Crime Life: Gang Wars

Computer and Video Games

The combat is stupidly easy and as badly designed as MC Hammer's trousers - timing kill moves or complex combos together is rendered fun-free, as you're held by the hand all the way through by giant yellow 'Y' icons that flash over an enemy when he's ripe for a kill move. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Gamer's Hell

With a simple yet wholly deficient control mechanic that renders fighting anything but entertaining, a supposed free-roaming environment that’s somewhat limiting, poorly executed graphics and characters, and laughably bad sound, Crime Life: Gang Wars is barely worthy of the bargain bucket—and with its reduced price tag, it’s almost there already.

Cheat Code Central

The cutscenes are among some of the worst acted I've ever seen. The writing is equally as amateurish as the acting. Never mind the bad grammar, but the whole hip hop vernacular is just cliché after bad cliché.

Worth Playing

Whether you're supposed to chuckle at the writing or take Tre's quest at earnest face value, either way, it's not too much fun to play.

DarkStation

Don't be fooled with this brawler's budget pricetag, as its attrocious camera angle, repetitive gameplay and dated visuals makes it a complete waste of your money.

Team Xbox

The “is it so bad it’s funny, or just that bad” vibe runs rampant throughout this title, from the ridiculous “fighting” engine, to horrendous visuals, and absolutely laughable dialogue.

IGN

Even Capcom's dismal "Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance" is preferable to this. The missions are vague, the fighting system is boring and repetitive, and there's little to motivate you through Grand Central City's rather limited geography.

GameZone

The game’s fighting mechanics are not only stiff but they are also completely devoid of anything that comes close to fun.

Gaming Horizon

I have no idea how Konami expects to sell more than six copies of this game. The members of D12 might buy it to put it in some self-idolizing shrine, but nobody else should go anywhere near it.

GamePro

The mind numbs along with your thumbs. Though the streets fill with indistinguishable enemies, clogging the frame rate, you'll never find the excitement you crave amid the mechanical melee, only a dull realization that you can't tell which thug is yours, and that you don't much care.

Digital Entertainment News

All told, the game’s atmosphere is so bad I’d almost be tempted to suspect this game was a parody, if the gameplay wasn’t also bad enough to match.

Game Chronicles

If you like tasteless "edgy" games that have mind numbingly repetitive gameplay, then Crime Life: Gang Wars is right up your alley.

GameSpot

From top to bottom, there's absolutely nothing to like about Crime Life: Gang Wars. It isn't even bad in an interesting or funny way. It's just garbage.

GameSpy

The haphazard implementation of the few good ideas in here, combined with ugly production values, makes looking for any diamonds in this rough a worthless endeavor.

GamerFeed

The absolute worst example of the "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" cloning process, sticking together with its below-average graphics, its poorly-selected soundtrack, and its miserable excuse for a gameplay set-up.

G4 TV

At least we now have a low bar for Grand Theft Auto clones.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

One of the worst looking games to come out this year. [Feb 2006, p.110]

Official Xbox Magazine

The story is almost laughably bad, but a laugh would give it some value, and it really is value-less! [Feb 2006, p.79]

PALGN

There’s just nothing even slightly likeable in the game – players are more likely to have fun banging their heads against a wall or cleaning rubbish on a highway than they’ll have with Crime Life.