Latest news with #ThePrecinct
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The Precinct review: This top-down sandbox police romp is simply the best.. better than all arrest
AS my wife often tells me, I ALWAYS play the good cop when parenting. Which is why I thought I'd be really good at The Precinct. As it turns out though, this superb top-down sandbox takes a lot more skill than first imagined. 7 Slap tickets on illegally-parked cars Credit: Kwalee Ltd Before we get into my poor attempts at collaring a graffiti vandal, a little backdrop to The Precinct. It's like Grand Theft Auto but where you play on the right side of the law. Really, I hear you ask? That will never work! But it does . . . and really well. This is a fantastically addictive outing from Fallen Tree Games - a lovely nod to classic top-down belters like GTA, GTA: London and Gangsters. Read more Gaming News 7 Shootouts can be fun though controls are tricky at first Credit: Kwalee Ltd Set in the 80s, you play a rookie cop called Nick Cordell Jr. His dad was a cop but died and now he's pounding the streets of Averno City in a bid to catch the bad guys. He's helped out by his partner - a cynical vet - not far from retirement. Meanwhile, an encouraging but secretive chief watches over a department that isn't all quite as it seems. Yes, it's dripping in US cop cliches but this adds to the character of the game and gives it a bit of life. 7 If someone resists arrest, it usually results in a chase on foot Credit: Kwalee Ltd The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward. You patrol the city during shifts, either on foot, in a patrol car or by chopper. There's a main story arc which has some terrific twists and turns but in-between that your job is to keep an eye out for trouble. Most read in Gaming And this comes in many different forms - from clocking speeding vehicles to chasing down attempted murderers on foot. You can even spend a shift dishing out parking tickets. Sounds boring but I spent a lot of time hunting down illegally-parked cars next to fire hydrants - you can even check parking metres to see if the allotted time has expired. When it comes to other arrests, each one must be done by the book to earn XP. When you stop someone, you need to check the ID first, then search them before applying the correct offence. 7 The Precinct has a decent storyline with a few twists Credit: Kwalee Ltd They might drop contraband or the ID might come back as a wanted crook - all of which needs to be taken into account before you dish out punishment. If you get it wrong, you're docked XP. Any heavy-handed policing also sees you deducted points as does arresting someone incorrectly, like putting them in cuffs for an infraction that only requires a fine. It's the same if you lose a 'perp' during a police chase. 7 You can drop off evidence and talk to colleagues at Police HQ Credit: Kwalee Ltd All this really focuses your mind when making an arrest - did I miss anything in the search? Did I run a background check? At the end of each shift you can use your XP to upgrade a fairly basic skills tree. This allows useful extras like calling in a road closure during a police chase - you can also deploy spike traps and order back-up units as you zoom through the city. 7 Car chases are great but you're docked XP if you lose the perp Credit: Kwalee Ltd The mechanics are smooth and responsive too. Excellent visuals add amazing character to Averno - broken roads, reflections in puddles - and the red and blue sirens burst through the tricky haze on a night shift. The isometric camera view really holds its own and allows for impressive car chases as well as back-alley duels. Shoot-outs are fun though the aiming can be tricky at first. 7 Checking IDs is a crucial part of the arrest procedure Credit: Kwalee Ltd However, despite the delightful screeches of tires and blaring sirens, the busts can get a little repetitive. And it's a little easy to rise through the ranks. But these are tiny gripes in what is an awesome 12-13 hours of proper policing. You have the right to remain silent . . . in awe of this game. The Precinct Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed) , Xbox, PC Developer: Fallen Tree Games Publisher: Kwalee Price: £24.99 Rating: 18 Score: 4.5/5
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The Precinct review: This top-down sandbox police romp is simply the best.. better than all arrest
