In the year 2098, the powerful forces of crime control the streets of Los Angeles. That is, until you are assigned to handle the L.A.P.D.'s latest force in crime prevention: the Tac X1-Alpha. This monster of a vehicle comes equipped with everything you'll need to blow the bad guys to bits and return the city to its formal state. With the help of your dispatcher, you'll complete various missions to restore peace to L.A.
The Hardware
The X1-A is one of the most advanced mech-type vehicles seen in a video game to date. It can be switched between both a walker and a hovercraft vehicle. Both have their strengths; the walker is useful for careful maneuvering and intense combat, while the hovercraft is best suited for fast movement and traveling over water or ground threats. The X1-A is also equipped with 12 deadly weapons, such as the Gatling Laser and Hellfire 2000. You get to choose which 3 weapons you'll use before each level, but more choices only become available as you complete missions. Special weapons can be found throughout the missions at stations within each level.
Future Cop supports both Voodoo and ATI Rage 3D acceleration. While animation and movement is smoother with 3D acceleration, the game still looks great with software rendering. Levels only took a few seconds to load from my 8x CD-ROM, so you shouldn't be snoozing at the keyboard while you wait for the action to start. Future Cop also supports just about every joystick and gamepad out there, including USB-based ones.
The Playing Field
Future Cop offers two areas of gameplay: Crime War and Precinct Assault. In Crime War, you attempt to complete eight missions (levels) given to you by your dispatcher, T.J. Ryder. You are introduced to her at the very beginning of the game, and she'll prove to be a tremendous help throughout the levels. She warns you of incoming threats, identifies power-ups or special weapons, and offers numerous tips to help you along the way. These tips are the most useful because Crime War levels are quite long and there is no way to save your game in the middle of a level; your game can only be saved after completing a level. If it weren't for well-placed power-ups, Crime War would be an absolute frustration. Unfortunately, you still might find yourself reaching the very end of a level numerous times in a row, only to be killed by the level's final obstacle and thus needing to replay the entire mission, some of which can last close to an hour.
Precinct Assault is the strategic head-to-head combat area of Future Cop, offering 4 terrains to choose from. Each player starts in their base with a small amount of points. Points are used to create hover tanks, which seek out the enemy base on their own. Once one of your hover tanks gets into the enemy base, the game is over and you are declared the winner. However, it isn't as easy as it sounds. Each player can also use points to create jet choppers, which fly around the terrain and shoot at any enemy in sight. Turrets, which are large mechanical guns, are the last line of defense to the enemy base. Neutral turrets towards the center of the level can be claimed by running to them and pressing the action key. Points are earned by killing enemies and claiming turrets. If enough points are accumulated, an outpost can be claimed and becomes a new base, so you don't have to move as far to unleash more hover tanks and jet choppers. All of this, combined with the fact that you have an opponent trying to accomplish the same feat while preventing you from doing the same, will keep you on your toes and having fun for hours on end.
The Sights, The Sounds
Future Cop has a relatively simple interface. The heads-up display (HUD) on the bottom of the screen displays an ammo count for each of your 3 weapons. Don't waste ammo early in levels, or you'll be sorry later on! The radar is located in the top left and displays location of everything from enemies to police reloader stations. The radar is especially helpful in Precinct Assault because it allows you to monitor your base without constantly running back to check up on the home turf. It also displays colored triangles to tell you which way is to your base and which will lead to your enemy. The number of points, hover tanks and jet choppers are displayed at the top of the screen to help you keep tabs on you and your opponent.
Sound also plays a tremendous role in Future Cop's rapid and exhilarating environment. The soundtrack really adds to the suspense and thrill of the game; as always, stereo speakers will enhance this effect it has. The sound effects are loud and explosive, which really immerses you into the role and surroundings. Besides your dispatcher constantly giving you tips and direction, your enemies will cut in with choice words for you as well.
The AI
Future Cop's AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is surprisingly advanced. While playing Precinct Assault by yourself, you go up against Sky Captain, who is a brilliant addition to the game and quite skillful in his movement and strategy. He also gets better each time you defeat him, so don't expect an instant replay in your second match if you get a pinch of beginner's luck in your first. Also, be prepared for an earful from Sky Captain every few seconds; he doesn't take too kindly to attacks and he can't resist a taunt when he delivers a blow to you.
