I’m usually not interested in games like True Crime (I’ve never played much of GTA, for instance), but I wanted to check this game out for two reasons. First was Activision’s sheer ambition of mapping out approximately 240 square miles of Los Angeles, where I happen to live; second was the all-star cast that I was expecting to deliver an excellent storyline. Activision was playing this game up to be a huge title, and while it is impressive in some respects, it has a lot of flaws throughout that drag it down.

Perhaps the first thing that should be brought to light is that this game more than deserves its mature rating. Playing the role of a rogue police officer may not be quite as extreme as a rampant criminal, but there is plenty else to fill in. The game isn’t very bloody most of the time, but the realistic attitude does make shooting and running down pedestrians seem more serious and consequential. There’s heavy use of profanity from both the characters in the game and performers on the soundtrack, and, in addition, there are some strip club scenes and a mansion full of leather-clad “S&M Freaks.” These are all things to be aware of if you prefer to steer clear of this type of content for any reason.

Over 240 miles of Los Angeles have been recreated in the game, stretching from downtown to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and all the way to coastal cities like Venice and Santa Monica. The massive amount of space mapped out is easily the most impressive aspect of the game. Driving from downtown to Santa Monica, for instance, seems to take a good fifteen minutes on the 10 Freeway, which is about the same amount of time it might take in reality on a day with minimal traffic. (Of course, residents will note that there is rarely a day when the 10 Freeway is without traffic.)

The streets are fairly accurate, but no one should be fooled into believing that they are a perfect representation of Los Angeles. Buildings are random except for certain landmarks, and finding what is and isn’t included seems like some wacky surreal dream. The Shrine auditorium (home to numerous awards shows), Dodger Stadium, and the main USC campus are not just absent; you can actually drive on residential streets in the middle of where USC should be. In contrast, UCLA remains pretty much intact, as does Beverly Hills High School, Santa Monica College, and the business park where Activision is headquartered (although they did stop short of putting their name on the building). In similar fashion, a number of streets and freeway exits are gone, and things become confusing near the borders of the game map. I busted out laughing when I went up the 110 Freeway only to see it split in two and turn into two smaller streets which I frankly don’t think are really there. The only other thing that’s bothersome about the city is the short distance that you can see. In time you adjust, but at first, it can be disorienting for LA residents to only see a block or two ahead on a street that they’re familiar with.

These are all things that many people will never notice, but those of us here in Los Angeles can’t help but see the differences in areas we’re so deeply familiar with. Still, the sheer scope and detail is stunning, and very few people will be able to claim that they’ve seen it all.

The bulk of the game is spent in open missions. There is a destination to reach, but you can spend as much time as you wish checking out sites across town and tuning in to the police radio to solve random crimes. Crimes can range from mundane drug trafficking and street fights to huge shootouts or having to recover a truckload of stolen Activision video games. The main incentive for busting criminals comes in the form of badge points. Badges are used for earning upgrades at facilities, recovering health at clinics, and repairing vehicles. You’ll get about ten to fifteen points for each suspect you apprehend, and for every 100 points you’ll be awarded a badge that can be spent to enter 24/7 upgrade facilities, where you learn new driving maneuvers, shooting techniques, and fighting moves. Facilities are scattered across town, and you can only learn one skill from each. So your time in open missions is largely spent earning badge points and hunting down upgrade facilities to gain new techniques.

Basic gameplay comes in three flavors -- fighting, shooting, and driving -- that you can switch between seamlessly at any time during roaming missions. Want to avoid shooting a criminal? Simply push a button to swing a punch and start fighting. However, your opponent may decide to take off in the nearest car, which will force you to commandeer your own vehicle to chase him down and shoot out his tires. All three game modes are given equal attention, in terms of time on-screen and control. Each mode has its own awkward points, but all of them can be pretty fun. The gameplay is at its worst at the start of the game, since the first handful of upgrades for each mode are really essential. Without the basic upgrades that allow you to shoot precision points or attack enemies approaching from behind, the controls can feel non-responsive and frustrating. Fortunately, as you unlock more techniques, the controls flesh out and the amount of fun you can have with the game improves considerably. Eventually, you’ll be able to perform nitro boosts and rapid 360 degree turns in your vehicle; you’ll master a full repertoire of punches, kicks, and grabs; and you’ll have deadly, precise aim.

Aside from the free-roaming stages, there are a number of more linear missions with specific goals. You may need to race to an area, fight a group of thugs, sneak through an alley, or shoot your way to the top of a high-rise. These missions are greater in number, but are all fairly short. There are some great gunfights and chases, but Activision also tried to branch into some other gameplay styles that don’t work so well.

Several stages have you in a sort of stealth mode, possibly aiming to be something akin to Splinter Cell or Metal Gear. However, where both of those games had you focus on not being seen, True Crime is far too forgiving. All you need to do is get close enough to your enemy and BAM!, you can knock him out with a single karate chop to the chest -- in a game where old women can put up a fight for several minutes, the thought of knocking a guard out with one hit just doesn’t sink. In any case, you can easily make your way through any stealth stage with minimal planning and lots of karate chops.

Another type of mission that doesn’t work so well is the “tailing” mission. In a sense, it’s like stealth on wheels, only this time, the poor execution makes it frustratingly difficult instead. You’ll need to stay within a certain range of the car you’re following without getting so close that they notice you. The tough part lies in the AI. The car you’re trying to follow will often get stuck behind traffic without warning, which forces you to immediately back off and stop in the street, until he gets moving again. Then, more often than not, the car will come to the next turn and blast off before your car has a chance to accelerate and catch up. There are also times when you will lose a tail for being “too close,” simply because the other vehicle will turn down a street that comes at a sharp angle back besides you. Despite being on the other side of buildings, and staying perfectly still, you will still be deemed “too close” when there is nothing more you could have done.

The story in True Crime is pretty straightforward. There aren’t any truly dramatic moments, but it’s entertaining enough to keep you going through most of the game. The most entertaining part of the story is how well it’s interwoven with the gameplay and the consequences of your actions. You can continue through the game, even if you fail a mission, and there are multiple versions of nearly every cinema scene to reflect that. In addition, there is a good cop/bad cop rating based on how recklessly you behave, and this rating will alter the storyline drastically at certain points. In fact, there are three entirely different story branches, introducing new characters and significantly different finales.

Unfortunately, there is one huge blot on the story that is impossible to ignore. In a game that presents itself as a somewhat realistic crime tale, there is a series of missions that seems so fantastic that it’s ridiculous. Kang tracks down the leader of the Chinese Triad, Ancient Wu, who happens to be 340 years old with foot-long fingernails. Not too bad…but did I mention that he sits on a throne above a pit of lava underneath Chinatown? He then proceeds with three “tests.” First there are a dozen or so “demons”, which are nothing more than generic flaming skulls that look like they were ripped out of Doom. After you’ve shot all of them down, you get into martial arts combat with Wu’s concubines, who are covered in tattoos and have the handy ability to teleport at will. To end it, there’s a shootout against a huge Chinese dragon. Thankfully, you go back to the real world and continue as if none of it had really happened.

True Crime: Streets of LA is a tough game to review. There are some wonderfully ambitious elements that it pursues, like the huge setting, multiple gameplay styles, and branching storylines. On the other hand, perhaps because of such ambition, the game suffers from a number of frustrations and some technical problems, like long load times and multiple crashes. Give the game a rent and make sure it’s something you’ll want to spend the big bucks on.