Controlling your character is intuitive and enjoyable, with one minor gripe. Jumping is mapped to the A button, which it shares with the menu select button. The game is heavily jump oriented, and when a buddy tries to join you in a co-op session while you're in the middle of a leap fest, you'll dismiss the dialogue box before you've even had a chance to read it. The developers hoped to ease this by allowing a click on the right stick to also trigger a jump, but it will drive you insane trying to pull this off while maneuvering your super agent.
Driving is slightly less logical, expecting you to use the right trigger for gas and the left trigger for break. Crackdown is not alone in trying this control scheme, but switching your mind from using the triggers for shooting to using them for movement can be tricky. Additionally, controlling any vehicle can be swimmy and imprecise until you build up your driving points.
The game's soundtrack is not a selling point, as it has been in the GTA series and even Saints Row. Don't look for an MP3 player or even radio station control scheme. Songs play, and you can move forward or back in the playlist with the shoulder buttons, but forget about custom playlists. The song selection is also decidedly obscure. Sound plays one important role for the orbaholic. Orbs make noise. Secret orbs can be found by detecting a slightly higher pitched "glowing" sound. Listen out for it to locate the sweet blue question marks, even when the orb is not visible.
With all of its flaws, Crackdown still succeeds at being a lot of fun. Watching your character's appearance change as he gets a rush of new powers is a thrill. Get to racing across the map with a Hulk-style super jump and you'll wonder how you could have played any other way. Once you have built your character to the most buff and skilled, you may not have much of a reason to keep playing. If you become addicted to orbs, like I have, you'll squeeze another few hours out of the game.
Don't look to multiplayer to add much to the replay value of the game. With no adversarial mode, you're stuck with the somewhat gimmicky coop that makes the term sandbox seem fully appropriate. When you get tired of kicking your friend off bridges you've made the most of coop and may not be eager to go back.
The most important "Crackdown bonus" for many of you will be the Halo 3 beta key. The official word is that the disc will be needed to play the Halo 3 beta. Once it is released to the public - which is not this month - you will download the Halo 3 multiplayer beta from within the Crackdown game menu. According to Craig Evans, Crackdown product manager, you'll have to keep the disc in your 360 for the Halo 3 download to work.
Microsoft is hoping that more than the Halo 3 beta will extend the game's life. They plan to release additional downloadable content and have suggested that DLC will contain more than new skins and cars. Some female agents or new agency cars would be a sweet bonus, but I really want another gang or map to face off against.
So, is it worth it? If you love Halo 3 more than life itself, I'm sure no price is too high for an early look. If you aren't a Halo fanatic, but love the Grand Theft Auto series, Crackdown will be a serious disappointment. If you don't have any preconceived notions about the game, and wish you could play a revolutionary platformer on the 360, then you should be really happy with Crackdown for at least 6 or 7 hours of play. Crank the difficulty up to ruthless or psychotic to make the most of Crackdown and to add a couple of hours to your happy time.
I had a blast with the game, but in the interest of full disclosure, I enjoy simple addictive fun sometimes. The game isn't deeply challenging or fully fleshed out as far as gritty open-world games go, but I can't say it wasn't a fun ride. More puzzle platformer than anything, the right gamer will find a treat behind the beta.
