NARC

"C'mon, you spent $20 on Def Jam Vendetta, 'nuff said."

SPOILERS
The following review contains few spoilers, of which can be experianced within the first moments of playing this game. Therefore, on an eleborate scale, this review is considerably Spoiler-free

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intro
-----

So, you've seen N.A.R.C at your local gaming store and/or saw a report on the news about how it "glorifies" drug use, and are wondering how this game will fit into your collection, or simply quench your thirst. Read on and perhaps you shall find the answers you seek, BWAHAHAHA!!! ~turns off the cheesy thunder effect.~

About the game
----------------

If you're a product of the late 80s/early 90s, you're probably saying "Hey, I remember a game called N.A.R.C! Although it was nothing like this..." Well, you're right, although 2005's NARC is a remake of the old arcade game, it very much stands on it's own, using only the name and decent price tag to push it forward. While it doesn't contain much of the same features that other games of it's "genre" does ~cough~ GTA ~cough~ Ahem, it's not supposed to. NARC is a game that emphasizes the decisions a "person" of power is put through. It gives you the choices to make, and lets you alone make them, without a linear way of going about it. NARC is a step in the right direction for those games that basically put you in the life of another person (And does not contain the word "sims" in it.)

Story
-------
7/10

You are first dropped into the shoes of Marcus, a DEA Agent who has just cornered a notorious drug dealer with the help of the local P.D. After being gunned down by the police, Marcus' target injected himself with a new mystery drug, making him near invulnerable. After taking care of the nuisance, Marcus is commisioned to find out more information about the mystery drug, and reunited with his old partner, Jack, a detective on the edge of termination from the P.D., due to his "undesirable" lifestyle. It is in Jack's shoes where the story starts.

The story seemed a bit corny, and cliched to me, it felt too familiar, and certaintly didn't break any new ground. However, that doesn't mean it's unenjoyable, after all, that's how most movies are made nowadays, with recycled stories. So the story won't make you shut off your PS2 and toss the game out the window, and what may keep you interested is how the story slightly starts to change as you make different decisions throughout the game, although the keyword is "SLIGHTLY." Even with such decisions, I've found the game moves on a pretty straight path, giving you the choices, but disregarding them anyway

Graphics
-----------
5/10

Yes, the graphics are horrible, but everyone always says they don't matter, don't they? HA, wait until you play this game. Yes, after you're done laughing at the way YOUR character runs, you'll take a look around the city and notice "Hey, this isn't like GTA!" Indeed it isn't. The animation of the cars are a throwback Driver 2, serving little purpose except to kill you and be blown up occasionally. You may see 3 or 4 people that look exactly alike in a crowd (I've counted about...7 skins for male? offhand) Although bearing these facts in mind, there are some props to be given. Streets in NARC attain a feeling of business/crowdedness that I've never experianced in any GTA, giving a real environment of what the "streets" may be like. The environment is designed moderately well, adding to said feeling, and thereby accomplishing what the game was going for.

Sound
--------
8/10

One of the reasons GTA usually scores a 10/10 in this category is a result of the radio stations, which are, of course, missing from NARC due to the "No Driving" predicament. However, replaced by such faults are, for instance, the voice of Micheal Madsen (Which automatically gives it 5 points :-D ) and the nice collection of music that is added to the game, which can be heard by moving from "zone" to "zone" within the city, or by taking drugs. Also, when certain drugs are taken, strange noises will echo through your speakers, giving a feeling of how said drug might effect a person. Random comments are also in the game, such as when you bump into/arrest civilians, although these get a little repetitive after a while.

Gameplay
-----------
7/10

Here's where it starts to lose it's edge again. The controls for this game can be a bit complicated at first, but the beginning tutorial in the game does seem to help out. After wandering through this tutorial, you'll notice that the loading screens (Those featuring police files) also have little factoids that can help you out, such as maneuvers, effects of drugs, etc. However, it will take some time to get used to them. I can't tell you how many times you'll mean to shoot someone and instead take a hit of crystal meth, get addicted, seen by a cop, arrested, have all your guns/money taken away, and have your badge rating drop.

The Badge Rating concept is an interesting one. How high your rating is is relative to how well respected you are. If your rating is too low, criminals won't be intimidated by you, and will either try to run, or take you out. If it drops even lower, you will be demoted back to patrolman, where every criminal will try to run, and you will have to raise your rating to get your cool street threads back. And if your rating drops EVEN lower, say goodbye to the badge and the sweet gun with an infinite amount of bullets, because congratulations! You're average now! As a civilian, the most you can do is try to be a good samaritan, and watch out for cops tryin' to bust you. However, keeping your rating up is fairly easy, even if you do decide to constantly use drugs. Simply deposit drugs at the PD, and you'll stay up there.

Drugs are an emphasis in this game, but you are by no means forced to use or sell drugs, it is COMPLETELY your decision. If you do not wish to use or sell drugs, deposit them at the PD, and watch your Badge Rating . The various ways to attain drugs are to: buy them from a dealer, arrest dealers and take their drugs, or take your chances and arrest civilians, who normally carry a significant amount of drugs themselves. In fact, every criminal in your city carries drugs, from postitutes, to illegal gamblers, to drunks. Odd. I won't go into the effects of the drugs, as it's a nice little surprise what some of them do. Bear in mind though: using drugs has it's pro and cons in this game, but in life, it's all downhill, DON'T BE A FOO, STAY IN SCHOO, OOOHHHH YEAHHHH!!

Conclusion (Rent/Buy/Worship/Burn in effigy)
--------------

With a $20 price tag, it depends on what kind of gamer you are. If you're the kind of vidiot that actually budgets money towards buying games, PICK IT UP, MAN!! While if you're the kind that simply plays games to beat them, and make his claim that he is indeed all that is man, this game can be beat within a week. If you're a casual fan that play a few games within a few months (As opposed to those of us who will be play 5 games. Simultaneously.) then chances are you can make your decision based on this, or other reviews. Though, IMHO, with such a low price, how can you resist? Just think of all the games you've bought for $20.......

......see? now go buy NARC.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/05/05