[MW Forums]

It’s no Grand Theft Auto, but if you like third-person shooters and are looking for a game that lets you explore your thug side, True Crime: Streets of LA might fit the bill. more

[maint1]

I bought it and it's not a bad game just not a great one. I have GTA for the PC ( and used to have one for work) and the landscape was rife with shortcuts and opportunities to ramp the car to earn extra $.
There are no such distractions in this game. Also you actually have to play the game. Most of my time spent with GTA was just spent ripping off cars and cruising.
The stupid button configs are what's keeping me from playing this game more often.

I wish the full catalogue of Rockstar Games were available for the Mac. :-)

[lrivers]

I swing back and forth on this game--it can be pretty frustrating and at times, seems almost arbitrary. One thing I just discovered last night is how to make "combos" easier to achieve is to use two hands to make the strikes, that and NOT using combos in combat with the toughest opponents until you've stunned them with single strikes. For example, I burned dozens of shields (upgrade "currency") trying to get the "Leaping Tiger" combo until I decided to put one finger of my left hand over the 5 and one finger of my right over the 6 (the combo requires 5656). I got it on the first try.
Also, I found driving to be much easier in "first person" mode. (press C several times until you can't see your own car) and you need a very light touch on the steering to not go into insane oscillations and letting off the gas helps quite a bit as well.
Finally, precision shooting can save you in situations that seem overwhelming--you can shoot people in precision aiming you can't see in normal mode, although it seems Nick is a leftie, so you need to be to the right of the wall you are cowering behind.
Don't let the tepid review stop you though (and I certainly don't disagree with the review--all points are valid) because I for one have really enjoyed this game. I hate the camera--it's killed me more than once by showing me the action from inside a shipping crate or building, even though the action is on the other side of the wall. That said, there's no other game on the Mac like it. I just wish it were better, then I'd love it. Finally, don't blame Aspyr for the game's flaws--clearly the PC version has the same issues.
I found it very easy to play the game as a good cop, with my good rating at plus 300 until I back-tracked to the "retribution" story arc, and then still 250+.
One last thing--I got thoroughly sick of the sound track and found my enjoyment greatly enhanced by connecting my iPod to my speakers and playing my own soundtrack. It's funny how even the weirdest background music can be way better than what's supplied. Plus the sound FX (except for the guns and Kung Fu action) are pretty weak--the muscle car sounds like a 16mm film projector.