, despite potential bug fixes and performance enhancements, the narrative and characters fail to captivate, making it challenging to become engaged. Although the gameplay may initially seem fresh, it can eventually grow tiresome during extended play sessions. If you’re intrigued by an alternative cops-and-robbers approach and are feeling generous, it might be worth exploring. However, if you’re seeking a more engaging experience, there are numerous other indie sandbox titles that are likely to offer better value for your time.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Read More

2025-05-15 14:43