AS my wife often tells me, I ALWAYS play the good cop when parenting. Which is why I thought I'd be really good at The Precinct. As it turns out though, this superb top-down sandbox takes a lot more skill than first imagined. 7 Before we get into my poor attempts at collaring a graffiti vandal, a little backdrop to The Precinct. It's like Grand Theft Auto but where you play on the right side of the law. Really, I hear you ask? That will never work! But it does . . . and really well. This is a fantastically addictive outing from Fallen Tree Games - a lovely nod to classic top-down belters like GTA, GTA: London and Gangsters. 7 Set in the 80s, you play a rookie cop called Nick Cordell Jr. His dad was a cop but died and now he's pounding the streets of Averno City in a bid to catch the bad guys. He's helped out by his partner - a cynical vet - not far from retirement. Meanwhile, an encouraging but secretive chief watches over a department that isn't all quite as it seems. Yes, it's dripping in US cop cliches but this adds to the character of the game and gives it a bit of life. 7 The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward. You patrol the city during shifts, either on foot, in a patrol car or by chopper. There's a main story arc which has some terrific twists and turns but in-between that your job is to keep an eye out for trouble. And this comes in many different forms - from clocking speeding vehicles to chasing down attempted murderers on foot. You can even spend a shift dishing out parking tickets. Sounds boring but I spent a lot of time hunting down illegally-parked cars next to fire hydrants - you can even check parking metres to see if the allotted time has expired. When it comes to other arrests, each one must be done by the book to earn XP. When you stop someone, you need to check the ID first, then search them before applying the correct offence. 7 They might drop contraband or the ID might come back as a wanted crook - all of which needs to be taken into account before you dish out punishment. If you get it wrong, you're docked XP. Any heavy-handed policing also sees you deducted points as does arresting someone incorrectly, like putting them in cuffs for an infraction that only requires a fine. It's the same if you lose a 'perp' during a police chase. 7 All this really focuses your mind when making an arrest - did I miss anything in the search? Did I run a background check? At the end of each shift you can use your XP to upgrade a fairly basic skills tree. This allows useful extras like calling in a road closure during a police chase - you can also deploy spike traps and order back-up units as you zoom through the city. 7 The mechanics are smooth and responsive too. Excellent visuals add amazing character to Averno - broken roads, reflections in puddles - and the red and blue sirens burst through the tricky haze on a night shift. The isometric camera view really holds its own and allows for impressive car chases as well as back-alley duels. Shoot-outs are fun though the aiming can be tricky at first. 7 However, despite the delightful screeches of tires and blaring sirens, the busts can get a little repetitive. And it's a little easy to rise through the ranks. But these are tiny gripes in what is an awesome 12-13 hours of proper policing. You have the right to remain silent . . . in awe of this game.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The Precinct review: This top-down sandbox police romp is simply the best.. better than all arrest
Playing on the right side of the law has never been so fun and the isometric camera view adds a modern feel to this GTA-style cops & robbers classic TOP OF THE COPS The Precinct review: This top-down sandbox police romp is simply the best.. better than all arrest AS my wife often tells me, I ALWAYS play the good cop when parenting. Which is why I thought I'd be really good at The Precinct. As it turns out though, this superb top-down sandbox takes a lot more skill than first imagined. 7 Slap tickets on illegally-parked cars Credit: Kwalee Ltd Advertisement Before we get into my poor attempts at collaring a graffiti vandal, a little backdrop to The Precinct. It's like Grand Theft Auto but where you play on the right side of the law. Really, I hear you ask? That will never work! But it does . . . and really well. This is a fantastically addictive outing from Fallen Tree Games - a lovely nod to classic top-down belters like GTA, GTA: London and Gangsters. 7 Shootouts can be fun though controls are tricky at first Credit: Kwalee Ltd Advertisement Set in the 80s, you play a rookie cop called Nick Cordell Jr. His dad was a cop but died and now he's pounding the streets of Averno City in a bid to catch the bad guys. He's helped out by his partner - a cynical vet - not far from retirement. Meanwhile, an encouraging but secretive chief watches over a department that isn't all quite as it seems. Yes, it's dripping in US cop cliches but this adds to the character of the game and gives it a bit of life. 7 If someone resists arrest, it usually results in a chase on foot Credit: Kwalee Ltd Advertisement The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward. You patrol the city during shifts, either on foot, in a patrol car or by chopper. There's a main story arc which has some terrific twists and turns but in-between that your job is to keep an eye out for trouble. And this comes in many different forms - from clocking speeding vehicles to chasing down attempted murderers on foot. You can even spend a shift dishing out parking tickets. Sounds boring but I spent a lot of time hunting down illegally-parked cars next to fire hydrants - you can even check parking metres to see if the allotted time has expired. When it comes to other arrests, each one must be done by the book to earn XP. When you stop someone, you need to check the ID first, then search them before applying the correct offence. 