The Precinct Review – 80s Cop Movie Sandbox Sim

As I wrote that title, I slowly realized half the people reading this have likely never seen a 80s cop movie….

For the rest of us, however, Fallen Tree Games and Kwalee’s The Precinct is a loving homage to a gruffer, rougher, and tougher time.

The Precinct Review – 80’s Cop Movie Sandbox Sim

Set on the crime-ridden streets of Averno, players take on the role of Nick Cordell Jr, a rookie cop fresh out the academy looking to clean up the streets one perp at a time.

Well, that and solving the murder of the previous chief of police, who just happened to be Nick’s father.

The story is a bit cliché but in a nostalgic way, delivering with a cast of colorful characters, gentle police ribbing, and over-the-top action sequences.

Look at this scumbag, blocking a hydrant. I’ve given over 100 parking tickets, and I loved every single one

Gameplay is divided into two main parts, with tight, scripted sequences leading the charge throughout much of the narrative, and lengthy free roam police patrols helping to break up the pace.

The early hours of the story struggles with a heavy focus on gunplay with a system that doesn’t feel very intuitive. The early game weapons struggle with accuracy, reloading is a death sentence, and cover disappears in the blink of an eye – overall it’s quite a brutal experience.

Evidence gathered in open-world patrols is used to gather intel on key players from the cities various gangs

This is somewhat offset by character progression, unlocking increased health, reload speed, new weapons, and a bevy of other abilities to help even the tide, but by the time I’d mastered the shooting, I was rolling through the credits.

The sandbox-style missions, however, are a much better representation of what the game has to offer. Taking to the streets with your trusted partner Kelly (trusted unless you need him to do anything important, AI is a bit hit a miss), the sandbox missions reward good police work and crime solving.

Players can choose pre-determined missions or create their own with new areas and mission types unlocked as they progress

It includes everything from high-octane chases to throwing out parking tickets. There’s a procedure to every arrest, the correct way to analyze every crime and suspect, and the game does a fantastic job incentivizing good police work with increased rewards.

Learning the in-game handbook, knowing whether you have enough for an arrest or just a ticket, making sure to search the suspect and the vehicle for clues, it’s a lot of fun.

The Handbook is the closest I’ve felt to playing GTA:RP in a proper game

It does suffer when applying certain charges. Witnessing a suspect clearly do something and then the charge being considered unlawful dampens an otherwise immersive and satisfying approach to open-world police work.

The action sequences in chasing can be a real challenge, with criminals seemingly able to navigate the tightest of turns and narrowest of alleys one minute, before totalling into a tree the next.

Following cars can cause criminals to get nervous and make mistakes

Pursuit mechanics are well-designed, rewarding the player with a backup currency for remaining close to suspect vehicles. Calling in other patrol cars, setting up roadblocks and spike strips, asking for air support to nail a fleeing suspect, it’s complete chaos at times, but feels like you’re in the middle of an 80s b movie.

At around 15 to 18 hours, The Precinct doesn’t outstay its welcome.

Much like the 80s cop movies of yesteryear, The Precinct a little rough around the edges, but also a lot of fun for those looking to hit the streets and deal with criminal scum. Although, honestly, just giving out parking tickets is surprisingly satisfying.

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