Backhanders, erratic law enforcement, irrational driving, poor cardio and trigger-happy, and ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ – what’s there not to like about the police? Good news, citizens: The Precinct captures all of the above in a law-infused sandbox.
Finally, someone’s done it: a reverse GTA where you play as the fuzz. Fallen Tree Games’ title about bringing in the wrong ‘uns has seemingly earned a strong fan base already, having already garnered 8+ scores and very positive feedback on Steam. Here’s another review that focuses on a few areas others might not have considered.
What nobody else tells you about The Precinct is that this isn’t about a local shopping mall where you play a hat vendor but a rookie cop named Nick Cordell Jr. Fresh out of the academy, a hero cop father, this buddy-buddy cliché hits the streets of Averno City in the 1980s.
The Precinct Review (PS5)
The Precinct is a cliché, catering to all archetypes and stereotypes, and features a pumping 80s synth for anyone who thinks the era was cool. Despite the era, Averno feels sharp thanks to its visuals and modern style of play, which relies on radio intel rather than the internet and mobile devices.
As the rookie, a veteran shows you the ropes on how to issue fines, issue parking violations and take down criminals with lethal and non-lethal force- the latter always being the goal. In the car, you’re running plates, getting into high-speed chases, and not long after, partaking in a little duck and cover shootouts.
Having the freedom to explore Averno is a highlight, and surprisingly, repeated tasks are enjoyable. As a narrative-driven gamer, I found myself skimming over the dialogue from the main story, as it was clichéd and sounded like one of those 80s anime dubs. I swear I saw a Kowalski in the first 10 minutes, and what with hero father cops… yawn.
Make Me A Better Cop
Regrettably, The Precinct is riddled with inconsistencies. You’ll calmly call out to a perp with an assault rifle but scream at a litterer. The booking system is brilliant when accurate. Unfortunately, I had burglaries escalate into gun fights and hit and runs, yet I would get penalised for selecting this as the crime was pre-determined as a burglary only.
XP is in abundance, but it’ll deducted for wrong accusations. You could get your partner to do the paperwork, but that’s like engaging autopilot on a fighter jet. Hopping into the car should be better, but that was my least favourite part of the game due to the fishtailing at high speeds, which rendered missions unplayable. A police helicopter can be called upon for assistance, but it is best to fly yourself as the AI is dumb.
The Precinct uses a support system where, pending you offer a good pursuit, you can call on backup. Most of the time, it’s a numbers game, and the benefits of doing this will mean an extra pair of eyes on a criminal, but more than a handful of times, they’ll crash into you and prevent you from booking Danno. Whoever they are.
What A Rookie
With all this negativity and complaining, one might think it’s time to poo-poo the po-po and give this stinker a miss. I discourage you from doing that right now because, irrespective of the flaws and repetition, The Precinct is entertaining. Yes, the booking system can be inaccurate, but when it works, it’s such an engaging and rewarding mechanic.
Each day you put in for your shift, you’ll go that extra mile – not because you’re a good cop, but because you want more XP to invest in skills for better shootouts, to run for longer, and to eat doughnuts without putting on weight. That rogue-like loop of ‘one more go’ exists here in that your ‘one more shift’ ends up being a few days. The Precinct is not only similar in design to GTA through gameplay but also possesses that addictive, fun element that makes you want to keep playing. Contradiction, huh?
The Precinct Review Summary
The Precinct is a flawed sandbox where following the rules doesn’t always go to plan, and ironically, you can’t rely on your teammates. The game is genuinely immersive and will likely keep you engaged, provided you can accept the rigidity, and quite frankly, the terrible car handling and poor gun mechanics – critical in this sort of game – yet it still manages to come out positive. Sounds like a corrupt cop…
