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I love a good emergency services-themed experience. Consequently, when Police Shootout landed on my desk, I thought, “What the heck”. Unfortunately, I have played some terrible cop-themed games, so this was a bit of a gamble. However, I’m pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised! Though the action is a little repetitive and some of the missions are ridiculous, I lost many hours pretending to be a badass crime fighter.
This hybrid FPS and tactical cop game was developed by Games Incubator and published by Ultimate Games S.A. Moreover, it is a single-player title that has a central quest progression system. Subsequently, it is fairly linear and there is no open world to explore. This may annoy some gamers, but I liked the direct design and the to-the-point action.
Police Shootout: a game with a secret edge.
Unlike other police games, Police Shootout has a minor story that punctuates the gameplay. Though the plot doesn’t dominate the proceedings, it adds a nice edge that keeps you coming back for more. Additionally, the blend of absurd and serious characters breaks up the serious crime-fighting moments.
You play the role of Scott Price. He is a tough cop with a secret agenda. Yet, it is the rush of being a hero that sits at the fore. San Adrino is a dangerous place and much bigger than his last stomping ground. He could have stayed safe but he chose to rough it with the big boys. Why would a man do this? Is it for the pride of the badge or is something else the driving force behind this one-man wrecking machine?
Simple mechanics.
Police Shootout’s blend of negotiations, shooting, and questioning should have been messy but it wasn’t. As you explore each level, you are given clear objectives to complete. You must work through each job while looking for clues and criminals. If you are successful, you can arrest everyone and no blood needs to be spilled. However, your handy pistol is necessary as the mafia and other perps hide in the shadows.
The game offers a small arsenal of weapons. You may use a stun gun, pistol, shotgun, or your handy baton. Furthermore, there are action points to consider during combat. Though this uses a turn-based concept, every action takes place in real-time. Accordingly, you must aim and shoot your weapon or find a hiding place before your time and action points run out. This was challenging as the shooting mechanic required accuracy and patience.
Alongside this, you must consider non-lethal takedowns and stealth. This isn’t easy as the baddies are always alert. Consequently, finding an alternative path and keeping out of sight can be the best solution. If that isn’t enough, you must discover clues to interrogate the key character. Missing information can lead to poor questioning and this can cause a fight to occur. Therefore, though it is tough to gather every ounce of evidence, it is vital if you wish to solve every crime.
Police Shootout could have been more polished.
Police Shootout isn’t the best-looking game I’ve played. Sadly, it reuses plenty of assets and the character models are repetitive and a bit strange to look at. Luckily, the animation is pretty smooth and exploring your surroundings is a simple task. Disappointingly, it isn’t as polished as I’d have liked and there were some game-breaking bugs.
The audio is a mixed bag as well. I liked most of the acting, but some of the characters sounded ridiculous. Additionally, the voices didn’t match the environment or job role. This wasn’t a deal breaker, it was just silly and unexpected. Fortunately, the sound effects were decent and the ambient sounds were effective. As such, though it wasn’t perfect, I think the audio was pretty good.
A good tutorial.
Police Shootout could have been a pig to play. There are plenty of different things to do and loads of minor elements to understand. Luckily, the excellent tutorial puts you on the straight and narrow. Subsequently, once you understand the fundamentals, you will not struggle with each mission.
This has a decent character progression system and plenty of missions to complete. Moreover, there are different ways to succeed and this keeps you coming back for more. Had there been a sandbox mode or different difficulty settings, replay value and longevity would have been extremely high. As it is, you get great value for money but there is only limited gameplay.
Police Shootout is fun but limited.
I enjoyed playing Police Shootout. It could have been better, but it is inexpensive and I liked the different approaches to each mission. Additionally, it takes time to unlock the stun gun, opening a host of new avenues to explore. Though it isn’t perfect, I enjoyed it and I recommend buying it here! Can you become a hero and fulfil your destiny? Keep your nose clean, solve every crime, and leave no stone unturned.
