LA Cops

52%
Game Brain Score Based on 121 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
LA Cops Game Cover
A good little shooter that could have been great, L.A Cops is like a nicer version of Hotline Miami that's a bit on the blander side.
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"LA Cops" is a top-down shooter game set in 1970s Los Angeles. Players control a team of police officers and complete missions that involve tactical gunfights, arresting suspects, and collecting evidence. The game features a variety of weapons, customizable cops, and a campaign mode with multiple endings. Co-op mode allows for two players to control a team of cops in missions.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

52%
Audience ScoreBased on 121 reviews
story9 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • LA Cops captures the nostalgic feel of 70s cop movies with its humorous dialogue, funky soundtrack, and vibrant graphics.
  • The gameplay is fast-paced and requires strategic planning, making it engaging and challenging for players.
  • The game features a unique mechanic of controlling two cops, allowing for tactical gameplay and varied approaches to missions.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including broken achievements and missions that do not register as completed, making it frustrating to play.
  • AI behavior is inconsistent, with partners often failing to respond effectively in combat situations, leading to cheap deaths.
  • The controls can be clunky and unresponsive, detracting from the overall gameplay experience and making it difficult to execute strategies.
  • story63 mentions

    The game's story is described as a humorous parody of 70s cop shows, featuring entertaining cutscenes that enhance the overall experience. However, many players report significant issues with mission completion, particularly with the final mission being bugged, which hampers progress and achievement unlocks. Overall, while the narrative has potential charm, it suffers from a lack of depth and engaging content, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

    • “The story is funny and entertaining, with the cut scenes being my favorite parts; this will keep you intrigued throughout the whole story.”
    • “With a theme of 70’s cops in LA doing crazy jobs from hold-ups to drug deals, and music to match, the story is very well laid out.”
    • “Overall, I think this was a very fun and entertaining game, with good graphics and a well-thought-out story; I found this to be quite a good game.”
    • “The final level is completely bugged and doesn't register as being completed even after I've tried at least 10 different times on different difficulties, and the side missions are bugged exactly the same way as the final mission.”
    • “But the main irritant right now is the fact that you can't finish the game properly - after you deal with the last main mission, and see the credits, your progress with the casino mission will be forgotten.”
    • “The story excerpts are completely unrelated to the gameplay or each other.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, drawing comparisons to "Hotline Miami" with its fast-paced, top-down shooting mechanics, but marred by significant technical issues and poor AI partner behavior. While some players find the core mechanics intriguing and the retro visuals appealing, many report frustrating bugs, limited gameplay depth, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential for engaging cooperative play, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a challenging yet often tedious gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is satisfying; the story is kind of weird, but the levels are all great and will make you want to play them again and again.”
    • “The badass retro 70s visuals, wicked sabotage soundtrack, and dual-partner mechanic are fresh additions to this genre.”
    • “In the beginning, it is pretty hard, but once you get used to the mechanics, you will have a lot of fun.”
    • “Save mechanics are broken.”
    • “The game design could be okay, but I'm unable to switch between cops, which renders the core mechanic useless, and many others on the forums feel the same, along with a host of other issues, like apparently it's also impossible to complete due to other technical problems.”
    • “But some bugs are ruining the gameplay, for example when you die because your partner takes too long to react or when the automatic focus chooses to focus on an enemy behind a wall instead of the guy who is shooting at you.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the retro 70s and minimalist art style that effectively captures the aesthetic of classic cop shows. While some players appreciate the clean 3D visuals and unique cel-shaded design, others criticize the pixelated quality and find it unappealing. Overall, the visuals are considered decent, with a nostalgic charm that may not resonate with everyone.