7 The Precinct has a decent storyline with a few twists Credit: Kwalee Ltd Advertisement They might drop contraband or the ID might come back as a wanted crook - all of which needs to be taken into account before you dish out punishment. If you get it wrong, you're docked XP. Any heavy-handed policing also sees you deducted points as does arresting someone incorrectly, like putting them in cuffs for an infraction that only requires a fine. It's the same if you lose a 'perp' during a police chase. 7 You can drop off evidence and talk to colleagues at Police HQ Credit: Kwalee Ltd All this really focuses your mind when making an arrest - did I miss anything in the search? Did I run a background check? At the end of each shift you can use your XP to upgrade a fairly basic skills tree. This allows useful extras like calling in a road closure during a police chase - you can also deploy spike traps and order back-up units as you zoom through the city. Advertisement 7 Car chases are great but you're docked XP if you lose the perp Credit: Kwalee Ltd The mechanics are smooth and responsive too. Excellent visuals add amazing character to Averno - broken roads, reflections in puddles - and the red and blue sirens burst through the tricky haze on a night shift. The isometric camera view really holds its own and allows for impressive car chases as well as back-alley duels. Shoot-outs are fun though the aiming can be tricky at first. 7 Checking IDs is a crucial part of the arrest procedure Credit: Kwalee Ltd Advertisement However, despite the delightful screeches of tires and blaring sirens, the busts can get a little repetitive. And it's a little easy to rise through the ranks. But these are tiny gripes in what is an awesome 12-13 hours of proper policing. You have the right to remain silent . . . in awe of this game.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Are you smarter than a NYPD cop...5 real questions to test if you'd make the force
Are you smarter than a New York Police Department officer? This test will see if you'd make the elite Big Apple force. The NYPD is the largest police department in the US with approximately 33,500 uniformed officers and 15,700 civilian employees, data showed. The large force is in charge of caring for the safety of approximately 8.3million permanent residents and additional 64.5million tourists the Big Apple gets each year. Applicants are required to have two years of college or military experience and pass a drug test to hopefully obtain a badge. A starting salary for an office is $60,884 and after five-and-half years of service this increases to $126,410. Other benefits include 27 paid vacation days in the seventh year of service and optional retirement at one half salary after 20 years of service. And those looking to join the force will be tasked with completing a job standard test, which examines if an applicant - who must be between the ages of 21 and 35 - is physically fit enough to perform the profession. Candidates also have to pass a $40 written exam full of multiple-choice questions in order to even be considered for the role. But in order to wear the blue uniform and get to patrol the streets and subway tunnels in the City That Never Sleeps, applicants have to score at least 70 percent on the exam. To promote the release of its neon-noir police game The Precinct, UK games publisher and developer Kwalee has created a quiz using genuine questions from past NYPD entrance exams. The quiz ties into the release of The Precinct, a neon-noir sandbox police game which launched on May 13. Set in the fictional 1980s city of Averno, the game follows a rookie cop tasked with restoring order to a crime-ridden downtown. So, would you pass the test? Question 1: You are retracing your steps through an earlier police vehicle pursuit in order to fill out your report. You originally spotted the vehicle on Jane Street heading southbound. As you attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver accelerated and made a right turn onto Yonge Street. Along Yonge Street there was too much traffic and the suspect managed to turn around before you could box him in and began heading the opposite direction. You continued the pursuit and followed as he made a left on George Street, followed by a right on