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Police Stories: The Academy

Police Stories: The Academy Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
monetization, grinding
88% User Score Based on 364 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
Police Stories: The Academy Game Cover

About

Police Stories: The Academy is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by HypeTrain Digital and was released on August 2, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Welcome, trainee! Use tactics and special equipment to become a true cop in the free version of Police Stories: The Academy. Neutralize criminals, search for clues and find a "rat" in the police station alone or in co-op with a partner.

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88%
Audience ScoreBased on 364 reviews
story11 positive mentions
monetization13 negative mentions

  • The game offers a fun and engaging tactical experience, reminiscent of Hotline Miami, with a good balance of challenge and strategy.
  • It's a free prologue that serves as a solid introduction to the main game, providing a taste of the gameplay mechanics and cooperative elements.
  • Players appreciate the addictive gameplay loop and the ability to play with friends, making it a great option for casual gaming sessions.
  • The game is very short, with only three levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Many players report technical issues, including frequent crashes during cutscenes and bugs affecting AI behavior.
  • The writing and dialogue have been criticized for being poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally described as short and lacking depth, with only a few missions available, which leaves players wanting more content. While some reviewers appreciate the engaging premise and tactical scenarios, many express frustration over frequent crashes during cutscenes that disrupt the experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a fun but brief introduction to the gameplay, with potential for improvement in both story length and coherence.

    • “I loved this game and completed the entire story on the highest difficulty, getting all the highest ratings.”
    • “The story is straight out of a movie, but it's enjoyable.”
    • “I just finished this game and boy, I felt like a real police officer. The tactical scenarios in this are just amazing.”
    • “However, the story is short, and I hoped there would be more missions.”
    • “Its an identical copy to the first game with nothing to add and a small pool of 3 story missions that have terrible dialogue too (for those interested in the story).”
    • “It's like if aliens came down to earth and uploaded PDF dictionaries and EPUB encyclopedias to their brains and then tried to create a story using the downloaded data to their brains--yes, they are using words from the English language but none of it makes sense.”
  • gameplay
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally praised for being simple, smooth, and entertaining, with a fun loop and engaging mechanics, particularly in cooperative settings. However, some users note significant flaws, such as difficulty spikes, short mission lengths, and a lack of innovation compared to previous titles. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable mechanics and a good introduction to its systems, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more challenging or expansive experience.

    • “It's a wonderful prequel and a good introduction to the mechanics of the main campaign.”
    • “Very fun gameplay loop, very entertaining and engaging game.”
    • “Extremely fun strategic coop shooter game with easy to learn mechanics and just overall a fun experience.”
    • “As for the gameplay, it doesn't make sense to me why the tutorial of the game has a rating, and moreover why the levels have time be a factor in your rating.”
    • “It felt like zero effort was placed into improving upon any mechanics or innovating at all.”
    • “Boring gameplay.”
  • monetization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of this game is heavily criticized for being a misleading advertisement rather than a legitimate product, with users expressing frustration over its deceptive nature and the presence of fake reviews. The game is seen as a ploy to promote a $20 product, taking up valuable marketing space that could be better utilized by genuine developers. Overall, the monetization strategy is viewed as harmful to gamers, as it prioritizes profit over quality and transparency.

    • “If you enjoy advertisements, you can consume them for free on the web or on YouTube without needing to add them to your game library, download them, and then launch the advertising.”
    • “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
    • “It's impossible for me to recommend this incorrectly published advertising spam to gamers; you deserve better than adverts.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the graphics received mixed feedback; while some users noted that they are not particularly impressive, others praised the high-quality pixel art and detail, drawing comparisons to titles like Hotline Miami. Despite the varying opinions, many agree that the graphics complement the engaging gameplay effectively.

    • “I tried this toy, and what I want to say is that it came to me, it's similar to another one, well, you understand which one, but this one has its own kind of rod up its sleeve, the graphics are nice, the gameplay quickly draws you into the experience.”
    • “Nice high-quality pixel graphics and very detailed gameplay.”
    • “The developers were definitely inspired by Hotline Miami and they did well; the launch missions passed pretty quickly, the graphics and music are not bad, fans of the genre should try it.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the game has limited replayability, as completing the training scenarios offers little incentive to replay due to the repetitive challenges and outcomes. While some replayability exists, it may not be enough to keep players engaged long-term.

    • “Replayability is here.”
    • “The game offers a variety of challenges that encourage players to return and try different strategies.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique due to the random events and choices that can lead to different outcomes.”
    • “Limited replayability: once players have completed the training scenarios, there may be limited incentive to replay the game, as the challenges and outcomes remain the same.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quality and style, reminiscent of titles like Hotline Miami. However, some users express a desire for more variety, suggesting that different missions should feature distinct tracks to enhance the experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though it could benefit from greater diversity.

    • “Of the advantages, you can highlight a pleasant visual, music, style, and of course gameplay.”
    • “The developers were definitely inspired by Hotline Miami and they did well; the launch missions passed pretty quickly, and the graphics and music are not bad. Fans of the genre should try it.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a second life to manage the demands.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for fostering teamwork, creating an engaging environment that encourages collaboration among players.

    • “The atmosphere fosters a strong sense of teamwork.”
    • “The immersive environment enhances collaboration among players.”
    • “The game's atmosphere creates a perfect backdrop for cooperative gameplay.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is criticized for significant bugs, particularly with the AI partner, who often fails to engage enemies effectively, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. While the game is enjoyable, these stability issues detract from the overall experience.

    • “Your AI partner is buggy, letting enemies run past him and getting killed instead of shooting back even when active.”
    • “It's fun, but way too short and kind of buggy.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with players appreciating the funny dialogue and overall comedic elements that enhance the gameplay experience. Additionally, the humor contributes to the game's replayability, making it an enjoyable and entertaining choice for players.

    • “Really cool and funny.”
    • “Cool gameplay, fair replayability, and funny dialogue.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that the game evokes strong emotions, often leading to tears, indicating a deep emotional impact and connection to the narrative or characters.

    • “I want to cry now.”
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40h Median play time
40h Average play time
40-40h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Police Stories: The Academy is a strategy game.

Police Stories: The Academy is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 40 hours playing Police Stories: The Academy.

Police Stories: The Academy was released on August 2, 2022.

Police Stories: The Academy was developed by HypeTrain Digital.

Police Stories: The Academy has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its monetization.

Police Stories: The Academy is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Police Stories, Fast and Low, Door Kickers 2, Door Kickers, Breach & Clear and others.