Crackdown 2 - Demo Impressions

All you folks that have access to Xbox Live are probably aware of the Crackdown 2 Demo that's now available for download. We're going to take a brief look at what's provided in the demo.

Similarly to the demo for the original Crackdown, the player is limited to a single region of Pacific City and can do whatever he pleases for a whole 30 minutes. Which is a fair amount of time to explore the content provided, both off and online. The demo can be played single-player, or in a co-op mode with a friend over  Xbox Live.

There are several big changes, presentation-wise, from the original Crackdown that are notable. The game has a gritty-vibe to it's cel-shaded graphics, to go along with it's new theme, as well, the visuals seem more crisp and detailed than the original.

Gameplay changes are a little more apparent. The game benefits from an improved lock-on system, which makes it easier to target various enemy limbs, but the driving, especially in civilian vehicles, is noticeably less tweaked. The biggest change is the Day/Night Freak system. Freaks stay in their dens during the day and actively roam the street, giving the night-time modes a feel to Dead Rising.

Finally, the coolest addition to any demo is the inclusion of  Pre-achievements. There are 10 achievements in the demo (Worth a total of 100 Gamerscore) which will automatically unlock in the full-game, if you manage to acquire them in the demo.

Expect a more in-depth look at Crackdown 2 when it drops July 6.

- Kyle K.