As the world and its granny go mad for the latest news and trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, it’s oddly Rockstar’s—well, DMA Design’s—original instalment that has inspired Nottingham-based Fallen Tree Games’ latest title, The Precinct.
This game takes the top-down, open-world GTA formula but flips the perspective. The Precinct puts you on the boys-in-blue’s side of the line instead of playing as a mobster or gangland thug.
That’s not to say Fallen Tree Games haven’t dabbled with the criminal side of things. The game is set in the same universe as American Fugitive, the studio’s first game. Itself a true love letter to classic GTAs of old.
Clean Up
Set in Averno City, a fictional location inspired by New York City in 1983, you play as Nick Cordell Jr.. You are the son of the late police chief Nick Cordell Sr. and have big shoes to fill. Your father’s legacy casts a huge shadow over not just the force, but the city as a whole.
Things start out slowly, but after stopping a bank robbery, you soon find your role growing as things ramp up. However, you’ll also have to handle plenty of routine tasks. Part of the game is writing tickets for improperly parked vehicles and speeding violations.
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But, this all builds towards uncovering the truth about what really happened to your father and seeking justice for him. It’s a solid tale, albeit a little overly clichéd and cheesy at times.
The Precinct has been inspired by one-too-many episodes of NYPD Blue, Miami Vice, and Hill Street Blues. To its credit, though, the game does make you feel like a cop, constantly treading that fine blue line.
Keeping the Streets Safe and Stuff
Gameplay takes place across shifts set over a number of hours. During your shift, you patrol the streets either on foot or in a squad car, typically focusing on crimes highlighted for that shift. You’ll likely encounter a bit of everything in each session, keeping things varied.
Being a cop, you can’t just go in guns blazing—you need to follow the proper procedures. Have you apprehended the suspect? Have you checked their ID? Searched them? Then comes the decision: do they get a fine or time in a cell?
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Learning the ‘due process’ system takes time, but is crucial to making the most out of arrests. You can tack on extra offences to the original crime—for example, if they run when asked to stop or start a fight. Doing this correctly earns you extra XP, but get it wrong and you’ll lose some.
While the game does things by the book, there is still a fun arsenal to play with. You’re equipped with a six-shot .38 revolver, a baton, and a taser. You can also call for backup, deploy spike strips, or even request helicopter support if you find yourself in a car chase. When off duty, there are a few side activities to discover while exploring—such as races, jumps, and challenges—which help break up the standard nine-to-five routine.
Ride-Along
Graphically, the game looks great, though it sometimes feels a little too clean to truly capture a gritty city aesthetic. However, once the sun goes down, the atmosphere hits just right, perfectly nailing the intended vibe.
Sound design is a mixed bag—the soundtrack, inspired by classic cop show themes with a healthy dose of Synthwave, sets the tone and mood excellently. However, the voice acting is a bit ‘meh’ overall and never quite reaches a standard I’d consider good.
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The Precinct has been a long time coming—six years in the making—and ultimately delivers on its main aim: creating an open-world GTA-inspired experience from the right side of the law. It does have a few rough edges, including slowdown, visual bugs, and some limitations due to its indie budget.
But if you can look beyond these issues, there’s honestly something different to be found here—you may be surprised by just how satisfying dishing out parking and speeding tickets can be.
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