The Rise and Fall of Crackdown

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Grand Theft Auto Co-Creator David Jones founded developer Realtime Worlds in 2002, then set out to produce an experience that could venture beyond the confines of GTA. The studio placed such a weight on itself with its first project, Crackdown, an action-packed, sandbox adventure that provided players with free-form styles of play, intuitive game controls, and a true feeling of empowerment. While a super-cop tasked with ridding their city of the criminal element represented the lens through which users explored Crackdown’s Pacific City setting, narrative storytelling took a backseat in favor of building a world that revolved primarily around gameplay and exploration.
Realtime Worlds succeeded in spades upon Crackdown’s 2007 release on Xbox 360, managing to carve out a unique space in a market that had slowly become inundated with Grand Theft Auto lookalikes. Games such as True Crime, Scarface: The World is Yours, and The Godfather all tried muscling in on the territory controlled by Rockstar Games, thrusting players into seedy underworlds with fairly traditional tales of big city crime. David Jones’ crew at Realtime Worlds took a different tact, injecting special abilities and an even greater sense of freedom into the formula.
Given Crackdown’s positive reception and commercial triumphs, many were eager to see how the then-nascent franchise would further energize the open-world genre. And while Microsoft counted among those interested in the IP's future, the publisher entrusted its sequels to different teams, thereby leaving Crackdown in the hands of stewards who couldn’t quite crack the code on what made the first super-powered adventure stand out from the crowd.
This is the rise and fall of Crackdown.
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[@luckyleo8751]

I will never forget the feeling I felt playing the first Crackdown. The level detailed physics in cars, items, people; the vehicle transformations, the awesome graphical fidelity (which was missing on the second crackdown). The first Crackdown never over promised and because of it they over delivered.

[@phil_5430]

This game and Oblivion made me fell in love with the Xbox360 lol

[@jonbaxter2254]

That era of gaming was a blessed one, and I feel we've missed the mark in recent years.

[@StrigWilson]

@@jonbaxter2254 at least we have from soft, god of war was pretty good too....uhh....breath of the wild? Uhh I cant think of any more lol.

[@CSM100MK2]

keep a diary, no one cares

[@StrigWilson]

@@CSM100MK2 hey alright

[@drewmark1618]

I remember Crackdown 2 feeling like a total step back. It was essentially the same game with less features. I was so disappointed when the vehicles didn't transform into sleeker, meaner looking ones after upgrading my driving skill. It was a huge highlight of the first game for me.

[@p4nnus]

There were some additional stuff that you could mess with, like hooking objects to each other. But yeah, some features were missing.

[@Dormul]

I tried playing it on Game Pass. I'm glad I did not rent or buy.

[@TheGuyWithThePeanutsPFP]

I got em both for free

[@gavindennis9988]

I was pretty young when I played both games and for the longest time I thought Crackdown 2 was the first 1.

[@RalseiGote69]

It had helicopters tho.

[@DaYoda191]

Wow I can't believe Crackdown 3 came out in 2019! Given how early it was announced I had completely forgotten it took that long to get released. Absolutely crazy

[@nousername2942]

I feel like I remember that game coming out in 2015, wow, really shows how few people really played it

[@sethhowerton1489]

Yeah and it was garbage.

[@alexanderlindstrom01]

I loved the first game. It was a fun twist to the whole genre.

[@bayabooz4855]

@@tokeshed only for it to be tore down by the stupid tv shit Microsoft did for the xbox one

[@eddiehanley4258]

I think about a frequently, wish it was on PC

[@sweet_sukeban4022]

It was amazing how free form it was. If you were good you can just jump straight to the final boss of each area. It was really cool.

[@b4ds33d]

Crackdown was the shit.

[@deathrow989]

It holds up really well imo. Got stuck playing it when I got my series X, was only intending to check out the higher resolution for a few minutes but ended up getting hooked again and went on to finish it.

[@Wismic]

I wish they'd keep making these, Crackdown is by far one of my favorite open world games to just chill out mindlessly on. Overplayed all of them, doesn't feel like we got enough

[@TheSoCalledZoner1]

prototype and infamous too

[@Stefan-bu6ms]

I loved Crackdown 1. I loved Crackdown 2 just as much - honestly the only way it was worse than C1 for me was the lack of transforming cars. I remember when the first trailer for Crackdown 3 dropped, I was so unbelievably hyped. But the 5 year wait broke me. By the time it finally came out, and wasn't very good, I'd really stopped caring.

[@Imhappy24700]

I never played the first crackdown. I believe the only reason I got to play crackdown 2 was due to the inclusion of the halo 3 beta. We were a halo household and I remember playing the hell out of crack down 2 because of that.

