Summary:
- The Precinct is a thoughtful, retro-modern homage to the cop dramas of the 1980s.
- The game has an open world and varied mission activities, including patrol, investigations, and others.
- Players need to follow realistic police work and processes, and all the arrests and fines use protocol in the game.
In this review, we explore the world of The Precinct, an intense police action that’ll take you back to 80s. From the moment that you step into The Precinct, your skills are tested and you’re kept on your toes. This begs the question: Is it worth your time and effort? That’s why we’re here to find out.
Deep Dive Into Averno City
The Precinct is a unique tribute to the cop genre that has modern elements. The Precinct tells a story with a pleasant vibe of classic 1980s cop dramas. Players will step into the shoes of new officer Nick Cordell Jr. He is a rookie riding around the crime-infested Averno City looking to solve the questionable murder of his father, the previous and well-regarded chief of police. The plot also involves a ton of side-stories and character moments with a wide range of characters.
The story has a fine line between homage and satire. This game has many of the classic genre clichés and campy dialogue reminiscent of the classic VHS-era police shows. Also, the story has player choice to affect both the narrative and the state of the city, and a combination of personal drama with themes of justice and corruption. The result is a story that swings between compelling and awkward. But it delivers a decent overall story experience to accompany the gameplay that switches between police work and arcade-like action.
Law Enforcement Action Unpacked
The gameplay is a varied assortment of mission types that keep the player occupied by mixing patrol duties and investigations. You can look forward to issuing parking tickets, pulling over or chasing down speeders, shutting down drug deals, and managing the entire 1980s open world as a cop. There are multiple ways to approach a mission: patrol on foot, drive a police cruiser, or even with a helicopter.
To investigate, players are going to conduct interviews with witnesses, search suspects, and conduct breathalyzer tests. There will be misdemeanors that will be fined, and there will be felonies that lead to arrests, etc. This means that no two shifts feel the same, with variety, different random events, and multiple crimes happening simultaneously. Players can call for backup depending on how far they have progressed in relation to the distance, ranging from police officers on foot (which takes longer) to police backup (which is faster). Each option is dependent on how full the “support” meter is while the player is in a police chase.
That said, the AI behaviors in the game offer a mixed bag of challenges. The partner AI can often be problematic in the way they can be unreliable. Sometimes they flee after encounters, or shoot at well-intended and peaceful suspects, which pushes players to take over the situation. All of to say, the game finds a happy medium between the thrills of arcade make-believe and simulation elements, and offers an enjoyable yet messy experience of policing.
Areas Where It Shines and Wears Thin
The good news is that the game does offer a good open world that is fully immersive and alive. You have to think about your arrests and policing as a professional cop rather than showing brute force. The fast-paced car chases are fun and exhilarating, probably more energetic than the patrol work overall. There’s a customization with progression through the skill tree, so you can enjoy the gameplay while developing your own cop.
That said, The Precinct has its flaws. The AI is spotty at times, as partners or enemies can feel static and unresponsive. In terms of narrative, the encounters are functional, but forgettable and a bit shallow emotionally. There is also a lack of variety in the missions that sometimes makes them feel repetitive. There are technical issues that break immersion as well. Other mechanics like limited non-lethal options and unintuitive aiming may frustrate a player looking for more control or finer controls.
Conclusion
This review of The Precinct shows that it is a unique concept that can be thrilling and comprehensive. While it throws something new into the genre, you can reflect on what makes a police game enjoyable. There are plenty of considerations with which to be aware. So, is it worth playing? That’s for you to find out.
