Who would have ever thought that 500 green glowing orbs would become the focal point of our lives for a short period in 2007? Two years after its release, it's hard not to look back on Crackdown fondly. Especially when you dig up the remnants of its modest reign around the Internet. Realtime Worlds' debut title was a sleeper in every sense of the word. From the swan dive atop the Agency headquarters to the complete destruction of all of Pacific City's organized crime, Crackdown is a memorable foray into superheroism. Or is it?
Sterling: Crackdown was my bachelor party. The night before my nuptuals was spent organizing the next day's events and smiting Volk gangsters. Some people get dragged to strip clubs the night before they get married. I got dragged into collecting agility orbs. I can't think of a better way to have spent my last night as a bachelor.
Gabe: Honestly, by the end of Crackdown, the thing that I couldn't get over was what a surprisingly awesome plot the game offered. I mean, the obvious allusions to "RoboCop" were stupendous, but taking it further into a Nietzsche-ish allegory for the Superman? Who watches the Watchmen indeed!Sterling: It's funny because the ending, for all of its twists, leads you to this awful conclusion about what you've been doing, and what's your reaction to it? Go collect some more of those orbs so that you can keep running rampant. Say what you will about the character who you're controlling being an indestructible hero; the game knows that your flesh is weak, but your mind is... actually, it's pretty weak, too. There's a reason the word "crack" is in the title.Gabe: And see, that was one of the best parts of Crackdown: It never ended. Long after I'd beaten the main story, I was still returning to Pacific City to harvest those last few achievements or test out the downloadable content.Sterling: Funny you mention achievements. I noticed that around the first anniversary of the Xbox 360 achievement whoring became a more pervasive and widespread activity. Realtime Worlds sagely predicted this, and hinged nearly everything in the game on achievements. Say what you will, I find it ironic that I had way more fun playing Crackdown, the game that legions of gamers bought for the Halo 3 beta, than Halo 3 itself.