[@Thatquasar3C273]

@@Wangcal Crackdown 2 is much better

[@jammin2575]

@@Imhappy24700 ??? What are you on about? Crackdown 1 had the Halo 3 beta. How can Cd2 have beta for a game that was already released 3 years prior. Crackdown 2 was also a big step backwards in the fact that it took out skill development affecting your character and cars, the map was the same as the 1st with less in it and the missions were just linking satellites together 💤. Total snooze fest 😴

[@jammin2575]

@@Thatquasar3C273 um no it isn’t look at my reply to Moldytomatoe. It took major steps backwards from the 1st game while still trying to copy it, gameplay was rinse repeat boredom. I wanted to like the 2nd being a big fan of the 1st but it was nowhere near fun.

[@romancatholicgameing]

​@@jammin2575 "i don't enjoy this game and therefore you can't either"

[@p4nnus]

Anyone remember the quote from the director.. it was something like "Agent Flambe" when you set someone ablaze..? That quote is still stuck to my head. Crackdown 1 was an awesome game! On todays standards the open world looks bleak, but back then it was a sprawling and huge playground full of opportunities. Collecting the orbs was surprisingly addictive, you had to explore the map in ways that GTA never had.

[@TheCopyNinja733]

That quote comes from Crackdown 2, when you’re in a vehicle that gets destroyed

[@james-russellgause4735]

Yes! We were called "Orb-Whores"! And every time I snatched one up I called out "Mmm, piece of candy!"

[@MrPotatoes97]

Crackdown 1 was so amazing. So insanely fun. I spent hours on my dad's maxed out account and had so much fun for so many years. I really don't get how they missed the mark so hard on CD2 and especially 3. Such an arcadey, goofy game that actually was unique in its delivery, utterly ruined.

[@ThePowerOfOneThePowerOfTwo]

Right. Crackdown 1 laid such a great foundation and they did nothing with it but go backwards

[@dr.loomis4221]

It was an OK open world game...nothing more.

[@MerlautJones]

I personally liked the war-torn, terrorist AND mutant direction of Crackdown 2, and wish 3 would've improved upon it.

[@SonikPanther]

@@MerlautJones god!!! it’s so much more compelling than “saints row but you’re a cop”

[@slinkbradshaw8674]

Crackdown 3's development is one of the most hilariously tragic I've ever seen in the industry

[@thaneros]

Eh? The whole series has had troubled development

[@slinkbradshaw8674]

@@thaneros crackdown 3's is by far the sloppiest

[@muertolamento]

Worse than Cyberpunk?

[@Puppy_Puppington]

@@slinkbradshaw8674 what about duke nuke em?

[@Legion849]

Duke Nukem forever, Anthem, Mass Effect Andromeda would like a word

[@Zorkii]

Games I was addicted to in 2007, Halo 3, Tenchu Z, and Crackdown. Such a great time with these three games. Crackdown was a great experience, first time I ever felt that collectibles were worthwhile. Seeing your character become buffer because of meleeing enemies, getting the car faster and deadlier, and being able to jump 50ft in the air, being able to evolve your character was such an awesome feature. Taking down each gang member making the leader weaker was such a satisfying feeling. Wander into the boss get wrecked then coming back in a supped-up car, kicking and throwing gang members and throwing duck grenades. Then having that awesome twist ending was the perfect icing on the cake.

[@CrowFGC]

The first Crackdown is an incredible game.

[@qrowing]

Wow, I forgot all about "Keys to the City" mode. Essentially a devkit. That was such a game-changer, and really amped up the level of fun you could have once you finished the actual game.

[@judgedrekk2981]

yeah, I saw my friends play the holy hell out of the first game due to that, the sheer do whatever you want aspect opened the doors to all the fun you could want and I played solo a few months ago with the keys on OMFG I beat the game in a single night, had the most fun i had had in years....no achievements for activating the keys? IDC, fun was more important lol I tried playing crackdown 2 the same way but I still didn't care for it lol

[@K3end0]

Crackdown 1 is a fucking classic. Truly one of the best open world "GTA but different" genre of games that's ever existed. It's a travesty it never got a pc port

[@Sierraomega1991]

Think it can now be played on pc via Xbox game pass , not a true port but it's playable

[@chemergency]

Sadly isn't playable on Xenia yet either.

[@Michformer]

While Crackdown 3 wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, credit has be given to Finishing Move Inc. for whipping up some of the most energizing tunes to complement an urban power fantasy.

[@daviddavodi]

I couldn't get more than 3 minutes into it lol

[@blackskulldud57]

No it was a cash grab I will never support cash grabs but hey if u like getting spat on there ya go..

[@SolarThemedDance]

@@blackskulldud57 They are talking about the music lol

[@Hulksterx]

The soundtrack to Crackdown 1 still pops into my head from time to time, amazing times.

[@james-russellgause4735]

Tell me you love "Lost Relevancy"!

[@TheDeadAlewives]

The first Crackdown was lightning in a bottle - it simply came out at the right place, at the right time. I think one of the reasons the sequels didn't fare as well was just because the community had moved on.

