Summary
Ahead of the release ofGrand Theft Auto 6, fans may want to check outThe Precinct, an upcoming game from developer Fallen Tree Games Ltd. The wait formore open-world crime gamescontinues to stretch on in the wake of releases likeGTA 5andSleeping Dogs, andThe Precinctcould satisfy players looking for a unique spin on the genre.
Grand Theft Autois a franchise that has been known to reinvent itself, moving from a top-down, arcade style to the more traditional, 3D sandbox game established with the release ofGTA 3. Since then, the tone, gameplay conventions, and general style of each game have varied, introducing new regions, aspects of American culture, and memorable characters. This evolution is expected to continue withGTA 6, which will take players back to the Miami-inspired Vice City. Fans of the franchise will still have to wait until 2025 to get their hands on the upcoming game, though, so 2024 is the perfect time to scratch the crime game itch.
The Precinct Looks Like Classic GTA Infused With L.A. Noire
L.A. Noirefans have been hoping for a sequelfor some time now, as the 2011 Rockstar game offered not only a unique setting, style, and cutting-edge character animations, but an alternate take on the crime storytelling the developer has become so famous for. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Rockstar has any firm plans torelease a follow-up to the game, choosing instead to focus on the much more popularGTAseries. However, that doesn’t mean that the cop-simulation subgenre is dead.
The Precinct: Old-School GTA From a Cop’s Point of View
GTAhas always been about fighting the law, rebelling against the system, raging against the machine. This core aspect of the series was subverted inL.A. Noire, and it looks likeThe Precinctcould be doing something similar. InThe Precinct, players will take control of Nick Cordell Jr., a fresh-faced police officer in the fictional city of Alverno, as he tackles the seedy world of organized crime.
The Precinct’s striking isometric perspective gives players a birds-eye view of their environment, which could help facilitate cop-fantasy gameplay, but the visual style is notable for another reason: it’s highly reminiscent of classicGrand Theft Autogames, as well asGrand Theft Auto: Chinatown Warson the Nintendo DS. Gameplay in theseolderGTAgamesis intuitive, with an emphasis on ease of use and solid game-feel over realism.The Precinctmay share some of these qualities, as combat, movement, and vehicle handling will all inevitably be influenced by the chosen perspective, but the law enforcement premise of the game suggests a greater focus on methodical, careful, and thoughtful gameplay. Mixing this design approach with the more old-school POV could yield some interesting results.
The Precinct Could Be an Interesting Companion Piece for GTA 6
It would be hard to argue thatThe Precinctis similar toGTA 6, or anyGTAgame, for that matter. Really, it’s the opposite sort of experience, wherein players are tasked with enforcing order and stability rather than fulfilling the dream of freedom and chaos. That said,The Precinct’s unique premise could be interesting to engage with ahead ofGTA 6, as each game will explore opposite sides of the same coin:GTA 6will tell the story of criminals, whileThe Precinctaims to weave a tale inspired by classic cop movies, as explained on the game’s Steam page.
Grand Theft Auto 6comparisons aside,The Precinctlooks interesting in its own right. The game will feature both air and land vehicles, melee combat and gunplay, and a stylish, impressively rendered urban environment. Players will be able to explore this gritty, neo-noir open-world whenThe Precinctreleases in 2024.
Grand Theft Auto 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
