1. florgy

   10

   Let me preface by saying that my actual score is 9.5. For the people who don't like to read, I can summarize my review by saying that Sleeping Dogs is an incredibly fun game with a gripping story, arkham city style combat, nfs style driving and gta style open world-ness (but better) - if you haven't bought it yet, then you should go do so NOW! Sleeping Dog's story revolves around Wei Shen, who is an undercover Hong Kong cop trying to infiltrate the fictional Sun-on-Yee - I'm not going to go further into detail, but suffice to say that it's a story that pays tribute to the classic Hong Kong flicks of yore, and has plenty of, "what a twist!", moments... The recreated Hong Kong feels bustling and alive - there's street vendors and whole bazaars, all of which you can interact with. I feel as though I should mention that as I looked at some of the stores near one of my apartments, they were literally cardboard cutouts, so while this is still one of the most interactive sandboxes out there, if United Front was given more time, they could have made the city even more alive. Even the side missions are, for the most part, awesome - the racing is expectedly great given that a lot of these guys used to work for Black box - you can bet on **** (get your mind out of the gutter), be IN fights, and clear out gangs (thought that does get repetitive). All of which fuels an upgrade system that has three branches; triad, cop and super awesome ninja stuff. That's not even mentioning the glorious amount of costumes! I also love the fact that they actually speak Chinese half the time (there's subtitles), and it further lends to the game's authenticity. The actors do an amazing job at portraying the characters as well. I have seen other reviews complaining about the graphics - I really don't understand that - to me, the graphics looked great, the animations where smooth as butter, the draw distance was good (little to no pop in), and the frame-rate was consistent. To me, this game is on par, graphically to red dead redemption, and certainly looks better than games like grand theft auto 4 and saints row 3. Maybe reviewers only care about particle effects and lighting... Also, I have to mention that the soundtrack is sublime; ninja tune and warp radio actually features some real dub-step and break-beat (not the skrillex style stuff) - here's a link to one of the songs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpgHyCNCDO4&feature=BFa&list=FLNJ6aRWikauOTEZlQZLNKUw Overall, this game is a true underrated gem, it should be experienced by anyone who owns a gaming system or PC - I have not had this much fun with a game in a long time! Stop reading stuff on meta-critic and go buy this game now, you won't regret it!… Expand

   • Helpful? 5 of 5 users said Yes.
2. StevenF

   8

   Surprise of the year! I followed this game since it was sold by Activision under the working title "True Crime:Hong Kong", and it was an absolute to delight to play such a detailed and riveting game.
   The protagonist, Wei Shen, an undercover police detective, must infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad organisation to attempt to bring it down.
   The hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is brought to life through not the biggest, but certainly one of the more
   detailed and vibrant sandbox cities of this generation.
   The combat is something spectacular, it simply utilizes button mashing with fluid combos that result in some the most fun fights you will come across in a game.
   Its got a solid story, albeit a short one for an open-world game, but this doesnt take away from the sheer volume of activities that can be undertaken here.
   Whether you want to suit up in a vast array of clothing, save up and buy an extensive amount of vehicles, or simply steal an umbrella from a pedestrian and beat up a bad guy with it...why not.
   Cons? Sadly, yes, the driving graphics arent the most solid, its hard to appreciate many driving mechanics in games after GTA IV, the island can sometimes feel too restrained and incomplete, and the Chinese that is spoken in the middle of an english conversation just feels out of place.
   All of that aside, this is certainly a stepping stone in the right direction, hopefully bigger and better things to come.… Expand

   • Helpful? 1 of 1 users said Yes.
3. Markos-

   7

   Unconsciously, I was comparing this game with GTA quite often while playing. It's natural, I guess. It has many weaknesses when compared with the referent title, like a simplified driving, or a less detailed and more simplistic city design. But it also has some remarkable strengths, in which it is superior to GTA. The cinematics are amazing, movie-quality. The melee combat is funnier and with greater possibilities. The brutality of the game, and the strong, tough story line, makes of Sleeping Dogs a solid game.… Expand

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.
4. nils925

   3

   The game itself is so-so. The graphics are not bad, but not good either. There are fun things like the fighting system, police cases and drug busts. The story is good. But a bit short, and this basically has 0 originality (it's GTA with a Max Payne shooting mechanic). Overall, I guess a 7 for the game. IF it were playable. My saves reset twice. This is unacceptable, I have a fairly new PS3. Don't get it, even if you are certain your saves won't reset, play GTA IV, or even SR3.… Expand

   • Helpful? 2 of 2 users said Yes.

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