[@sweet_sukeban4022]

It also had the benefit of beta access for one of the best selling games on the console

[@super.hero.landing]

I disagree that the community moved on. Only because the game was more or less the same environment but just post-apocalyse but with zombies and less fun gameplay. It could've worked if it was a new map, improved gameplay and more tools to use.

[@sweet_sukeban4022]

@@super.hero.landing getting rid of the little touches made 2 and 3 feel like steps backwards.

[@pickleman40]

I was super excited for Crackdown 2...until I played it. Sorry but we need to stop shifting the blame, the developers failed miserably, simple as that.

[@SuperKratosgamer]

the sequels did bad because theu where a step back.

[@TevyaSmolka]

I love the original crackdown game it was really awesome and tons of fun.

[@darthbane2669]

At least for 1 play through then it got very boring

[@wastedimperium777]

@@darthbane2669exactly how I remember it at 8 years old and im 24. Got bored days later.

[@Cornerala]

Also something that allot of people dont realise is that the sound design in the original Crackdown was a huge part of its success. Guns sounded punchy and cars sounded realistic and powerfull and also ambient sounds really made you feel like you were in a city

[@supergaighbros4894]

They promised Crackdown 3 was Crackdown on Crack, the dev(s) just couldn’t crack what made Crackdown be Crackdown. And after the promises made by Microsoft, and then the game released. We all said “Was Microsoft on crack?!”

[@Caucasian60]

You have a pretty funny KZbin channel!

[@billyhunter144]

...crack...

[@elpsykoongro5379]

@@billyhunter144 …up…

[@spartanx169x]

CD3 was good, but IMO lacked content, particularly end game content. Once you took a sector, there was nothing to do in that part of the map. No respawning of enemies. No random events, nothing. No sniper was ever needed. You could pretty much play 80% of the game with the same weapon.

[@safehouse7074]

I was gonna ask if you were some kinda poet but the artistry of this makes it obvious… this right here is prime internet

[@originalrecko]

I might be one of the few, but I enjoyed all 3. Sure, they had their shortcomings but it's definitely a casual game and fun in short bursts. Thanks for the video @GVMERS.

[@JB.zero.zero.1]

I loved it, but skipped the original and went in blind.

[@Exalted_Pixels]

It feels illegal to be this early to one of these videos! Keep up the great work, I always look forward to your next videos. The original crackdown was a must play for me back in the day, but as more came out they became stale. Which is a shame, it had so much potential!

[@DJ_Knuckles]

I think I'm the one person who enjoyed the 3rd game, so it's nice to see some long form content talking about it.

[@Mike-sw6ku]

I actually liked it too it sucks we didn't get the cool destruction but I still thought it was a fun game

[@doooodeh]

Same I really like Crackdown 3. I overlooked flaws maybe because there is clear lack of pure power fantasy open world games like that while back in the day we had Crackdown,Prototype, Infamous even Saints Row went that route but now its nothing.

[@relentless41]

I have with crackdown 1, 2,& 3 and three is far more fun than people give it credit for being. Sadly because of the way it sold, we won't get a crackdown 4 which I would've love to see that game idea become a real polished playable fun thing to play on xbox irl, unfortunately shareholders care more about making money, than the game developers they've invested in, who actually care about making great playable polished fun games. the game devs know that good, fun, polished and properly optimized games will make them and shareholders more money than a rushed broken piece of crap for a popular ip that have worldwide notoriety. Look at how pissed off people are at call of duty vanguard and how everyone claims its sucks; yet look at games like halo 3 and how beloved it is . If shareholders and investors would stop rushing game devs to get games out by Christmas to get big sales numbers, then incidents like what happened with cyberpunk 2077 and halo infinite wouldn't happen in games development. But that's just my opinion

[@slinkbradshaw8674]

Nah I'm sure there's at least a dozen crackdown 3 fans

[@thaneros]

It was a good game and I dare say the best in the series gameplay wise

[@RQUKOfficial]

I quite enjoyed Crackdown 3 for the most part. The whole "destroy anything" marketing crap didn't help it though. First game will always be my first love though, was amazing romping across the city with my friend. The sound of collecting orbs will always be etched into my brain. 😍

[@papawshane]

I never played 1 or 2 as I was a PC Gamer and didn't have a console. When 3 came out, I bought it I think just from the hype and controversy that surrounded it. So now here we are, July of 2022 and I am still playing Crackdown 3. I loved it, had a ton of fun with it. I think I was able to do that because I had no prior experience with the first 2. So I had no reference of the series and I believe that's a good thing. It allowed me to have fun and enjoy 3.

[@walteracevedo5105]

An added detail that's not included here: After Crackdown 3's reception, the entire Crackdown IP (excluding the recent title) on xbox marketplace was reduced to free. Game and DLC, Avatar Items, all of it.

