The Precinct is a good concept; it brings back the old-school top-down GTA, but this time players are controlling the Police. It makes a good effort to provide a decent policing experience. Even though it takes place in a 1980s fictional city with too much emphasis on police drama, it is still a decent police experience. One thing is certain: it nails the feeling of old-school GTA through a new lens.
Aside from its decent mechanics and aesthetics, the writing can either land or start to make little sense. Policing can get repetitive and simple, with gunplay requiring more polish. Despite all that, the gameplay it presents is pretty unique. Sure, the game has shortcomings, but it has high notes and some negatives. It makes you wonder, Is The Precinct Worth It? Let’s find out.
Premise
The Precinct takes place in the same universe as American Fugitive. The game is set in the year 1983 in the fictional city of Averno City, which is a city that is decimated by crime. Streets are supposed to be filled with gangs, but you rarely face any. Even when you do encounter them, they won’t speed up, which makes such scenarios strange.
Players will take control of the character called Nick Cordell Jr. He is a rookie cop who has just joined the police force. His father was a legendary police officer who was murdered, which had a huge impact on the police department and the city.
In the beginning, you foil a bank robbery, you are then sent on bigger cases. These cases range from taking off gang leaders, foiling criminals’ plans, taking down street racing rings, and stuff like that. All this leads to you finding out about the death of your father and enforcing the law.
The Narrative
The Precinct is straightforward with music and vibe that were prevalent in the ’80s and ’90s cop movies. The developers have done a somewhat decent job of immersing you in the experience. Different characters are introduced, with each having a distinct personality. The way they look will tell you what department they belong to.
The lines that characters deliver can be cheesy or even irregular. It’s okay to take inspiration from old-school movies, but getting them presentable in an enjoyable manner isn’t the case here for the most part. Most of the lines are possible if they don’t include comedic elements.
Police Work
The Precinct revolves around providing real police duty. It tries to deliver an experience based on real police work. Your shift takes place for a certain number of hours and focuses on different crimes, like vandalism, issuing speeding tickets, on-foot patrolling, and pursuing those who don’t play by the law.
You might be patrolling on the street and get the call of a crime being committed that needs responding to. You can also check the license and speeds of the cars to determine whether these cars should be investigated or not.
As you solve different crimes and progress, you will unlock a new location. Solving crimes also helps you level up and get upgrade tokens, which can then be used to get new skills. You can’t just smack everyone, it’s not a GTA. Shooting a civilian means instant game over, and running them over with a car won’t kill.
There are several steps to follow when you confront a suspect, like checking their ID, searching them for contraband, or weapons, or even doing a breath test while they are driving, and more.
Depending on the circumstances, you can handle different offenses the way you see fit. If a burglar is trying to flee or fight, you can then brand them with resisting arrest or assault, which gives you XP. Figuring out different offenses is important because selecting the wrong offense can result in getting an XP penalty.
Activities
There are a variety of different ways that encounters start, later on, they might end up following the same formula. This shift has an impact on the progression, especially when you are trying to get evidence to advance the investigation. The Precinct gives you the option to customize your shift, You can customize the duration, type, and place of your shift.
Story missions don’t stand out because all they offer are more shootouts and chases. There is nothing that makes them stand out from the rest. Things could have been better if the writing were good, but sadly, that’s not the case.
There are side activities on the map as well, such as challenges that other police officers have set around the city. These side activities don’t go in line with you being a police but these activities offer a good break.
As you level up, more tools are unlocked, such as weapons like shotguns, and more powerful vehicles. New support options are also unlocked that you can use when needed. The support that they provide is minimal and doesn’t have much impact.
Shooting
Shooting mechanics leave much to be desired. It is irregular on controllers, especially when you are lining up the height of your sight. On the other hand, enemies will land their shot as soon as you peak, which puts you on the receiving end most of the time. There is a balance needed for the shots you receive. Aiming with a mouse and keyboard is better, but it is still not on the spot.
Movement is good and does not feel out of place in The Precinct. However, you have a stamina meter and the enemies don’t, so you can guess what happens after that.
Verdict (Is The Precinct Worth It?)
The Precinct has a passable presentation, and the city is lit enough with quite a of details. The interaction between NPCs is extremely limited. You will see similar IDs multiple times, which adds to repetition. It’s not that big of a deal, but it does break the immersion. It is supposed to be a throwback to the old GTA that adds its own twist since you are a police, not a criminal.
It is a game with its own fair share of problems, even if it does some things better. Even if it fixes some of the issues, the story and character don’t offer enough incentive to get you invested in the game. The gameplay is welcoming, though deep into the game, it starts to outlive its welcome. It is recommended for those looking for a game that approaches cop dynamics differently, but not recommended in general.
Buy from Our Affiliates and Support The Looter Shooters By Clicking on The Image Below
Trailer:
