LA Cops
- March 13, 2015
- Modern Dream
- 5h median play time
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.
"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.
Reviews
- LA Cops features a challenging Nightmare Mode that keeps gameplay interesting.
- The game has a unique 70s cop aesthetic with fun character designs and a satisfying soundtrack.
- The gameplay mechanics allow for strategic planning and replayability across different difficulty levels.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including a game-breaking issue that prevents players from completing Chapter 8.
- AI behavior is inconsistent, with partners often failing to respond effectively during combat, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Many core mechanics, such as switching partners and certain controls, do not function as intended, detracting from the overall experience.
- story38 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it entertaining and well-structured, particularly enjoying the humorous cutscenes and 70s cop theme. However, many criticize the overall narrative as unengaging and lacking depth, with several players experiencing significant bugs that hinder progress and diminish the experience. Overall, while some appreciate the lighthearted approach, others feel the story fails to captivate or provide meaningful content.
“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.”
“Boring, unengaging story with no real charm or character. How you can ask for anything more than £5 for this pile of sh*t is beyond me.”
“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 is okay for what it is, but didn't feel exciting or interesting really.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a top-down shooter style reminiscent of Hotline Miami, but marred by broken mechanics and poor controls that hinder the experience. While the retro visuals and dual-partner system offer intriguing concepts, many players find the execution lacking, with issues like ineffective teamwork mechanics and frustrating save systems leading to a repetitive cycle of retries. Overall, the game has potential for fun and engaging moments, but technical problems and limited content detract from its overall enjoyment.
“Top-down-view shooter about 'good' cops whacking and occasionally arresting some bad mobsters, intriguing by its 70's fuzzy visual style and cover-your-flank-partner mechanics.”
“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.”
“The game design could be okay, but I'm unable to switch between cops, which renders the core mechanic useless, and neither are many other people on the forums, along with a host of other issues, like apparently it's also impossible to complete due to other technical problems.”
“I really want to like this game, but bad controls and unfinished mechanics try my patience too much.”
“When all of the different mechanics in La Cops come together, it can be a pretty fun and memorable experience; it's just a shame that things don't come together more often.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their funky, retro 70s art style, featuring clean 3D visuals and a cartoony aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the vibrant and groovy character designs, including iconic mustaches, which contribute to the game's fun and entertaining atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, complementing the engaging gameplay and soundtrack.
“The graphics in this game are quite good overall, with clean 3D looks and a retro 70’s feel; this game nails it.”
“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.”
“I do enjoy the graphics and looks of it; it's not over the top and doesn't feel awkward or painful to look at.”
“The visuals are reminiscent of the 70s style, with every male character sporting a mustache or beard, which looks really groovy at first glance.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The game has a very retro aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone, especially those looking for contemporary graphics.”
- music12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and fitting soundtrack that complements the game's retro theme and visuals. However, some critics find the soundtrack lacking, comparing it unfavorably to low-quality mobile game music. Overall, while the music is celebrated by many for its energy and creativity, it also faces criticism from those who feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“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.”
“Spot on gameplay, amazing music, and it's just...brilliant...”
“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.”
“The music is forgettable and lacks any real impact, making the overall experience feel flat.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and uninspired, failing to enhance the gameplay or immerse the player in the game's world.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is generally well-received, with players enjoying the funny missions, cut scenes, and the absurdity of enemies' reactions to their fallen comrades. However, while the humor is entertaining initially, it tends to lose its charm upon repeated playthroughs, especially due to a lack of narrative depth. Overall, the game is praised for its comedic elements, reminiscent of the "Worms" series, but may not hold up as well in terms of replayability.
“The missions and cut scenes are funny and entertaining enough to keep me enjoying the game.”
“The story is funny and entertaining, with the cut scenes being my favorite parts; this will keep you intrigued throughout the whole story.”
“Team 17 really does have a good sense of humor.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding in the game is tedious and repetitive, with poor controls and frustrating AI that hinder the overall experience. While it may appeal to players who enjoy grinding, many users express regret over the lack of engaging content and the game's punishing mechanics.
“If you like grinding and 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.”
“So, to sum up: it controls weird, it is tedious, both enemies and allies hinder the game flow even further, some expected features half work, others are directly absent from it.”
“[Tedious scenario design, hammy storytelling doesn't do anything interesting, AI partner is bullet fodder, game punishes you for its own communication failures]”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor performance, particularly by Team17, indicating that players are experiencing significant issues that affect gameplay.
“The optimization is terrible, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
“I experienced significant lag and long loading times, which ruined the gameplay experience.”
“The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers generally find that the cutscenes effectively enhance the game's atmosphere, contributing significantly to the overall immersive experience.
“The cutscenes are successful and really provide the atmosphere you need.”
“The game's environment is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
“The sound design and visuals combine perfectly to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily serving as a quick diversion for easy achievements. While developers are adding improvements and missions, many players, especially those familiar with similar titles, may find the content insufficient to justify the full price, suggesting a wait for a sale.
“The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and different character builds, there's always a reason to jump back in and explore new strategies.”
“The developers have committed to regular updates, ensuring that new content keeps the experience fresh and encourages players to return.”
“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.”
“The game lacks significant replayability. Once you've completed the main missions, there's little incentive to return, and the added content doesn't feel substantial enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.”
“While the game has its moments, the replay value is quite low. After finishing it once, I found no compelling reason to dive back in, as the experience felt repetitive and lacking in variety.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for animation glitches and a lack of polish, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the enemy AI's overly rapid reactions contribute to a frustrating gameplay dynamic. Overall, these issues suggest that the game requires further refinement to enhance stability.
“The game is plagued by animation glitches that disrupt the overall experience.”
“The enemy AI reacts too quickly, making encounters feel unfair and frustrating.”
“The game lacks polish, which detracts from its overall stability and enjoyment.”
Critic Reviews
LA Cops Review
LA Cops has inoffensive intentions, but its execution is as flawed as its characters' fashion sense. The pleasant presentation represents the still-edible icing on this otherwise stale, circular snack – but glaring design issues have left us close to dialling 911.
40%LA Cops review
LA Cops has some cool ideas, but the frustratingly shoddy execution works completely at odds with the experience the game is trying to create.
50%LA Cops Review
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.
75%