The Shield: The Game (PC/DVD)
The Shield: The Game (PC/DVD)
Release Date: 1 Jun 2007
Product Review:
Quote:
It's an obvious thing to say, but 'The Shield: The Game' is really for the TV show fans only. Its the kind of game that no one else would be interested in, but if you love the show you'll get a bit of a kick out of it.
The Shield game fits in between seasons 3 and 4, story-wise with Lem having left the Strike Team and Shane preparing to leave also. So it seems strange that the entire plot is to do with "saving the team" by landing a major bust to impress the brass. While the voice acting is just as you'd expect (and thank god they used the real actors, aside from CCH Pounder I think) the cutscenes try to recreate the show's style. However, the reactionary camera style which works so well on the show becomes a vomit-inducing affair with pointless zooms and a wobbly camera.
To be fair, the game's designers seem know the show and what elements should appear in a game adaptation. The opening level (featuring the season 3 finale) is done with title cards intercutting with the action, followed by the loud guitar title music. Also, the "barn" (the police department in the Shield) has been mapped exactly like in the show. Character models range from pretty good (Mackey) to pretty bad (Aceveda) and sometimes look a little bit eerie.
The game's graphics also range from good to bad, with some fantastic lighting effects (at one point, a sleazy film can be seen on the face of Mackey if he stands in front of the projector). The environments are appropriately run-down, but get a little repetitive after a while.
Thankfully, they took a bit of extra care to make Mackey look good and he does. His squat figure has a number of moves such as spinting, rolling, kicking doors down and takedowns. The problem is its such a procedure to do these moves. The button for punching is the same as to take cover and you find yourself hitting the walls during a gunfight, resulting in a quick death. Interrogating suspects is fun for a while, but we've seen the same thing done better with games like The Godfather.
In fact, a lot of elements feel like they've been done better before which makes me say again that this is for Shield fans only. Casual gamers will certainly get agitated by the constant loading screens (honestly, you just have to walk from one room to another sometimes before a cutscene starts). Also, the background dialogue is limited and characters will stand there are repeat the same line over and over again until you shoot them in anger!
Speaking of shooting folks, the gunfights can be quite good at times - depending if Vic's alone or not. When facing a gang of one-niner hoods, the last thing you need to see is Shane run into the gunfire like an idiot. I knew Shane was reckless, but even he's not that stupid!!! There are stealth section which are based on luck rather than skill and if you have the chance to shoot your way through, you'd be better off doing so. Some suspects will drop their guns after sufficient shots which gives the player some freedom as to how they deal with the criminals.
This leads me to the game's main selling point; the 'heat' meter. Depending on what course of action you take, the heat on Mackey will rise or lower and if it reaches the top, then its game over. So you can recover stolen drugs or cash and pocket it in the 'retirement fund' or hand it into the evidence locker which I think is a nice touch. If you shoot an unarmed suspect, you can plant a gun on them in true Vic Mackey-style.
The Shield is a quality TV show that has a cult following. The game really didn't need to be made (or taken of the shelf as it was). But if you like the show, then its worth a go (maybe they could just include a copy with the next DVD set!).
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