Xbox360 :: They must put crack in Crackdown.

After spending several hours playing the demo of Crackdown, I've arrived at the conclusion that they've secretly found a way to deliver narcotics through a 360.

The game is addictive. Very very addictive.

For every white middle class minority who isn't a big fan of rap, and the counterculture it so often purveys; I give you Grand Theft Auto minus the "Ghetto". Don't get me wrong. That's exactly where it is, in some respects. The setting could be looked at as being very Ghetto. However, unlike the GTA series, the last few installments in particular, Crackdown does not leave me with the dirty gritty feeling from it's story mode. Instead of being a part of the crime/gangs you're the enforcer.

Your character is an enhanced superhuman. The details on this weren't important enough to pay attention to. I run really fast, jump really high, and I get guns and grenades. What more could a boy want? The level up system has been said to be similar to Oblivion, which is not completely inaccurate. You blow enough stuff up, and your blowing stuff up skill increases. This increases damage dealt by your explosions, and their respective range. Beat up enough baddies melee and your melee skill levels up, and you do more damage when you bash someone in the face.

The game is really quite engrossing. And short of the time limits in the demo mode, I felt no pressure to move towards objectives, much like Oblivion and other free roaming games, you can put the story mode on pause, and just have fun.

This is a good old fashion blow shit up and have a blast game. Pun intended.

I give it a 8.5/10 just on the demo. Which was more than enough to go pre-order it on Amazon.com, because I'm a consumer whore and I'm too lazy to go reserve it in person, and then go back again and pick it up.