While rough around the edges, Police Shootout's unique take on police work and combat creates an engaging experience that stands out from similar titles in the genre
In a gaming landscape dominated by high-budget blockbusters, Police Shootout emerges as an unexpected surprise. This indie title takes the well-worn concept of a police simulator and injects it with some genuinely innovative mechanics that set it apart from similar games in the genre.
You step into the shoes of Scott Price, a patrol officer in the fictional city of San Adrino. The game presents eleven self-contained missions across various locations including motels, gas stations, and warehouses. While the setting might seem generic at first glance, each location serves as a compact playground for the game's unique blend of investigation and combat mechanics.
The narrative isn't going to win any awards for originality - you're a cop dealing with various criminal elements in a city plagued by mob activity. However, what makes it interesting is how each mission unfolds based on your approach and the information you gather.
Where Police Shootout truly shines is in its distinctive gameplay loop. Each mission essentially becomes a mini-investigation where you have multiple ways to resolve the situation. You can gather evidence by talking to witnesses, searching the environment for clues, or receiving information from police dispatch. This information becomes crucial as it opens up different approaches to handle each scenario.
You can attempt to talk down suspects using gathered information by choosing the right dialogue options, sneak up for non-lethal takedowns and arrest them, or engage in firefights. The choice is yours, and each approach feels viable, though some might require more careful planning than others.
The game's most unique feature is its turn-based combat system. When tensions escalate into a shootout, the game transforms into something akin to a first-person tactical RPG. You're given action points to move, take cover, and engage targets. While this might sound jarring on paper, it creates an interesting tactical layer to what would otherwise be standard FPS encounters. The shooting mechanics involve a timing-based system where you need to line up your shot and fire when your reticle aligns properly, adding an extra layer of skill to each encounter. In terms of realism, this is not realistic at all as irl police shootouts are fast and frenetic, but in this virtual world, somehow, it makes sense and works well enough.
Let's be clear - Police Shootout is clearly a budget title, and it shows in its presentation. The graphics are functional but won't push your Series X to its limits. Character models are basic and often repeated, animations can be stiff and the whole UI of the game feels like it's been just copy-pasted from the Unreal Asset Store. The environments, while small, are detailed enough to serve their purpose.
The audio design is a mixed bag. While sound effects are serviceable, the voice acting varies wildly in quality. The dialogue can be surprisingly engaging at times, though the writing occasionally ventures into territory that might make you uncomfortable.
The game isn't without its flaws. The mission structure can feel repetitive, and the locations are reused throughout the campaign. There are also some technical issues - occasional bugs can disrupt the experience, though nothing game-breaking was encountered during my playthrough. The skill progression system feels somewhat basic, and the game could benefit from more variety in both missions and character interactions. A sandbox mode would have added significant replay value to the package.
Police Shootout is an interesting experiment in genre-blending that largely succeeds at what it sets out to do. While rough around the edges, its unique take on police work and combat creates an engaging experience that stands out from similar titles in the genre. What's important is that the game has heart and you can feel the love the developers put into it as you play it.
Is it worth your time? If you're intrigued by the concept of a tactical police game with turn-based elements and don't mind some rough edges, Police Shootout offers enough unique ideas to justify giving it a shot, especially at its budget price point.
The game was reviewed on a Xbox Series X via a code provided by the publisher. Police Shootout is available on Xbox and PC.
