Crackdown cast players as a genetically enhanced Agency operative in the corruption-riddled Pacific City, tasked with eliminating three rival criminal organizations controlling different parts of the city. Realtime Worlds, led by David Jones, co-creator of the legendary Grand Theft Auto, built the game around a thoroughly convincing system of vertical movement – the player's character improves in jumping, strength, shooting, and driving abilities with every boss defeated and orb collected, creating a unique sense of gradual growth from an ordinary agent into a superhuman superhero capable of leaping over skyscrapers.
Individual skills improve simply through use, so the character's development happens naturally during play without a single stats screen. That is precisely why the game still feels so satisfying today: starting at the foot of a tall building where you can barely jump onto a dumpster, and ending with the same building cleared in a couple of leaps, ranks among the best-executed progression curves in the genre. The open city with no mandatory linear sequence let players choose any boss and approach gang elimination entirely according to their own judgment and style, including improvised solutions using thrown cars and explosive barrels. Collecting hundreds of hidden agility orbs scattered across rooftops became an addictive side activity motivating thorough exploration of the vertically rich city, aided by their distinctive chiming buzz audible from a distance.
Two-player cooperative multiplayer allowed the entire open world to be shared together, turning the orb hunt into a competition. The comic-book stylization with bold outlines gave the city an unmistakable look. The game was also notable for including access to the Halo 3 beta, which dramatically boosted its sales. Critics praised the satisfying sense of progression and freedom of approach. Crackdown became a cult classic and defined the genre of superhero sandbox action on the Xbox 360.
Game 43 of 259 for Xbox 360