    • “The graphics in this game are quite good overall, with clean 3D looks, and a retro 70’s feel; this game nails it.”
    • “The graphics are cel-shaded and look absolutely gorgeous and stylish, capturing that 70's look that the developers are aiming for.”
    • “The game oozes doughnut-eating, retro-style cop shows from the eighties through its minimalistic graphics, audio, and voice-overs.”
    • “The art style is bad; it is just pixelated groove crap and doesn't remind me of the setting at all.”
    • “Graphically, it took me off guard because I thought it was isometric strategy, but it isn't that at all!”
    • “Visuals are 70's style; everybody male has a mustache or beard and looks really groovy at first sight.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its funky and engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly in action sequences. However, some players criticize the repetitiveness of the tracks and the overall quality, comparing it unfavorably to mobile game soundtracks. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, opinions vary on its execution and variety.

    • “The funky soundtrack keeps your adrenaline pumping as you clear out entire buildings of crooks with nothing but a gun, some sunglasses, and an attitude.”
    • “With a theme of 70’s cops in LA doing crazy jobs from hold-ups to drug deals, and music to match, the story is very well laid out.”
    • “The badass retro 70s visuals, wicked sabotage soundtrack, and dual-partner mechanic are fresh additions to this genre.”
    • “I don't even know where to begin with this game... it's really bad. First of all, there are only eight levels. Second of all, the game itself is unfair and it's impossible to complete a level on any difficulty other than normal. Trust me, this is not a 'git gud' situation; it really is impossible. The voice acting is terrible, and so is the soundtrack. The soundtrack sounds like it was from a bad mobile game.”
    • “Sound 2/5 (the music is okay for the first 20 minutes of the same 2 or 3 tracks being looped.)”
    • “The soundtrack and game audio are well-made and fit the ambience, but it's the minimum I'd expect.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized as hilariously corny, with a strong 70s theme that includes amusing cut scenes and missions that keep players entertained. While the jokes are initially funny, they tend to lose their charm upon repeated playthroughs, leading to a sense of staleness in the humor. Overall, the game is enjoyable and showcases a good sense of humor reminiscent of Team 17's previous titles, though it may not hold up as well in terms of narrative depth.

    • “La cops: where mustaches, bell-bottoms, and badges collide in hilarious 70s action 🚔🕶️👨‍✈️”
    • “Hilariously corny in the best way possible.”
    • “The missions and cut scenes are funny and entertaining enough to keep me enjoying the game.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and unfun, with clunky controls and repetitive enemy behavior that disrupts gameplay. While it may appeal to players who enjoy grinding, many reviewers express regret over the game's lack of engaging content and the overwhelming sense of monotony it creates. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “It's good on screens, but playing it is just no fun: clunky, stiff, awkward, tedious, and not enjoyable.”
    • “Enemies tend to walk in slow circles, grinding stoically against walls until they complete their trajectory.”
    • “If you like grinding just to keep playing a game, then this is the perfect game for you, but I regret buying it because it gets repetitive really fast.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers some replayability through its three difficulty levels, appealing to players seeking quick achievements or varied challenges. However, many users feel that the current content is limited, and while improvements and new missions are being added, it may not justify the full price for those familiar with similar titles. Overall, the retro theme is well-received, but players might want to wait for a sale to fully enjoy the experience.

    • “Brilliant game, love the retro theme and very replayable.”
    • “The three difficulty types provide some decent replay value.”
    • “It's something neat to play around with, or if you're wanting some quick, easy achievements. However, I would wait for a sale as there isn't much replay value. I know the devs have been adding improvements and missions, but at the moment, with most players coming from Hotline, they will feel like this is nothing and burn through the content way too fast to make it worth the full price.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's cutscenes effectively contribute to a tense atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience; however, this atmospheric tension may not always translate well into gameplay.

    • “Although in my opinion, the cutscenes are successful and really give you the atmosphere you need.”
    • “I understand this adds to a tense atmosphere, but it doesn't always work as far as gameplay is concerned.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game is incredibly buggy and crashes frequently.”
    • “I experienced constant instability, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “Frequent glitches and crashes ruin the overall experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game by Team17 has been criticized for poor performance, indicating that players are experiencing significant issues that affect gameplay.

    • “The optimization is terrible, leading to frequent frame drops.”
    • “I experienced significant lag and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

45% average critic score

Buy LA Cops

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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