IGN: Crackdown 2 Review

If you played the original Crackdown and loved it and now you just want more -- or if you've never experienced the joy of hunting orbs – you'll find a lot to like in Crackdown 2. Collecting agility orbs, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, and playing around in the virtual sandbox of Pacific City is a lot of fun. The formula, unsurprisingly, still works.

But if you were expecting a bit more. The new additions, specifically the expansion to four-player co-op, are welcome, but this hardly feels like it was worth the three-year wait. It's mostly just more of the same, in the same city, with the same shortcomings and a slightly expanded set of missions. Crackdown 2 feels uninspired and rushed, and it certainly doesn't feel like a full sequel.

Presentation - 6.0
Graphics - 6.0
Sound - 7.0
Gameplay - 8.0
Lasting Appeal - 8.0
Overall -

[AusWarrior]

Crackdown 1 with a new case is what it looks like.

[jazzking2001]

agreed

[blitz0623]

And EDGE said: "If Infamous 2 can hold a candle to Crackdown 2, we will eat our hats."

I'm sure Infamous 2 won't score as low as this, not even as Infamous 1. I expect better reviews for that game. EDGE editors better take pics of themselves eating like dogs.

GWAVE: Why? What was EDGE's score?

[GWAVE]

Yep.

Other than EDGE's score (no big suprise there), this game looks pretty dang average. I played the first Crackdown and didn't like it. I know some people did, but I didn't. And the sequel does absolutely nothing to change that opinion.

EDIT: Sorry. I didn't mean number score. "Score" as in "their stance" on Crackdown 2 being compared to inFamous 2 as the above poster blitz quoted. But I suppose the same will probably apply to their number score, too.

[deadreckoning666]

@GWAVE- What was EDGE's score? And why would they even bother comparing it to Infamous 2? It won't be out for a year! They did the same thing with GOW3 and Bayonetta. Maybe its just their style..but I think these comparisons are pointless.

@Below- I remember that X-play gave Crackdown 1 a 5/5. That was the day I started to question their reviews.

[FURY__UNLEASHED]

Crackdown 1 was really fun for about an hour or so, then you realised EVERY boss fight is just the same recycled scenerio over and over again. Collecting agility orbs was the best part of Crackdown and it sadly seems to be the same in Crackdown 2.

How the **** did they not improve the graphics? Don't use the excuse "It's open world" becuase inFamous 1 is open world and looks way better than Crackdown 2! Crackdown 2 looks about as goos as the Sly Collection for PS3 (remastered PS2 games).

BTW, Crackdown has a 71 on Metacritic with the highest score being from an Xbox 360 website (planetxbox.com).

[wicko]

Edge is hardly a place for consistent reviews.

[Shang-Long]

average game. and there isn't anything wrong with that.

[HolyOrangeCows]

A rushed repetitive rehash. The sequel to Crackdown could have be SO MUCH more.

[Nike]

I like how you say "Meh, I'll pass" as if you own or even support the XBox 360...

And then comment, "*Notes the lack of bragging 360 fanboys in the comments section*". A nice attempt at "impartiality". Really. Truthfully, it's idiots like you who start the vicious cycle of flamewars on this site. Next thing you know, when something comes against the PS3, and 360 fans attack Sony, they'll use crap like "PS3 fanboys antagonized us on Crackdown 2 review scores!" to justify their actions.

And then something comes up against the 360 again, and the cycle begins anew with another lame comment by you.

Seriously, state your opinions about the game (even if you don't own the console) but don't go antagonizing 360 fans just because they don't have something that's not "perfect" in your world. I say your world because it's obvious you'd criticize them for ANYTHING they try to like that's not serving you and your mighty God, Sony.

@Disagrees: 2 minutes since I posted this and already on the defense? Boy, now I KNOW I hit a nerve.

@Parapaxis: That makes things even weirder then. If he has both a PS3 and 360 (hell, even a DS), and better games are available, why suddenly come on here and antagonize 360 fanboys, as if they're the ones who run this site and were hyping this release like PS3 fans were calling inFamous 2 "2011's Uncharted 2" when in truth, it'll barely register in their memory when Halo Reach hits? I'd understand if he had a vendetta against Ruffian - the game isn't up to his expectations - but he's just using this game's so-called "terrible" review score as an excuse to call out 360 fans, like we're in some sort of ghetto war.