[@mp_click]

That was before crackdown 3 released. They made everything free to advertise the next title

[@jimmycombs8159]

​@@mp_clickIdk about crackdown 3, but crackdown 1 and 2 are still free a year later

[@naysgameopinions]

Had a lot of fun playing the first Crackdown with my cousin back in the day. Shame how the third one came out. I feel like the 1st one will always have that nostalgic flair that you can't really pinpoint that makes it always fun to go back too.

[@d_shuffles]

Crackdown 3 is Microsoft nail in the coffin for last gen. They showed off their pony at every E3 that generation and the end product after years of delay was a half baked shell of the idea they kept showcasing. They could have done a "remake or remaster" of the 1st game, it would have went better for them.

[@LazyBuddyBan]

THIS!!! most big gaming companies have a problem of just hoarding and siting on IPs forever, instead of making easy money on already made and working blueprints. Reminds me of The Smaug dragon, endlessly hoarding wealth, to never let anyone or itself to use, effectively making it useless. (outside of just bragging-marketing)

[@fauz6239]

So fuckin true I said that if crackdown 3 was like one I would go back to Xbox. That did not happen

[@zim-zf7mq]

Crackdown 3 was a great game…If it had came out in 2011.

[@ThePowerOfOneThePowerOfTwo]

@@zim-zf7mq exactly. That shit was in the oven way too long lol

[@Mr.Genesis]

i honestly loved crackdown 3.. it is actual consumer expectation that i feel was the real failure.. i think fans overhyped it and then thus were disappointed because what was delivered wasn't what they imagined.

[@austins.2495]

I had so much fun with the first Crackdown when it came out. Things were simpler then

[@m0ngreltv]

I’ve seen every single video y’all have done and it’s all so incredibly underrated. My favorite channel on KZbin. You should 100% do Balder’s Gate Dark Alliance/Champions of Norrath story

[@zombl337og]

so glad channels like this exist because it feels like a Gametrailers/G4 video and i love it!

[@ThePowerOfOneThePowerOfTwo]

I absolutely loved CD1. The futuristic vibe, the environment, the cell shaded style, the surprising fun factor, the transforming cars and body style/ suit as you upgraded driving skills and strength..... It was such a sleeper title. They dropped the ball hard with CD2 (even though I played that just as much as 1) and CD3. I really wish they had done CD3 justice but it was too little too late. What killed CD3 for me was the announcement that the only place you could have any sort of destruction was through PvP. That was the main reason I wanted to play, as I was looking for something to scratch that Mercenaries or Red Faction Guerrilla level of sheer destruction/ carnage.... that shit hurt me to the point that I never even played it, even when I could get it for "free" from game pass. I wish we could get a more story driven semi-linear (or even open world) action title set in this game's world from a criminal's perspective.

[@andreasottohansen7338]

Now i genuinely enjoy Crackdown 2 for what it is. Like plowing through freak filled streets with the biggest vehicles possible.

[@PenguinDT]

The first one is one of my all time fave games - it's basically how I want my open world games. Not a choice between scripted-as-hell missions OR bunch of aimless farting around like all the others, but an interconnected world you can tackle in any order you want. Well, almost, you can't get to the last boss before maxing out the Agility - but everything else is free game from the start. Seeing the franchise being turned into a zombie game and then into the weird marketing mess that was the Power of The Cloud joke-of-game makes me so sad. The closest thing to a Crackdown successor we've had is, of all things, Agents of MAYHEM.

[@NebLleb]

Another reason why the sequels failed was because of the twist ending for Crackdown 1. It goes without saying that the gameplay did matter more, but when you leave off on the reveal that you were fighting for a totalitarian regime and they now rule the world in a sudden "Bad Guy Wins" middle finger to the player.... Eeyeah, people ain't gonna bother with sequels continuing the premise when you alienate the player by giving them escapism just to pull the rug under them and telling them they're the villains and awful people. TRULY one of the worst cases of a game being almost ruined through being intended to be the first of a franchise.

[@PenguinDT]

​@@NebLleb You know what? I loved that ending. It is rare to complete a game and go full 'are we the baddies?' meme. And I totally disagree on not getting a sequel thing. Imagine exploring that stuff in the sequel - there are so many things you could do with the premise. Just from the top of my head: 1) go full Robocop, being about a product inside a soul-less corporation becoming a hero despite all the odds; 2) a civil war within the Agents, some of them not taking the totalitarian BS or 3) full reversal, about gangs getting together and taking down the Agents. Hell, anti-hero superheroes thing would've been basically The Boys before The Boys. This mulling over took less than a minute. If Microsoft had even an ounce of creativity, we could've had something special. Instead we got 'zombiezzzz!!!!' while Ballmer was jerking off with Kinect.

