Alright, let’s dive into this jumble of thoughts. So, where to start? Oh, right, Kwalee and Fallen Tree Games have this game, The Precinct, which feels like they stitched together every 80s cop movie ever. You’re Officer Nick Cordell Jr., fresh out of the Academy. Picture this: you’re thrown into the chaos of Averno City, which is like Gotham’s cousin but with more neon and less brooding billionaire vigilantes.
And ya know what? Your dad got whacked on the job, so no pressure, but it’s kinda up to you to hunt down whoever did it. Wow, talk about family business, right? It’s got this sandbox vibe with top-down action. You’re zooming around trying to keep the peace, sometimes in a squad car, sometimes on foot, sometimes, maybe, in a chopper if things really hit the fan. You’ll be tossing spike strips, calling for roadblocks, or maybe just winging it as you cruise those mean streets.
Now, the controls — lemme see if I remember. It’s like you need a manual just to walk or drive. The left stick does this, the right stick does that. Oh, and there’s something with the buttons, right? You press some to aim the flashlight, others to yell at people. Guess they were trying to make it immersive or whatever. Honest, can’t say how many times I forgot which button did what. Muscle memory failed me every single time.
And, if you’re airborne, it’s even wilder! You’re fiddling with sticks and buttons to keep that chopper in the air. Made me feel like I was juggling, but hey, at least there’s a spotlight to play with. Press this, aim that — classic video game antics, I suppose.
Anyway, keeping Averno City clean isn’t just about the big stuff. I mean, you’re even dealing with litterbugs. Like, stop that! Picking up trash in a game about chasing down criminals… who saw that coming? You’ll be checking IDs, maybe frisking folks if they look shady. And there’s that counterfeit money business, where you can actually, ya know, use some force. Diplomatic immunity, my foot.
As you bumble through the game, they throw Tokens at you. Because yay, capitalism? You can upgrade stuff — health, stamina, more gadgets… all that jazz. Physical, Combat, Policing, Vehicle — I guess they hit all the big departments. Makes you wonder if the real police get upgrade tokens, huh? Maybe?
Oh, yeah, and trophies. Loads of them. Bronze, Silver, Gold — it’s like the Olympics but for patrolling. Arrest 30 suspects, sprint non-stop, race in the streets. You name it, it’s probably a challenge. And reading every plaque… seriously? If I wanted to read plaques, I’d just go to a museum.
In a nutshell, The Precinct throws down a nostalgic challenge for anyone itching for some 80s cop drama. It hits the PlayStation 5 and, honestly, it’s the kind of messy fun you’d expect. Or not. Who knows?