State your opinion on this game - whether you've seen gameplay or played it. But coming in here and implying how ashamed the 360 fans are because they don't have another high profile release? That's just pathetic.

@Parapaxis: At once? That's like me being critical of nanomachines and then calling out other races in the next breath. What is the connection?

It's just ridiculous to take this "PS3 fans vs. 360 fans" lunacy every where we go, as if it's meant to automatically be relevant to whatever's happening in the gaming world.

And before people comment that "360 fans started it, now it's our turn!" - that's the same logic I've been hearing, defending religious riots, for years now.

[Parapraxis]

@ Nike
From FURY__UNLEASHED's profile "Xbox 360 - Fury 61"
How about actually checking his gamertag first http://www.xboxgamertag.com...

Do you not understand that one can be critical of games on a console they own and can as well have a dislike for fanboys?

EDIT: Nike, you are really overworking things here. Let it go.

[N4BmpS]

X-Play really took a liking to the Crackdown series, there were a few things that caught my eye but not much but I can't critique it since I've yet to play it. I'm going to try to get someone with an XBOX to buy this game. But I never ever listen to EDGE. There biased, not to a specific console but to some games, they seem closed minded.

[Why o why]

maybe you should....you know...practice what you preach. You've seen his profile, you have a bubble, you say nothing. Sometimes its just better to admit you were wrong. N4g and its constant BS can make many of us a little too sensitive sometimes but thats N4g.. Step back..chill out. No need to be wrong n strong

People seem to be blaming the devs as if MS had nothing to do with this. Is this another case similar to odst. dlc dressed up as a full price game. I hear the games under 4 gig. If thats true then I think MS is taking its customers for a ride again...dlc dressed up as full price smh

[Chug]

That should retail for no more than $39.99.

[acedoh]

not to judge but when you do a review and you basically call it a repeat of the original with the same graphics three years later, what exactly makes the game a 7.5. This game looks mediocre at best with graphics that are more suitable to a launch 360 title than one five years into the console life. Microsoft should be ashamed allowing this game to come out in it's current state. Do they really take their fanbase as a bunch of drones who will buy any exclusive they pawn off on them. I really hope players send a message and keep away from this game and expect more quality exclusives.

[whizyup]

I don't get the assertion that Crackdown 2 will somehow be better than a game still a year off. Are ye not aware of ones own fanboyism?

[otherZinc]

This game is far better than Infamous will ever be & you haters can hate all you want.

I'll guarantee Crackdown 2 outsells Infamous.

There is so much going on in this game it can only receive a score in the mid 8's or higher.

IGN is efin Stupid.

[DelbertGrady]

New Crackdown 2 review, same PS3 trolls telling us how bad it is.

Give it up for:
AusWarrior
GWAVE
HolyOrangeCows
FURY_UNLEASHED
Parapraxis

Do you get paid to troll every Crackdown 2 review or are you just having a really hard time accepting that some of us actually think Crackdown is a fun game? Even if it doesn't like like teh Killzonezz.

[Xwow2008]

1 thing about this game..3 years in the making and with a bad gfx and almost the same game play as the 1st(according to the review).

Its just make some 1 wonder what the hell they were doing all these years.

[T9X69]

I can tell you what they where doing all these years....nothing. The game was only in development for 8 months, not years.

[DarkestTemplar]

... it shows.

This game may have been okay for 2007, but in the wake of all the new, expansive open world games with great graphics, fluid animations, and actual story-lines, this game feels old.

But on the plus side, Microsoft didn't try to release this game for it's fall line up (that is.. if MS had any control over the game's release date); to release this game then would suggest that it had A to triple-A status.

As a summer title, we know not to take Crackdown 2 too seriously; it just a game meant to deliver fun to the masses, not some triple-A epic G-O-T-Y contender. That being said... rental.

[RyuDrinksTheDew]

actually, the game had an 8 to 12 month development time.

[Elven6]

Ruffian was founded in January of 2009, how could they have worked on a game for three years when they've only been around for just over 1 year?