The incoming mass of enemies you encounter in Crime War are generally pretty easy to kill. This is not a damper on the game, however, because you'll have to combat numerous enemies attacking at once, and from every angle. Aircraft will shoot from overhead, while at the same time a troop of rocket-wielding soldiers have surrounded you and are moving in for the kill. Human enemies can be killed by simply running over them, and some have no weapons or occasionally just run around in hysteria. However, the major enemy bases take careful maneuvering and strategic assaults to be conquered.
The Multiplayer Options
Whether you've got a friend over at your house, or over in another continent, Future Cop lets both of you play at once. The ideal setup is two computers connected through an Ethernet LAN to play either cooperatively in Crime War or head-to-head in Precinct Assault. However, even if you just have one computer, a split screen option is available that works quite well. A friend and I played this way numerous times, and it doesn't affect the quality of the gameplay at all. We even both used the keyboard and had plenty of elbow space. For playing over a modem or the 'net, you'll need a high speed connection. I would recommend both players having at least a 128k (ISDN) connection otherwise, it is virtually unplayable. Future Cop only supports two players in multiplayer, and Macs can not network with Windows machines
A couple of features were added specifically for multiplayer play. In cooperative Crime War levels, if one player takes damage, both players will see power taken from them. While this can be frustrating when an expert teams up with a novice, this should assure that you are working together instead of going your separate ways. Also, if you and your teammate get so far apart that you can't be seen on your map, an arrow appears above each of your X1-A's pointing you in the right direction. There's no need to worry about losing track of your partner in the heat of battle.
The Helping Hand
Need some help? Don't despair. If you find yourself fumbling for control or just don't know what your mission objective is, just use the handy "Help" and "Briefing" buttons. Both display movies that will show you exactly how to become the crime-fighting machine you were meant to be. The briefings can be seen with each Crime War mission, and help movies are available for both Crime War and Precinct Assault. It's simple, fast, and easy; just the way you like it.
The Bottom Line
Future Cop: L.A.P.D. is one game that can't be missed. The depth of detail put into the X1-Alpha adds a whole new spin to action gaming. The game offers fast-paced, insanely-fun gameplay that will be sure to please. Its wide array of multiplayer options and a brilliant computer opponent in Sky Captain add to the longevity of the experience. Its price is unbelievable with all of the options and features that you'll only find in $50 games anywhere else. Electronic Arts' first Mac title in four years represents an outstanding effort and hopefully shows what's in store from them in the future.
How to obtain the 3 special weapons
Grenade Launcher - Choose Zuma Beach as your level or mission. Get off the
highway and make your way to the area where you switch to the crowd
control
camera. In this area you must blow up the two flamingos on top of the
hotels
outside of the main gate. Then, make your way through the level until you
reach the mini-boss (the guy that you will fight just before the boss).
After you beat him, a big hole will form in the ground from the explosion.
Jump into that and destroy each of the tanks until you find one that has a
power up station in it. Go to that and you will get the grenade launcher.
K9 Robo Dog - Choose Venice Beach as your level or mission. Open up the
main
channel gate at the beginning of the level (where you start out). Go along
the channel that you now have access to and eventually you should see
three
barrels to the east. Go to the west side and turn into the Hover Car. Zoom
out into the open and you'll eventually run into the Robo Dog weapon.
Riot Shield Gun - Choose Studio City as your level or mission. Destroy the
four control towers, then hit the switch behind the laser gate. Walk over
and destroy the first mutant soccer champ billboard. Now, backtrack to the
mushroom area. Turn south, then head east. Along the side of the
easternmost
building awaits the Riot Shield.
Note: you won't be able to use the weapons until the next level.
Download Saved Games
Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8
Level 3 saved game contains the Grenade Launcher, Levels 5 and 6 saved games contain the K9 Robo Dog, Levels 7 and 8 contain both the K9 Robo Dog and the Riot Shield Gun.
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