Review

Not that we’re suggesting they’re forgetful or anything, but Eidos published a game called Urban Chaos for the PlayStation and PC back in 2000. I mention this because there might be a few nostalgia freaks out there thinking that Riot Response is some kind of belated sequel to that game whereas in actual fact they couldn’t be any more different if it tried!

Whereas the first game was a free-roaming action adventure title with a little bit of fighting, this is an all-singing, all-dancing FPS with an abundance of claret and torrent of F-words that borders on the gratuitous. This is one title that definitely deserves the big, red 18 on the front on the box!

Riot Response introduces us Nick Mason, and new recruit to the T-Zero task force in an unnamed US city. This team of law-enforcers are one step away from being criminals themselves having been granted free-reign to use necessary means by the mayor himself in order to wipe the gangs from the streets. Naturally this shoot-first philosophy makes for an action packed (if morally dubious) game.

Running around blasting gang members with shotguns and high-powered machine guns has been done to death, so what does Urban Chaos have to offer that others don’t? Well, there’s the brilliant introduction of a riot shield into your arsenal. This can be brought into play by pulling the left trigger and will protect you from virtually any attack from the front. It can also be used to knock-out any enemy that gets too close for comfort but my favourite use is during hostage situations where you hide behind it waiting for the perp to reload when you get a couple of seconds grace to lower the shield and blast them in the head.

Occasionally you will be able to call upon the emergency services to help you out, whether it’s getting a health-boosting injection from a paramedic or utilising the expertise of the fire department to break down doors with their axe or extinguish any flames blocking your path. Protecting these emergency workers becomes vital to your success as you progress through the game.

Where this game falls down is in the visuals but it gets away with it thanks to some impressive fire effects and explosions. However, every time the game gives you a glimpse of where you need to go before whizzing back through the level to your position it gets so blurry it makes you cringe! It just about works but play alongside the likes of Black and you’d think they were from two different eras!

It’s also an incredibly linear title, with alternative routes being blocked until you have performed another task elsewhere in the level, but every time you start to dislike the game it throws you into another hostage situation or timed rescue missions. There’s always something new to do and it’s this much-needed variety that prevents it from being just another FPS.

There is much to like about Urban Chaos: there’s even a surprisingly good cops vs. gangs online mode but with more attention paid to it’s appearance we could have been talking about a classic.

About the Review

Platform

Sony Playstation 2

Developer

Rocksteady

Publisher

Eidos

Released

19th May 2006