The Precinct Review – Risky Police Business

The Precinct on PS5 Pro

The idea of chaos is inherently attractive, especially in video games, as it sets the stage for everything to happen. Yet, for some, the flipside is more of a draw, with order and discipline key drivers for entertainment. In The Precinct, Fallen Tree Games and Kwalee have found a nice balance of both, putting together an action sandbox that focuses on the police and the work they do during every shift.

As rookie cop Nick Cordell Jr., you join the Averno City Police at an uneasy time. With your father, the ex-Police Chief, murdered as criminal gangs grow in power, it is up to you and the rest of the force to restore some order and hopefully, uncover the truth. The narrative is familiar and predictable as they come. In fact, the less players focus on that, the better.

While there are additional facets to the narrative, such as two other gangs that need to be investigated and a serial killer on the loose, there isn’t much player agency that is required. As long as you are doing the job and nabbing bad guys, the story will get going at your pace.

It is the sandbox gameplay and aesthetics that are the best parts of The Precinct, even if they are flawed as well. Once you get out there in the streets with the ever-affable Sergeant Kelley, you are essentially learning on the job. Averno City is not a place you want to stay long, with crime just around every corner.

The look and feel of things definitely echo the ’80s cop or action flick many of us grew up with, with bright lights and dirty alleys set against towering buildings and bustling life. Going on patrol on foot, in a squad car, or in a chopper helps drive home the point of a city needing police assistance, where graffiti and trash are familiar sights.

It is in this environment that players will go on patrols, starting with the surrounding areas of the titular precinct before moving out into further reaches of the city. The locations might change, but your job remains the same: stamp out crime. The Precinct may look like Grand Theft Auto, but you are operating from the other side of the law, and that means there are procedures to follow.

Wanton killing is off the menu, for starters, as players will have to get familiar with rules and regulations. This was something I was wary of coming in, as I had doubts about the fun to be derived from the various acts of policing, but I was quickly won over. From understanding the different offences, the appropriate responses to threats and infractions, to being thorough with checks and questioning to discover contraband or warrants, there is a sense of appreciation for what the team has done in blending education and entertainment.

It may not be realistic in terms of the sheer number of crimes that can occur in a shift, but at least it keeps you busy with a reasonable variety. There are mundane stuff like littering and vandalism, moving on to mugging and burglary, and then to the more serious crimes of murder and shootouts, each requiring you to tailor your approach. That sense of growth and progression as you learn the ropes and unlock new upgrades is tangible and satisfying, even if the gameplay loop eventually runs stale.

On the occasions when you are part of high-speed chases, more cracks start to appear. The driving system in The Precinct is functional at best, and that’s if you are driving normally. Going at speed invites danger not just from criminals and civilians, but also from your fellow officers. There were too many occasions where a simple bump into the destructible elements like railings sent my vehicle spinning out of control, where previously, there was no such problem. Other bumps literally sent me glitching out of the game world completely.

Aggressive criminals who swerve and crash constantly also make it hard to keep up, especially with so many different alleys for them to disappear into. That’s fair, after all, they are trying not to get caught, but it isn’t exactly wise to go round in the same circle as more police get on the scene.

I do appreciate the backup token system, which is an integral part of the strategy to bring in the bad guys. The closer you stay on the tails of runaway criminals or getaway cars, the bar starts to fill up and rewards you with tokens. This is when you can call in more help, like additional officers, a police helicopter, road spikes, and even roadblocks. It adds additional mayhem into the proceedings, and may not always be helpful, but at least you have the option.

That’s the basis of helicopter patrols as well, as you use your spotlight to stay on top of any evildoers and direct police resources to them. It is certainly another way to liven up the policing, but in terms of gameplay, it is my least favourite due to the lack of meaningful action and threat.

Then there are the shootouts, which can also be frustrating experiences. Being able to eliminate threats with deadly force should be a cathartic outlet in a game, but the way aiming is done takes away from there. Rather than a reliable lock-on system, players will need to utilise an on-screen cursor to find their marks. This is hard enough trying to do so in cover, as the cursor doesn’t even appear unless you are popping up and putting yourself in danger, and even more so when you are on the move.

This makes firefights that should have been more action-packed feel slow and stacked against you. The criminals hit hard, and you are often at a numbers disadvantage, so that cycle of exiting cover, shooting, taking damage, and then staying in place to recover health will be one to get used to.

Outside of that, you are looking at a city with dynamic weather and a day/night cycle that are nice touches, together with stunt jumps, street racers, and time trials to occupy your time. There are also a bunch of hidden artifacts and plaques that can be collected and read, if that’s your sort of thing. I do have a bone to pick with the street racing side activity, where the driving bugs were the worst, so be wary if you wish to partake.

It is clear what Fallen Tree Games and Kwalee are looking to deliver with The Precinct, and there is room for such games to exist and potentially prosper. The premise is intriguing, but the delivery and execution have room for improvement. While the game is hoping players become a true force of good, much like the real world, the environment in which that is possible remains a mixed bag.

The Precinct is now available on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.