...Def Jam: Icon !

Yes, Crackdown arrived on time, as usually Amazon UK provides a trustworthy service, at a reasonalble price. Well, actually, compared to Portugal, there's an huge difference on video-games prices. That's mainly due, IMO, to VAT wich is 21% here, plus, and unfortunatly, in Portugal you can still see a lotta piracy, and therefor, legits (as myself, and a few more - kudos to them) have to pay for their titles and for the pirated ones, I think. I wish MS banned 360 pirated-software users from Live, that would tech them.... But no..., I still can see some of them, I know them, they brag about it. They have every single game, and they play none. They're no gamers, they get their kicks out of pirating and bragging about it. How sad...

So, what about Crackdown ? Is it worth it ?

Hell, yeah! Check out my review below. Not much of a regular review, it's more like a conceptual comment on a piece of software that excels mainly in its aesthetics, rather than in gameplay.

The game, as everybody knows by now (well, not really by now, since it went on development, more like it), it's a GTA-like game, but with quite a few differences. For instance, it almost skips a plot, allthough not entirely. Even in this field, where I thought I could somewhat feel a bit disapointing, I didn't. It manages to "throw" us a few bossed with a very distinct mini-movie introducing them, almost like a TV-series. Quite well made, it works! It works also in an aspect, that makes the game, apparantly, easy expandable. They can put more bosses, using the same format, as a downloadable content (and I think they'll do it, as there's only 900gs so far).

As I mentioned in my review, the game's a true sandbox game, the sense of freedom gained another level, with the protagonist super-powers, and his ability to climb to almost every roof top. A true 3d sandbox, go anywhere, and everywhere!

Other aspect quite nice of Crackdown, is its Achievements. It captures the essence of the system, by awarding players for ridicule action stunts, that otherwise few would remind of doing. This is what it's all about! As I noticed from my friends, and some foruns, it even lead for people to push it further, and doing even more out of place weird stuff, like trying to put a car on top of the Agency..., wicked!

And the greatest part of the game, for me: its aesthetics! Pure brilliance. The very first playable comic book!

Ok, enough about Crackdown...

My current pre-order is Def-Jam Icon. I loved FFNY, and even knowing that the latest installment has few things in common, I usually reward devs and publishers with my money when they improve my free-time quality. The benefit of doubt.

I have a meeting now with my boss , got to go.

Thanks for reading.

Later.