[@NebLleb]

@@PenguinDT Well, maybe *USING THAT ENDING IN WHAT IS MEANT TO BE A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY ROMP AS A SUPERCOP* isn't a good idea! Pardon me. I just had to let it out. You want to enjoy piss-poor shocking swerve endings that reek of sacrificing satisfaction for franchises? Be my guest.

[@joseph2000117]

You're both right lol

[@NebLleb]

@@joseph2000117 Huh. That's actually true.

[@mitchceiling1506]

I have great memories of spending hours playing the demo with my friend on Xbox live

[@ZaLewdWarudo]

All I've wanted is a steam port of 1 and 2. My 360 red ringed a long time ago, but I honestly miss those two games and would happily pay to play them again.

[@forrandomsites3336]

You can still get an Xbox 360 for dirt cheap, crackdown 1 and 2 are free to download. Unless your willing to try xenia(xbox 360 emulator, free to download), it's still not a fully stable emulator, but a lot of xb360 games do work well with enhancements and whatnot.

[@houseofchinn6112]

First two were bangers but 3 took too long to come out. Felt more like a huge DLC rather than a new game

[@djoecav]

Crackdown 3 was so goddamn flaccid. Impacts felt weak, explosions were ugly, combat was boring and the weapons were all recycled. That game gave me chronic sad face

[@thisisakodibox2635]

Exactly it's just a rehash no iteration or innovation

[@Oscar4u69]

3 felt like a demake worst driving ever, less mechanics, less fun, uninteresting story and enemies, the world felt empty, no toy box, bad weapons, boring and limited vehicle variety

[@ljessecusterl]

I bought Crackdown to play the Halo 3 beta...and wound up spending countless hours playing around in Crackdown.

[@Padopoulosman]

I missed the first one cause i didnt have an xbox at the time so my first crackdown was 2, and though nowadays I understand some of the complains from fans of the first I still had a blast playing it start to finish, solo and with friends. Hoping for a 4th entry maybe for this gen or the next, straight to the point. Its all about the orbs, the physics and coop imo.

[@charmingpeasant9834]

Should've released them on PC aswell, not just Xbox.

[@Tightt88]

Crank down is a game made in an era when games were just fun. Not every game had to be a AAA ground breaking experience or you get 1/5 stars. The early 7 generation was an golden age of gaming.

[@mgf909]

Exactly

[@Mac10Demarco]

2007-2009 gaming was soooo good.

[@Argroh]

does Earth Defense Force 2017 (or EDF3 as it's also known) count as something equivalent?

[@hawken796]

You can't make that kinda game now. Every game has to be a 10/10 goty experience appealing to everyone or it's hated.

[@Tightt88]

@@hawken796 I agree, especially when it comes to the bigger devs and publishers.

[@JoelElRican]

The only reason I got Crackdown was for the Halo 3 beta, but I was pleasantly surprised that Crackdown was actually a fun game to play and sinked hours into it. Never played any of the sequels though.

[@Twigg4075]

The first game was excellent. Collecting orbs was so addicting.

[@hecku]

Crackdown 2 was better than the first, and I promise that if you think not, you didn't give the game a fair chance. Crackdown 2 had more weapon variety (and more viable weapons in general, remember how the LMG was almost the only viable gun in Crackdown 1?). More vehicle variety, even though the cars didn't transform, there were more agency vehicles with different abilities. There was more enemy variety with different unique enemy types between both the Cell and the Freaks. Crackdown 2 also has really cool details like Cell sound systems/vehicles blasting music through the streets and shooting flares into the sky to alert others upon first contact, it's a super fun and surprisingly immersive game, it's extremely underrated.

[@Erabbz]

Kids today will never know how Goated crackdown 1 was in 2006 when it came out… it’s kinda crazy how it’s just a forgotten free game now that nobody even plays

[@iamdeadsilence]

Underrated/under appreciated channel

[@VintageNarwhal]

Crackdown 1 and ESPECIALLY crackdown 2 were instant classics and a huge part of my childhood. Especially 2. From beta to many years after release. I love it. Sucks to see what became of it all.

[@reapthewhirlwind6915]

Crackdown 1 & 2 are free on Xbox marketplace btw

[@ThePixelProductionz]

Could you guys do a history of Too Human I know that there was only one game that came out for it BUT...They had plans for a trilogy and then it went from developer to developer Seems like it would be a really good story that I would like to see more details about Just a suggestion Love your channel BTW

[@Biofan813]

Yes. Id like to watch this very much.

[@bobsnow1620]

That game is free on Xbox I played it a while ago pretty janky

[@latecore_]

i love this franchise even Crackdown 2 and yes EVEN 3 I wish we could get another one :(

[@GodaremyLive]

This was the first gta-like sandbox game to have online co-op throughout the campaign/single player story. I had a blast playing it with a friend . Every new crackdown announcement I anticipated. Barely played the other 2.