Harris Street, and then another right on Robert Avenue. As the driver attempts to make a left onto Hatch Line you manage to box him in and apprehend the suspect. What direction was the suspect attempting to head on Hatch Line? A) North B) East C) South D) West Question 2: Answer the following questions based on what is stated or implied in the preceding passage. During the course of your training you are taught the procedures you should follow when you encounter a major accident scene, or dangerous situation. Get appropriate backup and emergency personnel en route to assist you Create a safe work environment to perform your duties Assist people in immediate life-threatening situations Treat victims in order of emergency priority Transport victims in need of medical attention to the hospital Collect evidence on scene Clear the area for normal use Which of the following is the most important step to take when you arrive at an emergency scene? A) Transport injured parties to the hospital B) Treat an injured woman who is bleeding from her head C) Assist a man who is trapped in a vehicle which is on fire D) Preserve evidence proving that the driver was under the influence of alcohol Question 3: The total cost of a uniform is $255. You have 6 weeks to pay for the uniform. If you pay $42.50 towards the total for the 6 weeks, what is the percentage paid each time? A) 6 x 42.50 / 255 = B) 42.50 x 6 / 255 = C) 42.50 / 255 = D) 42.50 / 255 x 6 = Question 4: While being trained as a police officer, you are informed about the following myths of wife assault. Wife assault is rare and barely happens anymore. Women drive men to violence. All abusers will be violent in all relationships. Men who assault women are mentally insane. Wife assault almost never leads to serious injury. Which of the following statements would be inconsistent with the training you received about wife assault? A) Shelley said that James only hit her when she got him angry and that it was her fault B) Many police officers feel that they should take a husband who severely beat his wife to a psychiatric hospital first for treatment before laying criminal charges C) Kevin is a very jealous boyfriend and has pushed his girlfriend around, but there is no way that anything serious will result from it D) All of the above Question 5: Based solely on the information below, which of the following witness statements is the most likely description of the suspect? A) Female Asian, 5'6, long black hair, blonde streak, red shoes, black leather jacket, 145lbs, blue jeans, scar on left temple B) 5'3, 115lbs, male Asian, short black hair, blue jeans, red shoes, glasses, black leather jacket, scar on left forearm C) Male Asian, black leather jacket, 5'7, 140lbs, short black hair, jeans, purple shoes, scar on head D) 5'7, 145lbs, male Asian, short black hair, glasses, blue jeans, black leather jacket, scar on left temple, red shoes In order to wear the blue uniform and get to patrol the streets and subway tunnels in the City That Never Sleeps, applicants have to score at least 70 percent on the exam Answers: 1. B) East 2. C) Assist a man who is trapped in a vehicle which is on fire 3. C) 42.50 / 255 = 4. D) All of the above 5. D) 57, 145lbs, male Asian, short black hair, glasses, blue jeans, black leather jacket, scar on left temple, red shoes
Engadget
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Remastered Eldritch terror, a fantasy life sim and other new indie games worth checking out
Indie games! They're rad, aren't they? We're keeping closer tabs on what's going on in that scene with our new weekly roundup. We've got a jam-packed edition for you this time with a little something for everyone, from lo-fi horror and Eldritch terror to cosy train dioramas and a vaporwave driving game. Before we get started, a quick word on a recent game I enjoyed. Idle games aren't usually my kind of thing — I'd rather be actively doing things — but one I spotted on offered some temporary respite from a virus I was dealing with. The DvD idle game from Cybo3D is all about watching a version of the classic DVD logo bouncing around your screen, buying upgrades and seeing numbers go up. Pleasantly relaxing stuff. I swear I even saw the logo go exactly into the corner a few times. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. The Sinking City has a history that's even odder than some of the Eldritch horrors that lie within. Now, developer Frogwares has remastered its self-published detective thriller in Unreal Engine 5 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Existing owners get a free upgrade to The Sinking City Remastered , which Frogwares shadow dropped this week. Along with 4K textures, lighting upgrades and support for upscaling tech, there are quality-of-life enhancements, accessibility improvements and a photo mode. