- This game was ahead of its time as it gave a true open-world experience, had an immersive storyline, and had voice-acting like many GTA games.
- You play as a gangster turned cop who’s given choices to be a good cop or a bad cop. Your choices impact the game’s incredible ending.
- It could be GTA’s rival, but sadly, it neither had a sequel nor a remaster or remake. Fans still hope to play it with newer graphics on newer platforms.
2005 was surely one of the best years for gamers because it had given birth to one of the most iconic PS2 games. These games include Shadow Of The Colossus, God Of War, and Need For Speed: Most Wanted.
The PS2’s incredible lineup of games was a major reason why it became the best console of its era. True Crime: New York was one of the underrated games released this year, which was forgotten with the passage of time.
True Open-World With Attention To Detail
True Crime: New York isn’t your average gangster shooter, but it provides a whole open-world experience. You can drive cars, enter locations, and engage in random police and criminal activities.
Its open-world experience was reminiscent of the 23-year-old GTA 3, especially because they’re both set in New York. Not as much as Rockstar, but the developers behind this game also paid great attention to detail.
For instance, in windy weather, items fly around. Times Square’s screens are riddled with information on stocks and adverts. The roads had puddles, and pedestrians flooded places, which made the game feel lively.
Good Cop Or Corrupt Cop?
The story delves into the life of Marcus Reed, who was once part of the criminal world. Terry Higgins, a veteran NYPD officer, helped Marcus leave his crime-riddled past for a better life by becoming a detective for the NYPD.
But Higgins mysteriously gets murdered, and Marcus decides to seek his revenge by hunting down the killers. Unlike the GTA series, this game had a twist. See, this game didn’t just stick to the gangster’s point-of-view approach.
Instead, you’re a cop who is constantly bombarded with choices to either be a good cop and arrest the criminals or become a bad cop who takes money under the table or trades drugs as a side.
Other choices include arresting criminals instead of killing them, returning stolen weapons or drugs instead of selling them, avoiding excessive property damage instead of extorting businesses, and minimizing civilian causality.
This choice-based approach provides a moral dilemma, a twist that wasn’t common in games of that time. Moreover, it is still a fascinating concept, especially when it’s integrated into an open-world game.
Plot Twists In Both Endings
The choices you make impact the ending you get and both ending has extremely enticing plot twists. As the story reaches its climax, you face shocking revelations about the people you once trusted.
You realize how deeply corruption was rooted in the police sector, especially at the higher ranks. Based on your cop score, you’re given endings that either involve you choosing to uphold justice or realizing that your dark past never left you.
If you were a good cop all along, Marcus stands up against the forces that manipulated him and proves that integrity comes with a price. The game ends with a positive and uplifting voice-over from someone endearing to Marcus.
However, if you embrace corruption and have a bad cop score, the game ends with disappointment, and our protagonist’s fate ends with a guilt-ridden voice-over. What’s interesting about the endings is that it isn’t about winning or losing.
It’s about the small actions that compound and either make Marcus change his dark life for good or blur the lines between right and wrong, causing him to break his promise to become a changed person.
Could Be The Ultimate GTA-Killer?
Although both games explore different themes, True Crime: New York could still be GTA’s ultimate rival. Yes, the gameplay wasn’t as refined, but the cut scenes, soundtrack, voice-acting, and overall storyline are extremely immersive
At a point, you start to think it is a Rockstar-developed game. Even shooting mechanics resemble that of Max Payne. Sadly, this game didn’t get a remaster or remake, and all hope was lost when Activision abandoned its trademark.
Still, it would’ve been very interesting to see it with enhanced graphics and for newer platforms since many people are unaware of this underrated game. Fans have echoed their outcry regarding remastering or remaking this game.
God Of War, which was released the same year as this game is getting a remaster and it could’ve been the case for this game as well had the developers continued to pursue the True Crime series.
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Moiz Banoori, with a decade of experience in gaming and tech journalism and a degree in journalism, is a notable figure in the industry. He has contributed to various esteemed platforms, showcasing his expertise in both reporting and opinion writing.