[@aarons.8161]

I miss Crackdown. It was a really great game that in a way, was a bit ahead of it's time. Really wish they made a PC port since I lost my 360. Miss running and leaping around the city as a badass super cop, raising my strength till I could pick up and throw around cars all while running around at high speeds and leaping over building. Not to mention the various supercars you get. My favorite of course being the Semi. Always a literal blast maxing that out and just plowing through cars. Sure, you are supposed to be one of the "good guys", but it was just so fun plowing through a bunch of cars during what would almost constitute as rush hour traffic and coming out nearly undamaged. Now, what sort of makes this game a bit ahead of its time, is how the main game is played through (at least in the first one, haven't played the other two). It was perhaps the first game to have a sort of Tiered Boss system, where you had to go after lesser bosses to weaken the higher ups. This would later be seen in the Godfather games and others, and was likely an inspiration to the whole Nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor/War. I could be wrong, but like to think it was.

[@Nobutehuhh]

I rarely consider giving the player everything at once an objective improvement, besides rare cases like multiplayer fighters but even then it’s subjective. I know it’s nice to have all the fun stuff when you start but I appreciate a well-paced & thoughtful build up.

[@JesusProtects]

I agree. The only thing I don't like about that system is when the devs put the most fun power/weapon at the end of the game and you have barely 1 hour left of gameplay.

[@KaoruMzk]

Crackdown didn't rise and fall. It started close to the top, gave up and took the plunge.

[@christopheryoung2874]

love your Rise and Fall series!

[@MrAdam802]

Crackdown was awesome, I liked Crackdown 3's single player too

[@SethHoustonCrum]

Still can't believe crackdown is free now. I've been having a blast reliving the good ole days lol

[@emulation2369]

Agents of Mayhem felt more like a true Crackdown sequel, than actual CD3

[@rebeccaizzmee2134]

I absolutely love this Channel!!!

[@nathanginos7895]

Also, another game that needs a sequel. I just picked up Agents of Mayhem when it was on sale for $2. Even though I can see why it might have not done well at launch it's definitely a fun game and worth a play just for some shenanigans and enjoyment. Seems like a bit more polish and there's a heck of a fun game in there!

[@rebeccaizzmee2134]

@@nathanginos7895 agreed 👍

[@Snakedude4life]

Halo 3 beta. No Halo 3 beta. 🎩 🐍 no step on snek! 🇺🇸🇭🇰

[@OddWoN316]

I was just commenting on Reddit about how Saints Row 4 was my favorite Crackdown game XD

[@DarrenHoussein]

I hope we get another Crackdown game again someday. I loved Crackdown 1 & 2 but also enjoyed Crackdown 3 a lot (for a few days). Crackdown 1 gives me great nostalgia...

[@OldSchoolDudeGaming]

The Halo 3 Beta being included was the best move they made. I didn't even know what Crackdown was when it was announced and tried the demo and was so glad I had to buy it to get the Halo 3 beta or otherwise I would've missed sucha great fun game.

[@p4nnus]

Same here. I was going for the Halo 3 beta, but the demo made me realize that its not a bad deal and I ended up playing through the story a couple times.

[@CipherFiveZero]

I loved the first Crackdown back when it came out, had so much fun with it plus I got it to play the Halo 3 Beta too. The sequels however while not bad I felt we're just lacking something special, thank goodness Crackdown 3 was a game pass day one title so I could play it without buying it.

[@randipoling635]

First Crackdown was amazing. Rented it for the HALO 3 Beta, kept it for the gameplay. I need to eventually go back and complete all the achievements. Playing online was fun as hell too.

[@Khaliltooshort]

The first was great. The second was more of a dlc if anything. And I forgot that the third even released

[@RalseiGote69]

People hate on Crackdown 2 too much. Like waah the cars don't transform anymore. Crackdown 2 added helicopters, the wingsuit, another agent level, and the multiplayer modes. I remember the deathmatches and rocket tag and all that. Some of the deathmatches had helicopters you could fly and rain down a firestorm of missiles on a guy. Then they had the deluge mode, where like four players compete for the highest score in a PVE setting where you fight freaks and cell soldiers. Shit was tight. But I don't think any of the people here hating on Crackdown 2, played it enough. Crackdown 1 at late game only had two guns that were worth even using. The firefly homing launcher and that damn lmg. Crackdown 2 had a few more than just two guns that were viable at late game. Anyway, I love all the Crackdown games, even three to an extent. Crackdown 2 was my favorite so, I guess I'm biased. But it's still an amazing game that anyone who hasn't played it, should pick that shit up right away.

[@ThomasW215PHL]

I very much enjoyed Crackdown 2 having never played the first, interesting seeing how dissatisfied series players were.

[@mattgomez6676]

Soooo I had a modded 360 back then. I never paid for games. The crackdown game with the halo 3 beta got my 360 perma banned lol They noticed my disk wasn't real after playing halo all night. The next day I found out they banned my xbox from live. That was the last xbox I've ever owned. I remember Crackdown.