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Free-to-play fantasy adventure life sim Palia (which is what you might get if you smushed together Animal Crossing and World of Warcraft ) landed on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S this week. It's been out on PC and Switch since 2023. There's a new free expansion for all platforms too. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. If you've ever looked at a Grand Theft Auto game and been mildly interested before deciding a life of virtual crime is not for you, then The Precinct might be up your alley. In this action sandbox title from developer Fallen Tree Games and publisher Kwalee, you'll play as a rookie officer who tries to restore order in his city while trying to solve his father's murder. How very '80s! Reviews have been mixed, but the art style is compelling and the isometric perspective with twin-stick controls make for an intriguing wrinkle. The Precinct is out now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Copycat , the debut game from the small team at Spoonful of Wonder, is another strong entry in the cat game canon. You play as a kitty who an elderly lady adopts from a shelter. Needless to say, things don't entirely go smoothly. I enjoyed Copycat — which debuted on PC last year — and its short but affecting story. The game has already sold over 50,000 copies and it's now set to find a new audience. Copycat is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 29 for $15. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Folks who like last year's very good and creepy walking sim Pools but yearn for more intensity from their liminal space horror might be interested in Backrooms Level X . This one is a mazy first-person survival game that has puzzles, "oppressive soundscapes" and things watching from the shadows. Backrooms Level X , from publisher Firenut Games and solo developer José Manuel Conesa Hernández, will hit Steam on May 29 and consoles at a later date. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Okay, maybe horror's not your thing. Totally understandable. Perhaps what you'd rather do is chill out and build little railway dioramas without being beholden to timers or rules. You can do just that in Islands & Trains , from developers Akos Makovics and Fabi Smith and publisher Future Friends Games. It's rolling onto Steam on May 29. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. It's probably a little (okay, a lot) because of the laidback synthwave tune that soundtracks the trailer, but I'm into the whole aesthetic of Adrift . This is a "chill, offroad driving game" and it's the first title from both car mechanic turned game developer Stefan Kwak and co-publisher Secret Sauce. Your goal is to transport a fragile energy core across an '80s-inspired, vaporwave landscape. Adrift is coming to Steam later this year and you can check out a demo now. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. How about another Steam demo? One just dropped for Flick Shot Rogues from three-person studio Butter by the Fish and publisher Noodlecake. Turn-based tactics games usually aren't my cup of tea, but the gameplay here reminds me a bit of Subpar Pool , a game I love very much. In this roguelike, you flick your character across the screen to damage opponents (or evade their attacks) and try to pull off combo moves. Getting the angles just right is as important as piecing together effective builds. I fired up the demo and suddenly 50 minutes had vanished as my first run ended. Yep, I'm liking what Flick Shot Rogues is putting down. I can see myself sinking dozens of hours into this one after it lands on Steam later this year. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. An open beta for Splitgate 2 , the followup to the Portal-with-guns multiplayer arena shooter, starts on May 22. You'll be able to hop in on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. A new trailer shows off the map creator tool, The Lab. You can build maps with up to 15 of your friends in real-time collaboration. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. I'm sure plenty of folks who are into miniature wargaming and other types of tabletop games have wondered what it might be like to run their own store that sells such wares. And hey, guess what? You'll be able to get a taste of that in Tabletop Game Shop Sim from Knight Fever Games. You'll do everything from deciding on the layout and managing finances to hosting game nights and playing with customers. This one's coming to Steam in 2025. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Let's close things out on another cozy note. We love a chill puzzle game around here and Umami might just fit the bill. The idea here is to fit wooden blocks together to create dioramas of food towers. This 3D puzzler from Mimmox will hit Steam later this year. A demo will be available during the Steam Next Fest in mid-June.