[edwineverready]

They worked on it 1 year and outsourced a lot of work to china.

[Whoooop]

Ahhh nevermind...

[leprechaun016]

NOWAY GUYS OMAH GAWD!

[godoftime]

Oh yeeeeeeeeeeeeah B)

[Lord_Ranos]

The smell of generic is strong on this one. lol

[RememberThe357]

So I'm definitely going to rent this. I wanted more but they were given 8 months to do this so I can't really complain too much.

[RememberThe357]

Oh my bad. I meant to say:

Hahahah Microsoft failed again! The first Crackdown was garbage. They can't do anything right. Next up to fail is Kinect.

Better? :)

[Erotic Sheep]

XD

[Forbidden_Darkness]

LMAO, thanks for that Remember

[Imperator]

@Remember

You CAN complain. MS should have given Ruffian more time and/or hired a better developer to do the job. Instead, they rushed their products just like they always do. Seriously, this year (personally), the 360 has been a huge disappointment. Other than ME2, everything else has fallen short. SCC, Alan wake, and now this.

I thought 2010 would be better than 2009 for the 360, but as of right now the only thing to look forward to is, once again, Halo and Fable (which is now multiplat).

[jerethdagryphon]

edge probobly gave a 9-10 they seem to do that with a lot of 360 games review without playing it would seem :(

shame still for those who like crackdown enjoy it

[Parapraxis]

I voiced my criticisms of the game yesterday based on the demo and got nothing but hate and accusations of being a "fanboy".
I really think my opinions were justified and well within reason.
http://n4g.com/news/557686/...

I really was planning on playing the first Crackdown, a lot of people compared it to Infamous and many said it was far better.
The CD2 demo left me VERY disappointed. It would seem the majority of people who said Crackdown is a far better game than Infamous are people who have never played Infamous.

[-MD-]

Bought the first Crackdown because I fell into the hype train with the Halo 3 beta and I still haven't even finished it to this day and probably never will.

Passing on the sequel. Some people love the series but I am just not a fan of it at all.

[TheWarmth]

Capcom is really loosing their edge.

[RememberThe357]

What?

[Nike]

...the hell?

[Chris399]

Because if it was, that was pretty funny :)

[chidori666]

7.5 / 10

looks this game not lived the hype IMO!

[ReBurn]

Maybe I won't be getting it this week. Sounds more like a $40 title than a $60 title if it's really just more of the same.

[unknownhero1123]

what if I haven't played the first one? would i enjoy this?

ah feck it, I'll just get RE: code veronica x from amazon.

(I would like an answer though just in case)

[PirateThom]

The first one is great, so if you haven't played it and this is more of the same, I can't see why you wouldn't enjoy it.

[dkgshiz]

There was a new studio who made this game. So its no wonder why this game is garbage.

[Sameh]

I'll rent it.

[etownone]

Gotta admit If I was to put the Xbox exclusive Crackdown, to the only Ps3 exclusive that is somewhat in te same genre/league ... Infamous.

I'd have to give it to Infamous.
Especially after seeing that trailer for Infmous 2.

[xaviertooth]

super flop!

[etownone]

Not a flop.
I don't think anyone was expecting this to be a AAA.

It will still be enjoyed by many, especially kids, and especially cause of the added 4 man co-op.

[chiwoo]

I played the First Crackdown game and it was good but seeing the 2nd one is like nothing new about it it looks like a fun game but the improvement from the first game is nowhere No wonder Microsoft was not talking about the game at all

[ranmafandude]

i know that i was trolling the review articles, but it looks really cool.i never played the first one so maybe i should try this one.the gliding power look really cool. like i said i didn't mean anything by trolling the articles it was all just in fun.

[Keltik82]

Were they spending their time on exactly, how many years in development? Microsoft doesn't give a damn about gaming it's obvious with Justin Bieber (rofl btw) they want the cash. So damn sad I feel sorry actually for all the xbox fans that actually stay on board. Jump Out already.

[Alcohog]

Can't say I'm surprised.

[ilkercruiser]

Where is colorful live city? Welcome colorless dead city!
Where are you REALTIME WORLDS? Make a real crackdown for us!
(Goes to play Crackdown 1)