[@Fatman311]

I remember playing the first game in co-op with my brother and accidentally killing him so many times.

[@godzillaman7743]

we all know it wasn't an accident.

[@kibafireheart]

I honestly liked crack down 3 i had a blast playing the whole thing on co-op with my best friend

[@BrokenBeats94]

I’ve interacted a few times with Colin Macdonald as he now runs Games Jobs Live events in the UK - he’s mentioned being a producer on GTA 3 but I never knew he was involved with Real-time Worlds and Crackdown. given the chance I’d like to ask him about this video and Crackdown 2 as i think it was super rough that the RTW team took a gamble on APB Reloaded, arguably ahead of the curve before the behemoth that became GTA Online and then half of their team left to work on Crackdown 2 at a startup without the original founders.

[@Zombiekilleryamato]

Crackdown was just the movement as without it it’s a pretty content light sandbox game

[@pir8prod]

The first game had an auto upgrade feature for the Agency vehicles. Such a cool game mechanic, but it never returned.

[@MrMightyZ]

In an age of young men and women using broken English, poor annunciation and incorrect pronunciation, tainted with face-cam ego, it is UNBELIEVABLY nice to hear a professional level narrator with a smooth voice speaking with effortlessly accurate pronunciation and annunciation in an ego-free professional manner that purely serves the presentation of the subject! Beautiful! I do not miss legacy media or network TV but I miss aspects like the expert speaking ability of professional narrators and presenters. Combined with clear and precise writing this video was beautifully focused and just an absolute joy to listen to. THANK YOU. (And is the narrator not the voice of the dispatcher from the Crackdown games?)

[@pongamoosic]

Thank you very much. We are a small team and always appreciate it when someone `gets' what we're trying to do here. Much respect!

[@MrMightyZ]

@@pongamoosic This kind of work deserves every success👍

[@Legitti]

I remember getting first crackdown because it came with Halo 3 Beta I think. Got the game for the beta, but the the gsme itself was fun too.

[@SqualingtonConstantine]

Crackdown 1 was definitely my favorite childhood game So much fun messing around in multiplayer

[@fsdfgasgfisd]

Loved Crackdown, Did you know you could kill all the final bosses right from the start. The freedom at how you approached situations and how you want to take on the gang crackdown, well ahead of its time.

[@timogul]

I loved Crackdown 1, and enjoyed 2 as well, but it really is a "game game," it's all about the gameplay, and I never cared about lore or character or anything "unique" to it, while the mechanics have since been spread into tons of other games in new and more interesting ways. I will always enjoy games that are *like* Crackdown, but unlike plenty of other franchises, I don't particularly need another game that uses the Crackdown IP.

[@DrVagax]

I just hope we get a reboot. Crackdown still is a unique concept, Microsoft has its own original superhero universe with the games and the core mechanic of jumping around, collecting orbs and bringing destruction to your enemies is still to this day a ton of fun but could use a paint of modernized gameplay.

[@_gungrave_6802]

Its funny to me that Red Faction Guerrilla had a similar building destruction system but it was all client side and thus rendered by the console hardware. That was back before any sort of cloud gaming systems were invented or were even in the concept phase. So really Crackdown 3's "levolution" for a lack of a better term wasn't revolutionary as it was a poorly implemented gimmick.

[@wetteryan]

I remember being blown away when they first showed off the the tech demo showing off what seemed to be this mind blowing software that had something to do with distriduting processing power allowing for insane physics and destruction. It honestly seemed like this fevolutionary genius feature. Five years later the game came out and was not even a little bit close.

[@Rampantsponge]

I loved the first game, it was one of the reasons I bought a 360, the other being Saints Row. I enjoyed the opportunity to play it co-op with friends or random people, I played with a random who turned out to be a good guy.

[@WholeOrganicMilk]

I remember putting so much time into crackdown 1. I remember the transforming cars that changed with each new driving level was so badass.

[@jonbaxter2254]

Remember this game being one of the hot tickets for the 360, and it really felt like it could be the consoles next big series. Then... well...

[@lutherheggs451]

The first game sold well because it came with the Halo 3 beta. Crackdown was always kinda mediocre at best and each sequel just got worse. The first would have likely bombed had it not included that beta

[@joseph2000117]

@@lutherheggs451 true

[@SonikPanther]

Not enough love is given to crackdown 2. It just came out at the wrong time cause zombies were so overdone by that point. The premise was very interesting, and having npc’s infighting be broken up by an infected horde was immersive as all hell.

[@Argroh]

dunno if it's a thing to point out, but I think the first two crackdown games are currently free on the Xbox marketplace, if anyone is interested. Weirdly enough, so is Too Human, if that counts.

