Future Cop: L.A.P.D.

Future Cop: L.A.P.D. is an action shooter set in a dystopian near-future Los Angeles, where the player, as a police officer, controls the robotic suit X1-Alpha, capable of transforming between a humanoid and a tank form, with each form suited to a different situation, from precise, targeted fire to slower but overwhelming firepower. The game from Electronic Arts combined fast-paced third-person shootouts with an unusual strategic mode, Precinct Assault, in which the player simultaneously defends their own base and attacks the enemy's, similar to a real-time strategy game, only from the perspective of an action game controlled directly through the robot.

This hybrid approach made Future Cop a unique experience among action games of the time — alternating between standard linear missions with bosses and more open combat arenas kept the game fresh and prevented it from slipping into the stereotype that many similar titles of the era fell into. Players could also gradually upgrade their chosen weapons and abilities, adding an element of long-term progression to the game. Graphics with striking explosion effects and environmental destruction matched the game's futuristic tone, and the sound design reinforced the impression of a brutal but deliberately exaggerated sci-fi action romp full of over-the-top effects. The individual levels also combined city streets, harbors, and underground complexes, so the game never felt visually monotonous even after extended play.

Future Cop: L.A.P.D. never became a massive hit, but earned a reputation among genre fans as an original, well-crafted title that offered more than just another linear shooter. The game also supported two-player split-screen co-op, boosting its appeal as a title for shared evening gaming sessions with a friend. Its combination of action and strategy remains unusual even years later, placing the game among the more interesting, underappreciated gems of the vast PlayStation library.

Why play it: For its inventive mix of action and strategy, where you switch between a robot and a hovercraft, plus two-player split-screen co-op for playing together.