Urban Chaos

Published by Sold Out
Designed by Mucky Foot Productions
Platform: PC CD/ROM
Price £4.99
Released: Out Now

With the end of the millennium fast approaching Union City is descending into chaos. The crime rate is soaring and the police are hard pushed to hold back the tidal wave of crime that is engulfing the city. You control Officer Stern, a young, headstrong, woman who is part of the Police force who are trying to fight this criminal urban chaos.

Urban Chaos' key gameplay elements define it as a beat 'em up and essentially it is just that. However the ability to roam around the city and solve the objectives as you see fit gives the game a refreshing amount of freedom the likes of which only GTA III has only surpassed. You tasks involve arresting muggers, stopping suicide attempts and much, much more. But no matter with the task at hand is you always be able to solve the problem in any way you wish.

The game relies on beat 'em up basics to bring the criminals down and this side of the game is also up to scratch. Triple kicks and punches are possible but instead of requiring feverish button bashing the moves require well timed button presses and as a result feels much more satisfying. You also get to use a variety of weapons and drive different vehicles and all of this is has been implemented in the game very well indeed.

Graphically the game looks fine, even several years after its initial release. The graphical style of the game is very effective and you can see that the style of this game must have provided the inspiration the wonderful GTA III as playing this does nothing but remind you of PS2 classic.

The introduction isn't subtitled but thankfully everything, except the occasional comment made during a fight, is. The game features a series of tutorials and these are fully subtitled. All the conversations in the game are subtitled too. The only complaint really is that you can't recall your objectives but this is a minor niggle to what otherwise is an excellent game.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended. Urban Chaos is a golden oldie.
Suitability for deaf gamers: Suitable.

Overall Game Rating: 4.5/5