[@Lifesizemortal]

Crackdown was never built to be a hit. The first impression anyone got of the first game was "the game I had to buy to play the Halo 3 beta"

[@funtourhawk]

I never played the full game, just remember playing the demo for like 3 hours straight lol

[@jakesteel2423]

Yeah if this wasn't connected to halo 3's beta it would have flopped and there wouldn't have been a sequel.

[@Lifesizemortal]

@@jerryseinfeld5713 bro its just a 2nd rate GTA (or more accurately True Crime: Streets of L.A.) that uses platforming not to enhance combat, but as the means to an end for a shallow collectathon mechanic.

[@OneAndZer0]

@@Lifesizemortal that's not addressing their point. They're saying Microsoft wanted it to be a hit, and after it tested poorly they did the bundling. They're not saying "it was a good game".

[@Ironclad17]

Every game is built to be a hit. The publishers knew better.

[@ToTaLShaFF]

I missed out on crackdown and had forgotten it existed, thanks, for the reminder

[@rich12015]

The first crackdown is one of my all time favourite games. Have completed it so many times and still go back to it for more. Prefer it to GTA. Being powerful and having cell shaded graphics stops it from becoming dated

[@ASR6]

I never even played any Crackdowns, but perhaps they should remake the original and see if they do it well enough until they try to make any next games.

[@JB.zero.zero.1]

Play 3 and ignore the haters online, it's a great game.

[@Dietrich_Kaufmann]

Co-op was hilarious 😂

[@WWEdeadman]

When I saw the title I was like "wait, what rise?" Literally hadn't even heard of the first game before. Only remembered that one trailer for the third one at E3, and never knew that even released.

[@HIBACHICHAINSAW]

Just noting quick, when you mentioned the launch of the One X, the video was of the Series X.

[@rebeccaizzmee2134]

This Channel is Awesome!!!

[@james-russellgause4735]

Crackdown sold me the 360, you know. That trailer was everything for me, a Black Sam Spade Superman? I was all in. The delay ticked me off, the Halo 3 bundling ticked me off. The clever little comment from a game snob (" 'Crack Dull' a-ha a-ha amirite???") ticked me off. I was sold on it from the start. And look; it became the daddy of its own genre: Prototype and inFamous are the children of Crackdown (but only prototype has a driving licence), even my darling Saints Row had to get in on the action with Saints Row 4.

[@bishop1283]

crackdown 1 was so much fun

[@AzderielBane]

Been watching your videos for years and just spotted my cousin in this one. That was unexpected!

[@Trooper599]

Crackdown was known as the Halo 2 demo packed with some kind of cop game lol. I remember selling my Halo 2 demo card to someone for $50.

[@PeersPodcast]

Favorite game of all time. Progression, destructible environments, sandbox gameplay mechanics. So much fucking fun, really hit that sixth gen sweet spot.

[@andrewchenault1366]

Would love to see a video on The Rise and Fall of the Dawn of War 40k games

[@topeo3691]

I agree that crackdown 3 was very lackluster and according to gameplay and many other aspects were horrible. However I feel that people talk shit about crackdown 2 more so than crackdown 3, which I don't get at all. There is more content about crackdown 2 than crackdown 3 as far as gameplay. Another thing about crackdown 2 was that contrary to majority's of people's beliefs crackdown 2 was actually original and did clarify a lot that crackdown 1 did not. It didn't cover crackdown's main story as much since it was a totally different era but it was a hell of a way to show a story. See crackdown gave you the same story no matter what the hell you did. However crackdown 2 actually left you in the dark as if you were the actual hero even till the end. This means that the way you play the game is actually crucial to how you view the game's story. Can't say the same with crackdown 1 or 3. If you pick up all of the broadcasts in the game you will learn that you aren't the hero and are actually the exact opposite like how crackdown 1 blows in your face at the end. However knowing this is hard to obtain, and the difficult of the game is even harder. It has a totally new harder mode that is actually really tough, crackdown 1 seems like child's play compared to crackdown 2's hardest difficulty. I'd also that the game is a lot more fun than crackdown 1 even after playing it over and over. You see crackdown 1 relies on the fact that you haven't played it over a few times and makes it seem fresh for a while. However if you play it more than a few times beating the game in several different ways, it becomes dull. Crackdown 2 doesn't change when you use the final sunburst defense system. There will still be Cell and Freaks roaming around the streets. However if you killed all of the bosses in crackdown 1 you have to manually press the button to allow the gang members to still be there. However they don't pose much of a threat anymore overtime. In crackdown 2, you could max out your character and use the worst guns in the game and get your ass beat. In crackdown 1 you can use the worst guns in the game and be fine. There's a total difference between the two. Crackdown 1 is a good game, but it severely lacks in overall interest overtime. So I'd say to stop shitting on the 2nd one, when it isn't even the main problem to begin with. Crackdown 3 is the real issue, and I hope that they never make a crackdown 4 because it will be worse than crackdown 3 100%.