True Crime: Streets of LA

True Crime: Streets of LA is a 2003 open-world action-adventure video game developed by Luxoflux for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. It was ported to Windows by LTI Gray Matter, to mobile by MFORMA, and to OS X by Aspyr. It was published for all systems by Activision, except the OS X version, which was published by Aspyr. The PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube versions were released in November 2003, the PC version in May 2004, the mobile version in November 2004 and the OS X version in March 2005.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Good storyline inspired by Hong Kong action thrillers that branches off into numerous paths that can lead to multiple endings. Unlike in, say, mh:crappygames:Shadow the Hedgehog, if you complete one ending, you can choose to start from another point of the story instead of having to start over from the beginning.
 * 2) Some missions have alternate cutscenes and paths depending on how successfully or quickly they're done.
 * 3) Awesome graphics for the time.
 * 4) The cutscenes are well animated and amusing.
 * 5) You can play as a Good or Bad Cop, which will affect the ending.
 * 6) Good controls except for driving.
 * 7) Lots of great characters.
 * 8) Nick Kang's car has a license plate that sports the name the player gives to their save file.
 * 9) After completing Chapters with 100% completion, the player has the ability to go on a Bonus mission, where they can upgrade Nick Kang's car, Weaponry or his Martial Art skills. And while normally you have to use a Badge to enter to one of these areas, in this Bonus mission, it's free.
 * 10) The game's map is huge, as it recreates over 240 square miles of Los Angeles, which it was bigger than before San Andreas was released a year after.
 * 11) Similar to the GTA games of the time, this game has an all-star cast consisting of actors like C.C.H. Pounder, Ron Perlman, Michael Madsen, Michelle Rodriguez and Christopher Walken, to name a few.
 * 12) Great soundtrack consisting of mostly hip-hop and alternative rock.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The GameCube version is pretty glitchy.
 * 2) Some bosses can be really tough. The most egregious example is Lola, who you fight on the Bad Cop route. She has an attack where she cartwheels towards you, knocks you down and takes away chunks of your health, which not only cannot be blocked, but she can stunlock you with the attack and constantly spam it until you have no more health left.
 * 3) The combat can be somewhat clunky, especially melee combat.
 * 4) You cannot use precision aiming with automatic weapons.
 * 5) Playing the Xbox version on the Xbox 360 can cause framerate problems, especially when driving.
 * 6) The story mode is kind of short, especially if you only go for the Bad Cop route.
 * 7) As mentioned in WIR#6, the driving controls aren't that good.
 * 8) Depending on your preference, you may either find Nick Kang entertaining or annoying.
 * 9) It is very easy to get lost in the city of Los Angeles, and freeways are ill-advised to be driven there, owing to the already-confusing layout. And the in-game map from the menu is a complete eyesore.
 * 10) Trying to stop crimes that are going on can be a serious hassle, especially when going on a leisure drive. Plus, given the clunky controls, it can be hard to arrest perpetrators at times and said perpetrators who have initially surrendered will suddenly start to open fire on you.